SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:35 P.M. ET: 

EUROPE ACTS – From Fox:  "The European Union reportedly has agreed in an emergency meeting Thursday to impose sanctions against Ukraine after violence flared up again in Kiev, leaving at least 33 people dead."  Please note that the European Union is taking this action, not the United States.  President Obama will contemplate our courageous course, for another two years.

OBAMA REBOUND? – According to the latest Gallup poll, President Obama has a 46% approval rating, an improvement over recent months, when he's sunk as low as 38%.  These polls fluctuate, however, and, with a 50% disapproval rating, Mr. Obama is still underwater.  The Dems will turn on the politics this year because there's a major election, and Obama will benefit from anything right that the party does.  If Obama's numbers are actually improving, it simply shows, once again, that our side cannot count on presidential unpopularity to win.  We have to have great candidates and great ideas of our own.

WHERE LAWS DON'T APPLY – New York's illustrious new socialist mayor apparently doesn't believe that the laws apply to leftists holding high office.  From politicker.com:  "Just days after Bill de Blasio unveiled an ambitious plan to reduce pedestrian safety deaths through lower speed limits, CBS New York reports that the mayor’s caravan was spotted speeding and blowing past stop signs.  During tonight’s evening news, CBS reporter Marcia Kramer said the allegations–which included clocking Mr. de Blasio going up to 15 miles per hour over the speed limit–smacked of hypocrisy.  'When Mayor de Blasio announced his safe streets initiative, which includes lowering the speed limit to 25 miles per hour, he said, and I quote, "We want the public to know that we are holding ourselves to this standard." So we decided to see if he practices what he preached. All I can say is: Not today he didn’t, said Ms. Kramer."  I'm shocked.

OLYMPICS – Watched the ladies' long figure skating program tonight, the marquee event of the Olympics. Russia won, followed by South Korea and Italy.  The Russian fans went crazy.  It's their Olympics, and they've been disappointed by many failures.  They got their victory tonight, although some debate whether their gold medalist, Adelina Sotnikova, actually deserved the huge score she received.  Many the judges just wanted to get out of Sochi alive.  We cheered for Carolina Kostner, who, at 27, is ancient in the skating world.  She won the bronze for Italy, the first time an Italian woman has won a medal in this event.  It was well deserved.  Our American girls were wonderful.  All three wound up in the top ten, a standing no other nation achieved.  Gracie Gold, who just missed a medal and came in fourth, will be a star, as will Polina Edmunds, who came in ninth, and is only 15.  Ashley Wagner, a veteran, may retire.

February 20,  2014