* The “Trump Show” wasn’t the only big political debate on the continent last week. Canada also held one that featured incumbent Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper and three challengers. It basically kicked off the national campaign. The election is Oct. 19. You heard that right. It’s an 11-week campaign. It can be done.
* How bad is it in economically-devolving Venezuela? Shortages now include Cervecería Polar, the national beer. It’s shutting breweries because of a lack of barley and hops. Sobering.
* One of the reasons that ISIS remains as viable as it is violent is a cadre of military and intelligence veterans who held Iraqi leadership positions in the Saddam Hussein era. Lest we forget: yet another legacy detail of the Bush Administration’s failed Iraq-invasion strategy.