Tired out from the election, covid, the countdown? Read a slightly different take on it all in Random Thoughts, a column by Rocci Fisch who has a little something to say about practically everything.

1. The press is . . . about three current “scandals” facing the Obama administration:  the IRS  under fire for targeting conservatives, the aftermath of the raid on Benghazi  (again) and Associated Press phone records  seized involving an al-Qaeda plot.
2. . . . . Their mouths are watering.  They smell a rat.
3. . . . . A friend of mine called them the “gutter” press. 

1. President Obama said at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner over the weekend that for his second term he wanted a little burst of energy and a bit of change for his next four years.
2. . . . So he “grew” bangs to look like wife Michelle did when she needed some change.
3. . . . Pictures of the chief executive were Photoshopped and bangs were put on his head that they showed on big TV screens in the room (Washington Hilton Hotel).
4. . . . He got laughs.  It was silly and funny.

1. . . . Christmas tree, that is.
2. . . . Somebody told me it’s okay since Jan. 6 – today -- was the “official” end of Christmas, the Feast of the Epiphany, the Twelfth Day of Christmas.
3. . . . So I’m not so late.  
4. . . . “On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . 

1. . . . Congress,  that is.  The plaintiffs came back from Christmas break to deal with the budget package so the country doesn’t fall off the cliff.
2. . . . Now here comes the judge.  (“Here Comes the Judge” – Pigmeat Markham, 1968 on Chess Records and by Shorty Long on Soul Records, also 1968 – two separate songs.)
3. . . . Speaker of the House John Boehner likes holding up a giant gavel that’s as big as a croquet mallet to show that he’s still in charge even though a plan he had on the docket for tax hikes was rejected by conservatives.

1. . . . “I’m 22.  I’m all over the place, so my record (new album“Red”)  is all over the place.”
2. . . . An advertising blitz.
3. . . . That’s an understatement.

1. “This storm is a monster,” said George Stephanopoulos in one breath and in the next got right down to politics and began talking with “This Week” first guest of the morning, Stephanie Cutter, Obama’s deputy campaign manager, who appears on anything at the drop of a hat.
2. . . . To get the message out.
3. . . .  “George,” as ABC always affectionately refers to him, talks fast, likes to move things right along -- at breakneck speed with hardly a pause at the end of a sentence.  Barely time to take a breath.

1. PRE-SHOW:  Katherine Schwarzenegger, along with sometime co-host Chris Jacobs, gave a preview on the debate on Entertainment Tonight, Hollywood style.  She must be a “contributor” to the show;  they’re a dime a dozen.  
2. . . . She looks just like her mother Maria.  She’s got the looks and the dangling hair, except her tresses are dark.
3. . . . “The debate tonight may decide the election,” she predicted.
4. . . . Brilliant.

1. . . . The Brad Pitt TV ad for Chanel #5 perfume.

2. . . . He’s the new face of the “eau de parfum.” Gimme a Break!

3. . . . It’s arty. Done in black and white. The lighting keeps changing dramatically, like the wind blowing in.

1. Yeah, yeah, yeah.  Romney's gotta show he has emotions.  Haven't we learned he’s a feelin’ man over the past couple of weeks?

2. . . . It'll be 65 degrees in the hall.  That's what the candidates agreed upon.

3. . . . Nevertheless, “The Heat Is On” (Glenn Frey, on MCA Records, from 1985).