SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 8:43 P.M. ET:

IS IT..? – The buzz tonight is all about Condi Rice.  Drudge is running, as his main story, a report saying Romney has narrowed his choices for v.p., and that Rice is at or near the top.  Peggy Noonan also is plugging Rice in a column.  We caution that this kind of speculation periodically breaks out, and we don't know yet if the story has legs.  Rice vigorously denies that she wants the job, but they all say that.  There is also increased speculation that Romney may make his choice soon, well before the convention.  There is no direct evidence of this.

DISROBE! – There is much huffing and an equivalent amount of puffing today over the revelation that the U.S. Olympic Team in the upcoming London games will be wearing uniforms designed by Ralph Lauren...and made in China.  Across partisan lines, politicos are demanding that the uniforms be scrapped in favor of American-made threads.  Frankly, I agree.  We have American clothing manufacturers who are fully capable of dressing our team.  You'd think someone would have noticed the inappropriateness before now, but it is typical of how out-of-touch the Olympic movement has often been.  We love the young athletes.  What goes on behind the scenes, however, has often been less than noble, or even intelligent. 

ON SECOND THOUGHT – We've been reporting on the Palestinian sideshow, the demand by the widow Arafat and her cronies that Yassir be exhumed eight years after his death to find out if he was poisoned.  The Palestinian Authority gave its okay to the dig, but now they're having a "wait a minute" minute.   The committee responsible for the "investigation" has put the exhumation on hold, pending further review of tests done on some of Arafat's possessions, showing elevated levels of the radioactive substance, polonium.  It's been suggested by knowledgeable forensic experts that this is the kind of material that is easily planted.  And people are wondering why, if there was radioactive material around Yassir, it never affected anyone near him.  This might just go away. 

INDIES THUMBS DOWN ON OBAMACARE – CBS News reports that support for repeal of Obamacare is rising among independent voters.   Some 49% of independents now back repeal, as opposed to 41% who don't.  Independents will be the key target for both political parties, and the Romney camp clearly feels that independents' rejection of Obamacare provides a clear political advantage. 

July 12,  2012