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

DEM GRIMNESS – From Breitbart:  "Democratic strategist Joe Trippi said on Sunday that it would be a 'miracle' if Democrats manage to fend off a Republican takeover of the U.S. Senate come Nov. 4.  'I would gauge that Republicans are likely to pick up between five and eight seats,' Trippi said on Fox News Sunday.  Trippi added, 'I don't think there are anybody within any of those races who believes they are not going to be in the GOP hands in November.'  Trippi said a favorable outcome for Democrats would be a scenario wherein they lose just five Senate seats. The Democratic strategist noted that the use of President Barack Obama's 2012 get out the vote efforts may be the party's only hope.  'If they can actually generate that there's a chance they--they do have a miracle and stop the Republicans from taking the Senate,' said Trippi.  He's right.  The Democratic ground game on election day is proved and effective.  They're now trying to organize it, but I believe Republican enthusiasm is greater.

YIKES – From NBC:  "Three soldiers from the Afghanistan National Army visiting Cape Cod, Massachusetts, for a military exercise have gone missing, according to the U.S. National Guard. The National Guard in Massachusetts says they believe at this time there is no threat to the public.  Maj. Jan Mohammad Arash, Capt. Mohammad Nasir Askarzada, and Capt. Noorullah Aminyar were last seen at the Hyannis Mall Saturday evening, a National Guard source tells Cheryl Fiandaca of NBC affiliate WHDH.  A senior law enforcement source tells NBC News the FBI Field Office in Boston is aware of the disappearance and takes these matters seriously."  This gives me the creeps.  Did these guys defect to be at one with the Kennedys?  To play a few rounds when Barack visits Cape Cod?  Are they lost at the Apple Store?  Or is something really serious going on here?

I'M SO EXCITED – From The New York Times:  "John D. Rockefeller built a vast fortune on oil. Now his heirs are abandoning fossil fuels.  The family whose legendary wealth flowed from Standard Oil is planning to announce on Monday that its $860 million philanthropic organization, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, is joining the divestment movement that began a couple years ago on college campuses.  The announcement, timed to precede Tuesday’s opening of the United Nations climate change summit meeting in New York City, is part of a broader and accelerating initiative."  Oh, I just love these little shows.  When the Rockefellers move to the mountains and live in tents, I'll be impressed.  Right now I want to know how they heat their mansions.

September 21, 2014