SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:51 P.M. ET: 

BOMBING IN NEW YORK – FROM THE NEW YORK POST:   A “deafening’’ explosion rocked Chelsea Saturday night, injuring 29 people, blowing out scores of windows and forcing the evacuation of at least two buildings.  The blast went off in a 4-by-4-by-3-foot construction Dumpster outside the Townhouse Inn of Chelsea at 131 W. 23d St.  Mayor de Blasio called the explosion an “intentional act,’’ but not believed to be connected to terrorism.   No, of course not.  Why would anyone think it would be?  Oh, a second device was found blocks away, built around a pressure cooker, as was the device that was set off during the Boston Marathon.  No terrorism, no terrorism.  Probably just a marginalized citizen striking back against capitalism.

THE EGO HAS LANDED – FROM THE HILL:   President Obama called on the black community to show Hillary Clinton the same support they did for him in an impassioned speech at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation gala Saturday night.  “We have achieved historic turnout in 2008 and 2012, especially in the African-American community. I will consider it a personal insult and an insult to my legacy if this community lets down its guard and fails to activate itself in this election," he said. "You want to give me a good send-off?  Go vote."  Yes, he actually said that.  It's all about Barack (come to save us), not about the country.   You are my people, I am your king.  Honor me.  Oh, go away already.

AND ANOTHER – FROM FOX:   A knife-wielding man who injured eight people at a mall in central Minnesota Saturday evening asked at least one victim whether they were Muslim and referenced Allah during the assault, authorities said Wednesday.  St. Cloud Police Chief William Blair Anderson said the suspect, whom he did not identify, was shot and killed by an off-duty police officer from another jurisdiction. All but one of the eight victims had been treated and released from a local hospital and all were expected to survive their injuries.  Nothing to see, nothing to see.   No chance it's terrorism.  Let's talk about global warming.

September 17, 2016