SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 9:28 P.M. ET:

THE POLLING WEIRDNESS – We continue to follow the strange results of the last five days in tracking polls.  As noted, Romney dropped six points in the Rasmussen tracker, but gained in the Gallup tracker.  Romney continues two points ahead with Gallup.  However, we did note today that the approval/disapproval ratings of President Obama are dead even with Gallup.  Earlier in the week the disapproval side led.  So, on balance, not a good week for Romney in the trackers.  Has the selection of Paul Ryan hurt?  We'll wait a bit to see other poll results. 

ROMNEY MOVED QUICKLY – to disassociate himself and Paul Ryan from an utterly goofball comment made by the Republican candidate for the US Senate in Missouri, Congressman Todd Akin.  This seat is held by the ultra-vulnerable Claire McCaskill, and should be an easy turnover.  But the GOP, as it did in some states in 2012, has nominated an apparent whack job whose latest brilliant thought is that few rapes result in unwanted pregnancies because women have a built-in defense mechanism against that.  He actually said, "If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down."  He has since apologized, but the damage is done.  While Romney immediately disowned the remark, it can still haunt him if he's asked directly whether he still supports Akin.  Self-destruction cost the GOP control of the Senate in 2010.  Some never learn.

CORRUPTION – Emory University, a fine school in Atlanta, is the latest to admit that some of its officials faked reports of student achievement for a decade to make the school look better.  I have a hunch that this happens far more often than is admitted, but Emory is to be commended for coming out with it.  Academic corruption is a major problem, but is rarely delved into by a mainstream press whose members sit around waiting for those honorary degrees and those invitations to deliver commencement addresses.  The relationship between the press and universities is far too cozy, and allows very bad stuff to happen.

August 19, 2012