SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 10:45 P.M. ET:

CHRISTIE? – The big political buzz tonight is that Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey is reconsidering his decision not to run for president, at least according to some sources.  Christie is a conservative favorite because of his budget-cutting and confrontational attitude toward anyone who disagrees with him.  Frankly, I hope he doesn't run.  We'll be discussing this at Urgent Agenda if the story turns out to have legs, but I will argue that Christie, despite doing some good things in New Jersey, just isn't on a presidential level. 

PERRY'S ORDEAL – It may be unfair, but the internet has been savaging Rick Perry all day long over his debate performance last night.  This is what happens when someone enters a presidential race with such huge expectations, and then disappoints.  There are many fine things about Perry, but he doesn't seem able to bring them out, and he's now had three debate chances.  People envision him debating Barack Obama, today's version of Slick Willy, and the image isn't good.  Perry will get several more debate chances, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Mitt Romney rise in the polls, despite the general lack of enthusiasm for him.

AH, REHABILITATION – A new USA/Gallup survey reports that a majority of Americans think Obama is about the same or worse than George W. Bush as president.  Thus, the rehabilitation of Bush has begun.  Obama performed especially poorly among independents, who are a decisive vote in any presidential election.  I'd love to see a poll matching Obama with Reagan.  Now just how do you think that would turn out?

THEATER OF THE ABSURD - The Palestinians presented their case for UN recognition of Palestinian statehood, bypassing negotiations with Israel, at the General Assembly today, which whooped it up in support of the idea.  Among the whoopers were such notable democracies as Syria and Egypt, and third-world groupies like South Africa.  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the General Assembly the "theater of the absurd," and he's right.  It's a place where dictators are loved and democracies suspected.  It is dominated by Muslim states, old Communist states, goofball regimes like Venezuela and Cuba, and third-world ramshackle countries that work hard to stay third world.  Not a place for respectable people, although the food in the cafeteria is supposed to be pretty good.

September 23, 2011