Gail's Bon Mots

Gail Collins is an op-ed columnist for the New York Times -- and required reading on Thursdays and Saturdays, the days when her column is published. Collins joined the Times in 1995 as a member of the editorial board and in 2001 became the first woman ever appointed editor of the Times editorial page.

Among today's zingers in "A Political Manners Manual":

On Sen. Lindsey Graham's not keeping his promise to drown himself if Obama won North Carolina: First of all, you cannot be angry with Republicans for supporting the Republican presidential candidate. It’s like getting angry at squirrels for climbing trees.

On Joe Lieberman keeping his committee chairmanship: Still, there is a fine line between good sportsmanship and being played for a sucker. I am thinking of McCain’s other BFF, Senator Joseph Lieberman, who not only endorsed the Republican ticket and spoke at the Republican convention but also said, in the course of the campaign, that unlike McCain, Obama did not always put his country first. Since Lieberman is part of the Senate Democratic caucus, all this is not normal like squirrels climbing trees. It’s more like squirrels breaking into your house and setting fire to the sofa.

On anonymous McCain aides post-election dumping on Sarah Palin. (Unfortunately, she doesn't continue the squirrel metaphor): But the worst part is that if these people get any meaner, we’re going to wind up feeling sorry for her. This is not something we are looking forward to, Republicans, and we will resent you for it.