SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:44 P.M. ET:

GOOD-TIME CHARLIE – Mayor Bloomberg of New York is predicting riots in the streets of America if the jobs picture does not improve.  He could, of course, be right.  There is economic tension in America, and it could boil over, as it did in industrial strikes of the 1930s.  However, Mayor Goofball has it a bit off when he warns about college graduates rioting because they don't have jobs.  It's not the prissies from Princeton that I'm worried about.  He also compares our situation with Cairo and Madrid.  I don't think so.  The mayor's warning is appropriate.  Some of his analysis reflects his flight from reality.

COMPETING WITH THE WORLD – It's good to know that some educators understand how serious is the need for educated citizens in a competititve world economy.  So, to meet the challenge, Nashville schools will soon begin teaching songwriting, rock band, and hip-hop performance, as well as the economy-changing disciplines of recording and disc jockey remixing.  (I am not making this up.  The story is here.)  We have no doubt that Nashville graduates will now go to the top of the list of those ready to compete in a world of computers, energy development, advanced medicine and wireless communications.  Federal aid, no doubt, will be available.

FEINSTEIN SLIPS IN CALIFORNIA – Democratic stalwart Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, historically one of the most popular politicians in the state, is watching her approval rating take a nose dive.  It's down to 41% in the Field poll, the lowest of her Senate career, which spans three terms.  The GOP does not yet have a clear candidate to run against her next year, but there is talk that Michael Reagan might jump in.  Even with Feinstein's new vulnerability, running against her will be an uphill struggle in a state that has become reliably Democratic.  Michael Reagan is not his father, and I'm not sure the family name means all that much in California these days.

NEW POLL RESULTS – A new CBS News/New York Times poll, out tonight, shows Rick Perry and Mitt Romney pulling away from the GOP presidential field.  President Obama scored a 43% approval rating, the lowest he's had in this poll's history.  Polls are always snapshots in time, but these results make us wonder whether Sarah Palin, who's had a very good week, will think the numbers provide her with an opening to shake up the race.

September 16, 2011