Page 1 Consider (09/06)

Tears of a Clown: President Bush tells biographer: "I do tears." Yeah, so do I. For about six and a half years I've been "doing" them over what's become of the Clinton years and I'm really getting angry about it. Bush added to Troop Surge PR campaign: "I've got God's shoulder to cry on. And I cry a lot. I do a lot of crying in this job. I'll bet I've shed more tears than you can count, as president. I'll shed some tomorrow." (AP)

Checkered Past: Growing up I always thought life in Manhattan was one big cab ride. Then I moved here and found the subway was a much more cost-efficient way to get around on a struggling editor's salary. These days I'm struggling a little less, but I've come to realize the subway is the only way to get around this crazy town. Cabs stink, have drivers who talk on the phone endlessly, are (still) expensive, and just don't get you where you want to go as efficiently as the train. So last night I got out after 2 a.m. (I was filling in for the late guy and then Pavarotti died) and knowing that the A train comes pretty much on the hour and then not again for 20 minutes or more I did something I have never done in four-plus years at this job -- I jumped into a cab. (No traffic at 2:15 a.m., right?) Would you believe there's a cab strike and the drivers can charge pretty much whatever they like?! (NYT)

Grand Old Bore: Fred Thompson needlessly enters the presidential debate. Can you say Bob Dole with an extra good arm? (NYT)

Murder in SoHo: Another Manhattan murder mystery has cops eyeing the ex-beau. (NYP)

They Came From Planet Claire: The B-52's are touring again! (NYM) (TicketMaster)

Scheck Be Damned: Forget the DNA, they're retrying this guy. (NYT)

RIP: Miyoshi Umeki, who I grew up adoring as Mrs. Livingston on "The Courtship of Eddie's Father," died on Aug. 28 in Licking, Mo. She was 78. Umeki won an Oscar in 1957 for her work in "Sayonara." Her son said she had never liked talking about her career, which she left because she wanted to live as a wife and mother. (That's sooo Mrs. Livingston!) She will be missed. (NYT)