SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:48 P.M. ET: 

IS THIS HILLARY? – Hillary has groveled to the left wing of her party recently, with no results.  Leftists support leftists like Bernie Sanders, period.  Now Hillary is starting to sound centrist, perhaps believing that the left is lost but that moderate Democrats will assert themselves and hand her the nomination.   She welcomed today's announcement of Iran's release of U.S. prisoners and the implementation of the Iran nuclear deal, but with centrist-sounding caveats.  From Weekly Standard, quoting Hillary:   But we shouldn't thank Iran for the prisoners or for following through on its obligations. These prisoners were held unjustly by a regime that continues to threaten the peace and security of the Middle East....The treatment of our Navy sailors earlier this week was offensive, including the release of a demeaning and provocative video. Iran is still violating UN Security Council resolutions with its ballistic missile program, which should be met with new sanctions designations and firm resolve.  So we can't take our eye off the ball. As President, my approach will be to distrust and verify. I will vigorously enforce the nuclear deal as part of a comprehensive strategy that confronts all of Iran's negative actions in the region and stand side-by-side with our ally Israel and our Arab partners.  "Distrust and verify."  Good language from Hillary.  Tougher than either Field Marshal Obama or Grand Admiral Kerry.   We'll watch Hillary this week and see if this tone continues.

SCARY – From London's Express:  Free-thinking artificial-intelligence robots could end up destroying mankind or even completely change what it means to be human if we let them think for themselves, a scientist has warned.   We don't need robots.  We have liberals for that.

HOW PATHETIC – How low does it go?  From the Washington Times:   The White House said Friday it was not troubled by Iran’s exploitation of a video showing captured U.S. sailors blindfolded and kneeling at gunpoint by Iranian forces.  “I don’t think there’s any reason for anybody to be embarrassed,” said White House press secretary Josh Earnest. “We’re pleased that our sailors were released promptly and unharmed.”  Mr. Earnest said Iran’s showing of the video does not violate the Geneva Conventions, which prohibits the exploitation of prisoners of war, because the U.S. and Iran are not at war.  Then why were our sailors forced to kneel, with their hands behind their heads?  This White House is disgraceful. 

ECONOMIC SIGN – From The New York Times:   Walmart, whose supercenters once transformed the way Americans shop, announced on Friday that it would close a record number of stores in the United States and overseas, as it fights to hold its ground in a retail landscape under siege by the behemoth Amazon.  The giant retailer, based in Bentonville, Ark., said in a statement that it would shutter 154 stores in the United States, or about 3 percent of its locations, as well as 115 stores overseas. It will also end its Walmart Express small-store format, which failed to catch on in urban areas. As many as 10,000 employees could lose their jobs in the United States and 6,000 elsewhere, it added.  How do you like the economic recovery?

January 16,  2016