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

UNBELIEVABLE – FROM BRITAIN'S EXPRESS:    Number 10’s newest occupant has received calls from leaders in Germany, France and Ireland but has so far heard nothing from America’s outgoing White House chief.  German chancellor Angela Merkel was the first leader to phone Mrs May when she called from Kyrgyzstan to applaud David Cameron’s successor.  France’s president Francois Hollande called the Prime Minister to wish her well in the new role and discussed with Mrs May the importance of maintaining a close relationship between Britain and France.  And the Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny also spoke with Theresa May as he offered to visit London soon to discuss the ties between the two leaders’ countries.  Obama is a petty man, and goes out of his way to prove it.

SPEAKING OF BRITAIN – Boris Johnson, the pro-American former mayor of London, has just been named foreign secretary in the cabinet of Britain's new conservative prime minister, Theresa May.  In 2007, Johnson described Hillary Clinton as follows:  “She’s got dyed blonde hair and pouty lips, and a steely blue stare, like a sadistic nurse in a mental hospital …”  Ah, it takes a Brit to get it just right.  The only virtue of Hillary Clinton being elected is to have us watch her greeting Boris at the White House.

FRIDAY AT 11 – Donald Trump will announce his choice for vice-presidential running mate Friday at 11 a.m. ET.  Most presumably informed pundits believe that it's now a race between Indiana Governor Mike Pence and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, with the outside chance that Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey could still be in the running.  Vice-presidential announcements are greeted with great fanfare, but, in truth, they usually have little effect on the presidential race.  The last time I think there was a proved effect was 1960, when Lyndon Johnson's presence on John F. Kennedy's ticket helped Kennedy carry Johnson's home state of Texas.  It's often said that the role of the vice presidential candidate is to stay out of trouble.

July 13,  2016