SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 10:14 P.M. ET: 

ACLU WOBBLY – The American Civil Liberties Union is in financial trouble.  From American Thinker:  "As the punch line to an old joke about lawyers goes, it’s a good start. The American Civil Liberties Union, theoretically a non-ideological defender of the Constitution but in practice increasingly hard left, is running into financial difficulties and just announced layoffs for 7 percent of its lawyers.  Why the difficulties? It’s a little unclear, but Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit writes, 'What I hear is that they’ve moved too far left, too fast, and it’s hurt their donations.'"  A long time ago the ACLU was a respectable civil liberties organization, sometimes even courageous, but began to drift left in the turbulent sixties.  Twelve years ago an ACLU lawyer told me there were members of the group's national board who didn't even believe in free speech any longer.  Maybe they'll learn, or maybe they'll fade away.

ALREADY IRAN BENEFITS – From AP:  "TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — The Tehran Stock Exchange has rallied after world powers clinched a nuclear framework agreement with Tehran, reflecting hopes that some crippling international sanctions could soon be lifted.  The official IRNA news agency says the Tehran Stock Exchange index rose 6.9 percent over two days. The agency says the index improved by 4,535 points to 70,261 on Sunday — the second working day of Iran's new year. It was the highest level in at least 18 months.  The framework deal announced Thursday envisions a final agreement that would pare back Iran's nuclear program for at least a decade in return for sanctions relief. Iran and six world powers, including the United States, hope to reach a final agreement by June 30."  Once money starts to be made because of this deal, it will be virtually impossible to punish Tehran, even if it engages in outright cheating.  The money will talk, protection against Iranian nukes will walk.

ARE THEY SERIOUS? – From the Washington Times:  "There will be no repercussions for the investigative reporter or editors responsible for a now-retracted Rolling Stone cover story in November that falsely accused Phi Kappa Psi fraternity members at the University of Virginia of gang-raping a freshman coed.  In a stinging report released Sunday evening, an independent review by the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism said the magazine was reckless in vetting its sources, including the purported victim, identified only as 'Jackie,' and neglected 'basic, even routine journalistic practice.'  'If Jackie was attacked and, if so, by whom, cannot be established definitively from the evidence available,' the review stated, adding that there needed to be a better balance between 'sensitivity to victims and the demands of verification.'  The 12,866-word report, released Sunday night after more than three months of comprehensive research, said the story’s author, Rolling Stone contributing editor Sabrina Rubin Erdely, could have avoided catastrophe had she contacted other sources for fair comment."  But no punishment for the "journalists" who caused all this.  Okay, the report might be punishment enough, but the public looks for suspensions, loss of pay, or something similar to drive home the seriousness of the offense.

April 5,  2015