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

OSCARS – I didn't watch.  Can't stand the politics and most of the movies.  But I'm delighted that Gary Oldman won best actor for his portrayal of Winston Churchill.  Indeed, I'm glad to see Churchill portrayed, and I hope that a new generation will now be introduced to this 20th-century giant, even if it's through a movie.  The portrayal was excellent, even if some of the scenes stretched history to the breaking point.  I liked the fact that Churchill was presented, defects and all, as very human, and a mite unstable.  If he'd faced today's anti-Trump press, he'd have been destroyed before he could even start his prime ministership.  He was the right man for the moment, in many respects the man who saved Western democracy.

ITALY, FIRST RESULTS – FROM AFP:  Rome (AFP) - A surge for populist and far-right parties in Italy's election could result in a hung parliament with a right-wing alliance likely to win the most votes but no majority after a campaign dominated by anger against immigration.  With over half the ballots from Sunday's vote counted, the right-wing coalition was at 37 percent, including the far-right, eurosceptic League party with 18 percent and media mogul Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia (Go Italy) party with 14 percent.  That raises the prospect of League leader Matteo Salvini, who has promised to shut down Roma camps, deport hundreds of thousands of migrants and tackle the "danger" of Islam, becoming Italy's next prime minister.
The anti-establishment Five Star Movement, which has drawn support from Italians fed up with traditional parties and a lack of economic opportunity, was second with 31 percent.  The trend in Europe, starting with Britain's Brexit vote, is against the establishment, against the EU, and against forced immigration, often involving immigrants who have no intention of integrating into the local culture.  Storm clouds for Europe ahead.

ONLY IN CHICAGO – FROM CBS:  CHICAGO (CBS) — Violence at cemeteries, and during funeral processions, in Cook County is increasing.  A Hillside police chase is just one example of some of the violence. Chief Joe Lukaszek says three guns were recovered from the stolen SUV, which had just left a cemetery.  “There’s no respect for the dead anymore,” he said.  Cemeteries in Hillside are the final resting place for many gang members killed in Chicago. Funeral processions from the city often end up on the expressways, which lead to dangerous situations.  “People, literally, are jumping on other sides of the road, driving next each other, weaving in and out of traffic, guns being waived out of cars. There’s been shots fired from vehicles, as well,” Sheriff Tom Dart said.  As a result, Dart is creating a new task force to tackle the problem. It will be comprised of community leaders, citizens and law enforcement, as well as cemetery and funeral home owners.  I'm sure the Chicago authorities will study the question for years, and end up blaming either Donald Trump or Dick Cheney.

March 4, 2018