SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – OVERNIGHT: 

YIKES!  THE MAN MUST BE RUNNING – FROM DAILY MAIL:   Former President Donald Trump predicted that the U.S. would be over even before the next presidential election - in his latest dig at President Joe Biden.   'And our country has gone really downhill in the last eight months, like nobody's ever seen before,' Trump told his former press secretary Sean Spicer, calling into Spicer's Newsmax show Tuesday night. 'And we're not going to have a country left in three years, I'll tell you that.'   Trump continued to protest that the 2020 election was 'rigged' against him - mentioning 2022 and 2024 in the same breath.  'And you go to these elections coming up in '22 and '24 - we're not going to have a country left. The election was rigged,' he told Spicer.   The ex-president wouldn't say if he would be running in the next presidential race, but strongly hinted that was the case.   'I will probably not comment on that, but I will tell you I think you will be very happy Sean,' he told Spicer. 'I think you and a lot of other people that love our country are going to be very happy.'   'I could make it soon, but that get's complicated,' Trump remarked on timing.   He previously said he wouldn't announce until he saw how the Republicans performed in the 2022 midterms.  Trump is a shrewd fox.  The thing he probably fears the most is running and losing.  It would be complete humiliation.  I'd imagine he'll certainly wait until after the midterms to decide, and that the polls would have to lean heavily in his direction for him to run.  

A GRAVE OFFENSE – FROM THE NEW YORK POST:   A conservative group is asking the Office of Congressional Ethics to launch an investigation of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for accepting free tickets to Monday’s Met Gala, where she wore a custom gown that said “Tax the Rich.”  The self-declared socialist congresswoman drew broad social media scorn for partying at the elite $35,000-per-ticket event while presenting herself as their rabble-rousing foe.  Thomas Jones, founder of the American Accountability Foundation, wrote in an ethics complaint that he believes Ocasio-Cortez, who represents parts of the Bronx and Queens, broke House rules by accepting “an impermissible gift” of free tickets to attend the annual gala, which also was attended by fellow New York Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney.  Although House rules allow members to accept free tickets to charity events directly from event organizers, Jones argues that the Met Gala doesn’t count because the guest list is curated by a private company, media giant Condé Nast.  “[W]hile the individual’s invitations may bear the name of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum has ceded control over the invitations to a for-profit company, specifically Condé Nast, and to its Chief Content Officer, Anna Wintour,” Jones wrote.  I think it's a major offense.  I want to see the trial televised.  My belief is that a life sentence is called for.  But expect worldwide demonstrations for her among socialists and other conspirators.  She could wind up a martyr, like Evita Perón. 

September 15, 2021