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

RIGHT ON, GUV! – FROM NEWSMAX:   New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he will not allow New York City's Christopher Columbus statue to be removed under his watch.  "As long as I am governor of the great State of New York, there will be a statue of Christopher Columbus standing tall and proud in the city of New York," Cuomo said Saturday night at a function, according to the blog State of Politics.  How often do we get the chance to praise a Democrat here?  Good going, Andy...although this may end your 2020 presidential chances.

THE DISGRACE – FROM CNN:   Washington (CNN) Many Democratic office holders were quick to repudiate disgraced Hollywood executive Harvey Weinstein following a bombshell report detailing decades of alleged sexual harassment.  But former Democratic Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, as well as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton -- all of whom have longstanding ties to Weinstein, a major Democratic Party fundraiser -- have not publicly addressed the accusations.  Representatives for the Clintons have not responded to comment for this story, and Obama's office declined to comment. The recent report in The New York Times cataloged accusations of sexual harassment against the filmmaker that spanned three decades. Three days after the report, Weinstein was fired by the company he co-founded.  Longtime Hillary Clinton aides have been confused by the former secretary of state's silence on the issue, questioning -- in private -- why she has not weighed in at all.  Hypocrisy, my friends.  Just standard Democratic Party hypocrisy.

A HAT IN THE RING? – FROM CBS NEWS:  Disney CEO Bob Iger would not confirm or deny rumors yet again about a potential presidential run in 2020. He is set to step down from the company in 2019.   According to the LA Times, during a discussion at Vanity Fair's New Establishment Summit in Los Angeles last week, a Vanity Fair reporter inquired of the audience if they would support an Iger run for office, leading to a round of applause.   "That sounds tepid — so maybe that's a sign," Iger responded. "And my wife is out there somewhere and I can guarantee that she's not cheering," he added.  "I will figure it out when I have to figure it out."  The magazine had previously asked Iger of his political ambitions back in May, which the CEO also deflected.   Mickey Mouse could not be reached for comment.

October 9, 2017