General Barr channels de Tocqueville to save America

Yesterday, Attorney General William Barr gave the latest in a series of positively Churchillian speeches about the challenges facing our country before the National Religious Broadcasters. Notably, he brilliantly channeled the most insightful chronicler of our country’s formative years, Alexis de Tocqueville.

General Barr recalled de Tocqueville’s warning that – in the absence of key checks that have protected our nation from the dangers of “totalitarian democracy” – we would inevitably be reduced to the tyrannical rule of an intolerant majority. The two men agreed that the most important of such checks were: a national grounding in faith and morality; limited government in a federalized system where power is entrusted to leaders most accountable to the people; and an independent, free press.

While our Attorney General professed optimism that we will restore these checks, the hour is late to do so.

This is Frank Gaffney.