The Patriot Post® · Tuesday Short Cuts

Insight: “Government will not fail to employ education to strengthen its hands and perpetuate its institutions.” —William Godwin (1756-1836)

For the record: “To have broader appeal, Democrats will actually have to meet working-class voters partway on a few cultural issues, whether it is abortion or guns or immigration, even if their concessions are symbolical or rhetorical. This is what Bill Clinton did in the 1990s when he made inroads into what would come to be known as Red America. This will be a truly painful step, and surely anyone advocating it will be accused of every -ism and -phobia in the book.” —Rich Lowry

Braying Jackass: “[Fidel Castro] was a revolutionary leader who confronted a system of government that excluded everybody except the military and the money-rich. And he took them on, defeated them and then set the country up in a way where… Did he use harsh dictatorial tactics? Yes, probably he did, but, did he also stand up for peace and freedom in Africa? Absolutely.” —would-be DNC Chief Keith Ellison

Cart before the donkey: “Deeply saddened by the senseless act of gun violence at Ohio State. … Praying for the injured and the entire Buckeye community.” —Sen. Tim Kaine (Memo to Hillary’s running mate: It wasn’t “gun violence.”)

Delusions of grandeur: “The president has spoken at some length about how proud he is that there hasn’t been a major personal scandal in his administration, that the kind of people that he has chosen to serve in high-profile, influential positions in his administration have done so with the focus on the country’s best interests.” —Josh Earnest

Friendly fire: “[Recounts are] a waste of time and money. It is not going to change anything. I think it probably was the Stein people looking for a way to stay relevant, raise some money and take the stink off of them. Instead of everybody screaming, ‘You made Trump happen,’ she is counting the votes to change that whole narrative.”“ —Joe Trippi, who added "everybody is taking the bait”

And last… “Hillary demands a vote recount — except in states she barely won. Apparently, those were accurately tabulated.” —Twitter satirist @weknowwhatsbest