SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:23 P.M. ET:  

TRUMP PICKS MATTIS – FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES:   WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald J. Trump said on Thursday he had chosen James N. Mattis, a hard-charging retired general who led a Marine division to Baghdad during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, to serve as his secretary of defense.  Mr. Trump made the announcement at a rally in Cincinnati, calling General Mattis “the closest thing we have to Gen. George Patton.”  General Mattis, 66, led the United States Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East and Southwest Asia, from 2010 to 2013. His tour there was cut short by the Obama administration, which believed he was too hawkish on Iran.  If they thought he was too hawkish on Iran, then he's fine with me.

EGADS – SUCH BOTHER – FROM THE HILL:   Former Gen. David Petraeus is reportedly one of President-elect Donald Trump's finalists to be secretary of State.  If he's chosen, he'll have three days to notify his probation officer.  Petraeus was sentenced to two years of probation on April 23, 2015, for giving his mistress classified information.  "The defendant shall not leave the Western District of North Carolina without the permission of the Court or probation officer. Travel allowed for work as approved by U.S. probation office," says a court judgment, reported first by Brad Heath of USA Today.  "The defendant shall notify the probation officer within 72 hours of any change in residence or employment," the document adds.  Pretty humiliating, but I think it can be overcome. Petraeus is paying his debt to society, but seeks redemption through further service.  The Dems will have a field day, but coddling criminals is their specialty, so I don't think they'll make much of an impact. 

GREAT MOMENTS IN CLOGGED ARTERIES – FROM BRITAIN'S SUN:   The inventor of the Big Mac has died at the age of 98.  Michael “Jim” Delligatti came up with the iconic McDonald’s burger nearly 50 years ago.  The franchise-owner from Uniontown Pennsylvania put the stacked treat on sale at one of his restaurants in 1968.  McDonald’s initially did not approve of deviating from its strict formula of simple hamburgers, cheeseburgers and milkshakes.  But the creation of a two-patty burger with lettuce, cheese, gherkins, onions and “special sauce” proved an instant hit, and was rolled out to his other 47 outlets across the US.   McDonald’s spokeswoman Kerry Ford confirmed that Delligatti died at his home in Fox Chapel, Pittsburgh, surrounded by his family on Monday night.  He opened his first McDonald’s restaurant in 1957 and went on to spread the brand across Pennsylvania and beyond.  His son revealed that Delligatti ate at least one 540 calorie Big Mac every week, according to CBS.  He ate one Big Mac a week, and lived to 98?  Do you still believe in nutritionists?

December 1,  2016