SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:52 P.M. ET:

ONE SMALL STEP FOR STUDENTKIND – FROM THE COLLEGE FIX:    University of Wisconsin campuses already have the authority to punish students for “disorderly or violent conduct” under state law. But they have apparently been using it sparingly when it comes to disruptions of controversial events.  The UW System Board of Regents approved a so-called three strikes policy Friday that mandates expulsion for students found thrice responsible for “violent or other disorderly misconduct that materially and substantially disrupts the free expression of others,” the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.  Two findings of responsibility would require suspension. The policy is not specific for a first offense, simply saying “protests and demonstrations that interfere with the rights of others to engage in or listen to expressive activity shall not be permitted and shall be subject to sanction.”   A very good start, at least in theory.  I suspect campuses will make it impossible to find someone guilty of even two offenses.  After all, we must take past oppression into account.

NFL LOSING – FROM THE WASHINGTON TIMES:   NFL ticket prices have plummeted in the wake of the uproar over the national anthem protests, dropping for the first time this year below the 2016 season’s prices.  An analysis released Friday by CNBC found that ticket prices during the first three games of the 2017 season enjoyed a 20-40 percent increase over last year, but then skidded in Week 4 and actually dropped by 2 percent in Week 5.  The timing coincides with the uproar following President Trump’s criticism of the protests on Sept. 22, which prompted nearly 200 players to sit or take a knee during the national anthem in the Sept. 24-25 games in Week 3.  “After the president’s comments and NFL player reactions, Week 4 saw only a 5 percent increase, and now we’re seeing an outright decline. So that’s a bad direction,” said CNBC’s Eric Chemi.  The market works. 

LOW CLASS – FROM FOX:   A New York Democrat running for the House of Representatives is under fire for calling the female Republican incumbent in his district a “child,” while admitting it’s fair to call him “a sexist.”  Democratic congressional candidate Steve Krieg, a member of the Plattsburgh City School Board, made the comments about New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik during a Tuesday candidate forum with others seeking the seat.  “I recognize her as a child, and it has nothing to do with her age,” Krieg said. “I see her as a child because she’s a child. She thinks like a child. She has people set things up for her. She has people put their words in her mouth and she happily repeats them.”  The Democrat added, “I apologize if that’s mean.”  We await the reaction of the Democratic Party to this man's vulgar behavior.  I think we'll be waiting a long time.

October 6, 2017