The Patriot Post® · Monday Short Cuts

The Gipper: “How do you tell a Communist? Well, it’s someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It’s someone who understands Marx and Lenin.” —Ronald Reagan

Speaking of which… “I believe in community ownership of land, labor, resources, and distribution of those resources. And so whatever that morphs into I think is … the best and I’m excited to usher it in by any means necessary.” —Denver councilwoman Candi CdeBaca

For the record: “Presidential adviser Kellyanne Conway stands accused of violating the Hatch Act. … One of Conway’s important duties is to do media appearances, a demand not placed on presidential advisers in the entirely different media environment of 1939 when the Hatch Act was passed. The notion that during such interviews she can’t talk candidly about the likes of Joe Biden and Cory Booker is goofy. Democracy would be ill-served by such a bar.” —Paul Mirengoff

Tongue firmly in cheek: “It’s only fair: If Democrats want to kill the Hyde amendment and stick pro-life taxpayers with the tab for the constitutionally protected abortions that the Left loves so much, then Republicans should enact Guns for All and force pro-gun-control taxpayers to underwrite the constitutionally protected firearms that the Right loves so much.” —Deroy Murdock, who in all seriousness concludes, “If you want an abortion or a gun, pay for it yourself.”

Braying Jackass: “This is an administration that is gunning for war in Iran.” —Beto O'Rourke

Banging the impeachment drum: “I think we are clearly there with the results of the special counsel team. There are so many witnesses who could provide important, essential testimony to Congress that can only be done in the scope of an impeachment inquiry. Action should be taken immediately.” —former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe

And last… “What conservatives have to understand is that this [free speech itself] is the central fight we’re in. This is where the battle for the soul of the future is taking place. We have to remember that we are not just on the right, we are in the right. And if we allow ourselves to be silenced — if we allow ourselves to be frightened — if we start to watch our words or apologize for faked misunderstandings or dial back our humor or throw our friends overboard when they misspeak, we lose. We lose because we have allowed the left to set the terms of the debate.” —Andrew Klavan