SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:05 P.M. ET:

THE NEWEST MONEY THREAT – The US Postal Service says it may have to shut down completely during the winter unless Congress takes emergency action.  One reason for the crisis:  Labor represents 80% of the USPS's expenses, as compared with 53% at United Parcel Service and 32% at FedEx.  Decades of labor contracts are coming home to roost.  I suspect we'll see drastically reduced service in the future, a probable end to Saturday deliveries, and possibly three-day-a-week deliveries in some areas.  Make sure your e-mail works.

LIBYA – The same old Mideast story.  What is it about these Arabs?  Can't they get anything right?   Superb national-defense reporter Bill Gertz, of the Washington Times, reports that jihadists in Libya have revealed plans to subvert a post-Gaddafi government and set up an Islamist state, according to US intelligence sources.  There are also reports that Libyan rebels are arresting blacks in the capital city of Tripoli and accusing them, many migrant workers, of siding with the Gaddafi regime.  Welcome to the new world of freedom.  It seems that Libya is in danger of slipping into a future even more frightening than the time of Gaddafi.

ANTICIPATION – Political junkies are anticipating this Wednesday's Republican debate at the Reagan Library.  The main event:  the confrontation between Mitt Romney and Rick Perry.  Romney is already giving hints of his approach, a contrast between his business experience and the fact that Perry has spent a good chunk of his adult life in political office.  It is absolutely imperative for Romney, if he hopes to challenge Perry's lead, to go after the Texas governor on Wednesday.  For Romney, Perry must be pictured as an unelectable, extreme-oriented career politician.  For Perry, the reverse is true.  He's got to create his own image, as Ronald Reagan did, reassuring the audience that he's a mature, reasoned governor, not some fringe guy.  As  performer, Perry outdistances Romney.  But we'll withhold judgment until after Wednesday night's rumble.

September 4, 2011