The End of the 60s: Charles Manson, the mastermind behind a 1969 Los Angeles cult murder spree that shook the country, has died at age 83. The victims included the pregnant actress Sharon Tate, wife of the film director Roman Polanski and four guests in their home. The following night, Manson’s gang randomly murdered a wealthy grocer named Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary in their home.

The murder trial delved deeply into the dark side of the era, the failures of the culture of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n roll. Manson was a semi-literate low-level criminal with a wild-eyed hypnotic personality. He had a following mostly of young women who said they loved him and carried out his orders to kill. Together, they said they were trying to start a race war inspired by the Beatles song, “Helter Skelter.”

Manson and four members of his group were sentenced to death, later reduced to life in prison when the death penalty was outlawed in California. While in prison he carved and tattooed a swastika between his eyebrows.

One of the killers, Leslie Van Houten said many years later, “I believed that he was Jesus Christ. I bought into it lock, stock and barrel.”

The Weinstein Effect: A staff member told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that Sen. Al Franken has no intention to resign following an accusation of sexual harassment. “He is spending time with his family in Washington, DC, and will be through the Thanksgiving holiday,” the staffer said by text, “and he’s doing a lot of reflecting.”

The former comedian, one of the most famous alumni of “Saturday Night Live,” was treated without mercy Saturday night. “Weekend Update” host Colin Jost, referring to the picture of Franken reaching for the breasts of radio host Leeann Tweeden, said, “Now, I know this photo looks bad, but remember, it also is bad. And sure, this was taken before Franken ran for public office, but it was also taken after he was a sophomore in high school.”

The fallout continues. Actor Jeffrey Tambor says he’s leaving the Amazon series “Transparent” after he was accused of the sexual harassment of two colleagues. “That I would deliberately harass anyone is simply and utterly untrue,” he said, “Given the politicized atmosphere that seems to have afflicted our set, I don’t see how I can return to Transparent.”

God and Alabama: President Trump has stayed out of the fray over Judge Roy Moore’s run for senate in Alabama. But White House Legislative Director Marc Short said on ABC News, if Trump “did not believe the women’s accusations were credible, he would be down campaigning for Roy Moore.”

The Birmingham News ran a front page editorial urging Alabama voters to reject Moore next month. Six women have accused Moore of pursuing, or even molesting them, when they were teenagers and he was in his 30s.

The editorial says, “We each know someone in our lives who is a survivor of sexual assault or child abuse. Many of us are still searching for the words needed to tell our own stories and some may never find that voice. This election is about them.”

It goes on, “A vote for Roy Moore sends the worst kind of message to Alabamians struggling with abuse: ‘if you ever do tell your story, Alabama won’t believe you.’”

The American President: No fight is too petty for President Trump. After LaVar Ball said Trump wasn’t much help getting his son out of China, the president tweeted, “Now that the three basketball players are out of China and saved from years in jail, LaVar Ball, the father of LiAngelo, is unaccepting of what I did for his son and that shoplifting is no big deal. I should have left them in jail!”

LiAngelo Ball and two other UCLA players admitting shoplifting at three stores in Shanghai. Trump was still picking at the issue last night. “Should have gotten his son out during my next trip to China instead.”

In an unrelated appearance on Fox News, Trump’s son Eric — “And I’m Eric” — said his father’s administration is “protecting the free world against lunacy.”

Tusk, Tusk: Well, maybe he’s not so crazy after all. In a break with his big-game hunting sons Don, Jr. and Eric, Trump tweeted that he’s likely to maintain the ban on importing elephant hunting trophies to the US. “Big-game trophy decision will be announced next week but will be very hard pressed to change my mind that this horror show in any way helps conservation of Elephants or any other animal.”

International Affairs: Zimbabwe’s 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe says he’s not going to quit. In a television address he said he’s going to preside over a ruling party congress in December.

It’s an odd situation. Mugabe is held under house arrest by the military, but he was allowed to make a national television address. He’s basically a dictator, but now legislators are considering impeaching him.

The Obit Page: Country music singer/songwriter Mel Tillis has died at age 85. He wrote the lasting heartbreak hit, “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town.” He had a bad stutter when he spoke, but never when he sang.

Early Riser: President Trump was up and self-promoting early on Twitter this morning. “Under President Trump unemployment rate will drop below 4%. Analysts predict economic boom for 2018!”

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