SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:56 P.M. ET:

EARTH-SHAKING POLITICAL NEWS – George Pataki has dropped out of the race for the GOP presidential nomination.  Oh, let me explain.  He was once governor of New York.  You may remember him.  Even people living in New York may remember him.  Not a bad guy.  Was governor during 9/11.  But that was 14 years ago.  His campaign this year failed to ignite. 

MAJOR GRIEVANCE – Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, never known for intelligence or ability, has raised a new demand.  She wants some hurricanes to have distinctly African-American names, like Jamal or Leticia.  She also wants hurricane warnings broadcast in language more understandable to people in inner cities.  Apparently there's some culturally distinct way to tell people that 150-mile-an-hour winds may strike their home.  Antics like this just demean the African-American community.  They help no one.  Maybe Ms. Lee can find an honest line of work.

REMINDER – From NBC – The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman came about 1,500 yards from an Iranian rocket in the Strait of Hormuz last week, two U.S. military officials told NBC News on Tuesday.  As the Truman was transiting the strait, which connects the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf, Iranian Revolutionary Guards conducted a live-fire exercise right near the U.S. carrier Saturday, officials said.  A U.S. military official said an Iranian navy fast and short attack craft began conducting a live-fire exercise at the same time the carrier was nearing the end of the strait, firing off several unguided rockets. A French frigate, the U.S. destroyer USS Buckley and other commercial traffic were also in the area.  It's been reported that, in case of hostilities between the U.S. and Iran, Iran's dream would be to take out an American carrier.

BOYCOTT! – From The Hill:   The founders of Ben and Jerry’s are making a fundraising pitch for Sen. Bernie Sanders’s (I-Vt.) presidential campaign, days before the year-end fundraising deadline.  Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, who co-founded the Vermont-based ice cream chain, sent an email to supporters Tuesday, urging them to volunteer and donate $3 before the Dec. 31 deadline.  The two are ardent supporters of the Vermont senator and frequently stump for him in the early-voting states.  I am personally boycotting Cherry Garcia and New York Fudge Chunk.  Take that, socialists!

December 29, 2015