DEMOCRATS CHANGE THEIR TUNE ABOUT GOING AFTER BILL BARR.
BRET?
BRET? >> Bret: MIKE EMANUEL LIVE ON
THE HILL.
THE HILL. LET’S GET SOME INSIGHT TONIGHT.
WE ARE PLEASED TO BE JOINED BY
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH
McCONNELL.
McCONNELL. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
YOU HEARD ABOUT THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL AND HIS CONCERN
ABOUT THE PRESIDENT’S TWEETING,
MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DO HIS
JOB.
JOB. YOUR REACTION TO THAT?
>> THE PRESIDENT MADE A GREAT
CHOICE WHEN HE PICKED BILL BARR
DO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, I THINK
THE PRESIDENT SHOULD LISTEN TO
HIS ADVICE.
HIS ADVICE. >> Bret: YOU HAVE A PROBLEM
WITH THE TWEETING AS WELL?
>> MAYBE THE PRESIDENTIAL LISTEN
TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
>> Bret: DO YOU THINK HIS
TWEET ABOUT THE OPINION ON THE
ROGER STONE SENTENCING IS
INAPPROPRIATE?
INAPPROPRIATE? >> THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID
IT’S MAKING HIM DIFFICULT TO DO
HIS JOB.
HIS JOB. I THINK THE PRESIDENT OUGHT TO
LISTEN TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
BECAUSE WITHOUT SENDING
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, HE’S
THE TOP PERSON IN THE COUNTRY.
THE PRESIDENT MADE A WIDE
SELECTION IN PICKING BILL BARR
PAIR THEY GOT TO LISTEN TO HIM.
>> U-VALUE PRESENTED.
ARE YOU CONCERNED AT ALL THAT
PRESIDENT TRUMP IN HIS MIND HAS
POLITICIZED OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE OR THIS IS BECOME THE
NEW NORMAL FOR HIM?
>> I KEEP SAYING THE SAME THING.
>> Bret: I’M TALKING ABOUT
YOU.
YOU. >> I THINK THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
KNOWS WHAT HE’S TALKING ABOUT.
I’M NOT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BUT
I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN BILL BARR.
I THINK HE’S DOING A GOOD JOB
AND I THINK HE’S TOLD THE
PRESIDENT, THIS IS NOT HELPFUL,
MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO
DO HIS JOB.
I THINK THE PRESIDENT WILL
LISTEN TO IT.
>> Bret: ALONG THE SAME LINES,
SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS VOTED THE
WAY SHE VOTED IN THE IMPEACHMENT
TRIAL BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT THE
PRESIDENT WILL HAVE LEARNED FROM
THIS PROCESS.
THIS PROCESS. SHE SCALED THAT BACK A LITTLE
BIT.
BIT. TAKE A LISTEN.
>> I WOULD HOPE THAT HE WOULD
NOT DO IT AGAIN.
>> WHY DO YOU HAVE THE FEELING
THAT HE HAS CHANGED?
>> I MAY NOT BE CORRECT ON THAT.
IT’S MORE ASPIRATIONAL ON MY
PART.
PART. >> WHAT LESSON DID YOU LEARN
FROM IMPEACHMENT?
FROM IMPEACHMENT? >> THE DEMOCRATS ARE CROOKED.
THEY DO A LOT OF CROOKED THINGS.
THEY ARE VICIOUS.
THEY SHOULDN’T HAVE BROUGHT
IMPEACHMENT.
IMPEACHMENT. MY NUMBERS ARE TEN POINTS
HIGHER.
HIGHER. >> Bret: DO YOU THINK THE
PRESIDENT WAS CHASTENED BY THE
PROCESS AT ALL OR DID YOU EXPECT
THEM TO BE?
>> I WILL GIVE YOU MY OPINION.
THIS WOULD MAKE IMPEACHMENT MORE
LIKELY TO BE A ROUTINE MATTER
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THE
FEDERALIST PAPERS AND THE
FOUNDERS MADE CLEAR THAT THEY
DIDN’T WANT TO HAPPEN AND THE
FACT THAT THEY ARE NOW
MENTIONING THE WORD IMPEACHMENT
AGAIN IN CONNECTION WITH THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL ONLY PROVES MY
POINT.
POINT. I THINK THE REASON WE GOT A
SOLID VOTE AGAINST IMPEACHMENT
IN THE SENATE WAS THAT ALMOST
ALL OF MY MEMBERS, IF NOT ALL OF
THEM, MAYBE WITH ONE EXCEPTION,
FELT THAT THIS WAS NOT AN
IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE.
IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE. THE FOUNDERS DIDN’T WANT THE
HOUSE TO CONSTANTLY BE DOING
IMPEACHMENT RESOLUTIONS BECAUSE
THEY HAD A POLICY DIFFERENCE OR
DIDN’T LIKE SOMEBODY.
I THINK IT’S PRETTY CLEAR THE
HOUSE DEMOCRATS JUST DON’T LIKE
THE PRESIDENT.
THE PRESIDENT. >> Bret: DO YOU THINK
SENATOR COLLINS AND HER
EXPLANATION HURT HER CHANCES FOR
REELECTION?
REELECTION? >> I THINK SENATOR COLLINS IS
GOING TO BE REELECTED.
I THINK SHE CAN HANDLE THIS BUT
DOESN’T NEED ANY ADVICE FOR ME
WHAT TO SAY, I’M HAPPY TO SPEAK
ON MYSELF.
ON MYSELF. >> Bret: STEVE BANNON WRITES
ABOUT THE PRESIDENT, HE IS MAD
AND HE SHOULD BE MAD FOR THE
DEMOCRATS AND THE MEDIA WASTED
THE NATIONS THREE YEARS OF TIME
ON A WITCH HUNT AND UNDERSTANDS
USING THE FULL POWER OF THE
PRESIDENCY, THE PEARL CLUSTERS
BETTER GET USED TO IT.
DO YOU THINK MORE IS GETTING
DOWN THE PIPE?
>> I DON’T KNOW.
THE PRESIDENT IS DIFFERENT, AS
WE KNOW.
WE KNOW. THE FACT HE’S DIFFERENT IS
AWFULLY ATTRACTED TO A LOT OF
AMERICANS.
AMERICANS. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AN ELECTION
THIS NOVEMBER.
THIS NOVEMBER. THAT’S THE OTHER ARGUMENT.
THE AMERICA PEOPLE ARE GOING TO
MAKE THIS DECISION OR THE SENATE
AND I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO
REMIND YOUR VIEW IS NOT ONLY HAD
THE PRESIDENT BE REMOVED FROM
OFFICE, ELLA BENEVENTO HIM FROM
RUNNING.
RUNNING. IT WOULD BE THE SENATE
DETERMINING WHO THE NOMINEE WAS,
TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.
TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. >> Bret: ANOTHER VOTE TODAY,
WAR POWERS ACT.
>> THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO
EMBARRASS THE PRESIDENT?
IT’S GOING TO BE A BIPARTISAN
ONE.
ONE. WE NEED TO STOP ATTENDING THAT
BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE ARE NOT
CONCERNED WITH THE PRESIDENT
HAVING TOO MUCH LEEWAY WITH THE
MATTERS OF WAR AND PEACE.
>> Bret: YOUR REACTION TO THAT
AND IS THERE ANY CONSEQUENCE FOR
THOSE REPUBLICANS WHO PUT THEM
UP ON THE SCREEN?
>> NO CONSEQUENCE.
BUT THE WAR POWERS ACT, WHICH
EVERY PRESIDENT HAS FELT WAS
UNCONSTITUTIONAL, SOUGHT TO PUT
A 60 DAY CLOCK ON A COMBAT
MISSION.
MISSION. TAKING OUT SO
IT TOOK MAYBE ABOUT60 SECONDS. THE WAR POWERS ACT IS ABOUT 60
DAYS.
DAYS. COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE
COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO THE ABILITY OF ANY
PRESIDENT TO RESPOND TO
EMERGENCIES AND THAT HAS BEEN
DONE OVER AND OVER AGAIN BY
PRESIDENTS GOING BACK ALL THE
WOULD BE BE GIVING YOU.
>> WASN’T THERE AND A MEMBER IN
SAYING THAT IT WAS OKAY BUT IF
YOU DO A FULL SCALE ACTION, IT’S
OKAY?
OKAY? >> LET ME CONTRASTED WITH THE
WAY I HANDLED PRESIDENT OBAMA’S
KILLING OF USAMA BIN LADEN.
I WAS NOT CALLED IN ADVANCED.
I’M NOT DOMINANT PART OF THE
GANG OF EIGHT.
I WAS NOT OFFENDED.
I GOT CALLED THE NEXT DAY.
I SAID, CONGRATULATIONS TAKING
OUT THIS TERRORIST, AND I SENT
OUT A PUBLIC STATEMENT
CONGRATULATING PRESIDENT OBAMA
FOR DOING SOMETHING IMPORTANT.
IF PRESIDENT OBAMA HAD TAKEN OUT
SOLEIMANI THERE WOULDN’T BE A
DEMOCRAT AROUND WHO WOULD NOT
SAY GREAT JOB.
>> Bret: YOU ARE SAYING THESE
REPUBLICANS ARE NOT GOING TO
FEEL THE BLOWBACK?
>> WE DON’T HAVE A DOG HOUSE IN
THE SENATE.
THE SENATE. I DISAGREED WITH THEM.
I THINK THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE
TRIGGER THE WAR POWERS ACT.
THE PRESIDENT WAS ENTIRELY
WITHIN HIS AUTHORITY TO TAKE OUT
SOLEIMANI.
SOLEIMANI. >> Bret: YOUR NAME COMES UP ON
THE TRAIL QUITE A BIT.
TAKE A LISTEN.
>> PROTECT US FROM GUN VIOLENCE,
RAISE WAGES.
RAISE WAGES. BUT THAT CANNOT GET PAST MITCH
McCONNELL’S SENATE.
McCONNELL’S SENATE. >> WE BETTER GET BE WORKING HARD
ON, THAT’S TAKE BACK THE SENATE
AND PUT MITCH McCONNELL OUT OF
A JOB.
A JOB. >> Bret: DEMOCRATS SAY THERE
ARE 395 HOUSE BILLS THAT PASSED
THE HOUSE THAT HAVE BEEN
REJECTED OR SITTING IN THE
SENATE.
SENATE. IS THAT TRUE, NUMBER ONE, AND
TWO, CAN ANYTHING MOVE FORWARD?
>> IT IS TRUE.
THEY’VE BEEN ON A FULL
LEFT-WING...
LEFT-WING... PARADE OVER THERE.
TROTTING OUT ALL THEIR LEFT-WING
SOLUTIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE
ISSUES IN THE FALL CAMPAIGN.
THEY ARE RIGHT.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO PASS MAKE
THOSE.
THOSE. WE HAVE DIVIDED GOVERNMENT.
WHEN YOU HAVE A DIVIDED
GOVERNMENT, YOU HAVE TWO WORK ON
THINGS WE AGREE ON.
WE AGREED ON GOVERNMENT
SPENDING.
SPENDING. WE AGREED ON THE
U.S.-BICYCLE-CANADA FREE TRADE
AGREEMENT.
AGREEMENT. WE WILL PROBABLY REACH AN
AGREEMENT ON AN INFRASTRUCTURE
DEAL.
DEAL. >> Bret: REALLY?
>> A PARKS BILL.
IT MAY NOT BE A BIG BILL BECAUSE
THAT WOULD REQUIRE DEALING WITH
THE REVENUE SOURCES THAT BOTH
SIDES ARE NERVOUS ABOUT RAISING
THE GAS TAX WHICH IS A TAX ON
LOW INCOME PEOPLE.
IT’S NOT THAT WE AREN’T DOING
ANYTHING.
ANYTHING. IT’S WE AREN’T DOING WHAT THE
HOUSEEMOCRATS AND THESE
CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT ON THE
DEMOCRATIC TICKET WANTS TO DO.
>> Bret: WHAT ABOUT
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS?
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS? >> WE ARE WRESTLING WITH THAT.
THERE ARE DIFFERENCES ON BOTH
SIDES ABOUT HOW TO GET OUT OF
THAT AND I THINK THERE IS A
CHANCE WE ARE GOING TO LEGISLATE
ALL OF THAT.
>> Bret: POSSIBLY BEFORE THE
END OF THIS CONGRESS?
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH. >> Bret: THE SUPREME COURT
OPENING UP BEFORE THE NOVEMBER
ELECTION, WOULD YOU HOLD THAT
SEAT OPEN LIKE YOU DID FOR
MERRICK GARLAND TO LET VOTERS
DECIDE WHAT PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATES PICK THE NEXT
JUSTICE?
JUSTICE? >> LET ME REMIND YOU WHAT I SAID
IN 2016.
IN 2016. HE WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE
1880s TO FIND AT THE LAST TIME
A VACANCY ON THE SUPREME COURT
OCCURRING DURING A PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION YEAR WAS CONFIRMED BY A
SENATE OF A DIFFERENT PARTY THAN
THE PRESIDENT.
THE PRESIDENT. THAT WAS THE SITUATION IN 2016.
THAT WOULD NOT BE THE SITUATION
IN 2020.
IN 2020. I’M NOT AWARE OF ANY VACANCY,
BUT IF YOU ARE ASKING ME A
HYPOTHETICAL WHETHER THIS
REPUBLICAN SENATE WOULD CONFIRM
A MEMBER OF THE SUPREME COURT TO
A VACANCY THAT CREATED THIS
YEAR --
YEAR -- >> Bret: BEFORE NOVEMBER.
>> WE WOULD FILL IT.
>> Bret: WOULDN’T YOU HEAR
HOWELLS?
HOWELLS? >> WE WOULD BUT I REMIND YOU
WHAT I JUST TOLD YOU.
THE ASCENDANT IS IN THE SAME
PARTY AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES AND IN THAT
SITUATION, WE WOULD BOTH.
>> Bret: WOULD THERE BE ANY
JUDICIAL VACANCIES LEFT
UNFILLED?
UNFILLED? >> I HOPE NOT.
>> YOU ARE MOVING THEM THROUGH?
>> YES.
>> YES. >> Bret: DO YOU RISK CRITICISM
IF YOU DO THE JUDGES BUT YOU
DON’T GET THOSE OTHER BIG THINGS
DONE LIKE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS,
INFRASTRUCTURE.
INFRASTRUCTURE. >> I RISK CRITICISM EVERY DAY.
MY JOB IS TO TRY TO SET THE
PRIORITIES.
PRIORITIES. I HAVE FELT THAT OUR JUDICIARY
WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT
RESPONSIBILITY.
RESPONSIBILITY. WE’VE DONE 51 THE CIRCUIT JUDGES
IN THREE YEARS.
IT TOOK PRESIDENT OBAMA TO DO
55.
55. I THINK CHANGING THE COURT
SYSTEM: PUTTING IN PLACE MEN AND
WOMEN WHO BELIEVE THEIR JOB IS
TO ACTUALLY INTERPRET THE LAW AS
IS WRITTEN IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
LONG-TERM THING WE CAN DO FOR
THE COUNTRY AND ITS MY TOP
PRIORITY.
PRIORITY. >> Bret: LAST THING, AS YOU
LOOK AT THE DEMOCRATIC RACE
RIGHT NOW, A LOT OF ANGST ON THE
DEMOCRATIC SIDE VERSUS
BERNIE SANDERS VERSUS A CENTRIST
OR MODERATE ROLE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IF THERE WAS A
PRESIDENT BERNIE SANDERS IF HE
WAS ELECTED OVER PRESIDENT TRUMP
IF HE’S THE NOMINEE?
>> YOU’VE GOT TO WORRY ABOUT A
NOMINEE WHO IS SO ATTRACTED TO
THE OLD SOVIET UNION YEARS AGO
THAT HIS WIFE AND HIM WENT TO A
HONEYMOON TO MOSCOW DURING THE
COLD WAR.
COLD WAR. HE’S THE REAL DEAL.
WHAT BOTHERS ME MORE IS ALL THE
REST OF THEM SOUND VERY SIMILAR.
THEY JUST DON’T DESCRIBE
THEMSELVES AS SOCIALISTS.
THEY MAY CALL THEMSELVES
MODERATES.
MODERATES. IF THE DEFINITION OF A MODERATE
IN THE PRESIDENTIAL DEMOCRATIC
PRIMARY, THEY AREN’T FOR
MEDICARE FOR ALL BUT THE PUBLIC
OPTION, THAT MEANS THE PUBLIC
OPTION THERE WILL BE ONLY ONE
OPTION VERY SOON, HEADING THE
SAME DIRECTION, SOCIALIZED
MEDICINE.
MEDICINE. I THINK THEY ARE ALL TAKING FAR
LEFT POSITIONS AND EVEN THOUGH
BERNIE SANDERS GET SOME CREDIT
FOR TRUTH IN LABELING, THEY ARE
I THINK ALL HEADING IN THE SAME
DIRECTION.
DIRECTION. >> Bret: YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN
ANSWER FOR THE HEALTH CARE
ATTACK.
ATTACK. COMING TIME AND TIME AGAIN,
IOWA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, THERE’S NOT
A REPUBLICAN ANSWER YET.
>> YOU MEAN ON PRESCRIPTION
DRUGS?
DRUGS? >> Bret: I MEAN OVER ALL.
FIGHTING AGAINST OBAMACARE AND
FIGHTING AGAINST PRE-EXISTING
CONDITIONS.
CONDITIONS. THE PRESIDENT ON THE STATE OF
THE UNION SAYS HE’S GOING TO
FIGHT FOR PRE-EXISTING
CONDITIONS ON TIME.
THERE’S OF THE ECONOMY AND NOT A
WAY FORWARD.
WAY FORWARD. >> USE OF THE DEMOCRATS COULDN’T
EVEN PUT ON A CAUCUS IN IOWA.
I DO NOT THINK YOU CAN PUT THEM