In which The Gay Recluse scores selected opinion pieces in The Times.

Bob Herbert/Confronting the Kitchen Sink

The Short Version: Why is Hillary being so mean?

In his words: “Why the Clinton forces would want to inject that poisonous bit of business into the campaign is a mystery.”

Score: C- (Childish)
It’s hard to believe that Bob Herbert has been writing about politics for ____ years and is surprised that politics is a dirty business. Wake up!

Gail Collins/And the Good News Is…

The Short Version: This blip in Obama’s campaign will allow voters to see what he’s really made of.

In her words: “So we’ll see. If Barack looks good after his fifth trip to Wilkes-Barre, then he’s the one. If not, there’s still Hillary.”

The Score: A- (Aware)
Another solid performance from Collins, who has been able to maintain a sense of humor and pragmatic distance amid the hurricane of nonsense swirling around this election (like all elections, of course).