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

CHECK ONE FOR MARCO – From The Politico:  "Sen. Marco Rubio now has another billionaire in his corner: Oracle founder Larry Ellison.  Ellison will host a fundraiser for the Florida Republican’s White House bid at his mansion in Woodside, Calif., on June 9, according to an invitation obtained by POLITICO.
A VIP reception and photo opportunity with Rubio will cost attendees $2,700 per person. The fundraiser will also include a host committee dinner for couples who have raised $27,000."  Rubio is clearly making some noise.  A speech he just gave before the Council on Foreign Relations got very high marks.

I'M SHOCKED – From Daily Caller:  "Political leaders and activists in Baltimore are using the city’s recent riots as an opportunity to demand more state funding for the city’s school system and after-school programs.  At two different events on Monday, activists and politicians directly cited the riots as showcasing the need to funnel more money towards educational efforts in Baltimore, The Baltimore Sun reports. Activists want Hogan to direct about $68 million in funds he hoped to allocate for other state needs back to education. About $11 million of that money would go to Baltimore.  At least one lawmaker suggested Baltimore deserved more money because, following the riots, it would be better spent."  Yeah, right.  If this money is authorized, watch it go right down the drain.  It won't be sent directly to people.  It will go to "leaders" to administer "programs."  After every riot there's a demand for what, in effect, is protection money.

RUSSIANS DON'T HEART AMERICA – A new poll shows that Russians see us, laughingly, as a threat.  The Putin propaganda machine is doing its job.  From CBS:  "According to the Russian polling group Levada Center, 59 percent of Russians see the United States as a threat, reports Global Post. That number was 47 percent in 2007.  Of those who said the U.S. is a threat, 31 percent are worried about the possibility of an American invasion and occupation of Russia.  'Lately we can see that all the measures are directed at the consolidation of [Russians’] national identity. And depicting the United States as the enemy has become one of the structural elements for social consolidation,' Karina Pipiya, sociologist at the Levada Center, was quoted by Izvestia newspaper as saying, according to the Moscow Times."  Just like the good old days. 

May 13, 2015