Barr: Republicans should focus on ‘substance, not politics’ if they win power

Georgia is front and center this midterm election nights and could be for another month if a runoff is on the table. Here’s a look at the Senate racing question as it stands so far, you can see just how close these two candidates are going with 70% reporting. Herschel Walker has the lead at this moment with 49.13%.
And here’s a look at the race for governor with incumbent Brian Kemp holding a convincing lead over Stacey Abrams. He has about 54% While she’s at about 45% of the vote. We’re joined by former Representative Bob Barr, a Republican from Georgia. Representative Barr, what’s the takeaway from Georgia after Democrats won this state in 2020?

The takeaway this evening is that Brian Kemp is being repaid for having done a very good job as governor of Georgia for the past four years. He kept the economy open, he kept it humming, he kept the schools open, and he kept crime down. So he said he deserves to be reelected. And the fact that Stacey Abrams simply ran around the country for four years claiming that she won the election four years ago, raking in money from Liberals and then dispersing it to her friends. Really, I don’t think I did her any good. I am actually a little bit surprised at the numbers you just showed me on the screen there with regard to how well Herschel is doing. The fact that there still are a number of rural counties to come in which are heavy, normally heavy Republican counties leads me to believe that Herschel may be able to pull it off without a runoff, which would surprise me, but the numbers right now are on his side to do that.

And to do that he’ll need to over 50% of the vote, either candidate will to avoid that runoff. I want to talk to you about the house as Republicans are projected to take control. And you have a little bit of history in the House. And you especially have a little history with impeachment during the Clinton years as well. It appears as I said that Republicans are going to gain control. And I’m just curious, after several years of investigations into FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, do you see the Republicans if they are the majority party, using their power in the house to launch investigations into President Biden, his administration or a son Hunter?

To be honest with you, and I just wrote about this the other day, I hope that they look forward and not backwards. Frankly, I think that Hunter Biden has been so disgraced. It’s not worth even worrying about the guy anymore. I don’t want to see the Republicans launch their own investigation of January 6, which some are talking about. I really would like to see the Republicans fight to get a balanced budget through. We did that back in 1997. With a Democrat president. We just kept pushing and pushing and pushing with Republican majorities, and we finally got it done. There is an awful lot that Republicans with majorities in the Congress can do, not withstanding a Democrat president, but it takes a lot of hard work and commitment to substance, not politics.

Does your hope that Republicans will look forward and not backward, does that apply to other potential investigations such as those we’ve heard about potentially investigating the withdrawal from Afghanistan or the management of the pandemic?

It depends on how they’re focused. I think, if the Republicans focus just on Afghanistan, they’re missing the bigger picture. There are some very serious problems with our military that manifested themselves in Afghanistan, but extend far beyond that, in terms of chain of command and the so called woke policies being pursued by our military, which is hurting our readiness, if they focus on the bigger picture, also with the FBI, instead of focusing just on personalities, or on the past with the FBI, but focus on restructuring the FBI, so it isn’t accountable law enforcement agency like it used to be, then I would commend them. And I think they will be well repaid in the 2024 election. But if they just stick to the small picture of personalities at the FBI or simply Afghanistan and miss the bigger picture with their military and our defense policy, then it’s not going to help them. I don’t think in the long run.

We’ve heard from House Republicans and hopeful House Republicans that have some pretty lofty goals if they take control in this midterm night. What would be the challenges for Republicans controlling Congress? Well, they still have a Democrat in the White House.

They have to be able to work with Biden, as difficult as that might be. President Biden is not a Bill Clinton, Bill Clinton was an outstanding political animal. And he recognized that with Newt Gingrich as the Speaker of the House, both of them could accomplish things for which both of them could claim credit. Biden unfortunately seems to be beholden to the far left of his party rather than the center, which is where Bill Clinton was. So working with Biden is going to be more difficult than working with Clinton was, but the Republicans have to be able to put together a solid budget beginning next year, and push it through, it may take 3, 4, 5, 6 iterations of that, but eventually Biden will have to sign it if the Republicans stick to their guns. And they can include in that some restrictions on spending that can help with immigration and with military policy, but they have to be focused. They can’t just go after everything. And they have to I don’t think I think it’s important for them not to worry about impeaching Biden. He’s not going to be able to run again. Anyway. There are far more important things to accomplish substantively than than impeaching him.

Thank you so much. former Representative Bob Barr from Georgia. We really appreciate your time tonight. Thank you very much.