Insight

“Socialists have always spent much of their time seeking new titles for their beliefs, because the old versions so quickly become outdated and discredited.” —Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013)

For the Record

“In all this controversy about student loans, rarely have I heard of any university official complaining about the costs that the universities pass on to students. … Let us face the facts. The universities of this country are some of the most poorly run institutions in the land. Most universities are organized scams. They lost the ability to educate years ago. Now they simply immerse students in ideological nonsense that has nothing to do with education. Look at a picture of students dressed for class. The students are dressed like 10-year-olds, and the profs are dressed like babysitters. I have no idea how administrators dress, though they might dress like con artists. It would be fitting.” —R. Emmett Tyrrell

“It’s clear that the Biden Administration knows it has a big problem on its hands. Attorney General Merrick Garland just put his finger in the dike. He fired off a memo warning everyone at the Justice Department against communicating with members of Congress. Well, that sounds like a violation of the Whistleblower Act, like an attempt to intimidate and silence the agents who are coming forward to expose corruption and abuse. In what world are we supposed to believe that there are no problems or just minor problems at the FBI? Who is watching the watchers? That’s the age-old question for every free society.” —Gary Bauer

Non Compos Mentis Awards

“Having a gun is not a way to keep a city safe.” —New York City Mayor Eric Adams

“When you are not with where a majority of Americans are, then, you know, that is extreme. That is an extreme way of thinking.” —White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre

Braying Jenny

“The president thinks that there is an extremist threat to our democracy. The president has been clear as he can be on that particular piece. When we talk about our democracy, when we talk about our freedoms, the way that he sees it is the MAGA Republicans are the most energized part of the Republican Party. That extreme — this is an extreme threat to our democracy, to our freedom, to our rights. They just don’t respect the rule of law. … And, you know, again, MAGA Republicans are this extreme part of their party, and that is just facts. And that’s what he’s going to continue to lay out.” —Karine Jean-Pierre

“You know, when you ask me about the MAGA agenda, especially as it relates to Congress, as it relates to elected officials, it is one of the most extreme agendas that we have seen, and it is a part of the — it is the extreme part of the Republican Party.” —Karine Jean-Pierre

Demagogue

“Equality and democracy are under assault. We do ourselves no favor to pretend otherwise. … Too much of what’s happening in our country today is not normal. Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic. … There is no question that the Republican Party today is dominated, driven, and intimidated by Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans, and that is a threat to this country.” —President Joe Biden

“MAGA Republicans do not respect the Constitution. They do not believe in the rule of law. They do not recognize the will of the people. They refuse to accept the results of a free election. And they’re working right now, as I speak, in state after state to give power to decide elections in America to partisans and cronies, empowering election deniers to undermine democracy itself. MAGA forces are determined to take this country backwards — backwards to an America where there is no right to choose, no right to privacy, no right to contraception, no right to marry who you love. They promote authoritarian leaders, and they fan the flames of political violence that are a threat to our personal rights, to the pursuit of justice, to the rule of law, to the very soul of this country. They look at the mob that stormed the United States Capitol on January 6th — brutally attacking law enforcement — not as insurrectionists who placed a dagger to the throat of our democracy, but they look at them as patriots. And they see their MAGA failure to stop a peaceful transfer of power after the 2020 election as preparation for the 2022 and 2024 elections.” —Joe Biden

“I’m asking our nation to come together, unite behind the single purpose of defending our democracy regardless of your ideology. We’re all called, by duty and conscience, to confront extremists who will put their own pursuit of power above all else. Democrats, independents, mainstream Republicans: We must be stronger, more determined, and more committed to saving American democracy than MAGA Republicans are … to destroying American democracy.” —Joe Biden

“MAGA Republicans look at America and see carnage and darkness and despair. They spread fear and lies –- lies told for profit and power. … The MAGA Republicans believe that for them to succeed, everyone else has to fail.” —Joe Biden

And Last…

“A string of cliches interspersed with bile.” —Miranda Devine on Joe Biden’s Philadelphia speech