SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 8:11 P.M. ET:

OCTOBER SURPRISE? – This can be serious.  There's a story circulating that Gloria Allred, the publicity-hound California lawyer and Democratic Party activist, will be headed to a Massachusetts court tomorrow morning to ask that Mitt Romney's testimony in a case be unsealed, and that a gag order be lifted allowing parties in the case to speak about Romney.  Allred, who was an Obama delegate to the Charlotte convention, is said to be representing one of the parties.  Her move had been anticipated on The Drudge Report several days ago.  Allred dragged a woman before TV cameras two years ago to discredit Republican Meg Whitman's campaign for governor of California.  In an Obama political campaign in Illinois, sealed court records were miraculously unsealed, allowing Obama to destroy an opponent with the charges the records contained.  I'd watch this closely.  I assume the Romney lawyers are on the case.

POLLS ALIGNING? – We saw today the remarkable alignment of the Gallup and Rasmussen trackers, which are tracking likely voters.  Gallup now has Romney up by five, Rasmussen by four.  Both have Obama exactly at 46%.  With Obama not able to reach 50% in either of these two major polls, is the handwriting on the wall?  We'll be watching the state polls, but be aware that polling methods must be examined closely in those polls to see if Democrats are being overcounted.

MULLAHS PANIC – It is reported by Powerline that Iran's mullahs are panicked over the prospect of a Romney victory.  The country's Press TV claims that Romney will steal the election using “black-box” voting machines that “manufacture election outcomes.”   Press TV also says that the GOP is “backed by the world’s biggest crime syndicate.”  It says Romney owns the "black-box" voting machines in Ohio that will determine the outcome of the race.  I never knew it would be this easy.  Oh, the Iranians also predict that riots will break out if Romney is declared the winner.  Press TV will probably now get awards from American journalism schools.

LEATHERNECKS MIFFED – Some U.S. Marines are chiding President Obama for a comment he made during last night's debate, to the effect that bayonets were obsolete weapons from the horse-and-buggy age.  It turns out that the Marines still use bayonets today, and consider them effective weapons and hand tools.  From the official Marine website:   “From 500 yards, every Marine is accurate with a rifle. Attach the OKC-3S Bayonet, and the weapon becomes just as effective in close combat situations. Also a Marine's multi-purpose fighting knife, the OKC-3S is the weapon of choice when shots can't be fired. Every Marine receives bayonet training in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) and on the Bayonet Assault Course in Recruit Training.”  Obama should read up, but demi-gods don't have to read anything.

October 23,  2012