SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:46 P.M. ET: 

CHEERS FOR TRUMP – He and Mike Pence were together in Ohio for Labor Day.  From NBC Local:   YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -  Days of rumor turned into reality on Labor Day, as Donald Trump and running mate Mike Pence stopped by the Canfield Fair. Two planes, one with the Trump logo and other marked "Trump Pence" landed at the Youngstown Warren Regional Airport shortly after 1:30 p.m., arriving from Cleveland where the Republican candidate attended a previous campaign event.  The entourage carrying the two members of the GOP presidential ticket arrived to crowds of people at around 3 p.m.  Donald Trump was greeted by a crowd of thousands as he pulled into the Canfield Fair.  Many people just happy to get a glimpse of the man who could be the next President of the United States.  While some people wore Trump 2016 shirts, others chanted Trump 2016 as his motorcade pulled into the fair grounds.  Clearly, Trump is in a different place from where he was three weeks ago.  He's beginning to sound like a real presidential candidate.  If he can maintain his discipline – a big if – he may take this all the way.  But as he gains, watch the mainstream media push back.  They're probably looking through his family's garbage cans right now.

IS SHE CRAZY? – FROM REUTERS:  US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said on Monday she will not accept an invitation by Mexico's president, Enrique Pena Nieto, for a visit after rival Donald Trump created what she called a "diplomatic incident" in his foray there.  In a written excerpt from an interview with ABC News that will air Tuesday morning, Clinton simply said "no" when asked if she would travel to Mexico before the election on Nov. 8, without elaborating further.  What?  That is the strangest response.  You'd think she'd want to go to Mexico and try to upstage Trump, who went just recently.  Certainly she'd get a warmer reception, something to take home to Hispanics in the United States.  Her refusal raises serious questions about the kind of judgments being made inside her campaign.  Or is there a health issue?

GOOD FOR HIM – FROM REUTERS:   U.S. President Barack Obama cancelled his first meeting with Philippines counterpart Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday after the blunt-spoken Duterte described him as a "son of a bitch," casting a shadow over a gathering of Asian leaders in Laos.  Duterte, who has been roundly criticised abroad for a "war on drugs" that has killed about 2,400 people since he took office two months ago, said hours later that he regretted his comments "came across as a personal attack" on the U.S. president.  "President Duterte explained that the press reports that President Obama would 'lecture' him on extrajudicial killings led to his strong comments, which in turn elicited concern," the Philippines government said.  "He regrets that his remarks to the press have caused much controversy," it added in a statement released at the summit in Vientiane, the capital of Laos.  We don't normally praise Obama here, for there's so little to praise.  But for once he showed some backbone.  Of course, the vile words were directed at him personally, rather than at the United States, which is probably why he showed the backbone.  But at least it's something.

September 5, 2016