Republicans have taken back the House. Specifically how a Republican majority intends to operate remains unclear, although indications can be gleaned from GOP intentions to investigate Hunter Biden; the GOP looks to continue the modern political trend of operating petulantly and vindictively – mostly on superficial issues, devoid of real substance or impact.
Hunter Biden, the president’s son, has often found himself at the center of scandal. From his position at Burisma, to his drug addiction, to the whole laptop thing, Hunter is a low hanging fruit for Republicans looking to bully their Democratic opponents.
If Republicans do investigate Hunter, which seems to be likely, they will be continuing a tradition of vindictiveness that has poisoned modern politics. The trend really began in the 1990s, when the Newt Gingrich-led Republicans started going after then-President Bill Clinton for his multiple sexual improprieties. Bill Clinton, too, was a low hanging fruit. The sitting president had committed dozens of alleged inappropriate sexual acts, with numerous women, dating back to his time as Governor of Arkansas. Paula Jones. Gennifer Flowers. And of course, Monica Lewinsky. Republicans went after Clinton doggedly, with Ken Starr burning up tax dollars to determine whether Clinton had lied abut having sex or not.
Granted, a president should not be having affairs in the West Wing with 20-something-year-old interns. And the president shouldn’t employ misleading or dishonest language to obscure his inappropriate behavior. Clinton is guilty on both counts. But is that sort of transgression worthy of such attention? Does the United States Congress need to be rerouted to deal with something like that? Away from their other responsibilities and commitments? Is that a priority for their constituents? And should the resources of the American people be committed to an investigation and prosecution of Bill Clinton’s sexual behavior? In all respects I would argue no. The Clinton scandals were a waste of time and money, not worth the level of national attention consumed.
Perhaps most consequentially, the Clinton ordeal set a standard for the way politicians deal with their opponents. The resultant climate was one in which the “birther” movement, which suggested Barack Obama was born in Kenya (not the United States) and hence questioned Obama’s American citizenship and eligibility to serve as president, flourished.
Democrats reciprocated when Donald Trump entered the White House; Democrats have spent the last seven years pursuing Trump for a variety of alleged wrongdoings – from cutting deals with Russia, to inciting the January 6th riot, to committing tax fraud. Much of what Democrats have accused Trump of has been overblown and taken too far – two fruitless impeachments, for example, and a circus sideshow of a January 6th commission – all of which diverted Congress from meaningful work that could have actually helped their constituents.
Now, Republicans, poised to take back the House, are threatening to continue the trend.
“Was Joe Biden involved in Hunter Biden’s business deals and is he comprised?” Republican Representative Jim Comer said. “That’s our investigation.”
“I think there are all kinds of questions that need to be answered,” Republican Representative Jim Jordan said. “And we’re determined to get there.”
Right, so once more, Congress’s priority will be investigating their political enemies, not legislating in a way that improves the steadily deteriorating quality of life for the average American citizen. Eventually, someone, or some party, is going to have to break the cycle. The reality TV, sideshow stuff, isn’t substantive. The Hunter Biden probes are likely to find as much meaningful, prosecutable information as the various Trump probes did – that being about zero. But finding meaningful information isn’t the point is it. The point is distraction. The point is instant gratification.
Republicans, after the Trump years, have a reason to feel vindictive; Democrats may deserve an investigation or two into their president’s son’s business dealings. But a Hunter Biden probe isn’t going to help US citizens in any way. Republicans should abstain from going after Hunter Biden.
Harrison Kass is the Senior Editor at 19FortyFive. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, he joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. He lives in Oregon and listens to Dokken.
jeff
November 19, 2022 at 11:52 am
Hunter Biden needs to be brought up in an investigation. There is a current belief in America, at least half of it, that there are now two ways that laws are administered. One for democrats and another for republicans. Hunter and Biden’s family are grifters and have left a stain on the presidency and vice presidency. The justice department also needs to be investigated for partisan administration of justice.
Republicans have operated in a manner that bipartisanship is giving in to the democrats for too long. Turning the other cheek only works if both parties are willing to compromise; otherwise, it only leads to getting stomped.
K Dring
November 19, 2022 at 7:06 pm
The author’s dismissal of the January 6 probe and a missing characterization of DJT as the actual King of Grifters (alongside any Democrats you want to name) is mystifying and seemingly self serving.
ross
November 19, 2022 at 9:08 pm
trump extorted ukraine by witholding around $245 million in congressionally-approved funds. ukranian government refused to manufacture false evidence against biden all the same.
HOW IS THIS NOTHING?
several people died and many police officers injured, because trump directed his followers to riot at the US congressional HQ.
HOW IS THIS NOTHING?
i like the articles you produce. but trump can lie quite a bit better than you.
suggesting treason, extortion, blackmail, & sedition are NOTHING is incorrect. you may wish to remain in your areas of expertise and leave the fascist cheerleading to others.
Jack Cross
November 19, 2022 at 11:19 pm
Hunter broke the law with his firearm, both lying on the form and disposing of the weapon.
The laptop was clearly suppressed by the Democrats, the FBI (who has possessed the laptop since 12/2019), DOJ and their lapdog media to swing the 2020 election
The material contained within, if verifiable shows CRIMINAL activity by Hunter, the Vice President now President and the President’s brother.
Tax crimes, Drug crimes, Gun crimes, Election interference, intuitional corruption, and on and on
A non-profit watchdog group created specifically to peruse the laptop and document its contents, has released a comprehensive report documenting 459 alleged crimes, including state and federal violations, committed by Hunter Biden and his associates
But sure the country should just let that go, I’m sure no one wants the law to be applied to the President and his family, right?
H.R. Holm
November 19, 2022 at 11:45 pm
As much as we would like to see Hunter Biden investigated and prosecuted/jailed if possible, the upcoming GOP-led house *cannot* make him a priority now. There is too much else at stake which immensely imperils the American population. First and foremost must be defunding the ‘Green New Deal’, i.e., the Blackouts Raw Deal. Even now predictions are being made of rolling blackouts this winter even in the U.S., due to tight ‘fossil fuel’ supplies, shortages, and increasing restrictive regulations. Second must be stopping this insane Russian-Ukraine dust-up thru negociations, not endless arming of Ukraine via letting ‘Voldomor’ Z. continue to raid the U.S. Treasury as his personal piggy bank, maybe getting us *all* killed in the process. Third must be stopping the carjacked-up crime wave cold, and if that involves ceaseless pounding on the table regarding just which ethnic segment of the population is greatly aggravating that, so be it!! (And *we all know* just what that segment is, but the GOP honchos are too intimidated and scared to say so!) Republicans are lucky to even have the House back as an election consolation prize, and must realize that they only have it by the hair on their chinny-chin-chin, too. Looks like now they may end up with only a three-vote majority at most, and therefore cannot afford to pussyfoot or dilly-dally around on the critical issues. Probably enough of their otherwise regular voters like me sat out this election because to many of them, mainly the proverbial RINOS like Rommney and even McConnell have kowtowed to Democrats too much despite the Democrats’ very narrow majorities. Either they act like traditional Republicans again, *and* start *militantly* fighting (as in out-mouthing even the likes of ‘firebomb’ Maxine Waters, for starters) for the basic interests of the population, or they really risk it all in 2024, no matter who is the Presidential nominee.
Paddy Manning
November 20, 2022 at 2:20 am
Gingrich went after the Clinton’s corrupt property dealing. Bill Clinton’s appealing behaviour emerged as a secondary issue. You might try researching what you write.
Hunter Biden will be the gate to the Biden Family Corruption.
pagar
November 20, 2022 at 3:25 am
Heh, heh,heh. GOP & US great democratisch party ought to come together and ask WHY there are so many endless prison fights, prison riots and prison deaths in both the northern new hemisphere and the southern new hemisphere.
Getting fully wet with hunter’s drug, women & shady foreign dealings case could spark the search for the answers to the many massive problems affecting both north & south America.
Start with hunter, then Biden and then trump and all their foreign associations, including their hallowed ties with middle eastern nations and Canada’s Alberta tar sands project. So much money flowing around to the wrong destinations and to the wrong people.
Bob Smith
November 20, 2022 at 6:18 am
Harrison Kass. Just drop the K and you kniw what this maga nut is.
Scottfs
November 20, 2022 at 8:40 pm
LOL. It’s not Hunter we want. It’s Joe and his taking bribes from China while VP we want to expose. That’s treason, and America should know the depth of depravity of today’s Democrats. My goodness, the horrid corruption!
We don’t care if he stays or goes. We just want the venality of Democrats exposed.
YoungKinGonnaWin
November 21, 2022 at 10:45 am
There’s no evidence Hunter did anything worth investigating. Or Joe Biden, the best President I’ve had in my lifetime, for that matter. So agree, best not to waste time with that and let’s get to kitchen table issues.
Look at all these other commenters foaming at the mouth, though. They’ll believe literally anything even if there’s no factual basis behind it. Sad. Hope I don’t end up like that one day.
froike
November 21, 2022 at 12:06 pm
The Republicans announced that Biden and his family will be investigated for the following violations:
Conspiracy or defrauding the United States
• Wire fraud
• Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
• Violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act
• Violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
• Violations of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000
• Tax evasion
• Money laundering
• Conspiracy to commit money laundering
“I want to be clear, this is an investigation of Joe Biden,” Comer stated. “The Biden family’s business dealings implicate a wide range of criminality from human trafficking to potential violations of the constitution.”
NUFF SAID
froike
November 21, 2022 at 12:11 pm
Young Kin…whatever Drug you are on….please let us know where you get it? It must be Drugs, because nobody could be born this ignorant.
Univ of Saigon 68
November 21, 2022 at 3:05 pm
Two quotes –
George Carlin: “It’s a big club, and you ain’t in it.” The perception, and reality, that there are two sets of laws – one for the elites of both parties, and one for all us peasants, is what should drive this investigation.
Ayn Rand: “When you see that trading is done, not by consent, but by compulsion – when you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing – when you see that money is flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favors – when you see that men get richer by graft and by pull than by work, and your laws don’t protect you against them, but protect them against you – when you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice – you may know that your society is doomed.”