SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:57 A.M. ET: 

WARREN RISING? – From The Politico:  "Senate Democrats want to enlist a progressive firebrand as a member of their leadership: Elizabeth Warren.  The incoming Senate minority leader, Harry Reid, is engaged in private talks with the Massachusetts freshman to create a special leadership post for the former Harvard professor, according to several people familiar with the matter. It’s unclear exactly what the new job would entail — but luring the populist liberal into leadership could inject fresh blood into a team reeling from significant midterm election losses.  Adding Warren, Democrats say, would bring in a nationally known name who could help sharpen the Democratic message as it goes toe-to-toe with the new Senate Republican majority. The move would likely be viewed favorably by an increasingly liberal caucus."  Reminds me of the Japanese government before World War II:  Let's give the crazies a chance.

ANOTHER OBAMA VICTORY – From The Hill:  "The U.S. Embassy in Yemen is reportedly updating its evacuation plans due to increasing violence in the capital of Sana’a.  There are no current plans to close the facility, but defense officials told CNN on Tuesday they are keeping a close eye on the embassy as violence has become 'considerably worse' between government forces and Houthi rebels.  'We are poised to act if it becomes necessary to get people out,' a defense official told CNN. 'If you ask me do I think it's more likely now, the answer is yes."  Yemen has often been pointed to by Obama as a success.  I wonder what he thinks failure looks like.

RACKET – From Reuters:  "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Honduras President Juan Hernandez wants the United States to invest billions of dollars to help curb the flow of illegal migrants from Central America, and said it will take much longer to stem the crisis without Washington's help."  In the heyday of organized crime, this used to be called the protection racket.  We're supposed to pay for the corruption and incompetence of Central American countries.  Bad deal.

OUR FRIENDS – From AP:  "MOSCOW - In a show of military muscle amid tensions with the West, Russia will send long-range strategic bombers on regular patrol missions across the globe, from the Arctic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, a top official said Wednesday.  The announcement by Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu came as NATO's chief accused Russia of sending fresh troops and tanks into eastern Ukraine."  Seems like old times, doesn't it?

November 12, 2014