Insight: “The only good bureaucrat is one with a pistol at his head. Put it in his hand and it’s good-bye to the Bill of Rights.” —H.L. Mencken (1880-1956)

Perilous times: “This year, five members of the Supreme Court decided that there is a constitutional right for two people of the same sex to marry — and, thus, that children have no right to a mother (or a father). Last week, the Supreme Court decided it would take up the case the Little Sisters of the Poor are fighting against the Obama administration. In this case, five justices could decide that the administration can force Catholic nuns — and other Christians — to cooperate in its plan to deliver abortion-inducing drugs and devices through employer-based health care plans. In this new case, five justices may get to decide if one man can change this nation’s immigration laws.” —Terence Jeffrey

Village Idiots: “[The GOP] field … makes Ronald Reagan look like Abbie Hoffman and Herman Cain look like Winston Churchill.” —actor Bradley Whitford

Non Compos Mentis, part I: “To continue to ensure that the University of Missouri campus remains safe, the MU Police Department (MUPD) is asking individuals who witness incidents of hateful and/or hurtful speech or actions to [contact law enforcement]. … While cases of hateful and hurtful speech are not crimes, if the individual(s) identified are students, MU’s Office of Student Conduct can take disciplinary action.” —Mizzou Police Department

Non Compos Mentis, part II: “I personally am tired of hearing that First Amendment rights protect students when they are creating a hostile and unsafe learning environment for myself and for other students here. I think that it’s important for us to create that distinction and create a space where we can all learn from one another and start to create a place of healing rather than a place where we are experiencing a lot of hate like we have in the past.” —Brenda Smith-Lezama, VP of the Missouri Students Association at Mizzou

And last… “Last week, the country and our media were demanding that public spaces, including women’s restrooms and locker rooms, be open to all. This week, apparently, private ‘safe spaces’ in public areas must be acknowledged and respected by everyone including media.” —Stephen Miller