Posted on 05/01/2019 12:47:19 PM PDT by onyx
Attorney General Bill Barr sparred with Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse Wednesday over the AG’s use of the word “spying” to describe the actions the FBI took against the Trump campaign.
Barr alleged during his testimony to the House Appropriations Committee in April that “spying did occur” against the Trump campaign as the FBI investigated alleged ties to Russia.
Whitehouse grilled Barr about his use of the term “spying” in relation to those efforts, suggesting that the term was not accurate because the activities of the DOJ were “authorized.”
“I’m not going to abjure the use of the word ‘spying,'” Barr said. “My first job was in CIA. I don’t think the word ‘spying’ has any pejorative connotation at all.”
Barr continued, “I think spying is a good English word that, in fact, doesn’t have synonyms because it is the broadest word incorporating really all forms of covert intelligence collection, so I’m not going to back off the word ‘spying.'”
To further defend his use of the word, Barr pointed out that many members of the media also used the term before they decided to attack him for doing the same.
“Frankly, we went back and looked at press usage and up until all the faux outrage a couple of weeks ago, it’s commonly used in the press to refer to authorized activities,” he explained.
“It’s not commonly used by the Department,” Whitehouse retorted.
Barr shot back, “It’s commonly used by me,” planting a smirk on his face.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailycaller.com ...
Dems looked like crap today
“....This will require a degree of ruthlessness that I’m not sure even Trump himself possesses ....”
Also needs three things! Two we may not get.
1. The House back! Otherwise it will be a continuing distraction. As a minimum a GOP-controlled House can sit back and do nothing, they can do that! They’re good at it. Its the one skill they have.
2. More federal judge-ships. (Only certainity!)
3. A 6-3 majority on the USSC (Need it to guarantee a 5-4!) because everything of any note will eventually come to the USSC.
Most Freepers wouldn’t make it out of the first day of confirmation hearings because they don’t know how to navigate the process. Barr had to play the ‘game’ and say all of the right things to get through the nomination process because the goal is to actually GET into the position and then make changes; not scream about Hillary needs to be in jail and that they weren’t going to be fair with Mueller report right from the get go during the hearings
“It’s commonly used by me,” planting a smirk on his face
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Smirk - as defined by the MSM it is any time a conservative smiles
Barr does not roll over like Sessions did.
Good point. It’s pathetic, but you do have to run the gauntlet of idiots if you actually want to be confirmed.
He served under GHWB which, in hindsight, is plenty
swampy enough for me.
Hi. Sorry for the rant...
Imho gathering intelligence by the government against the opposition candidate is called sedition and abuse of power. Gathering intelligence by foreign powers for the benefit of the party in power is called treason.
Simple. I want retribution. With extreme prejudice.
5.56mm
AG Barr did great today.
“Barr shot back, ‘It’s commonly used by me,’ planting a smirk on his face.”
A polite smile with a tone of feeling sorry for the one it is directed at due to their stupidity and ignorance might be misconstrued as a smirk by village idiots.
They falsely accused the Catholic boys of smirking at the Indian fraud who was trying to intimidate them by banging on his bong.
If they want to see a real smirk they just need to take a look at any vocal Democrat. David Hogg is a great example. So is Ilhan Omar. Smirks are permanently etched on their faces. Sometimes they take a break from smirking in order to sneer.
That was funny.
Pretty sure they meant Barr’s past career was embedded with the swamp over 25 years ago.
More and more, I think Trump knew what he was getting with Sessions and knew how it would play out. Trump used Sessions and the recusal and all that to lead the rope, lead the line. Then, when the investigations were winding down, and being fruitless, he cut Sessions loose, freeing up the spot for Barr. Somehow, somewhere, perhaps someone, let Trump know who he could trust. That seems to have been Barr. Call it “3-D chess” or Trump channeling Machiavelli, I really don’t know. But something has happened.
Not a good look to sane, normal people. But, remember, they are playing to their insane, lunatic fringe base.
That is great news! Two years ago I never would have believed that the two strongest (only?) fighters in support of the President would be Lindsey Graham and Bob Barr. Ted? Rand? Mitch? Mike? Little Marco? Where are you “guys”? I don’t expect anything from Mitt Romney or Susan Collins, but these other people were supposed to be “conservatives” at least to some degree.
“They tried to bully Barr but it didn’t work.”
I think this is one of the reasons the House wants staff to be able to question Barr. They know they have a losing hand and they are overmatched. They are afraid that all they’ll do is create Trump reelection soundbites.
Absolutely correct guy a bloody genius
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