Politics: How Bad Can Things Be?

Gail Collins doesn't need to be a humorist to make a lot of fun out of the current political fiascoes decorating the landscape. All she needs to do is name the candidates around the country and list their various foo pas.

Naturally, her outrage depends on significant short term memory loss. Back in 1968 the country was so fed up with political corruption that it elected Richard Nixon. In 1980 the country was so wearied of political ineptitude that it elected Ronald Reagan, a man whose sole ability was reading a teleprompter. In 2000 the country was so outraged by the moral corruption of its leaders it elected George W. Bush, whose qualities brought the country to the brink of economic collapse.

Just when you think things can't get worse, we seem to figure out a way to make it so.