SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:56 P.M. ET: 

THE MARCH OF COLLEGE ABSURDITY – FROM COLLEGE FIX:    The invitation of Sean Spicer, Donald Trump’s pick for White House press secretary, to the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics (IOP) is not sitting well with some folks.  According to The Chicago Maroon, the Spicer announcement “drew criticism from some students who say they may protest the IOP’s perceived normalization of hostility toward the press by the incoming president.”  This leads me to wonder if Trump himself will receive any invitations to give addresses at colleges, other than the service academies.  The left is so militant, and threatening, that I'd be willing to bet it would be successful in barring Trump from almost any college.

CHILLING – FROM REUTERS:   A pro-Islamic State group on Wednesday urged supporters of the jihadists to carry out attacks on targets such as markets and hospitals in Europe over the Christmas holiday period and urged Muslims to stay away from Christian celebrations.  The threat came as European authorities have stepped up security following an attack claimed by Islamic State in which a truck ploughed into crowds in a Berlin Christmas market and killed 12 people this month.  The Nashir Media Foundation, which backs Islamic State, posted its message online, accompanied by images of fighters with guns and knives, Santa Claus, reindeer and a Christmas tree, according to the according to the U.S.-based SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors militant groups online.  "Their celebrations, gatherings, clubs, markets, theatres, cinemas, malls and even their hospitals are all perfect targets for you," the online message to Islamist "lone wolves" in Europe said.  I'd take this very seriously, considering past mass killings.  But I fear that people in the West are "normalizing" terror, considering it a part of modern society.

DE-FUND THE UN? – FROM FOX:   Mike Huckabee suggested, in the aftermath of the United Nations resolution condemning Israeli settlements, that the United States pull its portion of the international body's funding.  He said the hundreds of millions to billions of dollars could be better allocated to serve American veterans.  Eric Bolling reported that United States funds account for 22 percent or about $600 million of the UN's operating budget, while we have spent as much as multiple billions of dollars on peacekeeping and other UN initiatives.  Not a bad idea.  Spend the money on veterans, who have done more for peace than the UN ever has. 

December 28,  2016