Installing Python via Homebrew on Mac OS X has build issues if the GNU core/find utils are set as defaults on the system. OS X is very common, on it Homebrew is very common, via Homebrew GNU utilities are among the first installations; EG:
http://goo.gl/OodjHI

GNU core/find utils are likely the most common tools use on POSIX systems but Mac wants to keep rolling with UNIX tools. The Makefile is flexible. If it discovers the rm program in: /usr/local/opt/coreutils/libexec/gnubin/rm (where Homebrew would install it) the build 'could' break.


Testing is ad hoc but seen by many and confirmed as "likely" by ned_deily; he adds: "that particular problem is simple to fix: just change the Makefile to /usr/bin/rm."

This is the work-around for now.

Props to ned_deily; this is an old/annoying problem, now solved.