Not normal? Not a problem

Via Althouse, a Democrat trying to figure how to change the minds of 2016 Trump voters.
Her son weighs in.
The worst argument is he’s “NOT NORMAL,” “violates norms,” etc. That argument itself isn’t normal; “politics as usual” is an insult, not a compliment. WI, MI, & PA residents voted for him knowing he’s far from a normal politician and unlikely to change. They liked that about him.

Not messing with Trump

A few days ago, it looked like Hurricane Dorian was headed to the south Florida coast.
Some people thought it would be great for the storm to hit President Trump's Mar-A-Lago resort.
But each day, the storm seems to be turning away from the United States.
One day it aims at the Florida coast.
Then Savannah.
Now Myrtle Beach.
Looks like Dorian respects President Trump more than many of his opponents.

Saturday song

Gear up for a great day with the Rascals.

Peek-a-boo, I see you

President Trump tweeted a picture of the destroyed Iranian missile launch site Friday.
Immediately, the opposition rose.
How can you tweet a picture from our secret intelligence?
Our enemies will know our spying capabilities.
When an Iranian leader goes to the bathroom, our cameras can tell if they use single-ply or double-ply toilet paper.
That's good for our enemies to know we see what they are doing at all times.
They can try to hide, but we'll find them.
It's good to keep our enemies looking over their shoulders - constantly.

Weekend watchdog

Darlington offers plenty of memories for NASCAR fans.
The cars on track this weekend offer a chance to see those memories in action.
It's a throwback weekend at the 70th Southern 500, with the flag dropping on NBC Sports network Sunday at 6 p.m.
Upon returning the Southern 500 to its traditional Labor Day slot in 2015, teams have honored the past with their paint schemes.
The Xfinity Series hits the track Saturday at 4 p.m. on NBC. NBC Sports network has practice sessions Friday starting at 1 p.m., with qualifying for the Southern 500 Saturday at 2 p.m.
The college football season gets going this weekend as South Florida hosts Wisconsin Friday at 7 p.m. on ESPN, followed by Colorado against Colorado State.
FoxSports1 brings Tulsa-Michigan State Friday at 7 p.m. and Oklahoma State battles Oregon State at 10:30 p.m. ACC network carries Wake Forest's contest with Utah State at 8 p.m.
Saturday on the ACC network starts at noon with East Carolina against North Carolina State. Virginia Tech tangles with Boston College at 4 p.m. and Virginia meets Pittsburgh at 7:30 p.m.
Memphis takes on Mississippi at noon on ABC, followed by Duke-Alabama at 3:30 p.m. Oregon clashes with Auburn at 7:30 p.m.
Fox offers Ohio State-Florida Atlantic at noon before Northwestern takes on Stanford at 4 p.m.
Iowa State hosts Northern Iowa on FoxSports1 at noon. Iowa meets Miami of Ohio at 7:30 p.m.
Nebraska faces South Alabama at noon on ESPN, then it's South Carolina against North Carolina from Charlotte at 3:30 p.m. Florida State faces Boise State at 7 p.m. and Southern Cal clashes with Fresno State at 10:30 p.m.
On MASN, Kansas clashes with Indiana State Saturday at noon.
Oklahoma hosts Houston on ABC Sunday at 7:30 p.m., with the ACC contest between Notre Dame and Louisville Monday at 8 p.m.
The Orioles head to Kansas City for a three-game set on MASN.
The Nationals take on the Marlins on MASN2.
 The Phillies clash with the Mets Saturday at 4 p.m. on FoxSports1 and Sunday at 7 p.m. on ESPN. TBS has the Yankees' contest with the A's Sunday at 1 p.m.
 ESPN has the U.S. Open Friday at noon, with ESPN2 taking over coverage at 6 p.m. Saturday action will be on ESPN2 starting at 11 a.m., with ESPN coverage Sunday at 11 a.m. going to ESPN2 at 6 p.m.
Manchester United meets Southampton Saturday at 7:25 a.m. on NBC Sports network, followed by Chelsea-Sheffield United. Everton faces Wolverhampton Sunday at 8:55 a.m. and it's Arsenal against Tottenham Hotsput at 11 a.m.
The Galaxy take on Seattle Sunday at 6:30 p.m. on FoxSports1.
Lazio faces AS Roma on ESPN2 in Italian Serie A Sunday at 11:55 a.m.
In the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich meets Mainz Saturday at 9:30 a.m. on FoxSports1. Werder Bremen battles Augsburg Sunday at 9:30 a.m. followed by Eintracht-Dusseldorf.
In women's soccer, Washington visits Orlando on NBC Sports Washington Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
ESPN2 has the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix Sunday at 9:05 a.m.
NBC Sports network has Diamond League track and field from Zurich Thursday at 2 p.m.
The pro volleyball beach tour visits Chicago Sunday at 2 p.m. on NBC Sports network.

XFL week for the NFL

All NFL teams have their final preseason games Thursday.
Very few, if any, starters in the opener will be playing.
Who will?
Guys who will be cut from the roster Saturday.
They might make the taxi squad, or find a spot after injuries hit.
Many probably played in the Alliance of American Football this spring, and will be filling rosters of the new XFL in February 2020.
Will the new XFL have enough audience to survive?
Fans will watch tonight's games.
If the money people want, the XFL will make it.

In the heat of the moment

The Democratic National Committee didn't agree to have a single debate focused on climate change
So CNN stepped in.
Seven hours worth of candidate interviews on September 4.
I'm saving the environment by not watching.

Saturday song

Topping the charts 50 years ago this week, Johnny Cash identifies as Sue.

Anybody have ACC network?

The new ACC network debuted Thursday night.
We don't have it here in Fishersville on the regular cable lineup.
Nor in Charlottesville, home of the University of Virginia.
Will we get it before the season opening games next Saturday?
Or will we wait until basketball season?
Cable companies and the ACC are playing a game of chicken.
How much money does the ACC need to pay cable companies for their network?
How much will the ACC be hurt if many games aren't seen by fans?
I'm used to missing games on ESPNU.
But more games are set for ACC network, especially early in the football season.
Good thing there's SEC games, West Virginia and Big Ten to capture my attention.

Weekend watchdog

College football celebrates 150 years of competition this season, and top two programs get an early start on the season.
ESPN has the battle between Miami and Florida from Orlando Saturday at 7 p.m. Youngstown State clashes with Samford Saturday at 3 p.m. on ESPN.
It's the NFL preseason week for starters to get their most playing time, and final tuneups for the NFL crews. The Bills battle the Lions on CBS Friday at 8 p.m., and NBC has a contest between the Steelers and Titans Sunday at 8 p.m.
North of the border, Winnipeg travels to Edmonton Friday at 9 p.m. on ESPN2.
There's high school football this weekend, as Mallard Creek meets Dutch Fork Friday at 6 p.m. on ESPN2. The gridiron action continues Saturday on ESPN when St. Frances meets Miami Central at noon. Dematha battles St. John Bosco on ESPN2 at 9 p.m., and Southern Columbia goes against Hammond School of South Carolina Sunday at 2 p.m. on ESPN2.
The Orioles face the Rays on MASN2 over the weekend. The Nationals visit the Cubs on MASN for the weekend. Sunday's contest will also be on TBS.
The Yankees take on the Dodgers Saturday at 4 p.m. on FoxSports1 and Sunday at 7 p.m. on ESPN. The Cardinals host the Rockies on FoxSports1 at 7:15 p.m.
Little League baseball crowns its champion Sunday at 3:30 p.m. on ABC. The third place contest will be on ESPN Sunday at 10 a.m.
ABC has the United States championship game between Hawaii and Louisiana Saturday at 3:30 p.m, after the International finale matching Japan and Curacao at 12:30 p.m.
There's a pair of MLS contests on Friday, with Orlando City-Atlanta United at 8 p.m. before Portland plays Seattle at 10 p.m. ESPN2 has New York FC against the Red Bulls Saturday at 7 p.m.
Cincinnati clashes with Columbus Sunday at 6 p.m. on FoxSports1, followed by Dallas-Houston and Los Angeles FC against the Galaxy at 10:30 p.m.
Aston Villa faces Everton Friday at 2:55 p.m. on NBC Sports network. Chelsea clashes with Norwich City Saturday at 7:25 a.m. Liverpool tangles with Arsenal on NBC at 12:30 p.m.
Manchester City meets Bournemouth Sunday at 8:55 a.m. on NBC Sports network and Tottenham Hotspur takes on Newcastle United at 11:25 a.m.
In the Bundesliga, Dusseldorf faces Leverkusen Saturday at 9:30 a.m. on FoxSports1 and Bayern Munich battles Schalke at 12:30 p.m. Leipzig takes on Eintracht Sunday at 9:30 a.m. with Hertha Berlin-Wolfsburg at noon.
Santos meets Monterrey on FoxSports1 Friday at 10 p.m.
Roma faces Genoa in Italian Serie A Sunday at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN.
In women's soccer, NBC Sports Washington has Washington against Orlando Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
The top 30 players on the PGA tour compete for the Tour Championship on NBC Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
The Xfinity Series visits Road America Saturday at 3 p.m. on NBC Sports network, while the Truck Series runs on FoxSports1 Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
NBC Sports network has the IndyCar race from Gateway in Illinois Saturday at 8 p.m.
The Mystics meet the Liberty on NBC Sports Washington Sunday at 4 p.m.
Fox has the Travers Stakes Saturday at 5 p.m.
Chrome clashes with Redwoods in Premier Lacrosse League action Sunday at 4:30 p.m. on NBC Sports network.

Out-slee

Another Democratic candidate is done - Washington governor Jay Inslee.
While Inslee had qualified for the first two presidential debates this summer, he struggled to gain traction in the crowded Democratic field and was falling short of the requirements needed to appear on two high-profile stages next month: the third DNC debate in Houston and a CNN town hall focused on climate change, Inslee's key issue.
He had recently hit one of the markers — 130,000 unique donors. But he had yet to reach 2% in any poll and would have needed to hit that level of support in four qualifying polls.

Antifa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

My favorite part of the internet is answering an accusation with a matching accusation.
Explain Antifa.
No, you explain right-wing extremists first.
So violence is okay if it's your side?
So two sides can both say violence is okay.
Which makes threats of violence basically inevitable.
No one wants to be good first.
It's always you go first.

People for Trump, quietly

The Seattle Times' story about  President Trump's support in Washington caught plenty of attention this weekend.
The latest federal-election reports show that Trump is doing surprisingly well getting backers in this bluest of blue places. With nearly 15 months to go before the 2020 election, he already has drawn more donations from Seattle addresses than he did during the entire 2016 campaign.
Opponents fuss loudly, but the noise doesn't enter the voting booth.

Begun, the Facebook wars have

Larry Correia finds himself banned from Facebook for posts about imaginary countries and a blogger with imaginary followers.
But it raises the question about why conservatives get blocked or banned.
But more importantly on a basic philosophical level, the left is always compelled to try and silence the right, while the right usually prefers the left to keep talking so that everybody can hear how stupid they sound. So the whole deplatforming tactic seems alien to most of the people on my side.
Maybe some good will come of this.
I’m on social media for one reason. That’s to sell books and interact with my fans. Everything else is a distraction (arguing with idiots mostly, though it does help me come up with snappy dialog). I used to primarily talk to the fans here, but for a while there it seemed like Facebook had killed blogging (people go wherever it is easiest to communicate) but now through their ham fisted, censorious ways, blogging might make a comeback.

Saturday song

It's Saturday. Don't worry, baby.

Background check

Democrats want expanded background checks before someone gets a gun.
After reading the background of the Philadelphia shooter, how did he get his guns?
And which Democrat volunteers to disarm him?

He's in the money

A Democrat running for Senate in South Carolina filed his financial disclosure forms.
What a difference 10 years makes when you're a lobbyist.
Harrison, now running for U.S. Senate in South Carolina, last had to file a financial disclosure in 2008 as a high-paid staffer for Rep. Jim Clyburn (D., S.C.). At the time, Harrison had no reportable assets and significant liabilities, disclosing credit card and loan debt together between $140,004 and $365,000.
But Harrison left Clyburn's office, where he was earning a six-figure salary, in December 2008 to join the now-defunct Podesta Group, where he went on to represent the interests of a who's who of corporate giants—Walmart, BP, Bank of America, Boeing, Merck, and Google.
The work paid off, according to a new required financial disclosure Harrison submitted Monday night. Harrison, who left the Podesta Group at the end of 2016, now reports assets of up to $3.45 million.
Good work is you can get it.

Dog days of the election cycle

An election story caught Althouse's eye - checking in on Kamala Harris.
Not because she wanted to discuss the election.
These articles about the election must be cranked out, and I'm only blogging this one because it is so absurd. Kamala Harris was "briefly sent... into the stratosphere"?! She briefly polled in the teens, and then slipped back into the single digits. Instead of an article asking why she's not more popular, ask yourselves how you ever got caught up into assuming that she was supposed to be so popular. You assume something should be true, then you proceed to inquire why it isn't. How about speaking honestly about your own assumption?

Eating Castro's lunch

DaTech Guy is having to use a backup site, but Instapundit found this post by Juliette Akinyi Ochieng on Texans and their BBQ.
The day after Castro published that hateful screed, thousands of Texans piled into their pickup trucks and drove to the nearest Bill Miller Bar-B-Q.
Social media reports flooded in showing massive drive-thru lines backing up onto busy streets. Hungry customers patiently waited in lines out the door.
Don't mess with Texas - or BBQ.

If Smitty was impressed

Smitty at The Other McCain tipped his hat to Don Surber.
What did Surber say about the gun control battle?
Don't worry.
He's seen enough of the media in action to know this truth.
I am not saying the media gets everything about Donald Trump wrong. I am just having trouble remembering the last time they got it right.

Saturday song

The Rascals are glad it's a beautiful morning.

Never sausage a thing

Via Powerline, a German attempt to raise the tax rate on meat.
The Value Added Tax would go from seven percent to 19 percent under the proposal, moving meat from a staple product to luxury category.

Weekend watchdog

As American football begins its preseason schedule, English football starts its 2019-2020 this weekend.
The Premier League season kicks off Friday at 3 p.m. on NBC Sports network with Liverpool facing Norwich City.
Manchester City meets West Ham United Saturday at 7:25 a.m. followed by Bournemouth-Sheffield United. NBC brings Tottenham Hotspur's contest with Aston Villa at 12:30 p.m.
Sunday's play starts at 8:55 a.m. with Newcastle United against Arsenal. Manchester United clashes with Chelsea at 11:25 a.m.
The Redskins open preseason play against the Browns Thursday at 7:30 p.m. on NBC Sports Washington.
North of the border, Ottawa battles Edmonton on ESPN2 Friday at 10 p.m.
The Arena League championship matches Philadelphia and Albany Sunday at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.
The Orioles close their homestand with a three-game set against the Astros on MASN2. The Nationals take on the Mets on MASN for the weekend.
FoxSports1 heads west for the Giants hosting the Phillies Saturday at 4 p.m. followed by the Rockies meeting the Padres at 8:40 p.m. TBS has the Angels against the Red Sox Sunday at 1 p.m., and ESPN closes the weekend with Phillies-Giants at 7 p.m.
ESPN follows the Little League's road to Williamsport with six semifinals Friday, beginning at 11 a.m. in the Midwest. It's off to New England at 1 p.m. and the Northwest at 3 p.m. Teams from the Great Lakes play at 5 p.m., then the Mid-Atlantic goes at 7 p.m. and the day finishes out West at 9 p.m.
The berths to Williamsport get claimed Saturday. It's the Midwest Regional final at 11 a.m. before New England at 1 p.m. The top Northwest teams battle at 3 p.m. with the Great Lakes at 5 p.m. and Mid-Atlantic at 7 p.m. The West closes action at 9 p.m.
The Monster Series visits Michigan Sunday at 3 p.m. on NBC Sports network, while the Xfinity Series takes the track at Mid-Ohio Saturday at 3 p.m. on NBC Sports network.
CBS carries the PGA tour's visit to New Jersey Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.
The women's U.S. amateur semifinals will be Saturday at 9:30 a.m., on FoxSports1 with quarterfinals Friday at 4 p.m. and the round of 16 and 32 Thursday at 4 p.m.
Atlanta United faces New York City FC on ESPN Sunday at 4 p.m. D.C. United battles the Galaxy on FoxSports1 Sunday at 7:30 p.m. followed by Los Angeles FC against the Red Bulls.
There's an international friendly between Napolia and Barcelona on ESPN2 Saturday at 5 p.m.
Tijuana takes on Pumas Friday at 10 p.m. on FoxSports1.
In women's soccer, Chicago visits Washington Saturday at 7 p.m. on NBC Sports Washington.
Fox has the Junior NBA tournament, with the girls global final Sunday at 3 p.m. and boys championship at 4:30 p.m.
 There's a United States boys semifinal Saturday at noon on Fox followed by the International championship. The top United States girls teams tangle at 3 p.m., followed by the United States' boys final at 4:30 p.m
Phoenix faces the Sparks in WNBA play Thursday at 10 p.m. on ESPN2 and it's Connecticut-Las Vegas Sunday at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
NBC Sports Washington has the contest between the Mystics and the Lynx Sunday at 3 p.m.
In the U.S. Open tennis series, the Rogers Cup closes Sunday at 4 p.m. on ESPN2. There's men's semifinals at 3 and 8 p.m. and quarterfinals Friday at noon and 6:30 p.m. ESPN2 has the round of 16 Thursday at noon.
The United States gymnastics championship will be on NBC Sports network Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.
In the Premier Lacrosse League, the Archers take on Atlas Sunday at 7:30 p.m. on NBC Sports network.

Joaquin disaster

Great job, Joaquin Castro.
You found a way to make politics more distasteful.

Trusting the government

With the anniversary of the "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville looming, former governor Terry McAuliffe has a book out with his thoughts on the incident.
Blame Charlottesville government ranks high on the list.
In the six months leading up to the rally there were warnings of the potential for disorder, if not violence. They were not heeded with any sense of urgency or judgement at the highest levels of state government.
There's lots of hindsight, but not much foresight, about the events of two years ago.

Simple truth

Over at Ace of Spades, a simple explanation for the conundrum we face with guns.
As unpleasant as it may sound, we have to accept a certain amount of chaos in our society in return for the freedoms that we fought for. The question is, can we minimize that chaos while being respectful of our natural and God-given rights?
Ban guns feels good to those who say it.
It feels like a death sentence to those who know how to safely handle guns.

Saturday song

Do a double take with Spanky and Our Gang.

Perfect Trump cartoon

I found this cartoon last night.
Why not sooner?
It perfectly distills Trump's reactions to the Mueller Report.

See you in Houston

I wonder if Democrats have thought of this scenario.
They limit the next debate to people who met a certain threshold of donors and poll results.
If you miss the threshold, what do you do?
Stay home?
Campaign quietly in Iowa?
Or crash the party in Houston, where the media focus will be?
If I want to win, I'd be in Houston.
You might as well give up if you don't make the next debate - unless you do something to grab attention.
Get the popcorn ready.

Democratic debate debacle

The second round of Democratic debates has ended, leaving pundits to wonder what's wrong.
If you boil all the prognostication down to a single sentence, it would yield the answer to your question: Nothing has changed. Joe Biden is still shakily in the lead for the nomination, and no single candidate is yet poised to knock him off. In the end, perhaps the most salient fact to be taken away from the debates is the collapse in viewership: 8.7 million viewers tuned in the first night (second-night figures are not yet available as I write this), as opposed to 15.3 million viewers for the first Democratic debate a month ago and 18.1 million for the second. We’re down to the hard-core, highly engaged base of Democratic voters who probably are the least in need of the debates to make up their minds, plus Trump campaign strategists and scattered hate-watchers from the other side.
Or maybe it's bad candidates with bad ideas.

Weekend watchdog

The NFL plans a big party for its 100th season - starting with the first exhibition game Thursday.
The Denver Broncos - with new quarterback Joe Flacco - take on the Atlanta Falcons on NBC at 8 p.m. to kick off the weekend of festivities in Canton.
The newest class of Hall of Fame inductees gets to shine Saturday at 7 p.m. on ESPN and NFL network.
North of the border, ESPN2 has CFL action between Toronto and Winnipeg Thursday at 7 p.m.
Baltimore hosts Albany in the Arena League playoffs Saturday at 7 p.m. on NBC Sports Washington and the Valor visit Philadelphia Sunday at 4 p.m.
The Orioles return from their west coast trip with a four-game set against the Blue Jays on MASN. The Nationals visit the Diamondbacks on MASN2.
The Yankees and Red Sox battle in New York this weekend, with Saturday's game on FoxSports1 at 1 p.m. and Sunday night on ESPN at 7 p.m.
FoxSports1 has Angels-Indians Saturday at 7 p.m., with the Cubs clashing with the Brewers Sunday at 2:20 p.m. on TBS.
NASCAR visits Watkins Glen, with the Monster Cup series going Sunday at 3 p.m. on NBC Sports network. The Xfinity Series takes the track Saturday at 3 p.m. The truck series hits the dirt track at Eldora Thursday at 9 p.m. on FoxSports1.
ESPN2 has the Hungarian Grand Prix Sunday at 9:05 a.m. after qualfying Saturday at 8:55 a.m.
CBS brings the PGA Tour's Wyndham Championship Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.
As Little League baseball prepares for its tournament in Williamsport, several other divisions close their seasons this weekend. The Senior League final is Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN2 and Intermediate league finishes its tournament Sunday at 9 a.m.
The Junior League softball championship is Saturday at 5 p.m. on ESPN2  and the Senior League crowns its champion Sunday at 2 p.m.
It's Minnesota against Portland on ESPN Sunday at 4 p.m. and D.C. United battles Philadelphia Sunday at 7:30 p.m. on FoxSports1.
Manchester United meets AC Milan in the International Champions Club on ESPN2 Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
In women's soccer, Washington visits Carolina on NBC Sports Washington Friday at 7 p.m.
ESPN has a quarterfinal matchup in The Basketball Tournament Thursday at 7 p.m.  ESPN has a contest Friday at 7 p.m., then the dunk contest happens Friday at 9 p.m. on ESPN2 before another quarterfinal contest.
There's semifinals on ESPN Sunday at noon and 2 p.m.
In the WNBA, the Sparks face Las Vegas Thursday at 10 p.m. on ESPN2.
The X Games hit Minneapolis, with competition Thursday and Friday at 9 p.m. on ESPN. Action continues Saturday at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.
NBC Sports network offers the U.S. Nationals swimming competition Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m.