SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 8:58 P.M. ET:

A BUMP? – A few hearts on our side skipped a beat today when Rasmussen had Obama ahead of Romney by a point, part of a two day slide for Romney.  Earlier in the week Rasmussen had Romney up by four.  This could be an actual drop, or just some temporary statistical noise.  We'll soon know.  Gallup continued to have Romney up by two.

GENIUSES – The look-at-my-College-Board-scores crowd is at it again.  The University of Colorado has decried that students who possess a concealed-weapons permit will be segregated in housing arrangements from other students.  I am not making this up.  There will be specified housing areas for these uncivilized savages who have permits.  In all other university housing, guns will be banned.  As one sharp observer pointed out, this is a gift to deranged murderers, who now will literally have a map showing which dorms are unprotected by armed, trained students.  Hey, it's the ideology, stupid.

OH HOW WARM AND COZY – A south-side Chicago neighborhood has unveiled a plaque where Barack Obama first kissed Michelle 23 years ago.  (I am not making this up.)  We are taking friendly wagers as to how long it will take before the plaque is stolen, chips taken out as souvenirs, or shot up in the traditional Chicago manner of celebration.  We are also taking friendly wagers as to how long it will be before Obama changes the story and the plaque has to be moved. 

AND IN THE GROWN-UP WORLD – Unemployment rose in 44 states in July.  That's the most states to show a monthly increase in more than three years.  The Labor Department announced today that unemployment fell in only two states and was unchanged in four.  Welcome to the recovery. 

August 17, 2012