The Patriot Post® · Thursday Short Cuts

Insight: “Since people, in a competitive or any other society, are by no means always just to each other, some regulation by the state in its capacity of umpire is unavoidable. What must be kept in mind is that the greatest injustice of all is done when the umpire forgets that he too is bound by the rules, and begins to make them as between contestants in behalf of his own prejudices.” —Felix Morley (1894-1982)

Upright: “As we entrust our lives to God and faithfully carry out our responsibilities, we have an opportunity to demonstrate what hope and peace look like in the midst of death.” —Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)

Political futures: “Like Churchill, Trump must have the right information but also the instincts to determine which expert advice is suspect and which is inspired, and which orthodox recommendation is wrong and which unorthodox alternative is right. Do that, and Trump can defeat the virus, save the economy and turn a disaster into a collective American victory over both infection and depression.” —Victor Davis Hanson

Verbal gymnastics: “We have to take care of the cure. That will make the problem worse no matter what — no matter what.” —Joe Biden

Braying jenny: “America is facing a grave health crisis with a serious impact on our economy. I salute the strong leadership of Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats. I especially thank our House Democratic Committee Chairmen, who worked hard to move the Republican proposal from corporations-focused to workers-first and who will now review the legislative text of this agreement with our Caucus.” —House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

Braying jackass: “When you look at Trump’s personal businesses, you know that he is losing almost $500,000 a day because six out of his seven hotels are losing money. They are shuttered every day, and that is why our Founding Fathers put the emoluments clause into the Constitution, because our president should be more concerned about the lives of Americans rather than lining his own pockets and I think that’s what this is really about!” —"The View’s" Sunny Hostin

Alpha jackass: “In the days ahead, Trump will ask us to sacrifice the lives of seniors, the unwell, and other Americans vulnerable to COVID-19 to serve his political and other interests.” —Evan McMullin

The BIG Lie: “In the midst of this global pandemic, at this moment of crisis, the president, as he has been doing daily, as he has done since the first case arrived on our shores, went out today and said things that that are flat-out wrong, that are lies and, more than that, that are dangerous. That’s why we did not play you any sound of what he said today because, frankly, the president has become a kind of — well, he’s a genuine threat to public health, his rhetoric at this point, the things he says.” —MSNBC’s Chris Hayes

And last… “We should be most grateful to the doctors, nurses, and hospital staff at the front lines of this thing. But also to the grocery staff and the delivery guys who are still working, without complaint and despite everything, while the rest of us stay at home.” —Rich Lowry