HEH: Trump to Ron DeSantis Critics: “Monkey Off!”

I prefer “Kindly Vox off,” myself.

I’M HOLDING OUT FOR A DIRECT COMMISSION AS “STRIKE WING COMMANDER:” Defining the Job Duties of the Space Force Will Be A Knotty Task. I already have the t-shirt.

IF SOMETHING CANNOT GO ON FOREVER IT WILL STOP: Looks like Herb Stein’s maxim is being validated again in Germany, where its green energy policy is hitting the practical realities of Germany’s dependence on coal.

SPACE: NASA Detects Small Leak on the ISS – and the Russian Crew Is Fixing It With Rags and Junk. “The station is regularly hit by micrometeorite debris; spacewalking astronauts report that after nearly 20 years aloft, the exterior hull looks as if it was hit by birdshot.”

EAT CHEESE OR DIE: Cheese and yogurt may be better for you than milk, a new study found — here’s why.

PROGRESSIVES LOVE MAKING PEOPLE PLAY LIFEBOAT: Ohio Students Asked Which Victim Group They’d Vote Off a Spaceship Fleeing a Dying Earth.

THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT? Louis C.K.’s Surprise Comedy Set Included ‘Disgusting’ Rape Whistle Joke, Says Audience Member.

BURGERS AND FRIES ARE SAFER THAN SALAD: What Sparked An E. Coli Outbreak In Lettuce? Scientists Trace A Surprising Source. “Investigators quickly identified romaine lettuce as the source of the outbreak, but have had trouble pinpointing the cause for months. Now, the Food and Drug Administration has a theory for how E. coli ended up on that lettuce. According to the FDA, it probably came from a large cattle feedlot at one end of a valley near Yuma, Ariz., which is one of the country’s biggest lettuce-growing areas.”

A WELLSTONE MOMENT:

Because in the end, John McCain III and Donald Trump are more similar than not: both loutish, both thin-skinned, both convenient with the truth, and both centered on themselves. His life stands a very imperfect vessel to use as a cudgel against another very imperfect man currently on the political stage.

The member that praised one to damn another was undoubtedly sincere and honest in both sentiments, which is more than can be said for the news media. Ten years ago, the same people that were worshiping him over the weekend were savaging McCain as a Nazi. Many on the right are gobbling it up, retweeting, reposting, and generally ignoring the hypocrisy.

In the end, what is more destructive? A brutal and honest “incivility” or false, disingenuous platitudes of the dead crafted to be yielded as a political weapon in the heat of the present moment?

Read the whole thing.

STRIKE EAGLE OVER RAF LAKENHEATH: The USAF F-15E is participating in a Royal Air Force air combat training exercise.

IF YOU CAN’T WIN, CHANGE THE RULES: New Mexico Reinstates Straight-Party Voting Just in Time to Thwart Gary Johnson.

CAN’T STOP THE SIGNAL: Defense Distributed Is Selling 3D Printed Gun Files—Through the Mail.

IT’S SAD THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TO MAKE THIS A RULE: New Dress Code for California School District: Must Cover Genitals, Buttocks, and Nipples.

THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC HAS BEEN AT WAR WITH US SINCE 1979: Declassified Interrogation Reports Show How Much Iran Shaped Iraq War.

Iran and the U.S. have been vying for influence in Iraq. Throughout the Iraq war, Iran sought to influence the Shia-dominated government in Iraq, often to the detriment of the Sunni minority.

Iran also provided arms and training to Shiite militias, U.S. officials say, so they could attack U.S. forces and pressure them to leave the country. U.S. forces left in 2011 after President Barack Obama and then-Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki failed to reach an accord to allow American troops to stay.

According to a June 18, 2007, interrogation report, Mr. Khazali said the training was carried out by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps at three bases near Tehran, including the Imam Khomeini base, which Mr. Khazali said he had visited.

“There are Iranians and Lebanese Hezbollah conducting the training at these bases,” the report said, based on interrogation. “The Iranians are experts in full scale warfare while the Lebanese are experts in urban or guerrilla warfare.”

Bush’s failure to deal sharply with Tehran when it first became known they were killing Coalition forces has led to all kinds of nasty ripple effects ever since.

REPUBLICANS POUNCE! Texas GOP shares arrest mug shot to attack Beto O’Rourke for skipping debate with Cruz. “The mugshot appeared to reference a DWI arrest O’Rourke experienced more than 20 years ago. It was one of several photos posted on the Texas GOP account mocking O’Rourke over his decision not to debate Cruz on Friday in Dallas. O’Rourke is challenging Cruz for his Senate seat in November.”

The October Surprise reveal of a 24-year-old DUI conviction nearly sank George W. Bush’s presidential election in 2000, which the press certainly did not dismiss as something Bush “experienced” in his youth.

ROGER SIMON: The Case for Sessions’ Resignation Grows.

THAT SEEMS A BIT HIGH: Amazon and Sanders Butt Heads as Senator Prepares 100 Percent Tax Bill.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TAKES ON RICH AND POWERFUL IN SUPPORT OF CIVIL RIGHTS: Asian-American Students Suing Harvard Over Admissions Win Justice Dept. Support.

In a so-called statement of interest, the department supported the claims of the plaintiffs, a group of Asian-Americans rejected by Harvard. They contend that Harvard has systematically discriminated against them by artificially capping the number of qualified Asian-Americans from attending the school in order to advance less qualified students of other races.

“Harvard has failed to carry its demanding burden to show that its use of race does not inflict unlawful racial discrimination on Asian Americans,” the Justice Department said in its filing.

This is a big moment in the history of anti-racism.

DISPATCHES FROM THE EDUCATION APOCALYPSE: Unpacking Peggy McIntosh’s White Privilege Knapsack.

Read the whole thing.

OH: Two Weeks After Ellison Abuse Allegations, DNC Offers No Update from “Review.”

In a statement to NPR, the DNC said, “These allegations recently came to light and we are reviewing them. All allegations of domestic abuse are disturbing and should be taken seriously.”

The Daily Caller wrote, “The DNC has offered no details on who exactly is running the probe, what evidence they have uncovered or when they expect to have enough information to either affirm or withdraw their support for Ellison.”

Multiple emails to a DNC spokeswoman by the Daily Caller requesting an update on the investigation have gone unanswered.

It’s almost as though the Democrats are more interested in protecting one of their own than in getting to the truth behind serious allegations of domestic abuse.

BEN WEINGARTEN: What Weaponization of Security Clearances Really Looks Like — The Stunning Story of the Deep State’s Alleged Efforts to Crush Pentagon Whistleblower Adam Lovinger.

HIGHER EDUCATION BUBBLE UPDATE: At campus orientation, speaker bashes Fox News, rugged individualism, says America not that great.

Also: Judge orders Syracuse to re-enroll fraternity students who were punished for satirical videos.

As much as it would like to be, Syracuse University is not above the law.

A New York State judge ordered the private university to re-enroll “at least two” students who were punished for their participation in privately made videos of satirical skits at a Theta Tau gathering, The Daily Orange reports.

The four fraternity pledges and one brother filed federal suit against Syracuse in April, claiming it violated its own rules and deprived them due process in punishing them for leaked “roast” videos that did not represent their own views.

Remember, if you are appalled by this sort of thing, it’s because you’re “anti-intellectual.”

DIRECTIVE 10-289: Venezuela seizes Smurfit Kappa plant.

Venezuela claims that Smurfit Kappa engaged in price speculation, smuggling and refusing to sell to local businesses.

It has demanded that the Irish firm immediately adjust all prices for its products.

The seizure of the plant will last for 90 days.

But the company is going Galt:

“As a result of this action by the government of Venezuela, it is impossible for SKCV to manage its affairs in a way that complies with our normal business standards,” said Smurfit Kappa.

“Consequently, as of 28 August 2018, SKCV is not responsible for the use of its installations, machinery and equipment, its employees’ safety, that of its surrounding communities, any environmental impact, or the quality of the paper and packaging manufactured in the operations.”

“Get the hell out of my way!” the wise man once said.