SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:15 P.M. ET:

OBAMA NOT GALLUPING – President Obama has dropped to 39% approval in the Gallup Poll, with 55% disapproving.  A year ago he was hovering around 50% approval.

AIRLINER – Latest reports say that most of the attention is now being focused on the cockpit crew of the vanished Malaysian airliner.  Most investigators now believe that the plane was flown, by an experienced pilot, to wherever it went, and that it's unlikely that someone broke into the cockpit, 9-11 style.  Malaysian police visiting the homes of the pilot and co-pilot today.  There are some initial reports that the pilot had very definite, and controversial, political views, but that is unconfirmed.  Was there a conspiracy between pilot and co-pilot?  Did one take over the plane and disable the other?  These are theories.  But the notion that the plane was flown wilfully off its course is being accepted by the majority of knowledgeable commentators as fact.

RAND PAUL WINS NEW ENGLAND POLL – From WPA Opinion Research:  "NASHUA, NH – WPA Opinion Research announced today that Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has won this weekend’s Northeast Republican Leadership Presidential Survey capturing almost 15% of the vote.  'What this survey tells is that is that no one candidate has really separated themselves from the potential field in 2016,' said Ryan Steusloff Vice President of WPA Opinion Research. 'At this point, the nomination is completely up-for-grabs and of the would-be contenders, no one can be ruled out just yet.'"  That's correct.  Getting 15% of the vote is not a famous victory.  These are fun polls, at best.  You can see all the poll results here.

March 15, 2014