SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 9:48 P.M. ET:

PRECISION OF LANGUAGE – In a campaign interview with a St. Louis radio station, President Obama referred to Admiral William McRaven, the Navy officer who directed the bin Laden raid, as "General McRaven."  Well, we have admirals and generals, and they are not the same.  Had George W. Bush said this about one of the country's best-known military officers, it would have been on every network and in every mainstream newspaper.  But I had to read about it in a British publication.  So much for journalism.

MISSOURI MELTDOWN – A new Rasmussen poll has Republican uber-goofball Todd Akin ten points behind unpopular Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill in Missouri, following Akin's awful comments about rape.  But Akin still refuses to withdraw, despite the entreaties of leading Republicans.  His ego is out of control.  This was supposed to be a safe Republican pickup before Akin imploded.  (He was ten points ahead a few weeks ago.)  Best thing would be to write off the seat, shun Akin, make it clear he has no future unless he withdraws, and fight for another seat somewhere else.  I have a hunch – only a hunch – that Akin will be taken for a walk, shown the light, and that he will get out of the race.

ROMNEY ROMPS IN FOX POLL – A new Fox poll just out has Mitt Romney in the lead, nationally, for the first time.  Romney gets 45% to Obama's 44%.  The poll was taken among likely voters, generally the most precise gauge of the electorate.  Independents back Romney 42-32, but one in four is undecided.  Romney has made gains in the polls in recent days, but the overall race is still much too close to call.

IRAN MOVES FORWARD – Reuters is reporting that Iran is expanding its underground nuclear operations, making an attack on the country's nuclear program that much more difficult.  The report comes on the heels of a major conference of "non-aligned" (read that "anti-Western") countries in Tehran, which will be attended by the UN secretary-general, despite requests by the U.S. that he stay home.  It is increasingly clear that diplomacy with Iran has failed, and that the country will have its nuclear bomb, in the absence of more drastic measures. 

August 23, 2012