gistfile1.txt

>>> data = '''{   
...       "mysql": { 
...            "processname": "mysql",
...            "checkinterval": 30,
...            "commandtostart": "/etc/init.d/mysql",
...            "numbertrystostart": 3
...        },
...        
...       "something_else": {
...            "other_thing": "foo"
...       }
...   }'''
>>>   
>>> import json
>>> json_data = json.loads(data)
>>> 
>>> json_data['mysql']['processname']
u'mysql'
>>>