Kara Del Toro in Black Bikini

She's lovely.

At Hollywood Tuna, "Kara Del Toro Belongs in a Bikini."

Election 2018 Pits Surging Economy Against Polarizing President

This is interesting.

At LAT, "Trump's first midterm pits a booming economy against one of history's most unpopular presidents":

The midterm election now just over eight weeks away is shaping up as a seismic collision between two powerful and competing forces, a rip-roaring national economy and a deeply polarizing and unpopular president. Heading into the home-stretch: https://t.co/Mto0WNH0k6

— Mark Z. Barabak (@markzbarabak) September 7, 2018

The midterm election now just over eight weeks away is shaping up as a seismic collision between two powerful and competing forces, a rip-roaring national economy and a deeply polarizing and unpopular president.

At stake on Nov. 6 is not just control of Congress but the fate of President Trump as he faces a special counsel investigation and a series of scandals that Democrats, given the power on Capitol Hill, would eagerly exploit.

Polling and turnout in a raft of primaries and other elections suggest Democrats are highly motivated — more so than Republicans — and the party seems poised to gain strength in Washington as well as capitals across the country.

GOP hopes of forestalling a November debacle rest mainly on the strength of these boom times.

Economic growth has hit the fastest clip in nearly four years. Consumer spending is brisk. Unemployment is near an 18-year low, and average hourly wages are climbing — 2.7% in July, compared with a year ago.

“History tells you there should be a big blue wave,” said Scott Reed, a political strategist at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, but he sees prosperity acting as a breakwater. “People feel good.”

The chamber and other GOP allies are spending millions of dollars in hopes of translating those upbeat sentiments into Republican votes, airing advertisements like one praising Rep. Steve Knight — who faces a tough reelection fight against Democrat Katie Hill in the high desert outside Los Angeles — for supporting the tax bill Trump signed into law.

“It’s not cheap to live here,” says a narrator, as a scene of the L.A. skyline yields to a bird’s-eye view of the U.S. Capitol. “So when Congress cut taxes for working families, that made a difference.”

If a wave is coming, California will probably feel it for the first time in decades. Indeed, the state that beats at the heart of the Trump resistance is central to Democratic hopes of seizing control of the House.

There are six Republican-held districts in addition to Knight’s — threading through Southern California and the Central Valley — that Democrat Hillary Clinton carried. Half a dozen appear to be in play, owing not just to anti-Trump attitudes but political lines drawn to enhance competition. (Voters saw to that in 2010 by creating an independent redistricting commission.)

Still others in the Central Valley, east San Diego County and the Sierra Nevada could flip in the event of a strong Democratic tide.

Winning just a few of those contests would go a considerable way toward giving the party the 23 seats needed for a House takeover; Republicans are counting on a ballot measure repealing a state gas tax hike to boost GOP turnout and cut its California losses.

The Senate presents a different picture. Democrats face a much steeper path to take control, even though the party needs just a two-seat gain...

More.

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BONUS: Greg Lukianoff, The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure.

The Left is Your Enemy (VIDEO)

A great, great new video from Dennis Prager:

The Left's 'New Socialism'

The left's new socialism is pretty the same as the left's old socialism.

See Jedediah Purdy, at Politico, and then watch the video from the Victims of Communism Foundation below:

Opinion: The new socialism is both thoroughly American and pretty damned radical https://t.co/fpH7VbKaEc

— POLITICO (@politico) September 7, 2018

NFL Season Opener Fumbles

I'll tune in Monday night for the Rams, but mostly because the Angels are out of contention and I'll be bored.

Besides, I'm rooting for the Rams this year. Hopefully they'll eschew the anthem protests, sheesh.

At Deadline Hollywood, "Eagles Bring Out “Philly Special” to Win But NFL Kickoff Ratings Down From 2017":

#FridayFeeling or #FridayMotivation ? #NFLKickoff ratings down to multi-year low as #ATLvsPHI starts late on harsh TV landscape ... even with that winning version of the "Philly Special" https://t.co/fS0NU4PVh8

— Dominic Patten (@DeadlineDominic) September 7, 2018

With only Eagles defensive end Michael Bennett taking to the bench in protest during the national anthem, when things finally did kick off on NBC just after 9 PM ET, it certainly didn’t seem to be the most inspiring game. At one point, tell-it-like-it-is Philly fans were booing the current Super Bowl champs on live TV for their lame efforts on the field.

Then, as it looked like Atlanta would be grinding out a win, the action really started right near the end as the Eagles dusted off a variation of their Super Bowl move the Philly Special. With some quick moves, QB Nick Foles snagged a 15-yard pass from teammate Nelson Agholor on a reverse to seal an 18-12 victory for the Eagles and some respect from the more than just the fans at Lincoln Financial Field.

Sadly, that glory did not translate into the ratings

With a 13.4/5 in the metered markets, the post-midnight ending game is down 8% from last year’s kickoff of September 7, 2017. In one of the lowest season openers ratingswise and facing portions of a cable news-covered rally by a very NFL critical President Donald Trump, last night’s game is not only down from last year, but 2016, 2015 and 2014 – all of which saw successive declines.

To add more injury to that, the 2017 8:42 PM ET-starting season opener between the victorious Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots ended up with a weak 7.7/29 rating among adults 18-49 and 21.8 million viewers. That was a double digit decline from 2016 and the worst total audience an opening game had since 2009.

ven in a TV landscape where ratings and viewership are noticeably dipping, unless you are This Is Us or Game Of Thrones, those results have to worry the NFL and the broadcasters, especially the still Rupert Murdoch-owned Fox with its pricey Thursday Night Football debuting this year

We’ll update with more NFL kickoff numbers and other ratings like Big Brother, which was on too last night, as we get them later today...

More.

Megan Parry's Friday Forecast

She's such a sweetie.

At ABC News 10 San Diego:

Tesla Stock Dives After Elon Musk Smokes Blunt on Joe Rogan Show (VIDEO)

At the Guardian U.K., "Tesla shares crash after Elon Musk smokes joint on live web show."

Elon Musk smoking a blunt for the first time on Joe Rogan's podcast is Internet gold pic.twitter.com/nx8zQ7HlyB

— gifdsports (@gifdsports) September 7, 2018

Josephine Skriver of the Day

At Drunken Stepfather, "JOSEPHINE SKRIVER THE ROBOT AT VICTORIA’S SECRET EVENT FOR SOME FAKE ART BOOK OF THE DAY."

Hot Girls Smoking Weed

At Drunken Stepfather, "HOT GIRLS SMOKING WEED FOR 420 FRIDAY OF THE DAY."

'Sex on Fire'

From Kings of Leon, during Tuesday morning's drive-time.

My Hero
Foo Fighters
6:46am

The Lost Boys
People Are Strange
6:43am

Jessie's Girl
Rick Springfield
6:40am

Set Fire To The Rain
Adele
6:36am

Eye Of The Tiger
Survivor
6:32am

Africa
Toto
6:20am

Sex On Fire
Kings Of Leon
6:17am

Let's Dance
David Bowie
6:13am

Highway To Hell
AC/DC
6:09am

Amber
311
6:06am

Take Me Home Tonight
Eddie Money
6:03am

Close To Me
The Cure
5:52am

Alexis Ren's Life Update (VIDEO)

She says she was in a "sad place" earlier this year, and thanks fans for having patience with her.

A nice, gracious young lady.

Laura Ingraham Rips Democrats' Treatment of Brett Cavanaugh's Senate Confirmation Hearings (VIDEO)

This was Ms. Laura's segment from Tuesday night, after the first day of hearings.

She eviscerates the diabolical, disgusting Democrats.

Watch, this is excellent:

Danielle Gersh's Thursday Forecast

She's an adorable sweetie.

At CBS News 2 Los Angeles:

White House Searches for 'Anonymous' New York Times Op-Ed Writer

Following-up, "New York Times Publishes Anonymous Op-Ed Attacking President Trump."

At WSJ, "White House Searches for Anonymous Inside Critic":

Top White House officials canceled meetings and huddled to strategize about how to expose the author of a critical New York Times op-ed https://t.co/84TUFZrptt

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) September 6, 2018

TREASON?

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 5, 2018

Does the so-called “Senior Administration Official” really exist, or is it just the Failing New York Times with another phony source? If the GUTLESS anonymous person does indeed exist, the Times must, for National Security purposes, turn him/her over to government at once!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 5, 2018

WASHINGTON—White House aides launched a search for the anonymous author of an opinion column who claimed Wednesday to be part of a secret group of officials inside the administration acting as a check on President Trump’s “worst inclinations.”

An angry president called the New York Times piece “a disgrace” and slammed its author as “gutless.”

The writer was identified only as a senior administration official. A New York Times spokeswoman declined to comment when asked for a description of that term.

“This is the stuff we have to deal with, and, you know, the dishonest media,” Mr. Trump told reporters at the White House when asked about the column. The president was ready for the question, pulling a sheet of paper from his suit-jacket pocket and responding with a list of what he said were his administration’s accomplishments, including low unemployment.

Later in the afternoon, Mr. Trump tweeted a video of his response to the op-ed and followed it with a second tweet that read simply, “TREASON?”

Inside the West Wing, top officials canceled afternoon meetings and huddled behind closed doors to strategize about how to expose the author, White House officials said. Some officials called reporters to chase down rumors about who was behind the op-ed, and whether it came from inside the White House or a cabinet-level agency.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement that the op-ed was written by a “gutless, anonymous source.” Both she and Mr. Trump referred to the Times as “failing,” despite statistics from the company showing subscriptions have increased since his election.

“The individual behind this piece has chosen to deceive, rather than support, the duly elected president of the United States,” Ms. Sanders said. "He is not putting country first, but putting himself and his ego ahead of the will of the American people. This coward should do the right thing and resign.”

Since its inception, the Trump administration has included some senior officials—both conservative and more liberal—who have sought to curb Mr. Trump’s direction, according to people familiar with the matter...

Still more.

The Troubling Cowardice of Trans Ideology

This is a great piece, from Meghan Murphy, "How have we let scientific study become hate speech?":

Regardless of the motivations and actions of @LisaLllittman's critics, what is more troubling is the cowardice demonstrated on the issue of transgender ideology, trans activism, and "trans kids" by so many today. (Me @unherd) https://t.co/AC3J49E4pF

— Meghan Murphy (@MeghanEMurphy) September 5, 2018

The growing trend in young people suddenly deciding they are “in the wrong body” and must “transition” to the opposite sex is alarming. It means that more and more kids are being sent down a path of drastic body and life changes. The consequences of getting this wrong could not be more serious. Study after study has shown that a majority of youth who claim to have gender dysphoria do not continue to experience this in adulthood. Yet the puberty blockers and the hormone treatments given to ‘trans kids’ eventually lead to permanent sterilisation. And yet as the trend takes hold, the attempts to shut down public debate also grow stronger – which is just as alarming.

Last month, Brown University assistant professor Lisa Littman published a paper looking at this “rapid-onset gender dysphoria” in adolescents and young adults. Through surveying the parents of these teens, she found that this sudden onset of “gender dysphoria” was taking place in peer groups in which one or more friends became gender dysphoric at the same time. In other words, this seemed to be kids following trends.

From the 256 surveys Littman collected, she found that a large majority of these youths were female (82.8%), and 41% had identified as non-heterosexual prior to identifying as transgender. Almost two thirds had also been diagnosed with at least one mental health disorder or neurodevelopmental disability before they claimed to have gender dysphoria.

One might deduce, based on this evidence, that these (mainly) girls were not, in fact, transgender, but lesbians and/or struggling with other mental health issues. And crucially, that these factors should be explored before leaping to start “transitioning” — a process that eventually involves a lifetime of hormone treatments and a series of complicated surgeries.

These facts, though, have been deemed unspeakable. Those who dare question the concept of gender identity itself — that is that one can have, say, a male body, but be truly a woman ‘on the inside’ — are treated as blasphemers and bigots, viciously harassed, attacked, and even fired from their place of work.

Dr. Kenneth Zucker is a case in point. A sexologist and psychologist who ran the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Gender Identity Clinic (GIC) in Toronto for more than 30 years, he was fired after trans activists mounted a smear campaign against him. Zucker’s ‘crime’ was to suggest that rather than immediately start children who think they have gender dysphoria on the transition process, perhaps we should first try to “help children feel comfortable in their own bodies.” Zucker himself was not actually opposed to the transition process — if the dysphoria of the youth he was working with persisted, Zucker would support them in their path to transitioning.

But simply acknowledging that desistance happens was apparently unacceptable. Over 500 professional clinicians and academics signed a petition in support of Zucker, arguing that his dismissal was “politically motivated” and that this should “stand as a warning to any clinical researcher who is or considers working at the CAMH: In the event of a conflict with activists for a fashionable cause, the CAMH might well sacrifice them — and the individuals and families they serve in their clinics — for some real or imagined local political gain.” But the damage was done. Zucker had been fired, and his reputation tarnished...

More.

Kate Bock's Travel Tips (VIDEO)

At Sports Illustrated Swimsuit:

Josie Canseco in Demand

At Galore, "JOSIE CANSECO IS THE IN DEMAND MODEL TO LOOK OUT FOR THIS SEASON."

And at Drunken Stepfather, "JOSIE CANSECO HOT AND HALF NAKED FOR GALORE OF THE DAY."

sorry baby pic.twitter.com/4Qn7D8jDeM

— Josie (@JosieCanseco) September 5, 2018

New York Times Publishes Anonymous Op-Ed Attacking President Trump

This is terrible. Disgusting.

At the hateful Old Gray Lady, "I Am Part of the Resistance - Inside the Trump Administration":

In Opinion

In an anonymous Op-Ed, a senior Trump administration official says he and others are working ​to frustrate the president’s “misguided impulses.” https://t.co/qW1IoM3AYY pic.twitter.com/rCHnQfcRjG

— The New York Times (@nytimes) September 5, 2018

"Anonymous." Like the "resistance" antifa goons, cowards with black masks covering their faces. The New York Times is the journalistic equivalent of antifa. Cowardly and despicable. #ThankYouTrump #MAGA #BrettKavanaugh #BrettKavanaughHearing #SorryNotSorry 🤷‍♂️ https://t.co/VJi8MxmW7d

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) September 5, 2018

Like I said 90% of media exists to troll him. Nothing more. pic.twitter.com/R9Bz4OFRrt

— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) September 5, 2018

President Trump is facing a test to his presidency unlike any faced by a modern American leader.

It’s not just that the special counsel looms large. Or that the country is bitterly divided over Mr. Trump’s leadership. Or even that his party might well lose the House to an opposition hellbent on his downfall.

The dilemma — which he does not fully grasp — is that many of the senior officials in his own administration are working diligently from within to frustrate parts of his agenda and his worst inclinations.

I would know. I am one of them.

To be clear, ours is not the popular “resistance” of the left. We want the administration to succeed and think that many of its policies have already made America safer and more prosperous.

But we believe our first duty is to this country, and the president continues to act in a manner that is detrimental to the health of our republic.

That is why many Trump appointees have vowed to do what we can to preserve our democratic institutions while thwarting Mr. Trump’s more misguided impulses until he is out of office.

The root of the problem is the president’s amorality. Anyone who works with him knows he is not moored to any discernible first principles that guide his decision making.

Although he was elected as a Republican, the president shows little affinity for ideals long espoused by conservatives: free minds, free markets and free people. At best, he has invoked these ideals in scripted settings. At worst, he has attacked them outright.

In addition to his mass-marketing of the notion that the press is the “enemy of the people,” President Trump’s impulses are generally anti-trade and anti-democratic.

Don’t get me wrong. There are bright spots that the near-ceaseless negative coverage of the administration fails to capture: effective deregulation, historic tax reform, a more robust military and more.

But these successes have come despite — not because of — the president’s leadership style, which is impetuous, adversarial, petty and ineffective.

From the White House to executive branch departments and agencies, senior officials will privately admit their daily disbelief at the commander in chief’s comments and actions. Most are working to insulate their operations from his whims.

Meetings with him veer off topic and off the rails, he engages in repetitive rants, and his impulsiveness results in half-baked, ill-informed and occasionally reckless decisions that have to be walked back.

“There is literally no telling whether he might change his mind from one minute to the next,” a top official complained to me recently, exasperated by an Oval Office meeting at which the president flip-flopped on a major policy decision he’d made only a week earlier...

Still more (FWIW).

Stoneman-Douglas Parent Fred Guttenberg Stalked Brett Kavanaugh at Lunch Break During Senate Confirmation Hearing (VIDEO)

Ed Morrissey has the analysis, at Hot Air, "Today’s “Controversy”: Kavanaugh Declines Handshake From Father of Murdered Parkland Student":

If Zapruder-style analysis of a missed handshake ends up being the most eventful thing to happen at this hearing, and it might, we should never hold a hearing again.

Actually, we should never hold a hearing again even if this isn’t the most eventful thing to happen. These spectacles are insufferable, insulting, grandstanding garbage for whichever party happens to be in the minority. If I were Grassley, I would have warned them this morning after the first outbursts that another one would force him to adjourn the hearing and recommend that McConnell immediately call a floor vote on the nominee. (The only senators truly in doubt about how they’re voting are red-state Democrats whose votes aren’t needed for confirmation anyway.) And when Schumer inevitably shrieked that America didn’t get a hearing on the new justice, he’d be reminded that that was what his party chose with how they behaved.


And if you’re reading that thinking, “That sounds like how you’d treat a five-year-old, taking away their toys when they won’t stop acting out”: Right. Correct.

As for the non-handshake:

More at the link.