“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.



