It's Friday, Dec. 22, the day of the week when I share a quotation intended to be informative or uplifting. The Colorado Supreme Court's 4-3 decision to remove a front-running presidential candidate from the ballot under the guise of saving democracy brings to mind the notorious quote from an anonymous U.S. military officer, spoken to Vietnam War correspondent Peter Arnett: "It became necessary to destroy the town in order to save it."
But it's three days before Christmas so that can't be the quote of the week. For that, I'll turn to another U.S. military officer -- one who became the first U.S. president.
On Dec. 25, 1751, George Washington, who was not yet 20 years old, sailed aboard a ship called Industry from Barbados back to America. Here is the entry from his diary:
"Christmas Day fine clear and pleasant with moderate sea tho continuance of the Trade [winds] …We dined on an Irish goose … beef and etc. and drank a health to our absent friends."
That is what I intend to do this weekend -- and I hope you will, too. And that is our quote of the week.
Carl M. Cannon is the Washington bureau chief for RealClearPolitics. Reach him on Twitter @CarlCannon
