SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 8:31 P.M. ET:

CAIN, THE UPDATE – It doesn't stop.  Now Herman Cain is under attack for calling Nancy Pelosi "Princess Nancy" during the debate last night.  He's apologized, but some commentators, like Gloria Borger and Donna Brazille on CNN, claim it represents his attitude toward women.  I don't think so, but the story must be milked. At the same time, conservative writer Ann Coulter has noticed something that's been overlooked – that the women who've come forward to accuse Cain all trace their alleged contact with him to the three years he spent at the National Restaurant Association.  Cain is 65.  What happened during the other 62 years?   Why no charges?  Coulter points out that all the women also originate in Chicago, the political base of one Barack Obama, and that David Axelrod and the Chicago machine have a history of digging out sex accusations against anyone they oppose.  Hmm.  Where there's smoke, is there fire?  I'm not sayin', I'm not sayin'.   

CHAVEZ GOING? – It's reported that Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez, a devoted enemy of the United States and an ally of Iran, is fading fast.  Chavez is a cancer patient.  Roger Noriega, former U.S. ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS) reports that doctors treating Chavez don't expect him to live more than six months.  Chavez, by contrast, has announced that he's been healed.  Noriega also reports that Chavez has chosen a course of treatment designed, not to truly fight his disease, but to keep him functioning publicly.  There is no informed speculation that I've read as to who would take Chavez's place when he dies.  We would hope, of course, that the close relationship between Venezuela and Iran would end.

BOTCHING IRAN – It's hard to accept it, but France is taking a tougher line on the Iranian nuclear program than is our own government.  A French foreign policy official said today that France takes the new UN report on Iranian nuclear development very seriously and is prepared to propose tough, non-military action.  At the same time, the official said that if Israel decided to attack, France would "understand," a kind of wink-and-nod green light.  American officials are making confusing, weak statements.  Secretary of Defense Panetta, basically a good guy, gave a public comment outlining all the bad things a military attack on Iran could produce.  He may well have made some good points, but by seeming to take an attack off the table, it weakens our hand generally, and makes us look like the second-rate power Obama is turning us into.  If I were in Tehran, I'd be pleased.

REAL CLASS – The occupy movement, some of whose members actually raised some thoughtful points in the movement's first days, is degenerating into the same old 1960s story – a movement controlled by radical, adolescent elements.  CBS is reporting that a new "occupy" plan calls for crashing the Rose Parade in Pasadena on New York's Day.  As you know, the Rose Parade is a serious threat to the republic and equal rights.  One of the complaints of the organizers is the "militarization" of the parade.  Yes sirree, all America will be demanding war once a Marine band marches by, especially if it's playing the militaristic "America the Beautiful."  Geez.

November 10, 2011