SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:56 P.M. ET:

TRUMP LEADS ANOTHER POLL – FROM THE L.A. TIMES:   As the presidential race moves into a key two-week period, with the announcement of running mates and the party conventions, Donald Trump has taken an apparent slim lead over Hillary Clinton, based on strong support from white voters, particularly men....It comes amid a flurry of other surveys, both nationally and in battleground states, that show support for the former secretary of State declining since last week when FBI Director James B. Comey characterized her handling of classified material while in that office as “extremely careless.” Comey also said her conduct and that of her aides did not clearly violate the law or warrant prosecution...In the new tracking poll, through Thursday night, Trump led Clinton 43% to 40%. That’s within the poll’s margin of error of 3 points in either direction, meaning the apparent lead could be the result of chance.  Like other polls, this one shows a much greater Clinton decline than a Trump gain.  It's turning into a "who do you like less" contest.

NICE, FRANCE – The portrait of the terrorist killer being sold to us by many officials is that of a disturbed, angry recluse with family and financial problems, and a petty criminal, but not necessarily a jihadist.  I'd reserve judgment on that.  He's a young man, 31, from Tunisia, he followed a truck-based attack plan outlined in detail in an Al Qaeda magazine, and he struck on Bastille Day, making a political statement against France.  He apparently didn't hurt any of the people with whom he's recently had trouble.  Some experts point that a number of jihadist terrorists, including some of the 9-11 hijackers, haven't had a public relationship with Islam, and some have been radicalized online.  Investigation continuing. 

UNBELIEVABLE – FROM BREITBART:   Black Lives Matter (BLM) supporters have claimed the deadly terrorist attack in France was “to make people lose attention” [sic] in their movement and focus on “white” lives instead.  “Ok I’ve come to the conclusion that what happened in Nice was to make people lose attention off [sic] #BlackLivesMatter and focus and unite against us”, wrote Twitter user Semsa, who is based in London but says “Egypt’s the motherland”. She has since made her account private.  “Don’t #PrayForNice we are fighting a civil war against whites. #BLM”, tweeted Franklin Omar, an activist who also appears to be from London, and describes himself as a “Muslim”.  Radical nutbags, who will deliver nothing to African-Americans.

July 15, 2016