The Patriot Post® · Wednesday Short Cuts

Insight: “After a shooting spree, they always want to take the guns away from the people who didn’t do it. I sure as hell wouldn’t want to live in a society where the only people allowed guns are the police and the military.” —William S. Burroughs (1914-1997)

The bottom line: “The president said conservatives are afraid of Islamic women & orphans. No, just Islamic women willing to make their own child an orphan.” —Twitter satirist @weknowwhatsbest

Upright: “There is not much the government can do about the sort of terrorist threat that President Obama described in his speech on Sunday. … The only viable alternative, self-help, is one that Obama seems ideologically incapable of considering. … In the face of self-directed terrorists who are invisible until they strike, the last thing we should do is prevent law-abiding Americans from carrying guns. Autonomous terrorism calls for autonomous defense.” —Jacob Sullum

“Stay informed — because stupid people are ruining America. God blessed me with a voice and a big mouth and I’m going to use it to try to wake people up and convert some of the stupid people.” —Herman Cain

Village Idiots: “We’re in a new phase in the global terrorist threat. … This new phase requires a new approach to counter-terrorism and homeland security. … In responding to this new environment, we must not vilify American Muslims. We must not throw a net of suspicion over American Muslims and an entire religion. We must not force American Muslims to run and hide and retreat to the shadows.” —DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson

The FBI is watching a LOT of people: “You know, obviously we have concerns whenever we see people who have large stockpiles of weapons or appear to be in the process of accumulating weapons and ammunition.” —Loretta Lynch

Demo-gogues: “We have to look at [the climate issue] as if we’re fighting a war. And we are fighting a war. And the war is against climate change, and our goal is to save the planet for our kids and our grandchildren.” —Bernie Sanders

Late-night humor: “President Obama gave a rare national address [Sunday] night from the Oval Office. Then [on Monday], Hillary Clinton said it was her favorite episode of ‘House Hunters.’” —Seth Meyers