SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 10:58 P.M. ET:

THE CAIN SAGA CONTINUES – More accusations were made against Herman Cain today, one by a former pollster for the National Restaurant Association, who says he witnessed inappropriate behavior by Cain toward women.  Cain has thus far not been able to get out from under the furor, in part because his replies to questions about the charges are often vague and contradictory.  Each of the new people making charges must be vetted.  Some appear to have possible political motivations.  Can Cain survive this onslaught?  Yes, he can survive, but, with new charges out there, the issue is how damaged his brand will be.

MORE WARMING BABBLE – A new exposé reported by Fox News charges that many reports written for the UN on climate change are actually written by graduate students with little experience in the field.  Despite recent attempts to show "hard" scientific proof of global warming, the entire climate change enterprise is coming under increasing scrutiny.  One physicist prominent in the field admitted that scientists often ally themselves with politicians who exaggerate the global warming issue because the scientists want a better world.  The issue, of course, is not whether there is climate change.  There always is.  The issue is the degree to which mankind causes the change, and what, if anything, can be done about it, or should be done about it.

MADNESS – General social conditions in Oakland, California, are bad enough, but the "occupy" movement is making them worse.  Today, several thousand of the "occupiers" shut down the Oakland port, the nation's fifth busiest.  Organizers said they wanted to stop the flow of capital, which is very intelligent.  Not.  Thus far America's cities have been remarkably indulgent toward the "occupy" movement, and the movement still gets some support from the usual suspects.  But jobs in the area of the protests are being lost because customer traffic is disrupted, and there is growing anger in many cities that the protests are doing serious harm, while not proposing any real ideas.  Mayor Bloomberg of New York is finally threatening to shut the protests down.  If he does it, other mayors will do it.

OBAMA BOOSTED – A new Quinnipiac survey shows President Obama gaining in public approval over the last month, although it's hard to figure out why.  Gaddafi's death may be involved, as well as the belief among some that Obama, no matter how bad, is better than any of his rivals.  According to Quinnipiac, 47% of Americans approve of Obama's performance, while 49% disapprove.  Some 47% of respondents say Obama deserves to be re-elected.  So, while the president starts his campaign behind in the polls, he isn't in terrible shape.  Republican squabbling isn't helping our side, nor is the lack of a clear, coherent Republican message that the majority of Americans can embrace.

November 2, 2011