Analysis and Sarcasm

         Gail Collins column of Oct. 4th uses satirical humor to point out what she sees as serious truths about the current political situation.  The very first sentence of her editorial, "So how are you enjoying Debate Season, people?" sets the tone for the rest of the article.  Gail Collins writes for the New York Times, which has a more or less liberal readership so her sarcastic take on politics should sit pretty well with her target audience.  Gail Collins states facts about the first presidential debate in a rather irreverent way.  She is a liberal but in this case, she does not spare President Obama.  She points out that he seemed tired and bored and that he was not up to it when it came to coming up with sound bites and "zingers."  She even points out that President Obama has started to talk about his health care reform as "Obamacare,"  which she finds rather strange.
      She was just as hard on Mitt Romney, pointing out over and over that he just didn't have anything to say.  She sarcastically asks if Governor Romney is keeping all his plans secret because they are just "too good," obviously contrary to what she feels is the truth.
    She speaks directly to the American people asking, "what are we to make of all this?" and suggests that there is little to be learned from the debates and that most Americans have already made up their minds.  She closes the article by making fun of various other Republicans who made a run for the presidency.  Considering that her target audience more than likely agrees with her, her use of humor and sarcasm, along with the fact that she is a well known and respected journalist, is very effective.