SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:54 P.M. ET:

SAME OLD STORY – Of course we have to be sensitive to civil liberties, but we also may have to inconvenience ourselves to prevent innocents from being murdered.  In France, sadly, there's already a backlash over tough measures introduced after the recent attacks.  From AFP:  When a state of emergency was imposed in France after the November attacks, numb and terror-weary citizens welcomed the show of force.  But a sense of creeping unease over civil liberties has turned to outright opposition in many quarters as French President Francois Hollande indicated this week he would seek to renew the measure for another three months.  The state of emergency was imposed after gunmen and suicide bombers attacked a string of Parisian cafes and restaurants, a concert hall and football stadium, leaving 130 dead and hundreds injured on November 13.  It has led to over 2,500 police raids and hundreds of arrests under emergency policing powers that government wants written into the constitution.  As Johnny Carson used to say, "How quickly they forget."  Obviously, government power can be used excessively, but I'm willing to bet that many of the "civil libertarians" raising a fuss in France are old leftists doing their usual thing, and "understanding" the terrorists.

AMERICA 2016 – From Fox:   A Minnesota youth basketball team has been ejected from a league for being too good and now the coach, parents and players are crying foul.  The Rogers Area Youth Basketball Association girls high school team was forced to the sidelines by the Northwest Suburban Basketball League -- and it’s all because the team is 3-0, Fox 9 reported Saturday.  “We found out Friday at lunchtime that we’re not going to be allowed because according to the league our girls were too talented,” coach Jason Hanauska told the station.   RAYBA sent parents a letter that said the main reason for the league's decision was because other teams in the league “do not want to play RAYBA due to the skill level.”   What a comment on the standards being taught to young people today.  If you lose and feel badly about it, just complain and the winning team will be kicked out.  After all, shouldn't everyone be a winner?

WILL BRITAIN WALK? – From London's Express:   Support for a British exit from the 28-nation European Union has hardened significantly, according to research.  The “Brexit” boost follows terrorist attacks in France, the sex attacks scandal in Germany and the EU-wide migrant crisis.  A new opinion poll gives the “out” campaign a sensational six per cent lead.  Polling firm Survation found that the number of voters who want the UK to cut ties with Brussels is at the highest level for more than two decades.  The poll – showing 53 per cent of voters in favour of quitting the EU against 47 per cent wanting to stay in – delighted campaigners for an EU exit last night.  It comes as David Cameron is thought to be preparing to hold his promised in-out referendum this summer.  This is an important story.  The EU has become a burdensome, sometimes frightening bureaucracy, usually leftist in its orientation, and almost unaccountable.  It represents the opposite of the American ideal that government should be small, and close to the people.  If Britain walks, it may well mean the end of the EU's hold on Europe.

January 24,  2016