The Patriot Post® · Friday Short Cuts

Insight: “Congress will ever exercise their powers to levy as much money as the people can pay. They will not be restrained from direct taxes by the consideration that necessity does not require them.” —Melancton Smith (1744-1798)

Upright: “It’s becoming increasingly clear that the foremost object of modern feminism isn’t respecting and honoring the choices that real women make, but rather making sure that women make a certain kind of choice — to live with the same career- and action-dominant attitude that has prevailed in male culture for many thousands of years.” —David French

For the record: “Truth is, if we were to ever level the playing field with countries like Mexico and China, the average American worker would be making $3 an hour and spending their pittance on third-world health care and decrepit housing. Please, don’t level the playing field.” —David Harsanyi

Change? “I think the path of negotiations with North Korea has been a colossal failure now for more than 25 years. We believe that through discussions and negotiations among nations apart from North Korea that we may well be able to bring the kind of economic and diplomatic pressure that would result in North Korea finally abandoning its nuclear ambitions and its ballistic missile program.” —Mike Pence

Judicial activism: “I really am amazed that a judge sitting on an island in the Pacific can issue an order that stops the President of the United States from what appears to be clearly his statutory and Constitutional power.” —Jeff Sessions with a poorly worded slap at the ruling against Donald Trump’s travel ban

Alpha Jackass: “How many yachts do billionaires need? How many cars do they need? Give us a break. You can’t have it all.” —Bernie Sanders, who owns three houses

Late-night humor: “Fox News announced that Bill O'Reilly has been fired, after his sexual harassment scandal. Experts say it is not likely that any self-respecting network will ever hire him — then CNN said, ‘Welcome aboard!’” —Jimmy Fallon