The Gipper: “It is not my intention to do away with government. It is rather to make it work — work with us, not over us; stand by our side, not ride on our back. Government can and must provide opportunity, not smother it; foster productivity, not stifle it.”

Missing the forest for the trees: “This is a remarkable thing, this nation of optimistic people who would declare their independence, fight a war, build a country with a sacred founding document committed to liberty and justice for all — and thank God they made them amendable so that we could further expand freedom.” —Nancy Pelosi (Unfortunately, the Democrats’ idea of “expanding freedom” for the so-called marginalized is to take it from others. Unalienable rights are supposed to be just that — unalienable.)

Predictions: “My guess is that Leader McConnell is going to take some time here, and while he may ultimately pass a bill in the Senate, I think he will send it to conference with the House. That conference will go on a very long time, and we won’t actually see a final product until after the ‘18 elections.” —Sen. Chris Coons, who speculates “that there are going to be administrative actions by the Trump administration in the coming weeks and months that will drive the existing marketplaces into the death spiral they talk about”

Braying Jackass: “If you use the Bible as your science textbook, no, there is no reconciling [God and evolution]. But enlightened modern religious people recognize their holy text as figurative accounts, in a time when people had no other way to think about it, and they embraced science, but they used the Bible for their own spiritual fulfillment and enlightenment.” —Neil deGrasse Tyson

Non Compos Mentis: “I hope that current members of Congress recall that it actually doesn’t take a lot of courage to aid those who are already powerful, already comfortable, already influential. But it does require some courage to champion the vulnerable and the sick and the infirm — those who often have no access to the corridors of power.” —Barack Obama, who will be filling his coffers via $400,000 speeches

And last… “Want single-payer? Join the military! Then you can experience the glories of government-run health care that we veterans love so much.” — Jon Gabriel