SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:21 P.M. ET: 

FIRST LADIES RANKED – It's just a game, but interesting.  From Reuters:  "Eleanor Roosevelt was named the greatest first lady of the United States in a survey of historians released on Saturday, while Michelle Obama, in fifth place, edged out Hillary Clinton in sixth.  Roosevelt, whose husband, Franklin, served as president from 1933 to 1945, has come up No. 1 each of the five times the survey has been conducted by Siena College Research Institute since 1982.  In the top finishers after Roosevelt were Abigail Adams, Jacqueline Kennedy and Dolly Madison."  It's Dolley Madison.  Dolly Madison used to be an ice cream sold in these parts.  Only one Republican, Betty Ford, made the top ten. 

WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM THEIR FRIENDS – From the Washington Free Beacon:  "Iranian oil exports soared in January, hitting new highs just months after the United States consented to billions of dollars in economic sanctions relief under the interim nuclear deal.  Exports of Iranian crude oil jumped to 1.32 million barrels, up from December’s high of 1.06 million barrels, according to data from the International Energy Agency."  Reminds me of how we sold scrap iron to Japan before World War II.  It was returned to us in the form of bombs and bullets.

THIS JUST IN – We now have major advice from Vice President Joe Biden.  From CNS:  "Vice President Joe Biden told fellow Democrats they should be optimistic about the state of the nation, 'in spite of who’s president.'  Biden was addressing the House Democratic Caucus Issues Conference in Cambridge, Md. on Friday when he discussed why he feels positive about America and the upcoming mid-term elections.  'It always surprises me when we don’t have the degree of optimism that we should about the state of the nation,' Biden said."  Joe, look around you.  And yes, Joe, look at who's president.

February 15, 2014