THE FOUNDATION: JUDICIARY

“[J]udges, therefore, should be always men of learning and experience in the laws, of exemplary morals, great patience, calmness, coolness, and attention. Their minds should not be distracted with jarring interests; they should not be dependent upon any man, or body of men.” —John Adams

INSIGHT

“The government solution to any problem is usually at least as bad as the problem.” —Milton Friedman

“Vote for the man who promises least; he’ll be the least disappointing.” —Bernard Baruch

“In order to become the master, the politician poses as the servant.” —Charles de Gaulle

“If a politician found he had cannibals among his constituents, he would promise them missionaries for dinner.” —H. L. Mencken

“We’d all like to vote for the best man but he’s never a candidate.” —Kin Hubbard

“We may not imagine how our lives could be more frustrating and complex—but Congress can.” —Cullen Hightower

EDITORIAL EXEGESIS

“The Presidential winner in November will probably appoint no fewer than two Supreme Court Justices. The likeliest vacancies, from an actuarial perspective, will come from the liberal wing of the Court. So a President Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton has the potential to set back the prolife agenda by 30 years. It could well be a generation before a President would have another opportunity to shift the balance on the Court to the right. [John] McCain’s harshest critics argue that his judicial picks could easily be as bad as anyone tapped by Mrs. Clinton or Mr. Obama. This is caricature, but even if it had merit, [they] would be trading the risk that Mr. McCain picks moderates for the court for the certainty that his opponent would appoint liberals. It’s always possible Mr. McCain would make a bad Supreme Court nomination, just as Ronald Reagan picked Anthony Kennedy, who later affirmed Roe v. Wade… The conservative coalition has learned a lot about picking judges since 1987, and especially since the nomination of David Souter by another Republican President. As the Harriet Myers interlude proved, another mystery pick by Mr. McCain or any other GOP President is far less likely than it used to be…[S]ocial conservatives may decide they can’t vote for Mr. McCain for any number of reasons. What they can’t do with any credibility is claim that helping to elect a liberal President will further the causes that these conservatives claim to believe most deeply in.” —The Wall Street Journal

UPRIGHT

“There are seven reasons for anyone to support the eventual nominee no matter who it is: The war and six Supreme Court justices over the age of 68.” —Hugh Hewitt

“Kamikaze Republicans—those who say they’ll never vote for John McCain because he isn’t conservative enough—may get what they deserve. The Clintons… It isn’t necessary to love everything McCain has done to vote for him should he be the nominee. But it isn’t possible to argue that there’s no difference between McCain and Clinton (or Barack Obama), as some Republicans insist.” —Kathleen Parker

“A wise aphorism has it that the perfect is the enemy of the good. While conservatives tilt their noses expressively in the air at the idea of John McCain’s representing a movement he votes with 85 percent of the time, Democrats offer the electorate two strong believers in the power of big government, two babes in the woods when it comes to foreign policy, two fast friends of every liberal interest from pro-choice to gay rights to let’s-kill-the-Bush-tax-cuts.” —William Murchison

“We are a movement that believes in personal responsibility, so it’s time to take some. There are consequences to losing. Now is the time to rebuild and re-group, not whine or complain or sulk. Reagan lost many political battles along the way but never lost hope in the enduring nature of basic conservative principles. Neither should we.” —Laura Ingraham

“Conservative principles are timeless, and will outlast any politician.” —Alfred Regnery

“God still governs. The times and providence called forth the right man to lead America for such a time as this.” —Rep. Mike Pence

DEZINFORMATSIA

This week’s Sycophant Award: “It’s part of reporting this case, this election, the feeling most people get when they hear Barack Obama’s speech. My, I felt this thrill going up my leg. I mean, I don’t have that too often.” —MSNBC’s Chris Matthews

Pollaganda: “Polling shows three-quarters of Americans believe the Constitution guarantees the right to own guns. But six in ten Americans favor stricter gun-control laws. And yet, even those who support more restrictions on guns admit they’ve been losing ground.” —ABC’s Pierre Thomas **Memo to Pierre: Constitutional rights aren’t determined by polls.

Remembering Iraq: “With violence in Iraq down, it’s easy to forget that Americans continue to die there.” —CBS’s Katie Couric

Getting it right: “The [Obama] campaign is entirely about Obama and his ability to inspire. Rather than focusing on any specific issue or cause—other than an amorphous desire for change—the message is becoming dangerously self-referential. The Obama campaign all too often is about how wonderful the Obama campaign is.” —Time magazine’s Joe Klein

We’ll tell you how to think: “You got John McCain as the presumptive nominee of your party right now. Are you going to calm down and get in line as he suggests? Or are you going to move to Bolivia?” —NBC’s Matt Lauer to Ann Coulter

This week’s “Leftmedia Busters” Award: “I do think [John McCain] gets good treatment [from the mainstream media]. And I’ll tell you precisely… the second that’s going to end: When the campaign starts for real between one Democrat and one Republican. That’s when you’re going to hear stories about ‘Is he too old?’ ‘Is his temper such that he shouldn’t be President?’ The media like him because he’s the one who pokes his thumb in Republican and conservative eyes, mostly conservative eyes. But as soon as it’s McCain against Obama or Clinton the media goes over to the other side.” —Bernard Goldberg, formerly of CBS

Newspulper Headlines: If Even He Can’t Decide, She’s in Trouble: “Clinton Calls Choice Between Wife, Black Candidate ‘Dilemma”’ —Associated Press

Doesn’t He Already Have One?: “Bill Clinton Campaigns for Wife in Louisiana” —Associated Press

Good News for Local Prostitutes: “Olympics Safe From Foreign Prostitutes, Day Says” —Canadian Press

Help Wanted: “Cross-Dressing Traffic Hazard Sought” —Portland (ME) Press Herald

News You Can Use: “The Peculiar Pain of Paper Cuts: Experts Offer Theories on How Such Little Cuts Can Hurt So Much” —ABCNews.com ++ “Here’s a Question Worth Asking Before You Jump Off That Ledge” —FoxBusiness.com

Bottom Stories of the Day: “Ex-Republican Chafee Considers Voting for Obama in R. I. Primary” —Providence Journal (Thanks to The Wall Street Journal’s James Taranto)

THE DEMO-GOGUES

That’s the spirit!: “There is no military solution [in Iraq] and it is time that the Iraqis understood that.” —Hillary Clinton ++ “The gains [in Iraq] have not produced the desired effect, which is the reconciliation of Iraq. This is a failure. This is a failure! The troops have succeeded. God bless them. We owe them the greatest debt of gratitude, the sacrifice, their patriotism, and for their courage, and to their families as well. This is a disaster, and we cannot perpetuate it.” —House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ++ “I wish [Republicans] had as coherent a strategy for fighting the war on terror as they do for politicizing the war on terror.” —Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL), politicizing the war on terror

What would we do without her?: “We know what we need is someone ready on day one to solve our problems and restore our opportunities. Because when the bright lights are off and the cameras are gone, who can you count on to listen to you, to stand up for you, to deliver solutions for you?” —Hillary Clinton, as if we’re all just waiting around for her to solve our problems

Good luck with that: “You know, I can assure… that is not going to happen. You know, none of us can predict the future, no matter who we are and what we are running for, but I am very confident that that will not happen.” —Hillary Clinton giving assurance that there will be no scandals with Bill if they reoccupy the White House

Life’s rough: “All my life I have wanted to vote for a woman for President. All my life I have wanted to vote for an African-American for President… I wonder why God gave us this dilemma.” —Bill Clinton

Good point: “I think it’s very hard for Senator Clinton to break out of the politics of the past 15 years. Senator Clinton starts off with 47 percent of the country against her. That’s a hard place to start.” —Barack Obama

VILLAGE IDIOTS

Obviously: “For me, it’s a no-brainer. It’s Hillary.” —Cher

Speaking of no brains: “Nobody is more conservative than Huckabee. He don’t believe in evolution or gravity or photosynthesis or anything.” —Clintonista Paul Begala

The debate is over: “What I would challenge you to do is to put a lot of effort into trying to see whether there’s a legal way of throwing our so-called leaders into jail because what they’re doing is a criminal act. It’s an intergenerational crime in the face of all the knowledge and science from over 20 years.” —Dr. David Suzuki, a former board member of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, on global warming “deniers”

From the Angry Left: “This violent reaction of the pro-war forces shows how threatened they are by a small group of people working against recruitment. They claim the Marines fought for our freedom of speech, and how dare we use our freedom of speech against them.” —Zanne Joi, a Code Pink activist, on Berkeley telling the Marines to take a hike ++ “The mayor asked them to leave because they frighten people.” —Brian Schwartz, spokesman for the mayor of Toledo on Marines being evicted from town before a training exercise

Belly laugh of the week: “[She is the] most fiscally conservative candidate running [and] the only candidate who tells you how she’ll pay for everything.” —Chelsea Clinton stumping for her mom

Political scum: “Why couldn’t [Rush Limbaugh] have croaked from [drugs] instead of Heath Ledger?” —HBO’s “comedian” Bill Maher

SHORT CUTS

“Nothing unites conservatives like Democrats in power and working their mischief, or out of power and maliciously but effectively obstructing good government—excuse the liberal-sounding oxymoron.” —David Limbaugh

“[Barack] Obama is a candidate whose empty bombast could float a fleet of hot air balloons… Obama’s speeches never actually capture a struggling thought—and if they did, they’d have to waterboard it for information. Obama’s speechmaking isn’t deep. It is profundity for dunces.” —Ben Shapiro

“If Hillary Clinton loses, does she know how to lose? What will that be, if she loses? Will she just say, ‘I concede’ and go on vacation at a friend’s house on an island, and then go back to the Senate and wait? Is it possible she could be so normal?” —Peggy Noonan

“Republican Party candidate Ron Paul got only five percent of the votes [Super] Tuesday for his message of less government, lower taxes and following the Constitution. The American people have spoken. Five percent of the voters are for freedom, and 95 percent are for free stuff.” —Argus Hamilton

“We now have a pro-American President of France. And, in spite of what some radicals say, I think we should have a pro-American President of the United States.” —Martin Silbermintz

David Letterman: From “Top Ten Reasons Mitt Romney Dropped Out Of The Presidential Race”: Harsh Midwest weather was murder on his split ends; Wants to devote more time to rap persona P. Mitty; Polls show public doesn’t want a president who looks like a casino greeter; Just couldn’t compete with the Ron Paul juggernaut; Unveiling a new line of honey-roasted Romnuts; Apparently America is not ready for a white male president; Lost all of his money betting on the Patriots.

From “Top Ten Signs John McCain Is Getting Too Cocky”: Canceled tomorrow’s campaign appearances so he doesn’t miss “Lost”; Spent the afternoon roughing up Romney supporters; He blew half campaign war chest playing Internet poker; Already working on his 2012 re-election strategy; Plans to campaign for the next three days in “Vodkachusetts”; Has started yelling, “Bingo!” when he doesn’t even have bingo.

Jay Leno: Mitt Romney threw in the monogrammed towel. That leaves McCain and Huckabee. The old guy and the preacher. Which brings up the philosophical question: Which one is closer to God? … John McCain was the big Republican winner. One pundit said McCain’s lucky nickel was working. He carries a lucky nickel. It must be lucky—six months ago, that was his campaign war chest. … Hillary Clinton also carries around a lucky nickel. Not for superstitious reasons—she just flips it when she needs a position on Iraq. … Newsweek estimates that Bill Clinton made between $10 and $15 million last year for speaking engagements. That explains why Hillary never speaks to him anymore—she can’t afford it. … Hillary Clinton has the support of Bill Clinton, L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, or as she calls them, the party unfaithful. … They did a poll on whether Bill’s campaigning for Hillary helped her or hurt her. Well, 38 percent thought it helped; 36 percent thought it hurt. Then 26 percent said, “He never told me he was married!”

Veritas vos Liberabit—Semper Vigilo, Fortis, Paratus, et Fidelis! Mark Alexander, Publisher, for The Patriot’s editors and staff. (Please pray for our Patriot Armed Forces standing in harm’s way around the world, and for their families—especially families of those fallen Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, who granted their lives in defense of American liberty.)