SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – OVERNIGHT: 

THE NEW ENTREPRENEURS – FROM FOX:    Former Democratic Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams now owns two homes in Georgia collectively worth $1.4 million despite having been hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt before her unsuccessful run against Gov. Brian Kemp.  The former candidate was catapulted into the national spotlight during her slugfest 2018 run against Kemp that saw her claim victory for months after the fact.  Since her electoral failure, though, Abrams has made a series of property purchases in DeKalb County that have been scrubbed from the county tax assessor’s website, according to records obtained by Fox News.  Most county tax assessors in the state of Georgia, such as in Abrams's DeKalb County, have a searchable database for property information, but individuals can request to have their information taken offline.  The former state lawmaker bought her first townhome in DeKalb County for $246,300 in 2004 and purchased a second home in the area in 2019 for $370,000 that is now valued at $409,400.  Fast-forward to October 2020, just days before the presidential election. Abrams simultaneously sold the home she bought in 2004 for $400,000 and bought a new second home for $975,000.  The home Abrams purchased in October of last year is now valued at $1,003,934.  Dare we ask where the money came from?  She's one of the slickest operators around.  She lost the governorship by 50,000 votes, yet claimed that the election was stolen through "voter suppression."  No proof was offered.  She has been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate.  So has Mickey Mouse.

ALARMING – FROM FOX:   As the nation’s 245th birthday approaches, not everyone is bullish on the red, white, and blue.  Almost 7 out of 10 voters (69 percent) believe America is the greatest country to reside in, according to the latest Fox News survey, down from 83 percent in 2015 and from the high-water mark recorded a decade ago: 84 percent in April 2011, the first time the question was asked on a Fox News poll.  On the other side of the ledger, 26 percent say America is not the best country to live in, up 12 points.  The drop in positive views since 2015 is most pronounced among voters under age 45 (75 percent said the U.S. was the best in 2015 vs. 54 percent now, for a 21-point drop), Democrats (-20), women (-19), and Black voters (-17).  Meanwhile, a record-low 52 percent believes the United States still has its best days to look forward to, down from 62 percent in 2017 and a high of 63 percent in 2012. Thirty-nine percent think the country already hit its peak, up 10 points from 2017.  Since 2017, Republicans (-35 points), White voters (-18), men (-16), and independents (-12) are less likely to say America’s future is bright. Democrats (+14) and Black voters (+12) are among those most likely to think the best days are still to come.   A shift to the left.  Not a good thing.  If more and more young people have doubts about living in the United States, we will start to lose our best scientists and artists.  And other countries will start to raid us for our finest talent.

July 1, 2021