be wondering, "What have I done?'' Any sensible and sane person would be doing just that. The realities of responsibility and power are settling down fast as she deliberates on her Cabinet. She is also aware that it did not take long for the long knives to appear.

In just about every country on earth a new leader is given the courtesy of a honeymoon or grace period to get settled. Sometimes it is a long period but in David Saul's case it ended abruptly with the "Tim Smith Affair'', the first indication that things were not to go smoothly for Dr. Saul.

We could not help noticing on Thursday that the vultures are already after Pam Gordon.

It is to be expected that the Progressive Labour Party would want to put her down eventually because Pamela Gordon's choice as Premier was clearly the worst possible news for the PLP. Had the UBP settled for an older face like John Irving Pearman, the PLP would have had cause for rejoicing at Alaska Hall.

But let's face it, some of the comments from PLP supporters in the last few days have been downright sour grapes because they recognise the threat Pamela Gordon presents to the PLP. To her great credit, PLP Leader Jennifer Smith has been very welcoming to Premier Gordon.

Dale Butler, who wrote a slight biography of her father, Dr. E.F. Gordon, was quoted as saying, "She's like a beauty queen.'' That is an insulting denial of Pamela Gordon's personal and political successes. It also seems to be the remark of a male chauvinist.

PLP Shadow Minister of Home Affairs Alex Scott quickly attempted to divide UBP supporters from Premier Gordon by saying in the most speculative way that he believes she will put Independence back on the front burner if the UBP is reelected. In any case, we all know Jennifer Smith and the PLP would move to Independence.

Relative to those comments, PLP columnist Alvin Williams was quite pleasant.

However he used a good deal of ink to imply that Pamela Gordon was not up to the standards of former UBP leaders. Does he remember the doubts people had about John Swan when he took office? The PLP's Walton Brown, who seems to be a general rent-a-quote, opined that UBP grass roots supporters would be unhappy with her backing for Sir John Swan's Independence move.

Trevor Moniz, who is so "outside the loop'' of the UBP that we have to question why he remains in Parliament except that he seems to have fun making trouble, was busy stirring the pot by already questioning his new leader's ability to get votes.

That old UBP gadfly Colin Benbow was especially vicious and called her "coy Pamela Gordon'' and "a political neophyte''. Has he ever met her? It appears unlikely.

Premier Gordon was only sworn in on Thursday. Where is the sense of fairness? Where is the grace of a honeymoon period? Bermudians do not like this kind of personal political confrontation and we believe they are hoping for "kinder gentler politics''.