SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:05 P.M. ET: 

OLYMPICS – The Olympics have opened in London, with a bored-looking Queen Elizabeth II presiding over the starting ceremonies.  The show was spectacular, although there has been some critical buzz about an overdrawn tribute to Britain's National Health Service, whose level of "service" has been seriously questioned in recent times.  But at least we also got James Bond.

ROMNEY ADVANCES – Mitt Romney opened up a five-point lead in the Rasmussen poll, which has to be impressive, considering the fact that Rasmussen polls likely voters.  Mitt's progress probably has come as a result of the negative response to Obama's comment that business owners didn't build their businesses themselves.  However, Romney stumbled badly in Britain yesterday, in his first foreign trip as presumed Republican candidate for president.  Let's see if that affects his poll standings.  We should know early next week. 

CONTENDER CONTEST – We mentioned that Marco Rubio will be campaigning for Romney during Romney's foreign trip.  It turns out that Romney is unleashing virtually all the serious contenders for the VP nod to campaign in his absence.  Included in the squad are Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Governor Bob McDonnell of Virginia, Senator John Thune of South Dakota, Senator Rob Portman of Ohio, former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, and Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan.  Chris Christie of New Jersey will not be on the trail, and Senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire will be doing other campaigning. 

SYRIA TRAGEDY CONTINUES – Citizens of Syria's historic city of Aleppo expect a major, bloody battle in the next week, possibly the final great battle of the country's civil war.  Aid workers are leaving the city in anticipation of the clash.  Casualties are expected to be very high, with the different sides now building their forces.  The war grows more complicated by the day, as the Syrian government engages in butchery, while the opposition is reported to be increasingly infiltrated by Islamic extremists.  Hard to root for any of them.

July 27, 2012