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

AT LEAST SHE'S GRACIOUS – From Fox:   One of the New York judges who helped send a suspected cop killer to rehab instead of jail five months ago said Friday that the deadly shooting "breaks her heart" and that she is "truly sorry."  Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Patricia Nuñez told The New York Post that she will address the issue further at a Nov. 12 court date for the suspect, Tyrone Howard. The paper reported that Howard was freed despite a history of three felony sale convictions and the urging of prosecutors in the drug case.  Officer Randolph Holder's killing Tuesday has raised questions about the risks and potential shortcomings of drug courts, or drug diversion programs, which have been embraced nationwide as a way to ease jail overcrowding and reduce crime by attacking it at one of its sources: drug abuse.  At least the judge is being gracious about it, and understands that a justice system must correct its flaws.  Barack Obama, who openly embraces the "black lives matter" movement, has not even mentioned Officer Holder, who is black. 

GREAT MOMENTS IN MEDICINE – From Breitbart:   A new study shows that more than two-thirds — some 69 percent – of patients using anti-depressants do not actually meet the criteria for depressive disorder.  The study, which appears in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, finds that many individuals who are prescribed and take antidepressant medications may not actually have a depressive disorder, and that such drugs are often used by patients who do not meet the diagnostic criteria of depression.  According to the research, among the users of antidepressant medications, 69 percent never met the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD), and 38 percent also never met those for obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social phobia, or generalized anxiety disorder – for which the antidepressant medications are sometimes prescribed.  Other factors, however, unrelated to depression, were found to be associated with the use of antidepressants.  “Caucasian ethnicity, recent or current physical problems (eg, loss of bladder control, hypertension, and back pain), and recent mental health facility visits were associated with antidepressant use in addition to mental disorders,” say the researchers.  I'd also add, from my scientific research, realization that Barack Obama is president and that Hillary Clinton might be.

WEIRD, REALLY WEIRD – From The Hill:  Democratic primary front-runner Hillary Clinton says the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) scandal is not as “widespread” a problem as coverage of the incident would indicate.  She said the problem is real, but cautioned that “it’s not been as widespread as it has been made out to be” on MSNBC’s “Rachel Maddow Show” on Friday.  The former first lady blamed Republicans for using the issue as part of an “ideological agenda” and said they want the VA to “fail.”  “Now nobody would believe that from the coverage you see, and the constant berating of the VA that comes from the Republicans, in – in part in pursuit of this ideological agenda that they have,” Clinton said.  Man, that is weird.  Everyone knows the VA is in serious trouble, and has let veterans down.  And there's Hillary, acting as if it's all part of the great right-wing conspiracy.  She's out of date and out of her mind.  Even Joe Biden warned last week about regarding political opponents as enemies, which gets you into Nixon territory.  I guess Hillary never got the memo...or the e-mail.

October 24, 2015