SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 10:43 P.M. ET: 

WHA..? – From deadline.com:   "Even though the Robert Wise original music "West Side Story" is about as sacred a cow movie as you are going to find, Fox has unlocked that movie title for a remake specifically because Steven Spielberg is interested in making it. No writer has been set yet and Spielberg hans’t done anything more than register his interest, which traditionally has always been enough to get a studio hot and bothered."  That is a genuinely bad idea.  Never tamper with a classic.  I've never seen a remake of a great movie improve on the original.

OBAMA DOWN AGAIN IN POLLS – From Fox:  "President Obama’s job approval rating hits a record low this week, as a majority of Americans say his administration has mostly failed at growing the economy, creating jobs, improving health care and the country’s image.  That’s according to a Fox News poll released Wednesday.  For the first time in a Fox News poll, fewer than four voters in ten -- 38 percent -- approve of President Obama’s job performance. Fifty-four percent disapprove. Before now Obama’s worst job rating was 40-55 percent in November 2013. Last month 42 percent approved and 53 percent disapproved (February 2014)."  Not surprising.  The ratings are matching the performance.

APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE – From the New York Post:  "A Russia Today anchor quit live on air Wednesday, declaring she cannot work for a station that 'whitewashes the actions of Vladimir Putin.'  Liz Wahl, who works in the network’s Washington DC bureau, said her grandparents came to the United States to escape Soviet oppression.  'And that is why personally I cannot be part of a station funded by the Russian government that whitewashes the action of Putin,' she said, reading from a statement. 'I’m proud to be an American and believe in disseminating the truth. And that is why after this newscast I’m resigning.'"  I hope the offers pour in, and that the first one is from Fox.

I LOVE IT – Jimmy Carter has volunteered to go to Venezuela to wave his hand over the multitudes and solve the country's political ills.  This prompted a response from anti-government bloggers, which contained the following gem, as reported by Frontpage:  "'Please, desist from your trip,' reads an open letter from Venezuelan blogger/journalist Daniel Duquenal. 'You have absolutely no credibility in Venezuela…You have cursed us enough as it is. I can assure you that half of the country has no respect nor credibility for you and the other half (the Castroites) thinks you are a mere fool that they can use and discard as needed.'"  It's about time someone said that to Jimmy.

March 5, 2014