“Elections have to have at least a little meaning. Obama ran on income tax hikes for the wealthy. People knew they were voting for that. They 'want' that. And it's good policy.”

American journalist, op-ed columnist, and author

Gail Collins is an American journalist, op-ed columnist, and author best known for her long career with The New York Times. She joined the paper in 1995 and later became its Editorial Page Editor, a post she held from 2001 to 2007 as the first woman to serve in that role. Her work at The New York Times made her a familiar voice in American public debate. She is known for commentary shaped by politics and current affairs, delivered with the clarity and wit associated with newspaper opinion writing.