SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 9:43 P.M. ET: 

DISCORD – There is growing discord in the Republican Party over the Romney campaign.  Part of it, of course, is fueled by the large bump Obama presumably has gotten from the Dem convention.  Many major Republicans and conservative pundits are demanding that Romney come alive, stop playing it safe, and come out swinging.  They note that Romney's best two weeks came after his selection of Paul Ryan, when his campaign was energized.  I'm hoping Romney gets this message, and doesn't repeat John McCain's play-it-safe, let's-be-polite campaign of 2008.  It won't work.  He's up against Chicago.  And he's got to emphasize his own campaign, not press interviews.  The press is out to get him.

AND YET... – It's important not to overplay the current polls.  Yes, CNN now has Obama up by a dramatic six points, but one sharp-eyed pundit noted that timing may be the key factor here.  Romney got a small bump from the GOP convention, and it was building.  But we went immediately into the Democratic convention, cutting Romney's momentum.  Obama had a clear field in the days following the Democratic windup.  I'm looking for the race to narrow in September.  The October debates, where we finally get to see both candidates on the same stage, may decide it.

WHAT GOES HERE? – Apparently, our sophisticated, multicultural president has a crush on the new Islamist government of Egypt.  At a time when we are going broke in America, the administration is negotiating a one-billion-dollar aid package for "the Egyptian people."  And what is Egypt doing?  It is trying to negotiate a one-billion-dollar purchase of submarines from Germany, submarines that can threaten Israel's new offshore energy projects.  These projects, involving oil and, especially, natural gas, can be of great value to the United States.  Does anyone in Washington know how to play this game?

LOW VOLTAGE – Reuters reports, after an investigation, that GM is losing $49,000 on every Chevy Volt it sells.  We stress that the number is based on the work of one analytical firm, Munro & Associates, but the firm insists that it is using industry standards in its work.  In addition, the lifetime payback to GM from Volt sales is being reduced by cheap lease deals made necessary by low demand, and lower-than-expected sales of the car itself.  Do you know anyone who yearns for a Volt?   No, I didn't think so.  Oh, wait, Obama says he wants one. 

September 10, 2012