Here is a clip of what one flustered CNN anchor calls “two guys pretending to console each other” after yesterday’s carnage on Wall Street. (SHHH DON’T TELL ANYONE IT IS SOME SORT OF HOWARD STERN PRANK.) After the jump, Hurricane Ike comes to town … in a bear suit. MORE »

MORE »

• Reliable Source: Laura Bush makes quick trip to Georgetown Pottery Barn. . . Oprah spotted at D.C. L.A. D.C. gym. [uhm...yeah.] [stupid gym name.]. . Readers try to decipher Richard Clarke’s fictional characters. [WP]
• Cindy Adams: Barbara Streisand reportedly turned down Kennedy Center Honor in anti-Bush move. . . Jeanine Pirro thought to leave Senate race on December 12th. [NYP]
• Rush & Molloy: Jeb Bush is “flattered” by Fidel Castro’s fat joke. [NYDN]
• Lloyd Grove’s Lowdown: Howard Stern on Iraq: “We give Saddam Hussein a nice shave, hand him back his old uniform, and put him back in office. . . This guy was unbelievable.” [NYDN]

• John Mercurio leaves CNN for Hotline. [FishbowlDC]
• Speaking of not long for CNN, Jon Klein better watch his back: CourtTV’s Henry Schleiff might be leaving the bench. [NYO]
• FCC to give Howard Stern a great bleeping good-bye present? [NYP]
• “Since it appeared in Romenesko … I felt it was important to respond.” [Boston Phoenix]
• By the time you finish this tick-tock of the CIA investigation, it will be over. [LAT]