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

DIETARY BULLETINS – FROM DAILY CALLER:    Oakland schools partnered with the environmental group Friends of the Earth (FOE) to fight global warming by making student lunches climate-friendly.  FOE gave kids a lunch menu designed to eliminate foods it says are “unsustainable for our planet.” The new menu features far less meat and more plant-based food. Any meat or cheese the school did use came from “pastured, organic dairy cows.” The student’s lunch menu went from beef hot dogs and pepperoni pizza to vegan stir fry tofu and vegan tostadas. The new FOE-approved menu served meat and cheese-less frequently and reduced the portion sizes.  “This is a landmark moment for school food,” Jennifer LeBarre, head of nutrition services for Oakland Unified School District, said in a FOE press statement. “We were so excited to see how the data showed that we could reduce our carbon and water footprint by serving healthy, delicious food –– like the vegetarian tostadas with fresh made in-house salsa, that kids absolutely love –– all while saving money.”  I wonder if anyone consulted the parents, or asked the kids.  I haven't heard any word about vegan stir fry tofu becoming the national dish, and maybe there's a reason.

STUNNING – FROM BREITBART:   William Binney, a former highly placed NSA official turned whistleblower, contended in an exclusive interview today that the National Security Agency (NSA) is “absolutely” monitoring the phone calls of President Donald Trump.  Binney was an architect of the NSA’s surveillance program. He became a famed whistleblower when he resigned on October 31, 2001 after spending more than 30 years with the agency.  Asked whether he believes the NSA is tapping Trump, Binney replied: “Absolutely. How did they get the phone call between the president and the president of Australia? Or the one that he made with Mexico? Those are not targeted foreigners.”  That is a creepy idea.  If true, who authorized the tapping of the president's phone?  There are clearly attempts in Washington to bring down Trump, and they may succeed. 

TRUMP RETURNS TO THE PEOPLE – FROM FLORIDAY TODAY:   President Donald Trump's visit to Melbourne has been confirmed.  He will appear at a rally that begins at 5 p.m. Saturday in the AeroMod International hangar at Orlando Melbourne International Airport. Doors will open at 3 p.m.  People seeking the free tickets are asked to provide their name, cellphone number, email address, state of residence and ZIP code. There is a limit of two tickets per cellphone number.  Don Tosti, a retiree who is a seasonal resident of Melbourne, was among the first to register for tickets on Wednesday.  "I'm a big supporter of him," Tosti said. "His phrase 'drain the swamp' was all I needed to hear. I'm really excited. I'm anxious to see him."  Volusia County Republican Party Chairman Tony Ledbetter, who is a volunteer coordinator for the Melbourne event, advised people who want to see the president to get there early.   I'm glad to see he's getting out among the people again.  It'll be good for the morale.  I wasn't a Trump supporter in the primaries, but I've never seen a new president treated so badly.  The country deserves better than the media/permanent government complex that runs Washington.

February 15, 2017