But in calling ironic living "the ethos of our age," she overestimates its prevalence.
She always overestimated the popularity of Cox and herself, and she underestimated the force of religion in Iraqi affairs and the Shia clergy "sitting in an atmosphere which reeks of antiquity and is so thick with the dust of ages that you can't see through it - nor can they".
Oh, she'd considered the episode, and felt free to conclude that she had overestimated her swimming ability, or underestimated the insidious, bigger-than-you powers of water.
Sue Wylie, 56, on Miss McDonald She vastly overestimated our brains and assiduity, so we were doomed always to disappoint.
Of course Ms. Zukin has her own critics, who say she perhaps overestimates the city's power to slow gentrification — and the influence of a half-century-old book.
Like most progressives, she vastly overestimates the efficacy and wisdom of regulatory bodies that invariably become captive to the corporations they are supposed to regulate as that great revolving door refreshes the influence of crony capitalists regardless of who is voted into office.
The power of the law to overcome these forces should not be overestimated, she adds.
"And that's not an overestimate," she insisted.
"And had some money to go and buy Cadillacs," she adds, perhaps overestimating the size of Sevigny's party budget.
Mr. Schwennicke cited six reasons for Ms. Merkel's longevity: she does not overestimate herself, reads people and situations well, cares for power but not its trappings, inspires loyalty in good people, tries not to give away her intentions, and is quick.
