The Patriot Post® · Thursday Short Cuts

Upright: “By asking the executive to investigate itself, it was guaranteed — yes, guaranteed — that we’d have a fight over ‘obstruction of justice.’ For the architect of that investigation to keep saying ‘We aren’t exonerating our target’ is extraordinary. Innocence is the default position in this country. If a person doesn’t have enough evidence that someone committed a crime to contend that a crime was committed, he is obliged to presume his innocence. ‘Not exonerated’ is not a standard in our system, and it shouldn’t be one in our culture, either.” —Charles C.W. Cooke

Leftmedia principles: “Neutrality for the sake of neutrality doesn’t really serve us in the age of Trump.” —CNN’s Jim Acosta

Impeachment hyperventilation I: “Robert Mueller’s statement makes it clear: Congress has a legal and moral obligation to begin impeachment proceedings immediately.” —Sen. Cory Booker

Impeachment hyperventilation II: “I think it’s a fair inference from what we heard in that press conference that Bob Mueller was essentially referring impeachment to the United States Congress.” —Sen. Kamala Harris

Impeachment hyperventilation III: “Mueller leaves no doubt: 1) He didn’t exonerate the president because there is evidence he committed crimes. 2) Justice Department policy prevented him from charging the president with any crimes. 3) The Constitution leaves it up to Congress to act — and that’s impeachment.” —Sen. Elizabeth Warren

Impeachment hyperventilation IV: “It’s time for Congress to begin impeachment hearings and follow the facts. Robert Mueller clearly expects Congress to exercise its constitutional authority and take steps that he could not. We can’t let the president defy basic accountability measures built into our Constitution.” —Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

Impeachment hyperventilation V: “Given that Special Counsel Mueller was unable to pursue criminal charges against the President, it falls to Congress to respond to the crimes, lies and other wrongdoing of President Trump — and we will do so. No one, not even the President of the United States, is above the law.” —House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler

Impeachment hyperventilation VI: “Mueller is playing a game of Taboo with Congress. His word is ‘impeach.’"—Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Impeachment buzzkill: "Many constituents want to impeach the president. But we want to do what is right and what gets results. … But we do want to make such a compelling case, such an ironclad case that even the Republican Senate would — at this time [it] seems to be not an objective jury — will be convinced of the path that we have to take as a country.” —Nancy Pelosi

And last… “Robert Mueller said ‘it would be unfair to accuse someone of a crime when there can be no court resolution.’ So why did he spend the entire second half of his report accusing the president of committing a crime without evidence?” —Charlie Kirk