The Patriot Post® · Thursday Short Cuts

Insight: “Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket.” —Eric Hoffer (1902-1983)

For the record: “One billion people have been lifted out of extreme poverty since Bernie first started to use the phrase ‘race to the bottom’ to describe international trade agreements.” —Matt Welch

Belly laugh of the week: “In Iowa, the Democrat candidates were downplaying the economy. But come Wednesday, November 4th, just about the only unemployed Americans will be failed Democrat presidential candidates! (Granted, that’s a lot of people.)” —Gary Bauer

Ouch: “Given the circus in the House, I’m surprised she didn’t use crayons.” —Sen. Ted Cruz on Nancy Pelosi giving out signing pens after signing impeachment articles

Political theater: “They claim it’s a somber, serious occasion they’re heartbroken over… and then they pass out impeachment-signing pens with special cases. Folks, you can’t make it up.” —Rep. Mark Meadows

Braying jenny: “On December 18th, the House of Representatives impeached the president of the United States — an impeachment that will last forever.” —House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

Non compos mentis: “The allegations, for which there is a mountain of evidence, are that the president betrayed his country by trying to extort the [sic] Ukraine by withholding $391 million dollars in military aid that Congress had voted in order to get Ukraine to announce an investigation of a domestic political opponent. That’s the allegation. Any witness who has information about whether that is true or not true is a relevant witness. Anybody, like Hunter Biden, who has no information about any of that is not a relevant witness.” —House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerry Nadler

Dezinformatsiya: “This impeachment has now set into motion a removal trial. The big question is, what about all of this new evidence emerging of clear wrongdoing? Can the Senate really choose to ignore it?” —CNN’s Chris Cuomo

Not-so-friendly fire: “I think you called me a liar on national TV.” —Elizabeth Warren to Bernie Sanders after their debate spat

And last… “All I want is Trump to host a rally during a Dem debate but instead of him doing his normal speech, he watches the debate with the crowd and adds live commentary.” —Caleb Hull