Gail Collins, "The Curse of the Mitt": Seamus the Dog for the Twenty-Second Time

Over the course of several months, we were told that Gail Collins was busy writing a book and would not be attending to her bi-weekly New York Times op-ed column. Well, she's back, and in my opinion, she needs some more time away.

This past Wednesday, Gail published an op-ed entitled "Happy Tidings from the Hill" (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/29/opinion/collins-happy-tidings-from-the-hill.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss), which, try as I might, I was unable to finish. I recall some meandering blather with references to "Willow the cat."

Today, Gail has blessed us with "The Curse of the Mitt" (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/01/opinion/collins-the-curse-of-the-mitt.html?_r=1&hp), which I suppose is intended as a follow-up to a prior Collins gem labeled "Mitt! Mitt! Mitt!" (see: http://jgcaesarea.blogspot.com/2011/04/gail-collinss-mitt-mitt-mitt-once-was.html).

Unlike "Happy Tidings from the Hill," I was able to read through "The Curse of the Mitt," but just barely. It consisted of a series of disconnected paragraphs explaining how Romney is overwhelming a currently underwhelming field of G.O.P. presidential candidates, questioning facetiously whether Romney has been responsible for the collapse of the Boston Red Sox this season, and warning Chris Christie to avoid the presidential race owing to Romney's peculiar powers. And yes, you guessed it, she couldn't help indulging her own personal obsession with yet another reference to the Seamus story:

"Is there a way to work the fact that [Romney] drove to Canada with the family dog strapped on the roof of the car into this story?"

Answer to Gail: Actually, no. My understanding is that this is the twentieth time Collins has referred to the story (see: http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/sep/13/gail-collins/mitt-romney-and-dog-car-roof-one-columnists-obsess/).

Wait, I stand corrected -- this is the twenty-first time. In a September 23, 2011 op-ed entitled "Perry's Bad Night" (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/24/opinion/perrys-bad-night.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss), i.e. just a week ago, Collins again wrote:

"For one thing, I don’t want to believe I live in a country that would seriously consider bestowing the nation’s highest office on a man who once drove to Canada with the family dog strapped to the roof of the car."

I'm sorry, hold the press! A FORA.tv video (http://video.answers.com/why-mitt-romney-will-not-be-president-517000725) has Collins, perched on the edge of her seat, recounting the story for a twenty-second time.

Sad.

Andrew Rosenthal will never allow me a guest column on the op-ed page of The New York Times. My views are not in keeping with the leftist editorial leanings of the ever more decrepit Gray Lady. However, as regards Gail, there is a whole world out there to write about, which extends far beyond Democrats and Republicans, and I am saddened to see how a column, which can impact many lives, is squandered from week to week.