Insight: “If the American Revolution had produced nothing but the Declaration of Independence, it would have been worthwhile.” —Samuel Eliot Morison (1887-1976)

Upright: “Friends such as Israel have gained energy independence by fracking. In contrast, some European allies who have banned fracking out of environmental worries are more vulnerable to Russian, Iranian and Middle Eastern pressure than ever before. Fracking is not easy. It requires legally protected property and mineral rights, a natural entrepreneurial spirit, environmental concern and a free-market. In other words, it is an American way of doing business.” —Victor Davis Hanson

Village Idiots: “Is the NRA a terrorist organization? I don’t know. But I don’t think the answer is a definitive ‘no,’ and that’s troubling enough.” —Hollywood fascist Michael Ian Black

Non sequitur: “The Right has been out of step with where America is for a long time. Trump doesn’t mind alienating as long as he has his core constituencies. His core constituency is somewhere between 29 and 39 percent. That is not enough to win an election.” —Howard Dean (And yet he sits in the White House.)

The road to poverty is paved with good intentions: “We should explore ideas like universal basic income to make sure that everyone has a cushion to try new ideas. Giving everyone the freedom to pursue purpose isn’t going to be free. People like me should pay for it.” —Mark Zuckerberg, who has accountants to help him avoid paying taxes for it

Braying Jackass: “How can we truly celebrate independence on a day that intentionally robbed our ancestors of theirs? To find my independence I went home.” —Colin Kaepernick

And last… “When I saw a video with a CNN logo poorly photoshopped into it, at no point did I think ‘I must know more about who did this.’” —Frank Fleming