SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 8:48 P.M. ET:  

COWARDLY! – I recall, as I'm sure many of you do, how we used to have contempt for men who hid behind women's skirts.  Today Hillary Clinton said on CNN that she took full responsibility for what happened at Benghazi, Libya, on September 11th, when four Americans, including our ambassador were murdered.  Hillary, who has done much for her boss, the president, was being the good soldier.  But her statement is sickening.  It is Barack Obama who, as commander-in-chief, should have told the American people that he takes full responsibility.  That is what leaders of character do.  It is what President Kennedy did after the Bay of Pigs failure in 1961,   Sending his cabinet officer to take responsibility tells me everything I need to know about Barack Hussein Obama Jr.  He is a coward, unfit to lead.

WHAT WOMEN KNOW – A new Gallup survey shows that women are starting to turn against President Obama.  It is a stunning result.  In the 12 swing states Romney is within one point of Obama among likely women voters.  Women have been, until now, part of Obama's base.  But women have suffered disproportionately in this weak economy, and analysts, even beyond Gallup, say women are increasingly drawn to Romney's economic leadership. I'd imagine Obama's latest gimmick – throwing Hillary under the bus, won't help him with the female voter.

THE UGLY – There is a growing undercurrent in the shadows of political discourse in this country to the effect that there could be "trouble" if Barack Obama is not re-elected.  There are a number of disturbing messages on Twitter from people identifying themselves as Obama supporters.  So far the White House has not commented.  If the undercurrent grows, Obama will have to make his disapproval clear.  I have heard disgraceful comments on MSNBC by some of their "commentators," who take almost any criticism of the president as "racist."  African-Americans are not well served by such inflammatory nonsense.

HUH? – A new Pew poll says that a plurality of Americans still believes that Obama will win tomorrow night's debate.  The numbers are 41 for Obama, 37 for Romney.  That's quite a comedown for Obama.  Before the first debate some 51% thought Obama would win, compared with 29% for Romney.  Romney's great strength in debates is his superb preparation, which leads to a sense that he is in command.  He simply knows far more than Obama, and has the capacity to turn that knowledge into a powerful debating weapon.  Romney was also able to counter, at the first debate, the notion that he is some kind of capitalist monster.  The Obamans will try to paint that picture again tomorrow night.

October 15, 2012