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

STRANGE LOYALTIES – Germany will play Argentina in the World Cup final on Sunday.  I dun no, I'm confused.  Aren't those countries related?  I mean, at the end of World War II there was something called the Rat Line in newly defeated Nazi Germany.  It was a system whereby war criminals got safe passage out of Europe.  And a goodly number of them departed for friendly Argentina, where they conveniently disappeared.  So, if you watch on Sunday, and you see in the stands some elderly gents rooting for Argentina, but who have nostalgic looks on their faces, call the Justice Department.

FRIGHTENING – Reports from different sources say the focus on children being sent over our southern border is diverting attention from something more chilling – infiltrators from the Middle East slipping into this country over the same border.  A priest and nun who work in the border area, interviewed earlier tonight on Fox, agreed that this is a worrisome situation.  Terrorism experts for years have warned about jihadists slipping into the U.S., and possibly bringing with them parts for weapons of mass destruction.  And yet, almost no attention is being paid by the mainstream media.

HER TOO? – Chelsea has caught the high-maintenance bug.  From Fox:  "Like her parents, Chelsea Clinton has become a sought-after speaker who can generate large fees for her appearances.  The 34-year-old Clinton, the daughter of the former president and ex-secretary of state, can command as much as $75,000 per speech. Her speaking fees were first reported by The New York Times.  A spokesman for the Clinton Foundation, Kamyl Bazbaz says Clinton's speeches are made on its behalf and it receives 100 percent of the fees. He says a majority of the speeches are unpaid."  What they don't tell you is that the Clinton Foundation is a kind of government in exile.  Many people associated with it would move right into a new Clinton administration.  And...get the name of that foundation spokesman.  Kamyl Bazbaz?  I want to know more about that chap.  I don't think he's an Iowa farmer.

THIS IS NOT IN AL GORE'S SCRIPT – From WaPo:  "Call it the ghost of the polar vortex, the polar vortex sequel, or the polar vortex’s revenge. Meteorological purists may tell you it’s not a polar vortex at all. However you choose to refer to the looming weather pattern, unseasonably chilly air is headed for parts of the northern and northeastern U.S at the height of summer early next week.  Bearing a haunting resemblance to January’s brutally cold weather pattern, a deep pool of cool air from the Gulf of Alaska will plunge into the Great Lakes early next week and then ooze towards the East Coast...But make no mistake, in parts of the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest getting dealt the chilliest air, hoodies and jeans will be required. Highs in this region could well get stuck in the 50s and 60s – especially where there is considerable cloud cover."  Al Gore has just been taken to the hospital in shock, and is being treated with organic spinach.

July 10, 2014