The Patriot Post® · Wednesday Short Cuts

Insight: “All you have to do, is to see whether the law takes from some what belongs to them in order to give it to others to whom it does not belong. We must see whether the law performs, for the profit of one citizen and to the detriment of others, an act which that citizen could not perform himself without being guilty of a crime. Repeal such a law without delay. … [I]f you don’t take care, what begins by being an exception tends to become general, to multiply itself, and to develop into a veritable system.” —Frederic Bastiat (1801-1850)

Upright: “We use black power to create white guilt. My approach is biblical: How can I ask my Heavenly Father to forgive me if I can’t forgive my brother? … Many have died trying to get into America. No one is dying trying to get out. … What percentage of black must you be to receive reparations? Do you go to 23andMe or a DNA test to determine the percentage of blackness? Some American ancestors just came to this country 80 years ago, their ancestors wasn’t even here during slavery. Some black immigrants weren’t here during slavery, nor their ancestors. Some states didn’t even have slavery.” —Herschel Walker

Observations: “[Rush] Limbaugh’s devoted fans believed their values helped build and sustain America through wars, economic downturns and other challenges. They see those values under siege from a secular progressive generation that tolerates everything but them. Many had served in the military to defend once traditional values and the freedoms many now take for granted, as if freedom is automatically and effortlessly achieved. These people go to church and take their children to Sunday school. Some enroll their kids in Christian schools or home school them because they dislike what is taught in public schools. They believe their country is losing all moral standards, is becoming increasingly corrupt and in danger of extinction if things don’t turn around. Shouldn’t these concerns explain why they wish to issue warnings because they love the country and don’t want it to fail? Limbaugh was their spokesman in these and other matters.” —Cal Thomas

Food for thought: “People associate evil with darkness. But that is not accurate: It is easy to look into the dark; it is very hard to stare into bright light. One should therefore associate evil with extreme brightness, given that people rarely look at real evil. And those who do not confront real evil often make up evils (such as ‘systemic racism,’ ‘toxic masculinity’ and ‘heteronormativity’ in 21st-century America) that are much easier to confront.” —Dennis Prager

For the record: “The suspension of the rule of law … is when you start to be a police state, and we’re here. There is no way around it. … Lockdowns have never been done in society and really, we are turning into a totalitarian state before everyone’s eyes.” —former Democrat adviser Naomi Wolf

Friendly fire: “[Andrew] Cuomo abused his powers to hide life and death information from the Department of Justice that prevented lawmakers from legislating — like fully repealing corporate immunity for nursing homes. That is an impeachable offense.” —Democrat New York State Assemblyman Ron Kim, who added, “The only way to protect the integrity of the co-equal branch of the state government, AKA the ‘People’s House,’ is to start impeachment.”

A trip down memory lane: “You know, I walked in when I was 21 and I got arrested. In those days, no guards stopping you everywhere. And they just got out of session. I walked in the back; all of the sudden I found myself in the chamber. I was stunned. I walked up, sat down in the presiding officer’s seat, guy grabbed by the shoulder and said, ‘You’re under arrest.’” —Joe Biden in 2007 about being arrested for trespassing in the Senate chamber

Then: “I waited for a vaccination appointment, and patience was rewarded. … I think it was the National Guard running the show. Very cool. Get it done, folks. Let’s kill this thing.” —Stephen King, who lives in Florida, on February 5 | Now: “It seems possible — likely, even — that Ron DeSantis provided rich, Republican-leaning communities like Lakewood Ranch with priority vaccinations for political gain.” —Stephen King on February 22 (“Stephen King is 73 years young. Two weeks ago, he got a vaccine against a virus that’s deadliest to people in his age group. That’s because the state of Florida is prioritizing those people. The elderly are the most vulnerable to COVID. Florida is vaccinating the elderly first. It really shouldn’t be a difficult concept to grasp.” —Jim Treacher)

Non compos mentis: “There are things, even if you’re vaccinated, that you’re not going to be able to do in society. For example: indoor dining, theaters, places where people congregate. That’s because of the safety of society.” —Dr. Anthony Fauci (In other words, the only way to have a safe society is to have no society.)

And last… “Disney is concerned that ‘The Muppet Show’ is offensive. But filming where China runs concentration camps for Uighurs? Disney is okay with that.” —Senator Tom Cotton