SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 9:44 P.M. ET: 

WHOOPS – From Reuters:  "SOCHI, Russia - In what appeared to be a technical hitch during the opening ceremony at the Winter Olympics in the Russian city of Sochi on Friday, one of the five rings that make up the Games' symbol failed to open.  The apparent failure meant the ring could not be illuminated by fireworks as had happened during rehearsals."  The Obama administration blamed BUSH! and CHENEY!!.

SOME RECOVERY – From CNS:  "1,154,000 fewer Americans are working today than six years ago, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  In January 2008, 146,378,000 Americans 16 and over were employed, and now in January 2014, 145,224,000 are employed, a difference of 1,154,000."  And remember that the total population has expanded since 2008.  What a pathetic record for this great nation.  Has Obama noticed?  Does he care?

HUH? – From the Daily Caller:  "The Department of Homeland Security is already preparing to implement immigration reform legislation, according to DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson.  'When reform legislation is enacted, DHS must be prepared to implement reform. So to prepare for this potential outcome, I have already directed the deputy director of homeland security to coordinate the process to ensure we are ready to implement the law,' Johnson said Friday at the Woodrow Wilson International Center, during his first major policy address since becoming DHS’s fourth secretary."  Isn't Homeland Security about defending the homeland and protecting our borders?  Aren't those the first priorities?  Maybe I'm misinformed.  Someone correct me.

YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK – From the Weekly Standard:  "Documents recently released by the government show that the value of hotels and local transportation contracts for the U.S. delegation to Nelson Mandela's funeral in December were considerably higher than previous estimates. On December 19, we first reported the cost at about $11 million. However, rather than two hotels and one vehicle contractor, additional contracts have been disclosed bringing the total to five hotels and two vehicle contractors.  The transportation contracts include passenger vehicles, SUVs, vans, buses, pickup trucks, box trucks, and 'larger capacity vehicles,' but do not include the cost of traveling from the U.S. to South Africa and back. The combined total estimated cost of the two contracts is $12,521,851."  Well, we had money left over from the Margaret Thatcher funeral, which the Obama administration barely attended at all.

February 7,  2014