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

BAFFLING – Chris Christie may or may not have dropped a hint today about his 2016 aspirations, or lack of them.  From the Washington Times:  "New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie vowed Tuesday in his annual State of the State Address that he would still be 'standing here in one year' — a promise sure to raise questions about his presidential aspirations in 2016.  Speaking in Trenton, Mr. Christie called for a renewal in New Jersey and across the nation, before tweaking his prepared remarks.  'So that when we stand here in one year — by the way, I will be standing here in one year,' Mr. Christie said. 'For some reason, I see less applause on this side of the room. I will be here in one year.'  The race for the GOP presidential nomination is expected to be cranking into high gear a year from now."  Some assume he was signaling that he's not running.  I'm not so sure.  He talks a great deal.

IOWA POLL – From Gravis Marketing:  "The 2012 Republican nominee for president holds a leads a broad field of GOP potential contenders in the Townhall/Gravis poll conducted Jan. 5-7 among 404 registered Republican voters queried. Note: the polls were conducted using IVR technology and weighted by historical voting demographics.  Former Massachusetts governor W. Mitt Romney has never left the hearts and minds of Republican voters and he will hold the dominant position in the race for the 2016 presidential nomination until the other candidates spin up their own campaigns, said Doug Kaplan, the managing partner of Gravis Marketing, a Florida-based pollster and call center that executed the poll. The poll carries an error rate of 3 percent.  'Romney’s name recognition and the loyalty Republicans have for their last nominee give him a opportunity that no one else has,' Kaplan said. 'The question is whether he will use or let the chance pass to others.'  After two years of dampening expectations, Romney—spooked by Bush’s momentum—is now working to the phones in order to put the band together for one more national tour.  While Romney decides what to do, the GOP race revolves around former Florida governor John E. 'Jeb' Bush, the choice of 14 percent, and Wisconsin Gov. Scott K. Walker, polling at 10 percent."  Watch Walker carefully.  The guy has a way of winning, and he's a fresh face nationally.  That's not a prediction, but Walker is relentless.

THE TRUTH OOZES OUT – From Fox:  "WASHINGTON – While the White House points to security concerns as the chief reason why President Obama skipped the anti-terrorism rally in Paris over the weekend, some suggest the Secret Service and his advance team could have made it happen -- if they really tried.  Instead, critics say the security explanation is being used as an 'excuse.' Brad Blakeman, who served on the advance team for George W. Bush’s campaign, said the Secret Service is the 'scapegoat' here.  'The president can go wherever he wants to go,' Blakeman said.  To be sure, presidential travel is a herculean task – particularly for an outdoor, international rally just days after a major terror attack – but it appears little effort was made to explore the possibility of Obama attending the show of unity in Paris, attended by more than 40 world leaders.  A Secret Service official told Fox News that they were not asked or notified about a possible trip to Paris. This coincides with reports that White House aides were caught off guard by the size of the march and didn’t ask the president if he wanted to attend."  Small timers in charge.

January 13, 2015