SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:55 P.M. ET: 

SHAKEUP IN THE REGIME – All the buzz is about the ouster of Reince Priebus and his replacement by Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, a retired Marine four-star general.  And the big question is:  Who's next?  It's unlikely Kelly would take the job unless he had real command authority to run the White House, including authority to send folks into the wilderness.  There are stories that Steve Bannon might be the next chap to be separated from his head.  There are also stories – serious ones – that Lt. Gen. Herbert McMaster, the national security adviser, isn't long for his post.  The rap against McMaster is that he leans more toward the Obama school than the Trump school.  With Kelly in command of the White House, he might not want another general around.  This is all juicy copy.  Newt says that if Trump and Kelly can work as a team, we may see a truly great administration.

THE PARTY OF CRACKPOTS – FROM THE HILL:    Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) slammed President Trump's decision to appoint Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly as his new chief of staff on Friday, saying the appointment "militarizes the White House."   "By putting Gen John Kelly in charge, Pres Trump is militarizing the White House & putting our executive branch in the hands of an extremist," Lee tweeted.  Extremist?  Who's the extremist?  Barbara Lee, former head of the Congressional Black Caucus, is a pro-Castro Marxist, and the only member of Congress to vote against military action after 9-11.  She's another Democratic Party embarrassment.  I hope they keep putting her out there.

WORLD OF ILLUSIONS – FROM THE DAILY MAIL:  A man wielding a large kitchen knife killed one and wounded four others after storming into a supermarket in the German city of Hamburg.   The attacker is reported to have screamed 'Allahu Akbar' before running into the Edeka shop where he stabbed one person and slashed at four others while trying to flee.   He was pursued by passers-by who wrestled him to the ground and called the police, who later arrested him.   One officer said there was 'no valid information on the motive of the attacker' who has yet to be identified.   German daily Bild published a photo of the attacker in the back of a police car with a white, blood-soaked bag over his head.  Now let's see:  The guy shouted Allahu Akbar, and the police say there's no valid info on his motive?   Not exactly a Sherlock Holmes-level police force.   No matter how many attacks there are in Europe, the denial continues.  Let's not speak the truth.  If we do, we might have to do something.  Or have some trade contracts with Iran canceled. 

July 28, 2017