SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:56 P.M. ET: 

STUPIDITY – FROM FOX:  In a textbook example of why Facebook users should pause for a moment of reflection before they post, a Democratic candidate for Ohio governor sought Friday to get ahead of any potential sex scandals by announcing the details of his relationships with 50 women. The sexcapade diary was in response to the Al Franken scandal, and included a hayloft romp with a "gorgeous blonde" and a fling with a "redhead from Cleveland."  “Now that the dogs of war are calling for the head of Senator Al Franken I believe it is time to speak up on behalf of all heterosexual males,” Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O’Neill posted on Facebook. “As a candidate for Governor let me save my opponents some research time.”  O’Neill went on to say: “In the last fifty years I was sexually intimate with approximately 50 very attractive females. It ranged from a gorgeous blonde who was my first true love and we made passionate love in the hayloft of her parent’s barn and ended with a drop dead gorgeous redhead from Cleveland.”...The post was met with a cascade of stunned criticism, with users offering commentary ranging from "Mother of God" to "What did I just read" to "Dear god please tell me your facebook account was hacked."  Bad enough he's running for governor.  This man is on the Ohio Supreme Court.  Will the Dems do a thing about him?

WHY, THEY ALL DO IT, DON'T THEY? – FROM HUFFINGTON POST:   Lilian Adams and Zoey Jordan Salsbury were teenagers when they started working on opposite sides of the 2016 Democratic presidential primary. Adams, then 19, joined Hillary Clinton’s campaign and Salsbury, then 18, joined Sen. Bernie Sanders’ campaign. They were ready to make the world a better place by helping to elect their candidate.  But each woman says she was sexually harassed by a fellow campaign worker — and that both campaigns were ill-equipped to address the allegations. Their stories show how political campaigns can prey on the same young people who power them with their work and energy.  Even as Adams and Salsbury came forward to tell their stories, each requested that her alleged harasser not be named, citing safety and professional concerns.  So Hillary and Bernie have some explaining to do.  But wait a second.  Shouldn't we have some understanding here about what sexual harassment really is?  We're in a kind of Salem Witch Trials Moment, and it's time for some cool heads to prevail.  Don't depend on the mainstream media to be responsible, but each of us can take care not to accept wild or unsubstantiated charges.

HOLIDAY MANNERS – FROM REUTERS:   NEW YORK (Reuters) - Americans will sit down next week for what has become a holiday tradition in the United States: tiptoeing through a turkey dinner without mentioning the president.  Nearly one-third of all adults will actively avoid political conversations when they see friends and family over the Thanksgiving and December holidays, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Friday. About half said they do not expect to discuss politics at all.  The Nov. 8-13 poll found that a majority of Americans consider politics to be among their "least favorite" topics to discuss in mixed company over the holidays.  That's wise.  Just avoid it.  No reason to get into a family feud and waste a good turkey.  Besides, we all realize we know more than our relatives anyway.  I will restrict my comments to pithy observations about Christopher Columbus.  Oh wait.  I'll pick someone else. 

November 17,  2017