SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:52 P.M. ET: 

LAST CHANCE – FROM THE HILL:    Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol joined a conference call on Tuesday night to encourage Republican delegates to protest on the floor of the convention in a last ditch effort to block Donald Trump from obtaining the party’s nomination.  Kristol, who has spearheaded the charge for an independent candidate to enter the race, was the guest speaker on an organizing call of conservatives who are seeking to deny Trump the nomination at the party’s convention in Cleveland next month.  The group of delegates, lawyers, rules experts and political action committees insist that delegates are not bound to any primary or caucus vote, and are looking to pass convention rules that allow them to vote their “conscience.”  Kristol told organizers on Tuesday night that if their representative at the convention doesn’t cast a vote in accordance with their wishes, they should protest on the floor....“I think we’re on the right side of history and on the right side of rejecting someone who shouldn’t be the nominee of the Republican Party,” he added.  Many agree with him, but I don't see much chance here.  Trump won the nomination by winning primaries.  He has the votes, and has them legitimately.  I am not a fan of his, but I can't deny the reality of his electoral achievement.  But I'm glad Kristol is trying.  I have no problem at all with a serious challenge.

LIBERAL OPINION – There was little of the knee-jerk, automatic support of Hillary Clinton, in the face of today's FBI report, that we've come to expect from the liberal community.  Indeed, many liberal outlets seemed shaken by the sting in Director Comey's condemnations of Clinton's behavior.  From The New York Times:  As Mrs. Clinton said in the past, and her campaign reiterated on Tuesday, her decision to use private email was a mistake. She remains, far and away, the most experienced and knowledgeable candidate for the presidency, particularly when compared with Mr. Trump. But she has done damage to her reputation by failing to conform to the established security policies of the department she ran and by giving evasive or misleading answers about her actions and motivations. If there was ever a time that Mrs. Clinton needed to demonstrate that she understands the forthrightness demanded of those who hold the nation’s highest office, this is that moment.  It is remarkable how, after 25 years as a national figure, Hillary Clinton still has not established basic trust.  What does that say about her?  Why is she the presidential nominee of a major party?

THE ANNOUNCEMENT – I've spent most of the day examining the announcement by FBI Director Comey that no criminal charges will be leveled against Hillary Clinton in the e-mail case.  Curiously, Comey didn't mention any other probes of Clinton that might be underway, such as an investigation of the Clinton Foundation and whether its huge flow of money, some of it from foreign dictatorships, were used to influence (bribe) Clinton when she was secretary of state.

While Comey's statement was eloquent, there seemed to be a growing feeling during the day, especially among Republicans, that it didn't make much sense.  If Hillary Clinton was as reckless as Comey says she was in the handling of classified material, why is that not cause enough for an indictment?  Republicans may hold hearings, appropriately, to find out.  Despite Comey's estimable reputation, he's not being given a free pass by the loyal opposition.  There is a great deal of talk about a double standard of justice – one standard for the Clintons, another for the rest of us. Comey may not come out unscathed.  There are reported rumblings from inside the FBI of angry agents who felt Comey let them down. 

Democrats were clearly relieved to have the legal load lifted from their candidate's shoulders, but they understand that Comey's devastating portrait of an irresponsible Clinton in control of classified information will haunt her for the rest of the campaign. 

There have even been some questions about how Clinton could get security clearance as president, considering her handling of classified information.  As I understand it, though, security clearance for the president is automatic.

July 5,  2016