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

MAJOR STRATEGIC INSIGHT – FROM THE WASHINGTON TIMES:  Attorney General Loretta Lynch told Florida’s LGBT community that the “most effective” weapon at America’s disposal against Islamic terrorism is “love.”  Mrs. Lynch told reporters in Orlando on Tuesday that an ongoing investigation will determine the precise motive for 29-year-old Omar Mateen’s June 12 massacre at Pulse, a gay nightclub. Mateen, a former security guard, called 911 and pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group while killing 49 people and wounding 53 others.  It's obvious.  People who chop other people's heads off will respond to love.  Get this woman another job.

POLICAL REVELATION – FROM FOX:  Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders acknowledged Wednesday that "it doesn't appear" he will be the Democratic presidential nominee.  Sanders made the comments during a taped C-SPAN interview, in which he didn't address the state of his campaign, but said he did expect to speak at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.  “It doesn’t appear that I’m going to be the nominee, so I’m not going to be determining the scope of the convention," he said.   Well, I wouldn't have known that unless Bernie said it.  Hillary must be relieved.

THE GREATS ARE FADING AWAY – FROM RAVALLI REPUBLIC:  Now it’s down to one.  David Thatcher, one of the last two airmen from the fabled Doolittle Raiders of World War II, died early Wednesday in a Missoula hospital.  His son Jeff said Thatcher, 94, had been going downhill for the past month or so and suffered a massive stroke on Sunday, Father's Day.  “He was an incredible father, just a very humble, soft-spoken man,” the younger Thatcher said. “A man of few words, but significant actions.”  Thatcher’s death leaves Dick Cole of Comfort, Texas, as the lone survivor of the 80 Doolittle Raiders who flew 16 B-25s on a daring bombing foray over Japan on April 18, 1942 – months after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. Cole, Col. Jimmy Doolittle’s co-pilot on the raid, turned 100 last September.  It is hard to contemplate that the greatest generation is dying off.  The youngest veteran of World War II would be about 87 today. 

June 22, 2016