The Patriot Post® · Monday Short Cuts

The Gipper: “Speech delivery counts for little on the world stage unless you have convictions, and, yes, the vision to see beyond the front row seats.”

Upright: “‘Hamilton’ is just an incredible production, incredibly talented people. And it was a real joy to be there. You know, when we arrived, we heard — we heard a few boos, we heard some cheers. And I nudged my kids and reminded them that’s what freedom sounds like.” —Mike Pence

Observations: “This is my fear: The question we ask after every national election is, ‘Can we come together?’ The question this year is more, ‘Do we even want to come together?’ Have the two nations within our nation reached a point of permanent estrangement? … I think many people intuitively sense this: The Trump era either really will work or really won’t. It’s going to be something good or a disaster, but it won’t be a middling thing. This big, burly country can take it either way. The proper attitude now? Give him a chance, watch close, wish well. Cheer what’s sound, criticize what isn’t.” —Peggy Noonan

The BIG lie: “The electoral college system for choosing the President was based upon the protection of slavery and a distrust of democracy. That system has allowed the loser of the popular vote to win the Presidency in five of our 56 Presidential elections. Such a system would be illegal in any state or local election. But it is contained in the Constitution. Can a section of the Constitution itself be unconstitutional? The answer is yes.” —Leon Friedman in The Huffington Post

Admitting the obvious, albeit a little late in the ballgame: “ESPN is far from immune from the political fever that has afflicted so much of the country over the past year. Internally, there’s a feeling among many staffers — both liberal and conservative — that the company’s perceived move leftward has had a stifling effect on discourse inside the company and has affected its public-facing product. Consumers have sensed that same leftward movement, alienating some.” —ESPN Public Editor Jim Brady

Non Compos Mentis: “It is by no fault of their own that these [illegal aliens] are prisoners in their own country, living their daily lives not knowing if they will be deported to a foreign country.” —Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard

Late-night humor: “Vice President Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Mike Pence had lunch together. Pence was like, ‘I’m eager to discuss the issues facing our nation.’ While Biden said, ‘If you tell the waiter it’s your birthday, you get a free piece of cake.’” —Jimmy Fallon