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

RUDY OUT – FROM THE NEW YORK POST:   Rudy Giuliani has withdrawn his name from consideration for any position in the upcoming Trump administration, the former New York City mayor announced Friday.  Giuliani at one point was considered the favorite to be secretary of state.  The announcement of the withdrawal came just hours after CNN reported he was no longer a serious contender for the post.  “I decided that the whole thing was becoming kind of very confusing and very difficult for the president-elect. My desire to be in the Cabinet was great — but it wasn’t that great,” said Giuliani.  According to the Trump campaign, Giuliani notified the president-elect that he wanted to remain in the private sector during a meeting on Nov. 29.   Rudy was a superb mayor of New York, and showed the nation that crime could dramatically be reduced.  But his public campaigning for the post of secretary of state was awkward, and he reportedly ruled out other appropriate posts, like secretary of Homeland Security.  A major loss.  The country could use his talents.

HUH? – FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES:  Rex W. Tillerson, the president and chief executive of Exxon Mobil, has emerged as President-elect Donald J. Trump’s top choice to become secretary of state, according to a person with direct knowledge of the search process.  The news is the latest turn in what has become the most extended drama of Mr. Trump’s transition effort, with a rotating cast of seeming front-runners to become America’s top diplomat. Choosing Mr. Tillerson would add to a long list of wealthy businesspeople in high-ranking Trump administration posts.  As Exxon’s top official, Mr. Tillerson has extensive experience working with foreign leaders. Some of his foreign relationships, especially those with Russia, could come under particular scrutiny during a Senate confirmation hearing.  I dunno.  I'm not so sure this would be a wise choice.  Representing a company intrnationally is one thing; representing a nation is quite another.  I don't want to prejudge, but Trump may be looking for trouble here.  There are many superb candidates for the post, candidates with real foreign-policy experience

REMARKABLE – FROM THE BOSTON GLOBE:    For several missions in the Korean War, the United States Marine Corps had one of the nation’s greatest ever baseball players flying alongside one of its (soon to be) greatest astronauts.  John Glenn, who died on Thursday at the age of 95, once led Red Sox great Ted Williams into battle. Williams, so often the dominant personality, was awed by Glenn.  “John Glenn? Oh … could he fly an airplane,” Williams once told the Chicago Tribune‘s Bob Greene. “Absolutely fearless. The best I ever saw. It was an honor to fly with him.”  Williams, who like Glenn also served in World War II, was called up as a reservist during the war in Korea. He was randomly assigned to be Glenn’s wingman...In one especially difficult moment, Williams recalled how Glenn offered advice that helped Williams fly back to base safely. After getting hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire, Williams’s F9F Panther jet was ablaze. Glenn flew next to his wing and pointed up. Flying higher into thinner air, the fire was extinguished, allowing Williams to fly back to base.  No "safe spaces" for them.

December 9, 2016