SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:56 P.M. ET: 

IT IS WRITTEN – There are signals throughout the political world that Hillary Clinton will announce her candidacy on Sunday, and do so on Twitter.  I just can't wait.  Why, I think we'll stay home just to see the announcement as soon as it's made.  Besides, we expect churchbells to ring in the neighborhood.  Oh, the humanity!  I hope she doesn't run as the "trust and integrity" candidate.  We've had enough laughs in recent politics.

REVOLT – At the same time, there are increasing rumblings within the Democratic Party over the staleness of its leadership.  Some of the rumblings are directed at Nancy Pelosi, whose leadership has turned a solid Dem majority in the House into a pathetic minority.  Republicans are in their best congressional position since the 1920s.  And yet, the noisiest Democrats want the party to lurch even further to the left.

ABOUT TIME – From the New York Daily News:  "Stay away, Rev. Al.  That was the message from the family of South Carolina police shooting victim Walter Scott to the civil rights activist Thursday two days before the funeral for the slain father of four.  'We don’t want another Ferguson type of circus here,' a source close to the Scott family told The Daily News.  That was a reference to the Missouri town that was rocked by violent demonstrations last year after black teen Michael Brown was killed by a white cop."  I'm glad to see that a grieving black family is refusing to be exploited by Rev. Al, a schemer and no-good.  We know him well in New York.

FIGHTING BACK – From AP:  "WALKERTON, Ind. (AP) - A northern Indiana pizzeria that closed after its owner supported Indiana's religious objections law has reopened.  Memories Pizza owner Kevin O'Connor says he reopened about 4 p.m. Thursday. He says that within an hour, all eight tables were filled and six people were waiting for carryout orders. There were no protests as of 7 p.m.  O'Connor faced criticism after he and his daughter, Crystal, said they would never deny service to a gay customer but would decline to cater a same-sex wedding because it would conflict with their Christian beliefs. Protests led them to close the Walkerton pizzeria about 20 miles southwest of South Bend."  I'm glad they're back.  No one should be forced to participate in a ritual or religious ceremony.  That, to me, offends the First Amendment.

April 9,  2015