Lindsey Graham certain Kavanaugh 'is going to be on the Supreme Court,' weighs in on status of Mueller probe

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham called Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh “the single best legal mind of his generation,” adding he's certain the judge “is going to be on the Supreme Court.”
Graham told Fox News’ Martha MacCallum that Trump was the “big winner” in Wednesday’s hearing and that Democrats were the “big losers.” He said that Republicans have voted in favor of certain liberal judges in the past when the party was in the minority -- but he claimed Democrats have been unwilling to do the same.
“I think the country is tired of the yelling and they’d like us to get things done. And, at times, Donald Trump drives me crazy, but he’s produced, and Kavanaugh is the single best legal mind of his generation. Any Republican president would’ve picked him.”
BRETT KAVANAUGH VOWS TO ‘KEEP AN OPEN MIND IN EVERY CASE,’ AFTER CHAOTIC CONFIMATION HEARING
Graham went on to say that Kavanaugh is “equally qualified if not more” qualified than Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Justice Elena Kagan, both of whom were approved for the high court during the Obama administration.
He also said on “The Story” that the hearings will reflect poorly on Dems, adding: “If this is their approach to how to govern, they're going to have a hard time in 2020.”
Graham seemed to be confident that Kavanaugh would be approved.
“Kavanaugh’s going to be on the Supreme Court. Well done, Mr. President.”
Graham also spoke about the recent loss of his close friend Sen. John McCain -- and the man picked to serve out the remainder of his term.
“They’ve taken John’s wingman, John Kyl, who's steady as a rock, solid conservative who tries to solve hard problems and let him finish out his good friend’s term and it makes a lot of sense to me and come January we’ll get somebody that will be able to run in 2020.”
ACTRESS PIPER PERABO ARRESTED, THROWN OUT OF KAVANAUGH HEARING AFTER LAUNCHING PROTEST
He also added that Kyl, a former Arizona senator, is “a vote for Kavanaugh.”
MaCallum briefly asked Graham about the New York Times report that Special Counsel Robert Mueller was willing to accept some written answers from Trump about Russian collusion accusations.
He said it seemed unlikely Mueller's team would produce a report before midterm elections.
“If their still negotiating, talking to the president, most likely you won’t get a report until after the election.”
Kavanaugh's confirmation hearings started Tuesday and are set to continue through the week.

Canada Trade Deal Cartoons

Mexico’s Outgoing President Wants Canada Involved In Trade Deal

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto greets guests as he arrives to deliver his sixth and final State of the Nation address at the National Palace in Mexico City, Monday, Sept. 3, 2018. . (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

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UPDATED 6:40 PM PT — September 3, 2018

Mexico’s outgoing president stresses the importance of Canada being involved in the trade deal with his country and the United States.
During his final state of the union address Monday, President Enrique Pena Nieto said his country is promoting a trilateral agreement.
The U.S. currently has a deal in place with Mexico, but Pena Nieto is looking for all three north American countries to come together.
“Because we are convinced of the importance of Canada remaining as a commercial partner within the treaty,” said Pena Nieto. North America is more successful when it stays together. When each country contributes its strengths to make this the most attractive and competitive region in the world.”
Pena Nieto will leave office on November 30 of this year.

City Of Golden, Colorado To Vote On Lowering Voting Age To 16

In this June 14, 2016, file photo, a woman walks out of a polling place after voting.
(Photo: John Locher, AP)

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UPDATED 6:55 PM PT — September 3, 2018

A Colorado city is set to decide whether to lower the minimum voting age in local elections to 16-years-old.
The Denver Post reveals the city of Golden, which is located outside Denver, will vote in November on the issue.
If passed, voters as young as 16 would be able to cast ballots in elections for local candidates on local issues.
Golden would be the first Colorado community to approve such a measure.
The measure would go into effect in November 2019, but the city would still require residents to be at least 18-years-old to run for office.

Fla. Gubernatorial Nominee Andrew Gillum Plans to Raise Corporate Taxes by 40%

This July 18, 2018, file photo shows Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum speaking during a Democratic gubernatorial debate held at Florida Gulf Coast University’s Cohen Center in Fort Myers, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

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UPDATED 8:00 AM PT — September 3, 2018

Florida’s Democrat gubernatorial candidate says he plans to raise corporate taxes by 40% to provide Medicare to each resident in the Sunshine State.
In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Andrew Gillum claimed he would not raise rates on citizens, but would increase taxes on corporations so Florida could become a “leading state.”
However, the proposal could cost nearly $32 trillion over the next decade.
Gillum is running against Republican Ron DeSantis for the governor’s seat in November.

Trump warns Assad, Syrian allies on reported plan for Idlib province offensive

Smoke rises after a TNT bomb was thrown from a helicopter, hitting a rebel position during heavy fighting between troops loyal to president Bashar Assad and opposition fighters, in a neighbouring village to Kafr Nabuda, in the Idlib province.  (AP)

President Trump late Monday warned Syria’s Bashar al-Assad and his allies in the region not to attack rebels in the country’s Idlib province, warning that “hundreds of thousands” could be killed.
Trump’s tweet came shortly after Iran’s foreign minister said “terrorists must be purged” from Idlib, the last opposition stronghold in the country.
Mohammad Javad Zarif’s comments in Damascus came as Syrian forces and their allies are preparing for an assault.
“Syria’s territorial integrity should be safeguarded and all tribes and groups, as one society, should start the reconstruction process, and the refugees should return to their homes,” Zarif said, according to Iran's Fars news agency.
The BBC reported that Assad is planning a huge offensive.
Reuters reported that three million live there.
Syria has been fighting in a seven-year civil war, and Russia and Iran have backed Assad.

U.N. officials believe an offensive on Idlib would trigger a wave of displacement that could uproot an estimated 800,000 people and discourage refugees from returning home.
The U.S. and France have warned an Idlib offensive would trigger a humanitarian crisis and warned that a chemical attack in Idlib would prompt a western retaliation.
“All eyes on the actions of Assad, Russia, and Iran in Idlib, #NoChemicalWeapons,” Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, posted on Twitter.

Laboring on Labor Day Cartoons

Roseanne Barr says friends told her 'apologizing to the Left' may have been 'fatal mistake'

If Roseanne Barr had any regret about how she handled the aftermath of her firing by ABC, it may have been “apologizing to the Left.”
“That’s what everybody said,” Barr told Rabbi Shmuley Boteach during an appearance on his podcast, Entertainment Weekly reported.
“They said, ‘You made a fatal mistake … apologizing to the Left.’ Once you apologize to them they never forgive, they just try to beat you down until you don’t exist. That’s how they do things. They don’t accept apologies.”
Barr later said that many of the people who were demanding apologies from her after a tweet about a former adviser to President Barack Obama were “a little bit ill-informed about me.”
“(T)hey would put me in the same box where they have people who call for the death of all Jews and want to enslave all black people. [The same box as] real racists that actually exist,” she said. “They put me in a box with them. And how do they think that’s gonna affect me? They don’t think. They’re under mind control.”
Meanwhile, don’t expect Barr to offer her critique after “The Conners” premieres next month.
The former star of “Roseanne” told the rabbi she’ll be in Israel when the spin-off show airs.
“I have an opportunity to go to Israel for a few months and study with my favorite teachers over there,” Barr said, according to Entertainment Weekly, adding, “I have saved a few pennies and I’m so lucky I can go.”
“The Conners” is a new series that ABC has ordered to replace “Roseanne” following Barr’s firing by the network over a Twitter message about former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett.
The new show will star John Goodman and other “Roseanne” cast members in their same roles, with reports that the character of Roseanne Conner, played by Barr, will be killed off.

As In-N-Out boycott plan flops, Dem party chief dines alone, GOP feasts

California state Democrats are distancing themselves from the state party’s chief after he called for the boycott of a beloved burger chain after it donated cash to the state’s Republican Party.
The political feud began last week when Eric Bauman, head of the California Democratic Party, called for the boycott of California-based In-N-Out over its $25,000 donation to the GOP.
Bauman’s call soon became a headache for the party as it captured national headlines and gave ammunition to the GOP as the Democratic leader threatened to alienate the loyal customers of a wildly popular restaurant chain.
But the state Democratic Party quickly backtracked, saying Bauman’s call for a boycott was merely his “personal view” and wasn’t being considered by the state Democratic Party as a policy.
“We’re not happy that In-N-Out gave the money, but we’re not calling for an official boycott,” John Vigna, the party’s communications director, told the Los Angeles Times. “Democrats are very fired up. Chair [Bauman] is definitely giving voice to a feeling a lot of people have right now.”

"We’re not happy that In-N-Out gave the money, but we’re not calling for an official boycott."
- John Vigna, the state Democratic Party communications director

Ordinary voters, too, seemed to be against a boycott.
“Eating at In-N-Out is such a standard thing to do across California,” Anthony Grigore told the Times, dismissing the idea of a boycott as rather silly.
“The stomach overrules the mind,” Jaime Regalado, emeritus professor of political science at Cal State L.A., told the newspaper. “A cheap, good-tasting burger is hard to dismiss politically.”
But despite the damage control, Republicans seized on the opportunity to have a political feast, posting images and declarations of support for the chain.
“Enjoying our favorite fast food restaurant, In-N-Out Burger, at the Capitol today. No boycott here!” Republican state Sen. Jim Nielsen wrote on Facebook, attaching a photo of himself surrounded by multiple orders of burgers and fries.
Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox posted on Twitter a photo of himself in front an In-N-Out as well, saying “There’s nothing more Californian than In-N-Out Burger.”
Matt Fleming, a spokesman for the California Republican Party, also weighed in on the issue.
“It’s disappointing that he’s attacking a company that’s a California institution and widely regarded as a good employer,” he wrote in a tweet.
Meanwhile, In-N-Out released a statement addressing the donations to the Republican Party, claiming that the chain has made “equal contributions to both Democratic and Republican” PACs in California this year.
“For years, In-N-Out Burger has supported lawmakers who, regardless of political affiliation, promote policies that strengthen California and allow us to continue operating with the values of providing strong pay and great benefits for our associates,” Executive Vice President Arnie Wensinger said.

Florida's Gillum grateful for donations from 'everyday folks' -- and billionaires Soros and Steyer

Andrew Gillum, the Tallahassee mayor who recently won Florida's Democratic gubernatorial nomination, likes to thank "everyday folks" for donating to his campaign. On Sunday he also thanked billionaires George Soros and Tom Steyer.
“I’ll tell you, I’m obviously deeply appreciative of Mr. Soros, as well as Mr. Steyer, both men whom I’ve known for some time,” Gillum said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday.

"I’ll tell you, I’m obviously deeply appreciative of Mr. Soros, as well as Mr. Steyer, both men whom I’ve known for some time."
- Florida gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum

In fact, the 39-year-old Gillum received an outpouring of support from liberal megadonors and groups associated with their vast network of affiliates, helping him emerge from a crowded Democratic field last Tuesday.
In April, his campaign raised $450,000, with more than half of that coming from Soros in the form of a contribution to Forward Florida, a political action committee focused on getting Gillum elected, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
Both Soros and Steyer, who’s been leading an effort to impeach President Trump, also directed $650,000 in the final two weeks of primary campaigning toward the same political group, according to Politico.
Before the last-minute cash infusion, Steyer reportedly had already donated $500,000 to groups supporting Gillum, while Soros’ total contributions to the pro-Gillum group stood at $1 million.
Despite the donations and criticism that the billionaires may have undue influence in politics, Gillum brushed off suggestions that his candidacy was bankrolled by billionaires, saying the campaign was led by donations from “everyday folks.”
“[O]ur campaign was really propped up by a lot of small contributions, including my mother, who was on auto-deduct of $20 a month into our campaign,” Gillum said on the show. “In the first two days of this general election, our campaign has been buoyed this first week, raising over $2 million by everyday folks, not big contributions, but everyday folks sowing a seed into our race.”
Gillum will face Republican U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis in November.