SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 7:10 P.M. ET:

WHERE OBAMA STANDS – Rasmussen reports today that his poll of likely voters shows Romney at 46%, Obama at 45%.  He also reports that Romney is leading in Missouri, and tied with Obama in Colorado and Virginia.  McCain won Missouri in 2008, but Obama won in both Colorado and Virginia.  The tie in those two states is bad news for the White House.  Rasmussen also has Obama's presidential approval at 48%, with disapproval at 51%.  Obama has had a bumpy few weeks, but the bumps are coming in June, not late October.  We have more than four and a half months before the election.

UNACCEPTABLE – This is going viral around the internet.  In Brooklyn, New York, in a neighborhood filled with immigrants who love America, it's traditional for kids in the elementary school to sing patriotic songs when graduating.  But this year a misguided principal barred the singing of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" ("Proud to be an American"), on grounds that it might offend "other cultures."  No one at the school recalls anyone ever objecting to the song.  Immigrant parents are in an uproar.  The Board of Education is supporting the principal, claiming the song is "age inappropriate."  But a song with lyrics like "Are we an item?  Girl quit playing," are deemed perfectly okay.  We haven't heard the last of this story.

GOOD ADVICE – Triumphant Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin has given some good advice to presidential contender Mitt Romney, as reported by the New York Post:  "Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, fresh off defeating a recall attempt, urged Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney to follow his lead and go 'big' and 'bold'...Walker said he thwarted the attempt to oust him because voters saw that 'finally someone was willing to take on the tough issues'...'If Gov. Romney has clear plan to make American great again, I think that can win in Wisconsin,' he said.  He said he hopes the candidate 'goes big and he goes bold.'"  Walker is absolutely right.  Romney must rise well above his "manager with green eyeshades" image.

June 10,  2012