SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – OVERNIGHT: 

NEWSOM CHARGES FORWARD, UNFORTUNATELY – FROM THE L.A. TIMES:   Most likely California voters are opposed to the Republican-led recall effort against Gov. Gavin Newsom and a growing number fear the consequences of removing him from office with a hard-right conservative best positioned to take his place, according to new poll by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California.  The poll found that 58% of likely voters surveyed in California oppose removing Newsom from office compared to 39% who support recalling the governor, a gap rooted in the sharp partisan divide between Democratic and Republican voters in the state.  The findings, which were gathered by pollsters over a nine-day period ending on Sunday, may offer some hope for Newsom, who has for the past month expressed concern that an “enthusiasm gap” among Democratic and nonaffiliated voters could lead to his political demise — particularly with high engagement in the recall effort among Republicans.  In response, Newsom has blanketed California with ads attacking the top GOP candidates, casting them as devotees of former President Trump who oppose state mandates for COVID-19 vaccinations and mask wearing, a clear strategy to rally California’s left-leaning electorate.  Let's not forget that California is a heavily Democratic state, so much so that the Republicans often neglect to put up a fight.  That's been the case this year.  The GOP needed a star candidate to present as the alternative to Newsom.  What they have is Larry Elder, a perfectly fine conservative talk-show host, an African-American, but not a man with a commanding political presence.  He's being smeared by the left as "the black face of white supremacy," an ugly a label as I've seen in politics, but it may be working among minorities.  Newsom, a terrible governor, has brought his campaign alive.  I fear he's going to pull it out, and ruin the state further.

September 2,  2021