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

TRUMP BLASTS RECOUNT EFFORT – FROM AP: WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- For months Donald Trump called the presidential election "rigged." The president-elect has a different word - "scam" - for the recount effort aimed at revisiting the vote in three pivotal battleground states.  "The people have spoken and the election is over," Trump declared Saturday in his first comments about the growing effort to force recounts in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. He added, "We must accept this result and then look to the future."  Trump is right.  A recount is called for if the vote tally is very close or if tampering is seriously suspected.  No one has shown, so far, that there were any serious irregularities.  Yet, I'd take any recount seriously, for then we have to watch the recounters for any sign of corruption or intimidation.

MISSING IRANIAN RADIOACTIVE DEVICE – FROM OILPRICE.COM:   The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is concerned over a missing radioactive device from Iran’s Bushehr nuclear reactor, Saudi-owned Arab newspaper Asharq al-Awsat reported on Thursday.  Aside from the security concerns, at the forefront in the GCC’s mind is what impact the radioactive device—wherever it may be today—could have on water supplies.  According to the newspaper, the device went missing after the car transporting it was stolen. Thankfully, the vehicle was recovered, but the radioactive nuclear device was not so lucky.  The GCC has contacted the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over the incident—both organizations are concerned that Iran’s nuclear program may pollute the waters in the Gulf, Asharq al-Awsat quoted GCC Emergency Management Center chairman, Adnan al-Tamimi, as saying.  Another brick on the load.  I'm not sure we actually known what's happening in Iran.  But nuclear devices are not supposed to go missing.

NUT CASE – FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER:  Green Party perennial presidential hopeful Jill Stein praised former Cuban strongman Fidel Castro on Saturday, as encomiums by many left-of-center politicians continued to roll in following his death.  "Fidel Castro was a symbol of the struggle for justice in the shadow of empire. Presente!" Stein wrote on Twitter Saturday afternoon.  Stein is also, as readers know, the instigator of the campaign to recount the presidential vote in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.  She is a specialist in nutty causes.  She needs help, and I think Obamacare should pay for it.  It's the least we can do for the unhinged.

November 26, 2016