SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:52 P.M ET:

BULLETIN – From the Washington Post:  "In 1999, Columba Bush, the famously private wife of then-Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, was detained and fined by federal customs officials for misrepresenting the amount of clothing and jewelry she had bought while on a solo five-day shopping spree in Paris."  I'm shocked, shocked.  Why is the woman not in prison?  Remarkable, isn't it, how the liberal press is already ganging up on any Republican who has a chance for the 2016 presidential nomination?  Even family is considered fair game.  Compare please with the softballing of one Barack Hussein Obama Jr. during both of his presidential campaigns.

FROM THE OSCARS – Oh, the Oscars were on tonight.  From The New York Times:  "'Birdman' took the top prize at the 87th Academy Awards on Sunday, winning best picture. Alejandro G. Iñárritu won the award for best director for that film as well. Julianne Moore won best actress for 'Still Alice.' Eddie Redmayne won best actor for 'The Theory of Everything.' Patricia Arquette and J.K. Simmons won the supporting acting awards, for 'Boyhood' and 'Whiplash' respectively."  "American Sniper" struck out, not surprising in today's Hollywood.

MALL WARNING – From The Hill:  "Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson on Sunday warned the public to be 'particularly careful' if they go to the Mall of America in Minnesota after a terrorist group released a video calling for attacks on it.  'I would say that if anyone is planning to go to the Mall of America today, they’ve got to be particularly careful,' Johnson said on CNN's 'State of the Union.'"  It's stunning to hear a federal official speak like that.  Obama will have to have a little talk with him.  Afterward, Johnson will probably say that the real threat to America comes from fracking.

February 22,  2015