title: json.loads with wrong format input string
body: <p>What would be the fastest way (execution wise) to to <code>json.loads</code> on this sort of input string:</p>
  
  <pre><code>istr=""" {u'topic': u'dl_job', u'url': u'http://somedomain.com' }"""
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I don't have much control over what is passed as <code>istr</code>.</p>
  
  <p>NOTES:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>json.loads doesn't like the leading <code>u</code></li>
  <li>nor does it like strings being delimited by <code>'</code> instead of <code>"</code></li>
  </ul>
  
  <p><strong>Updated:</strong>  I know I could play dirty tricks like replacing the <code>u</code> and <code>'</code> but I was wondering if there is a cleaner solution.</p>