SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:55 P.M. ET: 

THE NEW OFFICE TEMP – FROM THE WASHINGTON TIMES:    President Trump said Friday that he’s tapped Mick Mulvaney to be acting chief of staff at the White House, adding yet another role to the man who’s already his budget director.  Mr. Mulvaney will take over for current Chief of Staff John Kelly, who is leaving at the end of the year. The White House said there is no time limit on the role.  “He’s the acting chief of staff, which means he’s the chief of staff. He got picked because the president liked him, they get along,” an official told reporters.  Mr. Mulvaney, a former Republican congressman, had been doing double-duty for the last year as both chief of the Office of Management and Budget, which is the nerve center of the administration, and as acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The CFBP got a new permanent director last week, so Mr. Mulvaney is free of those duties.  And the White House said one of Mr. Mulvaney’s deputies at the budget office will take over his duties there, allowing him to fulfill the chief of staff’s role.  Seems like a solid choice. 

OBAMACARE TERMINAL? – FROM THE DENVER POST:   A federal judge in Texas threw a dagger on Friday into the Affordable Care Act, ruling that the entire health-care law is unconstitutional because of a recent change in federal tax law.  The opinion by U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor overturns all of the sprawling law nationwide.  The ruling came on the eve of the deadline for Americans to sign up for coverage in the federal insurance exchange created under the law.  Since the suit was filed in January, many health-law specialists have viewed its logic as weak but nevertheless have regarded the case as the greatest looming legal threat to the 2010 law, which has been a GOP whipping post ever since and assailed repeatedly in the courts.  The Supreme Court upheld the law as constitutional in 2012 and 2015, though the first of those opinions struck down the ACA’s provision that was to expand Medicaid nationwide, letting each state choose instead. No matter how O’Connor ruled, legal experts have been forecasting that the Texas case would be appealed and could well place the law again before the high court, giving its conservative newest member, Justice Brett Kavenaugh, a first opportunity to take part.  Yes, I suspect we will see a Supreme Court drama on this, and very soon.  Obamacare will stay in effect until higher courts rule. 

YOU CAN'T MAKE IT UP – FROM PJ MEDIA:   A student club at the University of London is requiring that all comedians sign a "behavioral agreement" as a condition of performing at a January comedy night.  According to emails reviewed by PJ Media, the UNICEF on Campus chapter at the University of London sent five local comedians — including Russian-born free speech advocate Konstantin Kisin — a request to perform.  "Attached is a short behavioural agreement form that we will ask for you to sign on the day to avoid problems," wrote Fisayo Eniolorunda, the club’s event organizer, in an email to Kisin and four other comedians sent Sunday.  "This comedy night… aims to provide a safe space for everyone to share and listen to Comedy," states the behavioral agreement form. "This contract has been written to ensure an environment where joy, love, and acceptance are reciprocated by all."  "By signing this contract, you are agreeing to our no tolerance policy with regards to racism, sexism, classism, ageism, ableism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, xenophobia, Islamophobia or anti-religion or anti-atheism."  Can you imagine the kind of comedy they'll get?  "A funny thing happened to me after being sexually harassed by a privileged white male..."

December 14, 2018