Insight

Obama is correct.  He said, I see 'straight line' from Sarah Palin becoming VP nominee 'to what we see today' with Trump. 
Meanwhile, The Supreme Court begins its session without a ninth Associate Justice.  The Republican Congressional delegation is undermining a key component of the American democratic government.

Hillary Clinton

So much has already been written, it seems pointless to rehash.  I  rail about Donald Trump, his massive shortcomings and his reviling of other candidates.  I believe in Hillary Clinton as a candidate worthy of the Presidency.  That her views and knowledge of policy re ignored is a result of the press coverage of Trump's dominance.
Here's a link to an article that includes  video clip of Clinton answering  rabbi's question about balancing confidence and humility.  It is a Clinton that has been hidden and should be seen.  It will comfort to those on the fence who fer Trump but don't know the "real" HIllary.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2016/09/29/the-first-debate-was-a-defeat-for-trump-heres-why-the-second-could-be-an-outright-massacre/?tid=hybrid_experimentrandom_1_na&utm_term=.83e33d821859

Enough Said

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/10/01/us/politics/donald-trump-taxes.html

note that he did not show ny charitable (itemized) deductions, besides managing to take a $915 million loss

Tragedy

I saw a yard sign this afternoon.  "Hillary for Prison".  There is no reason for this.  This is taking our democratic process outside all bounds of decency.  This is a par with what Trump did years ago in New York city when he took out  full page ad in The New York Times condemning 5 African American teens who were accused of murder.  Eventually, after he ruined their lives, they were found innocent of the crime.  Even a sign like "down with Hillary" would be more acceptable, fine really.  This was a formal printed sign - not a homemade job.  Some group printed this sign.  This is not how American politics should be run. 
Trump has promoted this notion with his endless rants about "crooked Hillary" and encouraging his audience to disparage her in the basest terms.  And then he berates the media for dishonesty and declares that the system is rigged.
Our democracy is at risk.  In 2000, the Florida hanging chads took the Presidential election decision to the Supreme Court; since 2008 the Presidency of Barrack Obama has been undermined from the day Senator McConnell said he primary goal was to prevent Obama from achieving any policy change and to make Obama a one term President and by 2012 to undermine his second term with the question of his legitimacy as President.
Trump has already started to undermine a Hillary Clinton Presidency.  But he is really undermining our entire democratic form of government. 

Philadelphia Orchestra Musicians Strike

The musicians struck just before the annual Gala Opening concert.  Management puts out the view that management and musicians were not far apart in negotiations.  But the musicians' salaries are significantly below those of the Boston Symphony, a comparable orchestra.  The Philadelphia is one of the best orchestras in the country, even the world.  Comparable salaries will keep the Philadelphia at its level as the foremost cultural organization in Philadelphia, a vital component of the city's cultural life.
Not enough has been publicized of the 14% pay cut that the musicians took 3 years ago when the orchestra came out of their bankruptcy.   I seem to recall that restoration of their salaries was part of the plan at the time.  Here it is 3 years later and they are arguing for 3%.  Also, the orchestra has been downsized by a few fewer musicians.
The orchestra musicians have more concern for the quality of the orchestra than does the management.