Gail Collins

The outcome won't change, but the recount and its cheerleader give pause to reflect on the strange nature of our current politics.

One of Donald Trump’s big advantages now is that he has so many awful associates. No matter what appointees he foists on us, there’s always another pal who’d have been worse. If he names some federal land-grabbing oilman as secretary of the interior, people are going to sigh with relief and say, “At least it … Continue reading Rogues’ gallery gives Trump an advantage

(With: CLINTON-CONFIDENCE, TRUMP-PREPARATION, VOTING-INFLUENCE, TRUMP-ODONNELL, CHINA-U.S.-ELECTION, DEBATE-OBAMA, CLINTON-MILLENNIALS, SNL-BALDWIN-TRUMP, CLINTON-MEDIA-ENDORSEMENTS, CLINTON-SANDERS, KRISTOF-COLUMN)

One thing Donald Trump ought to be good at is throwing a celebrity-packed convention, right? Right? It’s just about the only thing we should be able to count on. He’s never been in government. His business career includes a string of bankrupt casinos, unpaid bills from small businesses, a smarmy “university” and a rather troubled … Continue reading Trump’s celebrity shortage

Chances are, Hillary Clinton did not grow up dreaming that someday she’d be a woman of whom it could be said that “no reasonable prosecutor” would indict her. But think positive: Between the FBI’s 11-month email investigation and the eight congressional Benghazi inquiries, Clinton has now probably been examined more thoroughly than any candidate not … Continue reading Hillary, beyond email

Independence Day weekend’s coming — time to show a little patriotism. Budweiser beer just renamed itself “America,” for heaven’s sake. If a Belgian brewing company can do that, the least you can do is show you’re a well-educated citizen. Let’s see whether you’ve been keeping up with the presidential race: 1. Since endorsing Donald Trump … Continue reading Think you’ve been following the presidential race? Take this quiz

Let’s criticize cruise ships. I know, I know. Things are bad enough without going negative about your summer vacation. But we’ve got some problems here. Plus, I promise there will be a penguin. The cruise industry seems to be exploding — the newest generation of ships can carry more than 5,000 passengers. They make a … Continue reading Cruise industry should pony up taxes and let the whales speak

Hillary Clinton. First woman presidential nominee. OK, of a major political party. We’re not going into the minor-party exceptions since that would require a lengthy discussion of Victoria Woodhull in 1872. Under normal circumstances, Woodhull would certainly be worth talking about, given the faith healing and the brokerage firm and the obscenity trial. But this … Continue reading If only Hillary Clinton’s mother could have lived to see this