The Patriot Post® · Monday Short Cuts

Insight: “We need true tax reform that will at least make a start toward restoring for our children the American Dream that wealth is denied to no one, that each individual has the right to fly as high as his strength and ability will take him. … But we cannot have such reform while our tax policy is engineered by people who view the tax as a means of achieving changes in our social structure.” —Ronald Reagan

Observations: “At least half the American people understand the Hunter Biden story as a story of the swamp. The elite buddy-buddy-ism. Using your family influence to do well in life. The American people don’t like it.” —Peggy Noonan

Upright: “Americans need to take a strong stand against Chinese censorship and totalitarianism. The American people will have to take the lead. American companies are signaling they like communist money more than American freedom.” —Erick Erickson

For the record: “Godlessness and socialism, godlessness and totalitarianism, godlessness and big government always go hand in hand.” —Allie Beth Stuckey

Political futures: “Here are two very basic questions … that [should] be asked of every [Democrat] candidate: 1) If you now believe that sex is not determined by biology, when did you come to that conclusion? What made you change your mind? Was there any scientific discovery or breakthrough that caused you to believe that men can have vaginas? If not, how did you arrive at your current position? 2) Please define the words ‘woman’ and ‘man.’” —Matt Walsh

On cross-examination: “I used to think she loved the country. She hates the country. Because she wouldn’t be doing this to the country if she didn’t. She hates the country. Nancy Pelosi hates the United States of America. Because she wouldn’t be doing this.” —Donald Trump on impeachment

Broken clock: “I don’t think [Trump’s], intellectually, a powerhouse, but he is basically a very, very smart man. No matter what the subject, any argument he involves himself in, it’s on his terms. You’re always arguing against him. He never, never, is willing to debate an issue on terms that aren’t his. … Anyone that thinks Trump’s going to be beaten easily should have another think coming.” —former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid

Friendly fire: “Going after the tax exemption of churches, Islamic centers, or other religious facilities in this country, I think that’s just going to deepen the divisions that we’re already experiencing.” —Pete Buttigieg berating Beto O'Rourke for his stance on taxes and same-sex marriage

The BIG Lie: “No one has asserted my son did a single thing wrong. No one has asserted that I have done anything wrong, except a lying president.” —Joe Biden

Braying jackass: “[Republicans] want to return this country to the white Christian country that they believe it should be again. They don’t want the diversity, and they follow him for this, but they’re not the country. We are a diverse people, we are good and strong because of that, and we’re going to come back to that, I assure you.” —former news anchor Sam Donaldson

Non compos mentis: “If we win in 2020, [Republicans are] done forever. But it’s scary for us, too, because if they win, literally it could be the end of the world.” —Tom Steyer

And last… “Marriage is a religious ceremony. That it’s between one man and one woman is [a] religious view. That it could be with a different number or different genders are other religious views. The government would be taking a religious stance to treat one view as superior to the others.” —Frank J. Fleming