SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:38 P.M. ET: 

OH MY, HOW WICKEDLY EMBARRASSING – FROM FOX:  The Justice Department scolded the Obama administration on Wednesday following a report on how sexual harassment of all kinds was improperly handled at the department for years.  The Washington Post reported that the DOJ’s inspector general had found “systemic” problems with how complaints were addressed, with offending officials often being let off the hook or even rewarded. The article cited investigative reports on a lawyer who allegedly groped two female attorneys and a top U.S. Marshals official who had sex with “approximately” nine women in his office.  Though complaints have been filed as recently as August, the IG said some of the worst alleged offenses happened several years ago in the department’s Civil Division.  Ian Prior, a spokesman in the Trump Justice Department, would not comment in detail about the allegations but described the problems as largely contained to the prior administration.   Your tax dollars at work.  The hypocrisy of the Democrats on this issue is world class.

THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT – FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER:   The top paychecks of federal workers are set to grow again next year to a six-figure number that rivals the $174,000 salaries of America’s 535 House and Senate members.  Under a new federal order, salaries for most bureaucrats in the General Service will rise next year when the cap on top pay hits $164,000.  And for the upper reaches of the government, senior executive service employees will be allowed to earn a maximum of $189,600.  The Washington area, where the bulk of federal workers are employed, will get the biggest pay raise under the order signed by President Trump before Christmas. There, the increase for General Service workers will be 2.29 percent.  The average federal worker in 2016 earned $86,365. With benefits, the total compensation was $123,160.  The average nonfederal pay in the nation was $58,726, with total compensation at $69,901.  When government pays more than the private sector, we're in trouble.

BREAKTHROUGH – FROM AFP:  Tokyo (AFP) - A Japanese researcher has developed -- by accident-- a new type of glass that can be repaired simply by pressing it back together after it cracks.  The discovery opens the way for super-durable glass that could triple the lifespan of everyday products like car windows, construction materials, fish tanks and even toilet seats.  Yu Yanagisawa, a chemistry researcher at the University of Tokyo, made the breakthrough by chance while investigating adhesives that can be used on wet surfaces.  The Democrats will undoubtedly claim that this was secretly developed at American expense to repair the windows in Trump hotels.  And CNN will believe that.

December 27, 2017