Donald Trump Says 'Second Amendment People' Can Stop Hillary Clinton's Supreme Court Picks (VIDEO)

It wasn't anything resembling a threat.

It's 100 percent clear he's referring to "Second Amendment people" as an interest group that would mobilize against Hillary Clinton on Supreme Court nominations.

But if Trump makes an off-the-cuff remark, leftists will pounce, and media lapdogs will regurgitate the lies.

And so it happened again today. On this one, though, I expect a lot of regular folks to be angry at how the media's spinning it.

So, FWIW, at the Wall Street Journal, "Donald Trump Says ‘Second Amendment People’ Can Stop Hillary Clinton From Curbing Gun Rights":

WILMINGTON, N.C.— Donald Trump, confounding the hopes of Republicans who want him to run a more measured presidential campaign, touched off another firestorm Tuesday with an off-the-cuff remark that critics interpreted as inciting violence against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

His comments, before a packed basketball arena here, came a day after he delivered an economic-policy speech in a Detroit hotel ballroom that many Republicans saw as a disciplined reboot amid falling poll numbers—including those released Tuesday in new Wall Street Journal/NBC News/Marist polls.

Speaking at his rally here about how he claims Mrs. Clinton as president would undermine gun rights under the Second Amendment, Mr. Trump said, “If she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do folks.” He then added: “Although the Second Amendment people—maybe there is, I don’t know.”

The Clinton campaign declared his remarks “dangerous,” charging that they amounted to a call for an attack against his opponent. The Trump team quickly said it was an awkwardly worded call to mobilize gun owners as a political force before the election.

The Secret Service, in a tweet Tuesday afternoon, said only that it was “aware of the comments” made earlier in the day.

The latest flare-up over Mr. Trump’s penchant for provocative remarks comes at a precarious time for the New York businessman’s presidential bid. His standing in battleground states is slipping and GOP defections are continuing. On Tuesday, Maine Sen. Susan Collins announced she wouldn’t support him.

“He makes it harder every day to continue to support him,” said Ryan Williams, a former aide to Mitt Romney’s presidential campaigns who now works for the New Hampshire GOP. “It’s almost like he wants people to denounce him. He’s basically asking for it at this point. Donald Trump saying something crazy is becoming a daily occurrence like the sun rising or the weather.”

Mrs. Clinton has opened an 11-point lead in Pennsylvania and is inching ahead in closer races in Ohio and Iowa, according to the Journal/NBC/Marist polls.

Mrs. Clinton leads Mr. Trump among registered voters by 48% to 37% in Pennsylvania, where the Republican nominee will hold a campaign rally in Erie on Friday.

She has improved her position in that state since a Journal/NBC/Marist poll last month, when she led 45% to 36%. In Ohio, Mrs. Clinton broke last month’s tie and pulled ahead 43% to 38%, according to the new state poll. And in Iowa, Mrs. Clinton was ahead 41% to 37%, an edge little-changed from a month ago...

Keep reading.

Siddique Mateen, Father of Orlando Nightclub Jihadist, Attends Hillary Clinton Rally in Kissimmee, Florida

Lots of folks blogging and tweeting on this, but let's go right to the original source.

At WPTV News, West Palm Beach, "Orlando shooter's father attends Hillary Clinton rally in Kissimmee."

John Cavanagh and Jerry Mander, eds., Alternatives to Economic Globalization [BUMPED]

Here's some additional contrarian literature, considering today's economic news.

At Amazon, John Cavanagh and Jerry Mander, eds., Alternatives to Economic Globalization: A Better World is Possible.

And ICYMI, Ian Fletcher, Free Trade Doesn't Work: What Should Replace It and Why.

Dressing Up for Dinner

At Town & Country, "How Jackie Kennedy Is Responsible for the End of Restaurant Dress Codes" (via Maggie's Farm).

While we were out to eat last night I saw a group of three at the next table, and the dude — who had like a 1980s "new romantic" haircut (or early 1990s grunge cut), with those ear-stretcher plug-expander thingies on his earlobes — was kicking all the way back, placing his feet on the vacant chair straight across from him.

The first thing I thought was how my dad would have freaked out if he ever saw me do anything like at that at a restaurant, much less at home. He'd have rapped me over my knuckles with the back of his dinner knife!

British Anchor Helen Skelton Posts 'Outfit of the Day' to Instagram

At the Sun U.K., "BBC presenter Helen Skelton send pulses racing in her skimpy outfit: HEL-UVA OUTFIT - Rio 2016: BBC host Helen Skelton sends viewers into meltdown with risque outfit on Olympic swimming duty."

And London's Daily Mail, "Never mind about the swimming, check out my #outfitoftheday: BBC presenter Helen Skelton Instagrams her dresses as she swaps into VERY racy orange party number."

Here's her Instagram page.

Also on Twitter here.

Michael Phelps Game Face

We did have the Olympics on last night, after getting home from dinner at B.J.'s Pizza in Tustin.

Michael Phelps is hella disciplined.

At WSJ:

A game face for the ages from Michael Phelps https://t.co/2WZlO2YJa3 via @jasongay #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/Znwh01sjcF

— Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) August 9, 2016

Steve Forbes: Sensible Government Policy Promotes the Normal 'Churn' of the Economy (VIDEO)

At Prager University:

Sizzling Ana de Armas GQ Photo Shoot (VIDEO)

Watch, "Ana de Armas Gets Silly Behind the Scenes of Her GQ Photo Shoot."

And at GQ, "Meet Ana de Armas, the Cuban-Born Actress Taking Over Hollywood."

Lucy Pinder 2017 Calendar Photos

I'll be darned if Ms. Lucy hasn't put on a little weight.

At Hot Celeb, "LUCY PINDER – 2017 CALENDAR PHOTOSHOOT."

Daredevil Robbie Knievel Jumps Over 18 Corvettes (VIDEO)

Heh.

Make America Great Again!

Watch, via CBS News 2 Los Angeles:



More, at the Dallas Morning News, "Watch from Robbie Knievel's bike as he jumps 18 Corvettes."

No Conspiracy: The Polls Aren't Skewed

I checked the sampling on a few of the big double-digit polls last week, and for the life of me, I didn't see much bias toward the Democrats. If anything, I expected to see more Democrats, around 35 percent, in the distributions. (Republicans should be in the high 20 percent, to be representative.)

And that's exactly what Harry Enten's arguing at 538.

I remember in 2012 when everyone thought that Romney was going to win Ohio. Gallup especially got everybody all fired up in the last few days before the election, with Romney going up to 51 percent nationally just days before the election in their presidential tracker. They're not even doing daily tracking polls for 2016, it turns out. They got burned so bad.

So, I'm just waiting to see what's going to happen. The best comment I've seen in the last week was from Lisa Boothe on Fox News the other day, when she said that Trump needed to go up with paid advertising to be able to get his message out, over the leftist media pro-Democrat spin. Frankly, for me that's the most important thing at this point in the race. If Team Trump thinks they're going to win this by earned media alone, they're delusional. If I was Trump I'd sell some real estate, or whatever, and make a $1 billion investment in my own campaign. He says he's got the money. He should put his money where his mouth is.

In any case, seen earlier on Twitter. It's worth a read:

The polls aren't skewed; Trump really is losing badly: https://t.co/ea5mFtOzVI pic.twitter.com/B0yx5wSNKw

— FiveThirtyEight (@FiveThirtyEight) August 9, 2016

Here Are the Anti-Israel Tweets from Ibtihaj Muhammed

Ibtihaj Muhammed.

She's a terrorist as far as I'm concerned. Shame on the U.S. for letting this woman even go to the games, much less represent America.

At Truth Revolt, "Here are the Anti-Israel Tweets from Hijab-Wearing Olympian."

How Rukmini Callimachi Uses Social Media to Get Inside the Minds of Islamic State

Rukmini's way cool.

At Wired:

I interviewed @rcallimachi https://t.co/ptOGTgCz6P, an incredible reporter on the most important beat in the world.

— Caitlin Roper (@caitlinroper) August 3, 2016

Donald Trump Supporters Are Heirs to 'Reagan Democrats'

Well, they'll be called "Trump Democrats" if enough leftists switch over and vote the GOP ticket in November.

But see Heat Street, "Here’s Why Donald Trump is Ronald Reagan’s Heir."

Schlitterbahn Water Park Update: 10-Year-Old Caleb Schwab 'Decapitated' by Attraction's 'Safety' Netting

Well, I guess we know what happened now.

Here's my previous entry, "10-Year-Old Caleb Schwab Killed at Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City (UPDATED)."

And the update, at ABC News 7 Los Angeles, "GRUESOME DETAILS REVEALED IN BOY'S WATER SLIDE DEATH AT KANSAS PARK."

Just read it all at the link.

Apparently, the boy's brother witnessed the incident. I can't even...

Hillary Clinton 'Inching Up' in Los Angeles Times Presidential Election 'Daybreak' Poll

I've been checking this poll daily, especially with the wild double-digit polls released in the last week.

Clinton's indeed inching up, but the Times' poll still has Clinton's lead over Trump with the margin of error, 45.1/43.4.

At LAT, "Clinton continues to inch up in tracking poll":

More than a week after the end of her nominating convention, Hillary Clinton continues to slowly gain ground in the USC Dornsife/L.A. Times "Daybreak" tracking poll of the election.

Since July 28, the Democratic nominee has gained 5 percentage points in the survey and leads Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, 45%-44%. Trump has lost just over 4 percentage points in the same period.

Clinton's lead, which is well within the survey's margin of error, is smaller than in many other polls released in the last week. That's in part because of the design of the Daybreak poll, which is structured in a way that makes it less susceptible to big swings one way or the other than standard surveys.

It's a "rolling average" over seven-days.

You're not going to get wild results, like that McClatchey poll that had Clinton up 15 points the other day. Ridiculous.

Still, it bears repeating that Donald Trump's main goal is to stay on message. I thought his economics speech yesterday was fantastic.

Deal of the Day: Omron 10 Series Wireless Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor

At Amazon, Omron 10 Series Wireless Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor with Cuff that fits Standard and Large Arms (BP786N) with Bluetooth Smart Connectivity.

Also, Amazon Hot New Releases, Updated Hourly.

And KIND Bars, Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt, Gluten Free, 1.4 Ounce Bars, 12 Count.

Plus, Savings in Outdoor Gear and Apparel.

More, from Phil Valentine, The Conservative's Handbook: Defining the Right Position on Issues from A to Z.

BONUS: Lanny Ebenstein, Chicagonomics: The Evolution of Chicago Free Market Economics.

Evelyn Taft's Weather Forecast

My oldest son was up at the Outside Lands 2016 Music Festival in San Francisco over the weekend, and he said daytime temperatures were in the 50s. I'm like WTF?!!

Yep, his lady friend's lips were turning blue, apparently. They didn't take jackets with them, and just had a couple of extra layers of light clothing to keep warm.

Remind me not to vacation in San Francisco in the summer. Lame.

I guess the Lana Del Rey concert was cool though, heh.

In any case, here's the lovely Evelyn Taft for the local weather, which has been mild.

Forest Falls Mother of 3, Kills Bear to Protect Kids, Gets Attacked by Social Media Mob on Facebook

Tree-hugging leftists care more about animal rights that human rights, that is the human right to life.

And authorities had already given the woman a permit to kill the bear after the animal had entered her home. She literally was hopelessly trying to shoo the bear out of her own kitchen.

But the leftist social media mob don't care.

At LAT, "Woman who had bear killed says she was trying to protect her kids":

Julie Faith Strauja tried everything she could conceive of — a water hose, pepper spray, loud yells — to chase off a bear after it repeatedly barged into her home in the San Bernardino Mountains, terrifying her and her three young children.

She locked up her trash after the bear got into her garage last month and was alarmed when she arrived home with her children, ages 5, 6 and 9, on July 29 to discover the bear inside her kitchen. She called 911. And when a game warden came to her A-frame cabin in the small community of Forest Falls and found damage and fur on the windows, she issued a permit to kill the animal.

The bear returned later that night, entering through a bathroom window. The next day, Strauja called a friend who is a hunter to keep watch. When the bear charged toward the house again sometime before 2 a.m. on July 31, he shot and killed the creature.

Since then, Strauja, 34, said she has faced an intense backlash from some residents of Forest Falls, about 75 miles east of Los Angeles, as well as harsh criticism and threats on social media...

Keep reading.

Leftists posted her home address online.

Because compassion!

Paul Ryan Defends His Wisconsin House Seat Against Paul Nehlen Today

Wisconsin votes today in a weird mid-August primary.

At the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, "Ann Coulter rallies Paul Nehlen supporters."

Also, "Polls suggest Paul Ryan insulated from Donald Trump."

Related, "Voter ID law is in place for primary":

Madison — Two judges have trimmed back the state’s voter ID law in recent weeks, but those going to the polls Tuesday will still need to show identification to cast ballots.

That’s because the judges said their rulings wouldn’t take effect until after the primary. So, voters will have to show ID at the polls Tuesday but not necessarily in the Nov. 8 presidential election, when turnout will be much higher.

Here’s what you need to know about Tuesday’s primary...

We need voter ID in California, heh.

But keep reading.

10-Year-Old Caleb Schwab Killed at Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City (UPDATED)

Well, there's just a tad more information out today than there was yesterday.

One person claims she saw the boy's "crumpled shorts or bathing suit" at the bottom of the water slide, as well as "blood on the white descending flume" of the structure.

If true, that rules out that the poor kid fell off the top of the structure, getting killed slamming to the ground.

Also, guests ride down the slide in rafts that require at least 400 pounds of passenger weight (apparently to keep the fucking thing from flying out of control off the damned thing.

But if the boy Caleb wasn't riding with two large adults, it's not possible that his raft met the weight requirements. May he flew out or was dragged down the slide?

In any case, at the Kansas City Star, "Questions swirl as grief falls over family of Caleb Schwab, 10-year-old killed at Schlitterbahn."

That slide doesn't look so safe, that's for sure.

UPDATED and BUMPED: At AP, "Police: Kansas boy suffered fatal neck injury on waterslide."

Pat Caddell: 'Never in My Life Have I Seen a News Organization Do Something So Dishonest...'

He's talking about Reuters, which changed its polling methodology so that Hillary would be tops in its presidential horse-race surveys.

At Breitbart, "Pat Caddell on 'Cooked' Reuters Poll: 'Never in My Life Have I Seen a News Organization Do Something So Dishonest'."

I think Reuters is eating its shit methodology now. After falling behind by 8 points in a post-Democrat convention Reuters poll, the organization's most recent survey has Trump now within the margin of error. See, "Clinton's lead over Trump narrows to less than three points: Reuters/Ipsos poll."

Andrea Tantaros Says She Made 'Sexual-Harassment Claims Against Roger Ailes'

Well, that explains things then.

At New York Magazine, "Fox News Host Andrea Tantaros Says She Was Taken Off the Air After Making Sexual-Harassment Claims Against Roger Ailes."



Previously, "Fox News Pulls 'Outnumbered' Star Andrea Tantaros Over 'Contract Issues'."

Donald Trump's 'Tax Revolution'

At the New York Post:

Tomorrow's cover: Trump’s "tax revolution" should be embraced by both parties https://t.co/lq4XjCi2cB pic.twitter.com/k9D800bMjR

— New York Post (@nypost) August 9, 2016

Beach Trip with Playboy's Miss August 2016 Valerie van der Graaf (VIDEO)

Watch, "Take a Sexy Trip to the Beach With Our Newest Playmate, Valerie van der Graaf."

Plus, some photos, "Miss August 2016 Valerie van der Graaf's Playboy..."

She's on Instagram.

This young lady was being described as "the next Kate Upton" back in 2014.

Flashback, at SI, "Swim Daily, Valerie Van Der Graaf Outtakes."

Sistine Stallone, Sylvester Stallone's Daughter, Ready to Fly the Nest

At London's Daily Mail, "Sylvester Stallone's teen daughter is all grown up and ready to fly the nest."

"The 18-year-old is pursuing a career in modeling which may take her to New York City."

She's on the cover of Town & Country fashion and architecture magazine.

"Sistine shares the cover with fellow 'swans' Princess Olympia of Greece and Ella Richards, granddaughter of the Rolling Stones' Keith Richards."

Well, good luck to her.

Her brother, Sage, died in 2012. I'm glad the Stallone family is looking happy and well.

U.S. Men's Gymnasts Want Olympics Competition to Be Topless

News articles are saying "shirtless" competition, but that's a gendered description.

It'd be non-sexist to say 'topless' competition, since obviously if men are "objectified" the objectifiers are going be women (primarily, since I'm sure a lot of homosexual men wouldn't mind male topless competition).

If you're seeing all these hot social media and TV celebrities taking off their shirts (tops) on Instagram and Twitter, no one's calling them "shirtless" selfies. Nope. "Topless" hotties are going to generate way better search results for the leftist hacks at Google, lol.

In any case, some Rule 5 for the ladies.

At WSJ, "U.S. Male Gymnasts Want to Be Objectified":

Training in the training hall complete! Team looking good #TEAMUSA pic.twitter.com/kXGTAEOFy8

— Jake Dalton (@jake_dalton) August 1, 2016

When the United States men’s gymnastics team came to the site of the Olympics earlier this year for a reconnaissance training camp, the American athletes did what anyone in Brazil with a carefully sculpted body would do. They went to the beach, stripped to their Speedos and whipped out a selfie stick. The soaring peaks of Sugarloaf Mountain in the background have never looked so meek.

What happened next was exactly the reaction the U.S. team imagined. The Internet went gaga for the ensuing Instagrams.

That wasn’t an accident. It’s one of the ways they think they can get attention in a country that showers glory upon gold-medal-winning women gymnasts while ignoring America’s less-successful men’s team.

So the men’s team has been brainstorming ways to market their sport better. They would like to be objectified.

“Maybe compete with our shirts off,” said U.S. star Sam Mikulak, the four-time, reigning all-around national champion. “People make fun of us for wearing tights. But if they saw how yoked we are maybe that would make a difference.”

The Rio Games’ women’s team final Tuesday is the marquee Olympic gymnastics event for American audiences—yet again. It’s a near-lock that Team USA will win the gold medal, the women will be immortalized with a catchy superlative like the “Fierce Five” and Simone Biles will be anointed Olympic royalty, to be remembered forever.

But first comes the men’s team final Monday. Don’t laugh. America’s men’s team actually did far better than expected during Saturday’s qualifying round, finishing second behind China.

After months of experts predicting that the men’s team final would come down to a race between China and Japan, the U.S. actually enters Monday’s competition as a frontrunner. The last medal for America’s men’s team was a bronze that came in Beijing in 2008.

But there’s a feeling on the men’s team that even if they won gold, they wouldn’t enjoy the stardom that America confers upon its top female gymnasts...

See? It's sexism all around!

Boy, there's no escaping those media double standards.

If leftists didn't have double standards they'd have no standards at all!

Still more.

Out August 23rd: Ann Coulter, In Trump We Trust

ICYMI, at Amazon, Ann Coulter, In Trump We Trust: E Pluribus Awesome!

Nervous Breakdown Election?

Actually, nah.

I think folks are perfectly lucid about things, but just now at Drudge.

He's linking CBS News Dallas, "Woman’s Home Vandalized Because of ‘Trump’ Signs."

Also, at CBS News Pittsburgh, "Trump Voter Shot After Bar Political Debate Turns Violent."

Heh, good times.

Bumped Into Robert Spencer and Michael Finch at the Angels Game Last Week

We were out in the parking lot. I had to do a double-take when I saw Robert in his Athletics jersey. He's normally wearing a suit, heh.

Michael Finch is the president of the David Horowitz Freedom Center, and a really nice man.

.@lamblock So crazy seeing @JihadWatchRS and @PaleHose67 at last night's #Angels game. #LTBU #GoAngels pic.twitter.com/t0naOERxRk

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 4, 2016

Donald Trump Slams Hillary Clinton in Economic Policy Speech (VIDEO)

Via AP:

Iran Executes Nuclear Scientist Who Hillary Clinton Had Discussed in Communications on Her Illegal Home-Brewed Private Email Server

This story was at the Los Angeles Times earlier, "Spy saga comes to a close as Iran executes a nuclear scientist accused of giving info to the U.S."

And now at Blazing Cat Fur, "Clinton’s private server held emails about nuclear ‘spy’ executed in Iran: Aides discussed scientist ‘friend’ and his decision to return home after defecting to the U.S. for $5m."

A New Teaching Guide for Combating Anti-Zionist Extremism

Actually, you shouldn't need a "guide to combating anti-Zionist extremism," but I suppose some professors wanting to fight the despicable leftists might need a primer to do so.

From Professor Miriam Elman, at Legal Insurrection, "VIDEO: Combating Anti-Zionist Antisemitism."

Samantha Hoopes Bae Watch (VIDEO)

Via Sports Illustrated:



PREVIOUSLY: "Samantha Hoopes Summer of Swim Beach Body Workout (VIDEO)."

Thanks to the Reader Who Bought Heather Mac Donald's The War on Cops [BUMPED]

It's a great book.

I love how it's packed with statistics, which come on handy when you're beating back the leftist liars and their lying cop-hating narrative.

Thanks for the reader who picked up a copy! And thanks to all of my readers who've been shopping through my Amazon links.

It helps out with my book budget.

So keep shopping, heh.

Here, The War on Cops: How the New Attack on Law and Order Makes Everyone Less Safe.

ADDED: Trump's also talking about law and order in his economic speech right now.

Here's Robert J. Gordon, The Rise and Fall of American Growth

More on economics, considering Trump's big speech on the economy right now.

At Amazon, The Rise and Fall of American Growth: The U.S. Standard of Living since the Civil War.

Reupping Ian Fletcher's, Free Trade Doesn't Work

Donald Trump's speaking right now on economic policy. He was saying "free has big benefits," while at the same time talking about how he was going to bring "trillions of dollars" back home, heh.

Good times.

Here's Fletcher's book, at Amazon, Free Trade Doesn't Work: What Should Replace It and Why."

Trump Nation Losing Faith?

Nope.

But I don't think there was any question. It's what's going to happen to independent and so-called swing voters?

But see LAT, "Are all those Trump controversies raising doubts in Trump Nation? Not really":

Donald Trump has dominated the airwaves for much of the 2016 presidential campaign, but the Republican presidential nominee has faltered in recent polls.

His campaign has been dogged by a series of controversies, including Trump’s sparring with the family of a Muslim soldier killed in Iraq, his invitation to Russian hackers to look into Hillary Clinton’s emails, and his initial hesitancy in endorsing House Speaker Paul D. Ryan.

Are those issues causing second thoughts among his most ardent supporters? Earlier this year, we profiled several voters around the country — a personal trainer in Virginia, a retired car salesman in Las Vegas and a Latina immigrant in Texas, among others. All had become, for different reasons, enthusiastic citizens of Trump Nation.

What’s behind Trump’s slipping poll numbers? Have the latest controversies caused these voters to reconsider? We checked back with some of them, and the answer is: not really. The things that made Trump appealing to them to begin with — his willingness to take on the status quo, his calls for building American strength and clamping down on immigration — still hold true, they said...

Keep reading.

Two 'Super Scoopers' Arrive in Van Nuys to Help Fight Seasonal Wildfires (VIDEO)

At CBS News 2 Los Angeles.

This is cool:

Belgium Launches Terror Investigation as Islamic State Claims Machete Attack

Following-up from Saturday, "Machete Suspect Screams 'Allahu Akbar' in Latest Belgian Jihad Attack (VIDEO)."

At WSJ, "Belgium Launches Terror Probe as ISIS Claims Machete Attack":

BRUSSELS — Belgian authorities have opened a terrorism probe following a weekend machete attack on two police officers in the city of Charleroi, the latest assault in what has become a relentless summer-long barrage.

The assailant, who was fatally shot during the attack, was identified Sunday by the authorities as a 33-year-old Algerian man who had been living in Belgium illegally since 2012.

Authorities didn’t disclose any indications of accomplices or large-scale planning behind Saturday’s attack, which left one of the officers with serious injuries to her face and neck. The assailant wasn’t carrying explosives or any other weapon, and while he was known to authorities because of his illegal status in the country, he wasn’t known to have any terror links, federal authorities said. They released his initials, K.B., but not his name.

Islamic State’s news agency Amaq claimed the attack was carried out by one of the group’s “soldiers” in response to strikes by the U.S.-led coalition fighting against it in Iraq and Syria.

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said federal prosecutors had opened a probe into “attempted terrorist murders,” assigning an investigative judge specialized in terrorism cases.

“The terrorist track is the possibility which is under analysis at this point,” Mr. Michel said, adding that at this early stage it was important to be “extremely prudent” in drawing any conclusions.

The slashing was the most recent in a string of attacks claimed by the Sunni Muslim extremist group that have left scores dead, in what Mr. Michel described as a “new reality” in Europe.

In addition to orchestrating large-scale attacks, directed at least in part from abroad, Islamic State has also encouraged sympathizers to carry out lone-wolf attacks targeting civilians, which authorities have acknowledged are much harder to prevent. In some cases, authorities haven’t been able to corroborate claims of responsibility by the group.

Some of the more recent attacks linked to Islamic State in Europe have been carried out away from the more heavily guarded capitals—including the July 14 attack in Nice, in southern France; the July 24 suicide bombing in Ansbach, Germany, and the July 26 killing of a French priest in Normandy...

More.

Belgium's national elections are scheduled for 2019. Still a ways off, and thus plenty of time for Islamic invaders to launch further rounds of jihad attacks.

Brussels is the capital of European jihad. It's out of control.

How Brazil's Lula Conned the World — #ThirdWorldGames

From Mary Anastasia O'Grady, at WSJ:

The 2016 Olympic Games kicked off in Rio de Janeiro on the weekend without major incidents. That seemed a near miracle after weeks of grim reports about shoddy construction, an unprepared security detail and monstrous traffic jams. Whether the athletes, visitors and Cariocas (as Rio residents are known) can get through the next two weeks without a catastrophe remains an open question.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Then again, when Rio won the competition in 2009 to host these games, Brazil wasn’t forecast to look like it does today—with a budget deficit equal to some 8% of gross domestic product, inflation near 10%, two years of economic contraction and a cesspool of corruption scandals.

In 2009, President Lula da Silva of the Workers’ Party (PT) had been at the helm for more than six years and was somewhat of a world rock star. His hip rhetoric denigrated the economic liberalism of the 1990s while hyping a new and improved brand of socialism with a samba twist.

Much of the region bought Lula’s 2.0 version of big government. Concerns about the return of left-wing Latin populism and its potential damage to entrepreneurship and economic growth were met with assurances that this time would be different.

Lula was a man of the left but he wasn’t Hugo Chávez, conventional wisdom explained. A November 2009 Economist magazine cover story was titled “Brazil takes off.” It cited a forecast by the consulting firm PwC that by 2025 São Paulo would be the world’s fifth-wealthiest city. Most of punditry agreed: Brazil was on course to take its rightful place as a world economic superpower.

Lula stepped down after two terms in 2011, handing power to his PT successor, President Dilma Rousseff. The 2016 Olympics were supposed to showcase the socialist paradise he had cultivated: an urban utopia mixing affordable housing, national industrial champions and orderly public-transportation networks to provide a tranquil—and environmentally approved—living experience.

Instead, at the Olympic Village, just weeks before the opening, sinks fell off the walls and there were various other plumbing disasters. The Australian national team fled from its quarters upon arrival because it found, among other things, exposed electrical wires next to indoor puddles of water. Guanabara Bay, the venue for open-water swimming and sailing races, is a giant petri dish of bacteria. A new metro line that was supposed to take visitors to the games ends eight miles short of its promised destination.

The Rio security company that was hired to screen spectators was fired 10 days ago for noncompliance with its contract. Organizers scrambled last week to hire and train a replacement team.

The world seems stunned. It shouldn’t be. Rio is a microcosm of Lula’s Brazil, where bureaucracy runs things from the top down and human beings are an afterthought. The only thing missing in this Rio analogy—so far—is the corruption that flourished at the federal level during 14 years of PT government...

Still more.

Germany Jihadists Directed by Islamic State Network in Saudi Arabia

At CNBC, "German attackers directed by Isis contacts in Saudi":

The two refugees who launched terror attacks in Germany last month were in contact with suspected members of the militant group Isis, including one with a Saudi phone number, according to reports in the German media on Saturday.

Records of internet communication now in the hands of German investigators show both men, the Afghan teenager Riaz Khan Ahmadzai, and Mohammed Daleel, a 27-year-old Syrian, were advised and directed by Isis, which provided tips on ensuring the maximum number of casualties.

Ahmadzai was shot dead by police after going on the rampage with an axe and a knife near the Bavarian town of Würzburg on July 18, wounding five people, while Daleel died after blowing himself up outside a wine bar in Ansbach, also in Bavaria, six days later, injuring 15 people.

Germany is still reeling from the attacks, the first committed by Muslim refugees who were part of the big wave of migrants that has entered the country over the past few years.

They have become a problem for Angela Merkel, Germany's long-serving chancellor, whose popularity has taken a big knock in the wake of the attacks...

Still more.

Remember, these are the same attackers who leftists declared had nothing to do with Islam. And even when it's clear, from the get go, that they do have something to do with Islam, those facts are always scrubbed.

See, "Syrian Migrant Denied Asylum Died When Bomb in His Backpack Exploded Mysteriously in Ansbach, Germany."

Trump and Clinton Swap Voters in Ohio

From Cathleen Decker, at LAT, "In complicated Ohio, Trump and Clinton swap voters as they vie for a key state":

No state this year does Republican dysfunction like Ohio.

The popular Republican Gov. John Kasich stiffed Donald Trump at the home-state convention and now regularly dismisses him on Twitter. Trump has threatened to retaliate by raising money to squash Kasich’s future ambitions.

The state’s Republican Sen. Rob Portman, running for re-election, has stuck with his endorsement of the party’s nominee but has yet to appear in public with him. Instead, Portman has upbraided Trump repeatedly, and his campaign recently sent aides to search for potential supporters at Hillary Clinton rallies.

All that would be merely familial squabbling if not for Ohio’s frequent role as the decider in presidential contests. It is a must-win state for Trump; a loss here would almost certainly deny him the presidency and secure the White House for Clinton.

It is also a high-profile test of the contours of the national campaign, as both Trump and Clinton have a good chance here of stealing from the other party’s usual voters.

Clinton is going after Republican-leaning suburbanites put off by Trump’s demeanor and is trying to persuade blue-collar white voters that Trump is a hypocrite on trade and business issues.

Trump has set his sights on those blue-collar Democrats with a campaign heavy on expressions of grievance for decades of manufacturing declines. He’s also courting Republicans eager for change after two Democratic White House terms.

“Both campaigns are probably spending time watching some of their traditional voters run away and watching others run to them,” said Doug Preisse, a Columbus-based Kasich confidant who heads the Republican Party in Franklin County, which includes Columbus.

The most recent public polling has the race dead even in the state — but that survey was conducted weeks ago, during the Republican convention. Even Republicans suggest that Clinton has likely pulled ahead here, as she has in nearby industrial states and nationally since the end of her convention.

But few expect Ohio to deviate in November from its recent record of close contests.

“It’s winnable for both candidates. The question is who has the superior ground game and strategy,” said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, whose July poll had Clinton and Trump deadlocked at 44% each. “It’s going to be fought in hand-to-hand combat in a lot of these counties.”

If so, Trump could be hard-pressed. Organizationally, Clinton has the upper hand. Her team barely left after the March primary; the candidate and her running mate, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, have been regular visitors.

Clinton is building on multiple winning streaks: former President Bill Clinton’s wins here in the 1990s, President Obama’s two general election wins, and her own primary victories in 2008 and this spring.

Her team has hundreds of workers in the state, and in her visit here Sunday, Clinton advertised more openings for organizers. The campaign is canvassing supporters and registering voters in communities across the state this weekend.

Trump’s campaign has been slower to form, a danger in a state where early ballots can be cast starting Oct. 12 — just a little more than two months away. The campaign’s new state director began work on June 23, well after Clinton’s chief strategist set up shop; only last week he was moving into an office in Columbus...

Keep reading.

Vote Yes! Keep the Rangers!

I'm not a big fan of public financing of professional sports stadiums. I think the fans get burned in the end.

But see the Fort Worth Star-Telegram‎, "PAC set to kick off campaign for $1 billion Rangers ballpark Sunday."

While the team was battling Houston, @CityOfArlington voters were saying "Yes" to @KeepTheRangers. #KeepTheRangers pic.twitter.com/Yt4UoQBMeS

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) August 7, 2016

Photos Reveal Hillary Clinton Needs Help Climbing Stairs

It's at American Mirror, "SHOCK PHOTO: Multiple staffers help unstable Hillary up stairs."

That got Drudged, heh.

Good for over 8,000 comments.

ADDED: Instalanched too, "HILLARY’S HEALTH STATUS IS IFFY: Drudge is on it, too. Check out the photos and her difficult trip up the stairs. When will the media question Hillary’s health status? Hey, back off, man. She has Media Privilege. (And this is an example of it.).

The Produnova Vault

This is interesting.

It's called the "vault of death."

At WSJ:

The Produnova vault is a gamble only a handful of women’s gymnasts are willing to make https://t.co/fX092NX1GJ #Rio2016

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 7, 2016

And there's more about India's Dipa Karmakar here, "Assignment Asia: Conquering the 'vault of death'."

Donald Trump Campaign Reboot

He just needs to be disciplined, although not too much so, or he'll lose his signature appeal.

Mostly, though, he needs to stay focused on the key issues, hammering on the economy and Hillary Clinton-Democrat Party corruption.

But see the Wall Street Journal, "Donald Trump Tries a Campaign Reboot":

Donald Trump is trying to quickly reset his presidential campaign to address worsening poll numbers and growing isolation from influential members of the Republican Party.

At weekend rallies, the GOP nominee read from a hand-held script and offered endorsements for the re-elections of a trio of Capitol Hill Republicans whom he had toyed with rebuffing. On Monday, he will head to Detroit to deliver an economic policy address that is expected to draw contrasts with Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

Many in Mr. Trump’s party have been clamoring for weeks to see these kinds of adjustments. If he is to persuade Republican skeptics to buy back into his campaign, just weeks before the crucial post-Labor Day stage, the unorthodox, first-time candidate now must show he can make the changes stick.

Part of the issue for the New York businessman is that he has run his campaign much like his family business, with his grown children as his top counselors and surrogates. That has meant he hasn’t developed a strong connective tissue to party stalwarts and activists that can sustain a candidate through difficult times.

Reports of Republicans leaving the party, lining up behind Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson or even backing Mrs. Clinton gained momentum last week, after the nominee’ criticized the parents of a U.S. soldier killed in Iraq.

“The friendly fire within the Republican Party over the last week has been extremely counterproductive,” said veteran GOP strategist Dave Carney, who isn’t involved in the Trump campaign but says he will vote for him. “In modern presidential politics, this election is an outlier in terms of deterioration of support.”


Mr. Trump hopes for a reboot with his Detroit speech, which will talk about “the tepid economy under Obama and Clinton, versus the kind of growth economy that Mr. Trump wants to build,” Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort said Sunday on Fox News.

“We’re comfortable we’ll get the agenda and the narrative of the campaign back on where it belongs,” Mr. Manafort added.

Mr. Trump in his speech is expected to give broad strokes about his economic plan, particularly to underscore his support for tax cuts. He is also likely to reiterate his plan to create a single top business tax rate that would apply to corporations and to businesses that pay taxes through their owners’ individual returns.

The candidate isn’t likely to offer a detailed revision of his previously announced plan for big tax cuts. Advisers have been working on an overhaul of that plan to address criticism it would rapidly expand the federal deficit, but that revision isn’t yet ready, advisers said.

Mr. Trump has shown an ability to survive rough patches, and he and his running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, have stressed party unity in recent days. At a rally in New Hampshire Saturday night, Mr. Trump largely stuck to lines of attack against Mrs. Clinton that bind most Republicans together.

Still, House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, both of whom are facing election challenges, didn’t appear on stage with their party’s nominee during weekend rallies in their respective states...

More.

Concessions at the Coliseum for Los Angeles Rams

Via Lindsay Thiry:

Beer returns to the Coliseum with the Rams. pic.twitter.com/GK6jDQRGxY

— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) August 6, 2016

Here's a look at concession prices for Rams in the Coliseum. pic.twitter.com/tNAbpZjs2M

— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) August 6, 2016

A king can of Coors Light will set you back $10. pic.twitter.com/4iLwvWS7G0

— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) August 6, 2016

And for premium beer - a king can of St. Archers - that'll be $13 at the Coliseum. pic.twitter.com/VFfDLAD31L

— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) August 6, 2016

Randy's Donuts at the Coliseum for the Rams. pic.twitter.com/Vyh4FAEuB2

— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) August 6, 2016

Sunday Cartoons

At Flopping Aces, "Sunday Cartoons."



And at Theo Spark's, "Cartoon Roundup..."

Cartoon Credit: A.F. Branco, "Iranian Stimulus Package."

Studs Terkel, Hard Times

I picked up an old copy of this yesterday.

It turns out it's still in print.

A great read.

At Amazon, Studs Terkel, Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression.

Dutch Cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten in Intensive Care After Monster Crash in Women's Road Race at Rio 2016 (VIDEO)

Watch, at NBC Sports, "Dutch cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten suffers a horrific crash while in the lead and nearing the end of the road race on Sunday."

And at the Mirror U.K., "Annemiek van Vleuten in intensive care with three spinal fractures after horror crash."

Deal of the Day: LED Flashlight Outdoor Handheld Zoomable Flash Torch with 5 Light Modes

At Amazon, LED Flashlight, Juslink 900 Lumens CREE XML T6 Tactical Flashlight Outdoor Handheld Zoomable Flash Torch with 5 Light Modes , Ultra Bright, Adjustable Focus, Water Resistant Metal Flash Light.

Also, iSunMoon Outdoor Solar Powered LED Gutter Light Fence Roof Gutter Garden Yard Wall Lamp.

And, Mary Katharine Ham, End of Discussion: How the Left's Outrage Industry Shuts Down Debate, Manipulates Voters, and Makes America Less Free (and Fun).

Bruce Levine, The Fall of the House of Dixie: The Civil War and the Social Revolution That Transformed the South.

Still more, from Leon Litwack, Been in the Storm So Long: The Aftermath of Slavery.

Clint Romesha, Red Platoon: A True Story of American Valor.

And John Nagl, Knife Fights: A Memoir of Modern War in Theory and Practice.

BONUS: Dexter Filkins, The Forever War.

More Trending Headphones [BUMPED]

At Amazon, Philips SHQ1200/28 ActionFit Sports In-Ear Headphones.

WATCH: New Donald Trump Video Mocks Hillary Clinton as Malfunctioning Robot

It's good.

At Instapundit, "HEH: Trump video mocks Clinton as short-circuiting robot."

Tim Lincecum Designated for Assignment

Heh.

I called it last night, "Was That Tim Lincecum's Last Game?"

And indeed it was.

Jeff Fletcher reports, at the O.C. Register, "End of the line? Angels cut Tim Lincecum, ask him to go to minors":

Angels have DFA'd Tim Lincecum.

— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) August 6, 2016

#Angels hope Lincecum will go to AAA and work it out. He has the choice of accepting.

— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) August 6, 2016

The Angels couldn't let Tim Lincecum keep trying -- and failing -- in the majors any more. They DFA'd him. https://t.co/ZRab6ug6rC

— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) August 6, 2016

SEATTLE – Tim Lincecum’s comeback attempt with the Angels -- one phase of it anyway -- is over.

The Angels designated Lincecum for assignment on Saturday, a day after his ninth start ballooned his ERA to 9.16.

“He hasn’t progressed from his first couple starts,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He’s regressed a little bit. It’s a matter of understanding his mechanics, getting his release point more consistent. That’s really impossible to work out at the major league level.”

Presumably Lincecum will clear waivers and then he will have the option of accepting the Angels assignment to Triple-A or becoming a free agent.

“We hope he’ll go to Triple-A and work on it and see how it progresses,” Scioscia said.

Lincecum left the ballpark Saturday before reporters had the chance to talk to him, but Scioscia said that he handled the news well.

“It’s hard news to take, but Tim understands it,” Scioscia said. “He’s pragmatic. He understands the work he needs to do. Hopefully he’ll accept this challenge and use the opportunity to become a better pitcher.”

Lincecum, 32, has spent much of the past five years trying to revive his career. A two-time Cy Young winner, Lincecum has struggled since 2012, with much of his trouble because of a hip injury that altered his delivery and led to surgery last year.

The Angels signed Lincecum in May – after watching him pitch in a showcase event in Arizona – and gave him a few weeks to get ready in the minors.

His June 18 debut in an Angels uniform was encouraging. He gave up one run in six innings in a victory over the Oakland A’s.

Since then, though, he has failed to finish six innings in any of his last eight starts. He has allowed at least three runs in each start...

I haven't blogged Angels baseball as much this summer as I did last year (the Angels were heavily in the hunt then). But if you're following me on Twitter you'd have seen my comments on Lincecum. I was really pleased with his initial comeback outing in Oakland. Of course, everyone had high hopes. But good things never materialized and last night it all fell apart. I bet Scioscia was getting a lot of heat about it, and he finally made the call to cut the dude loose. It's gotta be humiliating for a former Cy Young winner, but what are you going to do? I agree with Scioscia: He needs to go back down to Triple A and grind it out for a while. Maybe he'll get another chance to play in the majors. He's only 32-years-old.

But keep reading.

#ThirdWorldGames — Hope Solo FTW!

Well, I don't follow women's soccer that much, and I thought Hope Solo was a prima donna.

But this is a riot.

At LAT, "Solo quiets the crowd and France in record-setting 1-0 win":

Solo quiets the crowd and France in record-setting 1-0 win https://t.co/0wI1qkOLT4

— L.A. Times Sports (@latimessports) August 6, 2016

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil -- Hope Solo is arguably the best goalkeeper in women’s soccer history. But she’s clearly not the most popular.

For the second time is as many games at the Rio Olympics, Solo was booed mercilessly every time she touched the ball Saturday. And for the second time Solo answered the taunts with a shutout in a 1-0 victory over France on a goal from Carli Lloyd in the 63rd minute.

With the victory the U.S., the three-time defending Olympic champion, moved a big step closer to winning its group and earning a quarterfinal date in Brasilia against a third-place team. France, on the other hand, needs at least a tie to finish second in the group and win a quarterfinal trip to Sao Paulo, where it would play the winner of Group F, likely Germany or Canada.

Both teams have one game left in group play Tuesday, the top-ranked U.S. against Colombia on the edge of the Amazon jungle in steamy Manaus and No. 3 France against New Zealand in the colonial port city of Salvador.

That picture would be far more jumbled if not for Solo, who was making the 200th appearance of her international career, the most by any goalkeeper, male or female, in history.

The Brazilian crowd was in no mood to help her celebrate the milestone. Each time she touched the ball the crowd booed loudly – or as loudly as a crowd of about 10,000 people can boo – then chanted “Zika!” each time she took a goal kick.

Last month Solo, who said she had considered skipping the Olympics because of the Zika virus, posted photos of herself on Twitter wearing an anti-mosquito mask and holding a bottle of insect repellent, angering many Brazilians.

Solo later apologized but the apology wasn’t accepted by everyone...

She apologized?

Okay, but the tweet's still up, heh. No wonder they hate her.

Not sharing this!!! Get your own! #zikaproof #RoadToRio pic.twitter.com/y3d8hnuEjk

— Hope Solo (@hopesolo) July 22, 2016

I'm not planning on watching that much of these games, but I'll watch kick-ass women's soccer. These women are rad!

Donald Trump's Watching the Olympics to 'See How High the Mexican Pole Vaulters Go...'

Quips the so-called "libertarian" presidential candidate Gary Johnson.

That's pretty funny, I gotta admit.

At the Hill, "Gary Johnson: Trump watching Olympics to see how high Mexican pole vaulters go."

Johnson's really a leftist who likes to smoke weed, heh. Or at least, that's what John Hawkins has been saying, but it sound about right.

And see this interview with Johnson at Reason TV, "Gary Johnson on Trump, the Presidential Election, and Life as a Pot Company CEO":

Johson recently found his "dream job" as CEO of Cannabis Sativa, a publicly traded company that markets weed products. "We want to be the Dom Perignon [of marijuana]," he explains. Johnson is also the chairman of the nonprofit Our America Initiative, which advocates for balanced budgets, defense cuts, drug policy reform, and improved ballot and debate access for third-party candidates.

And, of course, once he became the "libertarian" nominee, he had to issue the obligatory repudiations of the wacky weed. See, "Libertarian Johnson would not use marijuana as president," and "Gary Johnson: 'I've stopped using marijuana' during White House bid."

Hmm, I don't believe it, lol.

John Lott, The War on Guns [BUMPED]

From John Lott, just out this week, at Amazon, The War on Guns: Arming Yourself Against Gun Control Lies.

Gisele Bündchen's Legs Do the Walking at #Rio2016 Opening Ceremony (VIDEO)

I know. I blogged the boring Olympics last night.

I didn't even watch, and I'm glad.

But the world went crazy over Gisele Bündchen, it turns out. So here's a little roundup of reactions, heh.

First, watch, at NBC Sports, "Gisele Bündchen kicks off the Opening Ceremony with the final catwalk of her modeling career."

And see the hilarious reaction at BuzzFeed, "This Is Just an Appreciation Post for This Marvelous Woman Called GISELE BÜNDCHEN":

Hi guys, let’s talk about the most important part of the opening ceremony.

Also, at London's Daily Mail, "Gisele uses her final catwalk to honor Brazil at #Olympics #OpeningCeremony. Woah."

And, "Tom Brady reveals why he missed Gisele's starring role at #Rio2016 #OpeningCeremony." Well, he's married to the woman, heh.

At CBS News Boston, "Tom Brady Praises Wife Gisele’s Role In ‘Incredible’ Olympic Opening Ceremony #Rio2016."

And here's a review, at NYT, "Even on NBC, Rio's Colors Can't Be Airbrushed Out."

Sarah Palin Doubles Down on Paul Ryan Snub (VIDEO)

Heh.

Ryan's "kinda screwed his chances for the 2020 GOP bid..."

Click through to watch:

Sarah Palin doubles down tells voters to fire Paul Ryan Mama Grizzly roars!
https://t.co/3DNcOk7R9v

— KGB Agent Краска (@HouseCracka) August 6, 2016

British Toddler with 'Worst Case of Chickenpox Ever Seen' Turned Away from Doctors; Mum Told Not to Worry (VIDEO)

The scariest case of chicken pox I've ever seen.

And the doctor's office told the mum, "every mother thinks their child has bad chickenpox," so stop freaking out already.

At Pajamas, "Toddler With 'Worst Case of Chickenpox EVER Seen' Turned Away from Doctors."

I had to check around to make sure the kid was okay.

Thankfully, yes.

At the Mirror U.K., "Tot with worst case of chicken pox ever entertains This Morning hosts with his bored antics."

Here's the video, "Severe Chickenpox Put My Child In Hospital - This Morning."

I had chicken pox. The itching just about kills you, but you'll survive.

But both of my sons were vaccinated, so thank goodness they didn't have to go through it.

Lucca Poni and Her Child in South Sudan

At the Los Angeles Times, letters to the editor, "The price of being a girl in South Sudan":

Child brides being sold for cows: The price of being a girl in South Sudan https://t.co/XjbtCuQayw pic.twitter.com/UFwgiimPOm

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) July 30, 2016

To the editor: On the front page of The Times this week was one of the simplest, yet most spectacular photos that I, a designer, have seen. (“What daughters are worth,” August 1)

The portrait of Lucca Poni and her child in South Sudan accompanied a fine article by Robyn Dixon on young girls’ plight in that part of the world.

I had to look twice to be sure it was not a painting.

Photographer Sara Hylton’s attention to subject matter illustrating the article, composition, light and color are worthy of Pulitzer consideration to my mind.

Marty Huyette, Dana Point

That's very nice.

The status of women in South Sudan? Not so much.

Special Rule 5 for Woodsterman!

I forgot to add Woodsterman to my morning babe blogging, now cross-posted Astute Bloggers, "GUARANTEED NOT HALAL: RULE 5 SATURDAY."

Here's Odie's entry, at Woodsterman's, "For Edutcher ~OR~ Rule 5 Woodsterman Style."

WikiLeaks Trying to Hack Donald Trump's Tax Returns (VIDEO)

Julian Assange confirms he's trying to hack Donald Trump's tax returns, on Bill Maher's show.

Watch, at CNN, "Wikileaks: We are working on hacking Trump's taxes: Julian Assange told Bill Maher in an interview that Wikileaks is working on hacking into Donald Trump's tax returns. The Republican nominee has refused to release the returns, despite multiple requests from reporters."

At the clip, Scottie Nell Hughes notes that they wouldn't be hacking into Trump's files, they'd be hacking into the IRS.

Assange is wanted in Sweden anyway, and would likely be extradited here. I think a lot of folks think WikiLeaks just broke onto the scene the last couple years. But Assange and his cyber-terrorists tried to demonize and discredit the U.S. back in 2010.

These are bad people. Don't kid yourself about them. They're genuinely evil.

Shame on Bill Maher for giving him a platform.

Leftist MSM Smear Campaign Won't Stop Donald Trump (VIDEO)

Heh, at the D.C. Whispers blog, "ALERT: Democrat & Republican Leaders to Declare Donald Trump “Mentally Incompetent” (UPDATES)."

Lolz.

Declare Trump "incompetent"; say he's about to "drop out"; and allege that the entire GOP establishment has abandoned him, and you can create an almost impenetrable Orwellian bubble of lies.

That's what the left does. It's all lies.

I will concede the polls are not going Trump's way, although I'm still leery of the sampling.

We'll see, of course.

In any case, you gotta love the Alex Jones folks for keeping the faith:

Democrat Party Registration Numbers Surge Behind the Orange Curtain

The O.C.'s a polarized county.

If you get up into North Orange County, it's almost like Los Angeles and Long Beach. Totally diverse --- and leftist.

But in South Orange County --- Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, Aliso Viejo, and Dana Point, for example --- I'm sure there's still large Republican majorities. But even there it's changing.

At the O.C. Register, "Democratic surge shrinks GOP lead":

A surge in Democratic voter registration has cut Republicans’ advantage in Orange County to less than 6 percentage points and has doubled the number of Democratic cities over the past year.

The Republican margin has been shrinking since 1990, when the GOP edge was 22 points. But in the past six months, the pace of change has been four times as fast as the 26-year average – due in part to the GOP’s controversial presidential nominee. That could hurt the local Republicans in November’s down-ticket races.

“Donald Trump has become our best marketing tool,” said Henry Vandermeir, chairman of the Democratic Party of Orange County. “He’s insulted pretty much every constituency in this county, which has helped drive Democratic registration and turnout to new highs.”

Vandermeir’s registration efforts have gotten a boost from other quarters. In addition to the county Democratic Party, at least four left-leaning groups – including MoveOn.org – have been registering voters in Orange County. County GOP Chairman Fred Whitaker said his party has gotten virtually no outside help.

Additionally, Sen. Bernie Sanders attracted young adults who might have otherwise not participated. And the competitive Democratic presidential primary in June boosted turnout, while the Republican contest was already decided....

Orange County was long touted as the nation’s most Republican county. The modern-era high point was 1990, when the GOP’s 56 percent share of the electorate translated to a 22-point advantage over Democrats. (In 1928, Republicans were at 73 percent.)

That edge has slowly dropped, to 17 percentage points in 2000 and to 11 points in 2010.

Republicans are now 39.7 percent of county voters, an all-time low. Democrats are at 34 percent, their highest since 1992. Voters with no party preference account for 22.6 percent, down from the all-time high of 23.6 percent last year.

That means Republicans’ 8-percentage point edge in February has shrunk to 5.7 points...

I grew up in Orange County. Shoot, I walked to school through the orange groves behind my postwar track housing neighborhood. It was great!

But keep reading (via Memeorandum).

If you click though, little noticed there is the surge in "no party preference" voters, at almost 23 percent (up from 10 percent in 1992). A lot of independents are extremely angry and frustrated and may well vote for Trump as the anti-establishment outsider. I think idiot Democrats ought not be counting their presidential chickens before they hatch.

Deal of the Day: Up to 30% Off Barska Level Series Spotting Scopes

At Amazon, Barska WP Level Angled Spotting Scopes.

Also, Barska 20-60x65 WP Level Straight Spotting Scope.

More, KIND Bars, Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt, Gluten Free, 1.4 Ounce Bars, 12 Count.

And, LG Electronics Tone Pro HBS-760 Bluetooth Wireless Stereo Headset - Black (Certified Refurbished).

Plus, Bose SoundTrue around-ear headphones II - Apple devices, Charcoal.

Fire HD 6 Kids Edition, 6" HD Display, Wi-Fi, 16 GB, Blue Kid-Proof Case.

And, Mary Katharine Ham, End of Discussion: How the Left's Outrage Industry Shuts Down Debate, Manipulates Voters, and Makes America Less Free (and Fun).

Bruce Levine, The Fall of the House of Dixie: The Civil War and the Social Revolution That Transformed the South.

Still more, from Leon Litwack, Been in the Storm So Long: The Aftermath of Slavery.

Clint Romesha, Red Platoon: A True Story of American Valor.

And John Nagl, Knife Fights: A Memoir of Modern War in Theory and Practice.

BONUS: Dexter Filkins, The Forever War.

Kendall Jenner Steps Out in Tight Dress in Woodland Hills

At the Mirror U.K., "Kendall Jenner flashes nipples AGAIN as she steps out in tight see-through dress."

And at London's Daily Mail, "Bra-less Kendall Jenner wears VERY flimsy dress as she arrives late to family lunch and meets with survivors of gun violence."

Saturday Rule 5

I haven't done a roundup in a while, as always, because they take too dang long.

But here's a few celebrity shots and blog links, what the hell?

First Street Journal, "Rule 5 Blogging: Totally Hot Twitter Edition."

At 90 Miles From Tyranny, "Morning Mistress."

And London's Daily Mail, "Meet Sahara Ray, the topless Australian model linked to Justin Bieber." And at Drunken Stepfather, "CENSORED SAHARA RAY TITS YOU’VE SEEN WITH CENSORED JUSTIN BIEBER YOU’VE SEEN OF THE DAY."

Still more, at the Mirror U.K., "Competing with Orlando Bloom? Justin Bieber and his girlfriend strip off during Hawaii getaway."

At YOLO Selfie, "Nude Selfie Breastroom."

More, at DListed, "Open Post: Britney Spears' New Video for “Make Me”."

The Hostages, "Big Boob Friday, "BBF – National Underwear Day Edition."

And Proof Positive, "Friday Night Babe: Chase Kennedy!"

Theo Spark, "Victoria’s Secret – Easy Collection Commercial Featuring Lily Aldridge (VIDEO)."

From Izismile, "Every Girl with Cute Tushie Should Wear Such Jeans (8 Pics)," and "Hot Women from '70s Sure Had Some Style (24 Pics)."

Bob Belvedere Flashback, "Rule 5 News: 08 June 2013 A.D. - Featuring Famke Janssen."

Check Pirate's Cove, "If All You See……is a terrible waste of water for fun when climate change will destroy all water, you might just be a Warmist."

Ms. EBL, "White Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter...Rule 5."

At Wirecutter's, "Your Good Morning Girl."

BONUS: At the Rule 5 blogfather's blog, the Other McCain, "Rule 5 Sunday: I Never Would Have Guessed."

Drop me a link in the comments to be added. I don't do these that much anymore, so I'm out of shape, heh.

Machete Suspect Screams 'Allahu Akbar' in Latest Belgian Jihad Attack (VIDEO)

The daily jihad attacks are back.

Watch, at Euronews, "Two policewomen wounded in machete attack in Belgium."

And at the Telegraph U.K., "Belgian police officers injured in machete attack."

BONUS: Flashback, "Postcard from a Failed State? Attacks Cast Light on Belgium's State Crisis."

'Reparations' Website Exploits Guilt-Ridden White to Provide 'Free' Services to Black Americans

Blazing Cat Fur has the story, "Website Invites the Liberal-Guilted to Give Free Stuff In Exchange for 'White Privilege Offsets'."

I think it's despicable.

I saw this at the Los Angeles Times yesterday, "Artist launches Reparations website and 'social experiment' on white privilege":

As an interior designer relatively new to the business, Christy Lynn Abram lacked the connections that could make her start-up a success. Then a friend recommended Reparations, a new Internet site that allows ethnic minorities to request help or services from a white person who would fulfill them free of charge.

"I was kind of drawn to it," said Abram, who is black. "My thought wasn't that someone owed me anything. It was more about opening myself up to having someone help me."

Launched as a modest project on Facebook in mid-July but soon expanded to a standalone website, Reparations is starting to draw international attention for its brazen approach to race relations. It is provoking strong reaction, including condemnation from those who see it as a racially divisive tool that exploits white liberal guilt.

But Seattle-based conceptual artist Natasha Marin, who created the project, defended her site as a social experiment intended to explore "white privilege."

"There are people across the political spectrum who don't understand that they have privilege,” she said. “So in many ways the site lets you cash in your whiteness to help other people."

The site has drawn more than 1,000 visitors per day since launching, estimated Marin, who said that her site analytics shut down because traffic exceeded capacity. She said the project has received more than 1,000 requests and offerings.

In a modern news era when social media reaction can amplify a relatively small number of voices into a national or even global conversation, Reparations has spurred coverage by outlets including the Washington Post and the Guardian, as well as several conservative sites such as the Daily Caller and Breitbart, which have taken a more critical approach to the project.

As word of the site has spread, offers and requests have come in from all over the U.S. as well as countries including Britain, New Zealand and Zambia — including one offer of a night’s shelter and a meal to a person of color traveling near Paparoa, New Zealand.

Marin, 37, is black and hails from Trinidad. She said that she has received a barrage of negative online feedback, including death threats, racial slurs and messages calling her a "whore."

She said she was surprised by some of the vitriol.

"You can tell the whole world that I was that naive," she said. "I don't feel like I deserve the hatred I've been getting out of this."

The artist said that requests are moderated and that she tries to facilitate exchanges.

Abram, the interior designer, said she received several responses that were helpful, including one from a man in Montreal who gave her career advice via Skype. But she also received "nasty” messages, including one that said white people didn't owe her anything and another that called her a "bloodsucker."

The concept of reparations has been controversial, especially when referring to the notion that black individuals in the U.S. should be compensated for the legacy of slavery.

On Monday leaders affiliated with the Black Lives Matter movement published a political platform calling for slavery reparations.

"The government, responsible corporations and other institutions that have profited off of the harm they have inflicted on black people — from colonialism to slavery through food and housing redlining, mass incarceration, and surveillance — must repair the harm done," said the Movement for Black Lives, an umbrella group that includes Black Lives Matter...

Black leftists have created a recipe for mutual hatred and recrimination. No wonder race relations are worse today than they've been in decades.

Keep reading.

Gold Star Mom Karen Vaughn Goes 'On the Record' (VIDEO)

Following-up from yesterday, "Gold Star Mom Karen Vaughn Says Obama Used Son's Casket as 'Photo Op' (VIDEO)."

She's a good lady.

From Greta's show yesterday afternoon: