AG William Barr: Anti-Trump Resistance used “an explicit strategy of using every tool and maneuver available to sabotage the functioning of his Administration”
“it is the Left that is engaged in the systematic shredding of norms and the undermining of the rule of law”
Attorney General William Barr gave a speech at the Federalist Society this weekend in which he called out Democrats and the so-called “resistance” for their constant obstruction of Trump.
If you weren’t a fan of Barr before now, you might be after this.
The speech has set off a bit of a firestorm on the left and the right for the frank manner in which Barr characterizes the left’s “dangerous” approach.
The entire speech is excellent, but there are two passages which truly stood out.
From the Department of Justice website:
As I have said, the Framers fully expected intense pulling and hauling between the Congress and the President. Unfortunately, just in the past few years, we have seen these conflicts take on an entirely new character.
Immediately after President Trump won election, opponents inaugurated what they called “The Resistance,” and they rallied around an explicit strategy of using every tool and maneuver available to sabotage the functioning of his Administration. Now, “resistance” is the language used to describe insurgency against rule imposed by an occupying military power. It obviously connotes that the government is not legitimate. This is a very dangerous – indeed incendiary – notion to import into the politics of a democratic republic. What it means is that, instead of viewing themselves as the “loyal opposition,” as opposing parties have done in the past, they essentially see themselves as engaged in a war to cripple, by any means necessary, a duly elected government.
A few paragraphs later, Barr says this:
The fact of the matter is that, in waging a scorched earth, no-holds-barred war of “Resistance” against this Administration, it is the Left that is engaged in the systematic shredding of norms and the undermining of the rule of law. This highlights a basic disadvantage that conservatives have always had in contesting the political issues of the day. It was adverted to by the old, curmudgeonly Federalist, Fisher Ames, in an essay during the early years of the Republic.
In any age, the so-called progressives treat politics as their religion. Their holy mission is to use the coercive power of the State to remake man and society in their own image, according to an abstract ideal of perfection. Whatever means they use are therefore justified because, by definition, they are a virtuous people pursing a deific end. They are willing to use any means necessary to gain momentary advantage in achieving their end, regardless of collateral consequences and the systemic implications. They never ask whether the actions they take could be justified as a general rule of conduct, equally applicable to all sides.
As I said, the whole speech is great, but I have cued this video to begin at the 29:33 mark. Just press play:
A quick Google search on this topic produces a slew of headlines which say William Barr accuses resistance of trying to sabotage Trump.
Is it really an accusation if that’s their stated goal?
Featured image via YouTube.
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Comments
Katy Barr the Door!!!!!!!!!!
they rallied around an explicit strategy of using every tool and maneuver available to sabotage the functioning of his Administration
Not all the tools and maneuvers “the resistance” has been using are actually available—some are explicitly illegal. We’re counting on Barr to start doing something about that.
Read the entire speech. Well worth your time.
Should be required reading in civics classes, but…
If anybody has the power to do something about it he does, and he does nothing. The criminal referral for McCabe just gathers dust.
as did the criminal referral for Comey!
I find it amusing that Barr, in between travel all over the world to collect evidence, while finally controlling leaks from the DOJ, makes a powerful speech, —-
and here come the people saying he’s not doing anything.
This in addition to the calls (elsewhere) to try US politicians in military tribunals, for things they say in committee.
Travel and talk are no substitute for perp marches, with orange jumpsuits pulled up over their heads. Hillary, I’m visualizing you.
who was it, during the 2016 campaign, that told Hillary that traveling is not an accomplishment, it’s an activity
People have to understand Who Bill Barr is, and is not.
Barr is part of the Establishment, in this country. His job is to save the Union, not to prosecute former government officials for gross criminal actions. Trump is an existential threat to the Establishment, in this country. Not personally, but because of his supporters in the populace. The entire Establishment, in the country, got behind the Get Trump faction when Trump was elected. They did this to protect themselves and their interests. What has happened, over the ensuing 3 years, is that the Get Trump faction has lost. And, the country is rapidly approaching the point where the common people, on on side or the other, will decide that they can only protect their interests through force of arms. When that happens, you have civil war, which could well destroy this nation.
So, you have the Get Trump faction of the Establishment, and its supporters, and now we have the Leave Trump Alone faction of the Establishment. The first is, apparently, going to continue to attack Trump, in an effort to remove him. The second faction is attempting to rein in the first faction by making threats, veiled and otherwise, to get them to stop. So far, this does not appear to be working. The question now becomes, how far will the LTA faction go to stop the GT faction? Will we see indictments for sedition against the active conspirators against Trump? Or will we see the country continue to spiral down toward armed insurrection? Only time will tell. But, Barr, et al, do not want to drag the criminal activities of the last administration into the light. This, in itself, could be the spark which ignites a second American Civil War.
Barr allows the criminal activities of the last administration go unpunished, while allowing the prosecutions of Trump supporters for process crimes in political retribution cases
Therein lies the risk of another civil war.
makes a powerful speech, —-
and here come the people saying he’s not doing anything.
Having some trouble seeing the >i>yuuge difference between “words” and “actions,” are we?
This speech gave me hope that things are working behind the scenes (which they shoud). Its awfully hard to trust, especially in light of how the dems(press and politicians) get away with all sorts of public claims to whatever suits their cause. Barr certainly laid bare the philosophical arguments, but can he/will he apply the appropriate remedy and, will the public understand. I have to wonder if the republican electorate really gets it yet. Based on the Lousiana election, I have my doubts. We still have enough votes to win virtually any contest, but how do we get couch potato republicans to vote?
This speech gave me hope that things are working behind the scenes (which they shoud).
Either that, or Lucy’s sharpening up her football skills. Again.
We can steal and hold people at gunpoint and it is all legal.
How do I get control of that?
I’m hopeful of arrests soon and that it will take the approach of a decapitation strategy – i.e., Obama and Hillary and work outward from there.
Unfortunately, I doubt Obama or Hillary will meet Justice on this green earth.
Barr is in accord with my own thoughts on these matters. At least as voiced in the above.
I am disheartened by him passing over low hanging fruit, such as McCabe, even while understanding he might be after something far larger. This current Schiff Show is about undermining not only the President but also AG Barr. The clock is ticking, and it just seems outrageous that the Federal Government, with lots of workers – far too many workers – yet the left were able to set up a frame using a CIA asset in far less time than Barr and his DOJ can bring forth charges against any of these characters who broke laws (this is already known by the information that is public) and still remain untouched.
He passed on going after Comey, who, if he were charged would fold like a cheap suit and sell out the others in the conspiracy to overturn the election. Making matters worse, Comey mocked Barr for “exonerating” him. McCabe treated similar, and you know he would have folded given the choice of prison or cooperation.
The Democrats operate on no holds barred. Republicans operate on capitulation for the mildest offenses. The second is why Trump is vilified by the NeverTrumpers. He fights, he stands up and laughs at the feeble attempts to affect a coup.
I have never been more disgusted with my government than now. Few politicians deserve any respect. I find the title (which Jefferson would have abhorred) of Senator or Congressman/woman to be such that it is not a mark of honor and distinction.
Barr needs to act soon. Should this Schiff Show go on much longer actions by Barr, despite having been started well in advance, will be said to be interference in the impeachment, and Low Info voters will believe it.
Let me assure you that Barr is not now, nor will he ever, go after anyone opposed to Trump!
Sso long as Hilary Clinton, Obama and the rest of the gang go judicial scrutiny, the less words mean.
Patience has its limits, AG Barr.
My biggest worry is the ‘bobmshell’ Barr eventually drops will be too little, and too late.
There needs to be legal action of some kind against people who matter. People are waiting and not happy and not getting any happier.
Agree. Unless Barr drops a hydrogen bomb – and all the fallout attendant to it – the bad vibe the left is inflicting upon the nation under will set permanently.
“Meanwhile Back at the Ranch……”
Never have so many millions of America citizens’ eyes been opened to the total corruption of politicians in all parties…….
Barr 2024. If he indicts and drains the swamp for Trump.
Actually, this is pretty anodyne stuff. One party fighting the other “with every tool and maneuver available” isn’t particularly un-American. The Republican Party was itself founded to do just that to the Democrats of the 1850s. The new party’s goal was to obstruct, impede, and ideally stop the Democrats’ efforts to extend slavery to free states. The maneuvering of both parties was completely legal up until Lincoln’s election, when it changed into a shooting war.
Barr’s concern should be the tools and maneuvers which are blatantly illegal. And you fight those with handcuffs, not more words.
“…you fight those with handcuffs, not more words…”
We’re waiting, aren’t we.
I fear it will be too little, too late. Perhaps it already is.
Just how far do you think we are from a shooting war now? We already elected “Lincoln”. The other side is still focusing on & getting away with resist by any means. It consists of the Congress, Judiciary, Media & the radicals on the street ALL engaged in a war with the Executive. NOT the Executive branch, since they have plenty of their resist members embedded in it, but just the Executive. It’s going to require a shooting war or martial law because they have been engaged in the physical war for 3 years now without any consequence for their acts.
I can most definitely see how bad another civil war would be for this nation but I can also see that we can’t continue like this. It is truly a miracle that no one has been killed yet although many would justifiably argue that there have been many killed. Look how many US citizens have been killed by illegal invaders & yet they still side with & support those illegal invaders.
“it is the Left that is engaged in the systematic shredding of norms and the undermining of the rule of law”
Okay, we all understand this. So why are none of those who are doing this already in jail for treason? In simple point of fact, every last high-ranking member of the Obama administration has committed treason, starting with the lying Muslim fraud himself. So why are they all still walking around free, with no mention of any serious investigations against any of them?
Um, no. None of them have committed treason. There are only two kinds of treason: 1) Taking up arms against the USA; 2) Adhering to an enemy of the USA, accompanied by an overt act giving that enemy aid and comfort. Obviously none of these people have committed #1. But #2 requires adherence to an enemy; merely giving an enemy aid and comfort, if not motivated by adherence to the enemy, is not treason. And none of these people have done that. They’ve certainly helped Iran, but not out of any loyalty to Iran or desire to advance its objective.
Giving an enemy “aid and comfort” is evidence of “adherence.”
If you advance an enemy’s cause, you’re “adhering” to that enemy. “Aid and comfort” given to an enemy arguably advances that enemy’s cause.
Is there a difference between “taking an enemy’s side” (“adhering”) and merely “giving aid and comfort”? I’d argue there is – you can take an enemy’s side without giving any aid and comfort. But once you give aid and comfort to an enemy, you’re (nearly) inescapably taking the enemy’s side. Actions, as they say, speak louder than words.
Yes, Mr. Barr, but when can we expect to see released the reports of the DOJ Inspector General and Connecticut U.S. Attorney Durham? They were supposed to have been released some time ago. The Democrats’ impeachment drive needs to be countered NOW before the Democrat controlled House can issue articles of impeachment.
Headline: AG Barr Lays Smokescreen on Impeachment with Release of Durham Report