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

PERRY OUT – Former Texas Governor Rick Perry has dropped out of the presidential race.  It's a sad day.  He was a fine governor of Texas, at one time the nation's longest-serving governor, put his poor performance and personal gaffes during the 2012 race for the GOP presidential nomination created an image that he could not overcome.  I'd expect others to drop out in the coming weeks, especially Lindsey Graham, Bobby Jindal and George Pataki.  But the field has to be narrowed far more for there to be truly informative debates.

GREAT MOMENTS IN JURISPRUDENCE – From Reason:  A Pikesville, Maryland, 13-year-old will be charged with second-degree assault for kissing a 14-year-old girl on a dare. The "assault" happened at Pikesville Middle School on Friday. Police were called to the scene.  According to WBFF:  School officials took a report regarding a 13-year-old boy who kissed a 14-year-old girl during school hours. The unwanted kiss was allegedly the result of a dare made by students.  Police confirm that the boy is now facing a second-degree assault charge as a juvenile. No one was injured during the incident, police say, and disciplinary actions related to suspension or expulsion will be handled by the school system.  We must protect American womanhood from these mashers.  If you don't stop 'em here, pretty soon you get...hugs.  Maybe whistles.  Think of that.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST STORIES OF OUR TIME – From London's Daily Mail:   Millions more Syrians could come to Europe to seek asylum, a United Nations agency chief predicted yesterday.  More than 430,000 refugees and migrants have crossed the Mediterranean to reach Europe this year, official figures show.  But Peter Salama, Unicef’s director for the Middle East and North Africa, predicted there will be a further massive influx of refugees unless the bloody Syrian war ends.  He said: ‘There could be millions and millions more refugees leaving Syria and ultimately (going) to the European Union and beyond.’  We want to be compassionate and humane, but let's face facts:  this could change the face and politics of Europe.  And expect demands that the U.S. take more refugees as well.  Obama's failed policies created this disaster, but don't be shocked if his party benefits from it by bringing in refugees, some legitimate and some simply asylum seekers, who will likely vote for more benefits.  Remember Rahm Emanuel's line – "Never let a crisis go to waste."

September 11,  2015