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

CLOSE CALL – From National Journal:  "The U.S. launched eight airstrikes Monday night against a little-known, al-Qaida-affiliated militant group in Syria.  The United States Central Command said Tuesday morning that American forces hit the Khorasan Group near Aleppo to stop 'imminent attack-planning against the United States and Western interests' At a Pentagon press briefing shortly after, defense officials explained just how imminent such an attack may have been.  'The intelligence reports indicated that the Khorasan Group was in the final stages of plans to execute major attacks against Western targets and potentially the U.S. homeland,' said Lt. Gen. William Mayville, the director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff."  There is no guarantee the air strikes will stop any attacks.  In fact, it's likely that jihadist groups will now step up their attempts to hit us, in retaliation for our military action.

MAJOR CAMPAIGN BLUNDER – From the Christian Science Monitor:  "The Republican Party’s top leader in Congress is catching flak for a comment that appears to call the jobless lazy – a comment that has rekindled an old challenge for the party: appearing insensitive or uncaring toward Americans who are poor or in financial difficulty.  House Speaker John Boehner was asked after a speech last week to comment on a plan for addressing poverty – promoted by a Republican colleague, Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin.  Speaker Boehner gave a response that was favorable toward Representative Ryan's plan, but not so favorable about Americans’ work ethic. He said in part: 'I think this idea that’s been born over last ... couple of years that, "You know, I really don’t have to work, I don’t really want to do this, I think I’d just rather sit around," – this is a very sick idea for our country.'"  That line is gonna cost us.  I don't know how much, but the Dems will use it.  Callous Republicans.  Cruel.  Indifferent.  I wish Speaker Boehner would choose his words more carefully, or, preferably, not use any at all, especially in English.

CADILLAC TO NEW YORK – From AP:  "Cadillac wants a jolt from the city that never sleeps.  General Motors' 112-year-old luxury car division, founded in Detroit and named for the city's founder, is moving its headquarters to New York.  Cadillac, which has been steadily losing sales to its German rivals, wants to get closer to its ideal buyers. Executives and marketing staffers will set up shop in a loft office in Manhattan's trendy SoHo neighborhood starting next year.  'There is no city in the world where the inhabitants are more immersed in a premium lifestyle than in New York,' Johann de Nysschen, the brand's new president, said in a statement issued Tuesday announcing the move. 'It allows our team to share experiences with premium-brand consumers and develop attitudes in common with our audience.'"  Yeah, right.  Mr. de Nysschen will soon find out that New York premium trendies associate Cadillac with their grandfathers, the ones who disinherited them.  New York has become shallow.  It would probably go for a car called the Obama Mark Zero.

THE FIELD MARSHAL EATS HIS WORDS – From Breitbart:  "President Barack Obama dismissed the F-22 fighter jets used during Monday’s airstrikes against terrorist targets in Syria as 'outdated and unnecessary' in a speech on July 21, 2009.  'I reject the notion that we have to waste billions of taxpayer dollars on outdated and unnecessary defense projects to keep this nation secure,' Obama said. 'That's why I'm grateful that the Senate just voted against an additional $1.75 billion to buy F-22 fighter jets that military experts and members of both parties say we do not need.'  The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that the United States used the F-22 to carry out its airstrikes against ISIS and Khorasan targets inside Syria."  The field marshal argued for biplanes, but they're all being serviced.

September 23,  2014