SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:51 P.M. ET:

OBAMA THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZER – From CNS:  "(CNSNews.com) - President Obama said his Task Force on 21st Century Policing has presented him with 'a very specific set of recommendations,' including the need for police officers to be 'seen as enhancing the life of the community beyond law enforcement.'  To build trust, Obama's task force suggests that police officers 'be engaged with the community, not just in a (police) stop but also in a school, also working with children, also being seen as enhancing the life of the community beyond law enforcement.'"  I'm sure this will deeply impress the gang bangers.  Just what they've always wanted, cops teaching volleyball. 

BRAVE NANCY FIGHTS THROUGH THE TEARS – From The Hill:  "House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) hammered Benjamin Netanyahu Tuesday, saying the Israeli prime minister's speech to Congress was an 'insult' to the country.  'The unbreakable bonds between the United States and Israel are rooted in our shared values, our common ideals and mutual interests,' Pelosi said in a statement just after the speech.  'That is why, as one who values the U.S. — Israel relationship, and loves Israel, I was near tears throughout the Prime Minister’s speech — saddened by the insult to the intelligence of the United States as part of the P5 +1 nations, and saddened by the condescension toward our knowledge of the threat posed by Iran and our broader commitment to preventing nuclear proliferation.'"  I suspect that what really drove Nancy to tears was the realization that Netanyahu blew Obama away.  What Congress saw was a real leader, not the imitation brand in the White House.

A NEW DAY – Earlier today we quoted a Saudi columnist praising Netanyahu's appearance before Congress.  In fact, there's more support from Bibi coming in from the Arab world.  From Truth Revolt:  "Even the Editor-in-Chief of Al Arabiya English believes that when it comes to Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is right and President Obama is wrong. Faisal J. Abbas, whose leftist credentials are impeccable (he blogs for the Huffington Post) said that in a recent ceremony to thank IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, Netanyahu correctly estimated the threat. Abbas wrote on Al Arabiya, 'The Israeli PM managed to hit the nail right on the head when he said that Middle Eastern countries are collapsing and that 'terror organizations, mostly backed by Iran, are filling in the vacuum.'"  Abbas continued, 'In just a few words, Mr. Netanyahu managed to accurately summarize a clear and present danger, not just to Israel (which obviously is his concern), but to other U.S. allies in the region.'"  I hope that, over at the White House, Captain Ridiculous read those comments.

PETRAEUS ENTERS PLEA – From The New York Times – "WASHINGTON — David H. Petraeus, the best-known military commander of his generation, has reached a plea deal with the Justice Department and admitted providing his highly classified journals to a mistress when he was the director of the C.I.A.  Mr. Petraeus has agreed to plead guilty to one count of unauthorized removal and retention of classified material, a misdemeanor. He is eligible for up to one year in prison, but prosecutors will recommend a sentence of probation for two years and a $40,000 fine.  The plea deal completes a spectacular fall for Mr. Petraeus, a retired four-star general who was once discussed as a possible candidate for vice president or even president. He led the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and was the architect of a counterinsurgency strategy that at one time seemed a model for future warfare."  I cannot prove it, but I've always felt there was something suspicious about the way Petraeus has been pursued, as if this administration wanted to hold something over him because they saw him as a political threat.  But I have no documented evidence. 

March 3, 2015