The Patriot Post® · Friday Short Cuts

Insight: “Statism is a system of institutionalized violence and perpetual civil war. It leaves men no choice but to fight to seize political power — to rob or be robbed, to kill or be killed. … Statism survives by looting; a free country survives by production.” —Ayn Rand (1905-1982)

Friendly fire: “I have to tell you, as a liberal Democrat, I’m appalled at Nancy Pelosi. The idea of her weaponizing the criminal justice system — and calling for the imprisonment of the president of the United States without him being charged with any crime, without him being charged with any impeachable offense — it’s just outrageous. You can’t just target a president and say, ‘We want to see him in prison,’ without producing evidence.” —Alan Dershowitz

Non compos mentis: “There are individuals in this city who have returned from prison who cannot find a job, who are not educated. In those instances those individuals are forced to commit violent acts.” —Dallas Police Chief Renee Hall explaining the increase of violent crime under her watch

That ship has sailed: “I hope that you … stand up for a gun-free society.” —Rep. Lucy McBath

Alpha Jackass I: “It’s the anniversary of D-Day, when we beat the Nazis, once and for — until very recently. Pretty good run, you gotta say, pretty good run — 75 years.” —Stephen Colbert

Alpha Jackass II: “Thank you so much to all of the brave World War II veterans. You made enormous sacrifices to defeat some very fine people on both sides.” —Trevor Noah

Flip-flopper: “I can no longer support an amendment that makes that right dependent on someone’s ZIP code.” —Joe Biden acquiescing to Hyde Amendment haters

D'oh! “I am told explicitly that it is Joe Biden himself who says. ‘This is my conviction and I’m not changing it. This is how I have felt and this is how I have voted for my four decades in public service, and I’m not changing, despite the fact that the party clearly has changed.’” —CNN’s Dana Bash

Braying Jackass: “Bravo to @JoeBiden for doing the right thing and reversing his longstanding support for the Hyde Amendment. It takes courage to admit when you’re wrong, especially when those decisions affect millions of people. Now do the Iraq War.” —Rep. Seth Moulton

And last… “Joe Biden held the same position on the Hyde Amendment for 46 years. He flipped on it in 24 hours of fringe leftists attacking him.” —The Daily Wire’s Harry Khachatrian