The following is an excerpt from OpinionJournal.com’s “Best of the Web” written by the editor, James Taranto.

Nobody Goes There Anymore, It’s Too Crowded
“Rick Perry is the real barbarian at the gates. No Democrat likes him. No establishment Republican likes him. He’s got long odds to win. Yet everywhere he goes, he ends up getting the majority of the votes. It’s pretty unexplainable at this point.”–reader Pasquino Marforio, quoted by the Los Angeles Times, Sept. 13

Vera Wang Attends Albright’s Fashion Show–Now That Would Be News
“Albright Attends Vera Wang’s Fashion Show”–headline, Politico.com, Sept. 13

You Can’t Fight Here, This Is the War Room
“Northern Arizona University students who were passing out American flags Friday in remembrance of 9/11 got a bigger response than they expected,” reports Flagstaff’s Arizona Daily Sun:

No fewer than four university officials and a police officer descended on the group, accusing them of hindering foot traffic and lacking an advance permit. . . .

According to [student Stephanee] Freer’s footage, the first employee to walk up suggested they move outside, to which Freer replied that it was raining.

The second employee, a coordinator from the Office of Student Life, told the students that it is the same policy for all student organizations to reserve indoors space, and that they could move outside or step into a booth up the hall.

Freer said that the booth was out of the way and nobody would see them.

“This is for 9/11,” she said. “Do you want to shut down our 9/11 table? Are you unpatriotic?”

She also asked the employee what the First Amendment states, and the employee replied, “Free speech in a designated time, place and manner.”

The students vocally sneered at the definition.

After they folded up their small table, not much bigger than a TV dinner tray, a third employee told them the university is within its bounds to regulate the “time, place and manner” where students can assemble.

“You’re not following what administration is letting you do,” she said.

That reminded reader David Schlosser of a story:

In 2006, I was the Libertarian candidate for Arizona’s First Congressional District, running against the soon-to-be-convicted incumbent Republican, Rick Renzi.

I had spent a semester teaching at the NAU School of Communication, which was located in a fabulous new building with a stunning entry designated The First Amendment Plaza. The First Amendment was carved into a giant stainless steel sign that overlooked the amphitheater-style entrance to the building. I thought it would be a perfect place for a Libertarian to announce his run for national office, and called the school’s director to schedule the space for my kickoff event.

He informed me that political speech is not permitted at The First Amendment Plaza.

At least the university’s administration provides plenty of material for the Avian Cognition Laboratory.

For more “Best of the Web” click here and look for the “Best of the Web Today” link in the middle column below “Today’s Columnists.”