SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:55 P.M. ET: 

GOOD WORDS FROM DALLAS –  From Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, who called a meeting with all of his coaches, players and field staff and firmly told them, "You are all simply paid performers on a stage and that field is my stage! You will stand, with your hand over your heart and with respect, when our country's national anthem is being played or you will no longer be a Dallas Cowboy, a coach for the Dallas Cowboys or have any association with the Dallas Cowboy Organization! I will immediately fire you, no matter who you are!"  Seems reasonable to me.  There's an old American saying:  "Your rights end where my nose begins."  A player, as a citizen, has a right to protest under the First Amendment, on his own time.  It is doubtful he retains that right when putting on a uniform and occupying space on a team's field.  No one has a right to come into your home and stage a political demonstration.

NO CLASS – FROM FOX:   Three Walmart workers in McDonough, Ga., refused to decorate a “thin blue line” cake for a police officer’s retirement party because they said it was racist.  A number of my Georgia readers alerted me to the story and on Saturday night I spoke directly with the police officer’s daughter. She asked that I not divulge her name and I’ve agreed to do that. “I was so shocked,” she told me. “I didn’t know what to do or say or anything. I was trying not to lose my temper or make a scene.”  For the record, Walmart has confessed that most of her allegations are true.  Next time these cake decorators are in danger, let them call as pastry chef to save them.  They should be dismissed immediately. 

NO GUN CONTROL – FROM FOX:   Authorities in Southern California have had more than 300 weapons lost or stolen over the last five years.  The Orange County Register reported Sunday that an investigation of 134 state and local police agencies from Kern County to the Mexican border showed 329 firearms were lost or stolen and some were involved in crimes.  Some of the lost weapons include Glocks, Sig Sauers, Remington shotguns, rifles and even grenade launchers. The paper reported that officers have treated their weapons in a reckless manner. High-caliber firearms were stowed in backpacks and gym bags, while handguns were hidden in center consoles.  According to the Register, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported that at least 103 of the agency’s 20,000 guns were lost or stolen over the last five years. Is this poor training, poor discipline, or is there some group (or groups) targeting police departments?  I'd like to know how many of these weapons are used in crimes.

September 25, 2016