Bob Barr

[RubyDuby in GA]

Even though he's writing about Georgia, it's relevant on a national level.

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/stories/0201edbarr.html

Legislators, fight urge to go overboard

By BOB BARR
Published on: 02/01/06
In January 1995, I and more than 50 other freshman Republicans were sworn in as part of the first GOP majority in the House of Representatives in four decades.

It was a heady time. Plans were already under way to dramatically cut the size of government and its power over businesses and individuals. For a few years, it worked; not smoothly, but at least there was progress. We balanced the federal budget for the first time since the 1960s, significantly reformed welfare and cut taxes.

Unfortunately, like an old car patched together with duct tape and electrical wire, it started to sputter, slow down and eventually died. Now the federal budget and its accompanying debt are at all-time highs. Domestic discretionary spending has skyrocketed.

In many areas, government power over the citizenry is more prevalent and pervasive than under Democrat administrations. The Republican leadership is mired in defending itself against charges of corruption.


***********
It's frightening just how much I've agreed with him lately, with the exception of this little gem:
"The fundamental challenge facing Georgia state legislators — who belong to a party that was kept from the trough of power for far longer than their colleagues at the national level — is to resist the urge to force individuals, business, communities and local governments to do what the legislators want. This, of course, is what the Democrats did for decades."

Seriously, was there any need for this little slap? Ever since the GA GOP got control of the House and Senate here, they've been drunk with power. They've managed to become the thing they bitched, moaned and railed against for well over a hundred years in a matter of two years. Overachievers :sarcasm:

[NYCGirl]

1. Rep. Barr is scheduled to be a guest on Al Franken's show

coming up. I look forward to hearing him.

http://shows.airamericaradio.com/alfrankenshow/

Upcoming Guests: Tom Daschle, Bob Barr and Christopher Edley.

[MrBenchley]

2. Hilariously, it seems the repulisve little twit

was actually dumb enough to believe what Newt Gingrich was lying about.

But not only didn't "we" balance the budget, the GOP, led by imbeciles like Barr, impeached the guy who did balance the budget over a hum job.

[louis-t]

5. And Barr was apparently getting some on the side, too.

While sitting in judgement.

[MrBenchley]

6. Yup....

When people said "Republican witch hunt" they generally meant Ken Starr's twisted crusade...but Barr not only sniffed after Clinton's crotch, he actually hunted witches.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/burn_aw2.htm

[dchill]

3. What Barr is saying now...

may be rational and true and all that happy horseshit, but it doesn't count at all in comparison to the huge dump of lies he took on our country when he was in office. I'll never be interested in what he has to say "now."

[NYCGirl]

7. I'm always interested in seeing these GOP hardliners realize they were

wrong.

[dchill]

8. Interesting, yes...

important, no. Barr has no power, now - lot like he did when he was a House Impeachment Manager, anyway. I hope he has realized that he was wrong, but I suspect he would still vote for Bush, or any Republican.

[napi21]

4. I found his last line to be quite interesting!

The rest of the article he wrote concerned the Ga. legislature, and how they are also falling prey to the "Big Gov't Republican ideas" like those in Washington!

The last line of his article is:
However, if Georgia's GOP legislators are ultimately to avoid the fate of their national counterparts who have been largely swallowed by BGRs, we need to see a lot more of Ronald Reagan in their actions and a lot less George W. Bush and Richard Nixon.

The thing that struck me was how much he dislikes Shrub! Even HE is comparing him to Nixon!!!!

Now I didn't like Reagan, but that's not my point here. I just find it interesting that Barr who is a hard core Republican, seems to hate what he sees in DC!

[dddem]

9. didn't barr vote against clinton's economic plan,like ALL repugs?

glad he's worried now but like a true republican, he takes credit for something he fought against.