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

THAT'S IT FOR WINNIE – FROM THE NEW YORK POST:  It was probably his darkest hour.
Winston Churchill, the revered British Prime Minister who led his country to victory in World War II, was outed on Saturday as a cheating husband.  The Sunday Times of London reported his galpal was Doris Castlerosse, the “promiscuous’’ great-aunt of model and actress Cara Delevingne.  The startling news came from Churchill’s aide, John “Jock’’ Colville. Two years before he died in 1987, Colville recorded his memories for the Churchill archive, but no one listened to all of it — until now.  “He [Churchill] did one terrible thing,” Colville said.   The one "terrible" thing was the affair.  Now I guess Churchill is finished, outed as just another Harvey Weinstein or Charlie Rose.  No more bust in the Oval Office.  Who will be the first to claim "me too"?  History is so cruel.

MICHELLE'S BOOK – FROM AP:  NEW YORK (AP) — Michelle Obama's memoir is coming out in November.  The former first lady tweeted Sunday that the book is called "Becoming." She is calling her memoir a "deeply personal experience."  The former first lady and her husband, former President Barack Obama, last year reached a joint agreement with Penguin Random House for their respective books. The deal is believed to be well in excess of $30 million.  Memoirs by former first ladies usually sell well and Michelle Obama's memoir is highly anticipated. She is admired around the world and has never told her story at length. Her only previous book was a 2012 work on gardening, "American Grown."  I can't wait.  I wonder if she's proud of her country now.

OLYMPICS END – Did anyone notice?  The next summer games will be in Tokyo in 2020, during our presidential campaign.  The next winter games will be in Beijing in 2022.  Are we getting a message about Asian dominance?  I assume so.  Asia has become an athletic center as well as a manufacturing center.  The next games scheduled for the United States won't take place until 2028, in Los Angeles.  I assume California will still be in the Union.

February 25, 2018