EVERYTHING SEEMINGLY IS SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL: Another rabid beaver attacks in Northern Virginia.

JAMES TARANTO: The End of the ‘New Beginning’: Suddenly Obama’s foreign policy does look feckless.

In his weekly address Saturday, President Obama observed yesterday’s anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and declared that “our country is stronger, safer and more respected in the world.” In our Friday column, after the president’s Democratic National Convention speech, we observed: “Conservatives tend to argue that the Obama foreign policy has been feckless and will lead to disaster. They may turn out to be right, but it’s no easier an argument to make than the Democratic economic case that Obama’s policies will produce prosperity real soon now.”

After the events of Sept. 11, 2012, the argument is easier to make.

From the Cairo Apology Speech, to the Administration’s support of the Arab Spring, to the intervention in Libya without competent follow-through, it doesn’t look good.

COMPETENCE: Report: U.S. consulate in Benghazi had no Marine protection.

Well, come on. Who could have been expected to foresee security problems? I mean, in Libya?

THE HILL: Aggressive Romney Hits At President. But since the President was partying in Vegas, he may have missed it. . . .

JOHN HINDERAKER: Obama’s Perverse Middle East Policy Bears Fruit.

THE HILL: GOP leader: Embassy statement like telling rape victim ‘you asked for it.’

HIGHER EDUCATION BUBBLE UPDATE: Arnold Kling on Educational Technology. Maybe a lower education bubble update, too . . . .

AT AMAZON, up to 50% off on Men’s Jeans.

ANNALS OF THE STATE-CONTROLLED MEDIA: How the media turned Obama’s foreign policy bungle into a Romney gaffe.

HOW’S THAT “SMART DIPLOMACY” WORKIN’ OUT FOR YA? (CONT’D): Foreign Policy: Inside The Public-Relations Disaster At The Cairo Embassy. Under the bus.

UPDATE: Administration officials: Romney was right, that statement from the Cairo embassy was awful.

Well, yes. What’s sad is that so many in the press and punditocracy didn’t realize that — or, worse, pretended not to realize that.

SPENGLER: When Do We Get To Attack Obama’s Character? Never, because shut up. Also, racist.

WHY THE MOVIE INDUSTRY IS DYING: “Hollywood’s elite have chosen nearly en masse to exercise their First Amendment right to make sure that they’re not mistaken for mainstream Americans. This has been a suicidal mistake.” Oikophobia kills careers.

Also, let’s repeal the Hollywood tax cuts! And crack down on that shady “Hollywood accounting.”

GAFFE: DNC Apologizes For Using Pictures of Russian Warships in Tribute To American Veterans. “Democratic officials apologized Wednesday for mistakenly displaying an image of the Russian Navy during a tribute to America’s veterans at last week’s Democratic National Convention. But they also used their response to take a swipe at Republican rival Mitt Romney.”

Of course they did.

HOW’S THAT “SMART DIPLOMACY” WORKIN’ OUT FOR YA? (CONT’D): State blames underling in Cairo, Ambassador not in the country. Funny how this Administration has time to approve Michael Lewis’s magazine articles about Obama, but nobody’s in charge of the Embassy’s communications. . . . .

NEWS: Big Explosion Recorded On Jupiter’s Surface. Probably a relativistic kinetic strike against their enemies from the alien base on Saturn.

PHOTOS: 15 Star-Shaped Forts From Around The World.

AT AMAZON, up to 50% off on select bedding. You might want to stock up on blankets. It might be a cold winter.

Also, today only: Friday Night Lights: The Complete Series, $55.99.

MIA LOVE releases a new campaign ad.

BOB ZUBRIN: Dethrone the EPA.

BACKFIRE: Striking Chicago teachers may turn Illinois into Wisconsin.