Good for Flake for having morals and speaking up about them. Now let's remind him of his 2000 campaign pledge to only serve three terms in Congress.
6
Despite his criticism of Mr. Trump, he has voted right along with him. That's why he's in this situation.
6
"An analysis by FiveThirtyEight, the political blog, found that Mr. Flake had voted with Mr. Trump 91.5 percent of the time."
And the same site shows Sen. Lindsey Graham (who BTW said he voted for Evan McMullin, not Donald Trump, for president) votes with President Trump 89.8% of the time.
Sen. Bob Corker votes with Mr. Trump 87.5% of the time.
Sen. Rand Paul votes with Mr. Trump 87.2% of the time.
Sen. Ben Sasse, who is supposedly an admirable "moderate" 2020 up-and-comer, votes with Mr. Trump 91.7% of the time.
These guys get people to admire them by getting in a Twitter fight/going on TV to snark on Mr. Trump (that's Sen. Graham; he's good at it) yet still do Mr. Trump's bidding by usually voting with him. They only look good now to people because President Trump is Darth Vader. In comparison these senators look like semi-evil Kylo Ren - and desperate people will take semi-evil over evil at this point.
If you're going to praise a Republican for occasionally going against Mr. Trump, it's Sen. Susan Collins, who votes with him 79.6 % of the time, and Sen. John McCain - 83.0 %.
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/
That's it. Just because Sens. Flake, Corker, and Paul "look the part" of a distinguished senator doesn't mean they are such people for their constituents. So let's see what their voting records are like after all this admiring media coverage. The future starts now. (Hint: they'll criticize Mr. Trump some more - but still vote his way.)
8
I think Senator Flake's troubles are due to his votes to support the ridiculous bills put forth by this administration rather than 'crossing trump'. In fact, his reputation has improved with many Arizonans since he took a stand against the craziness.
5
Taking on Trump? Are you kidding me? The reason he's in trouble is because he votes with Trump over 90% of the time. He voted FOR Graham Cassidy. He does have great teeth. Better to bite you with, my dear.
3
We need more politicians who will stand up for what they feel is right, rather than saying whatever gains favor--whether that is measured in votes or support from colleagues. I would vote for Senator Flake if I lived in Arizona because he has what is missing in most of our politicians--character.
1
With that 18% approval rating, if I were Sen. Flake I would ask myself, "do I want to have anything to do with the type of people who think President Tweety-bird is a good president and a good man?"
Them and their so-called anger and alienation - I'm tired of hearing about it. I get angry and feel alienated from my government and fellow citizens too, but I don't retaliate by voting for a psychopath who could too easily destroy our democracy and cause a nuclear war. As far as I'm concerned, people who still support this corrupt, incompetent, immoral, amoral creature like him because they see themselves in him. And that's pretty awful - it says as much about his voters as it does about the guy they vote for.
Getting rejected at the polls by that kind of constituent is no cause for shame - in fact it speaks pretty well of your character. I wouldn't want to represent those people in any way, knowing what kind of people they are - people who vote for and continue to support a sociopathic president.
8
With friends like Flake, who needs friends. To me: If he votes with Trump 91% of the time, that makes him a lousy Senator for anyone but rich people.
2
I'm an Independent in Arizona, by chance in Kyrsten Sinema's congressional district. Generally lean (R) on fiscal matters and (D) on social policies, so I don't really have a party to call home, and vote for the man (or woman) instead of along party lines. Voted for Kyrsten in the last election.
I just changed my affiliation to (R) so I could vote for Jeff Flake in the Republican primary as I think Kelli Ward would be a disaster. But here we are ...
7
Crossing trump seems to have coincided with the release of his book more than actual heart felt positions. You just dont vote with trump 91.5% of the time and turn around and say that you dont agree with him.
We moved to AZ in 1996 and fled in 2015. It was at one time what seemed to be a state truning blue until you live there and realize it close to the bottom in nearly every metric and as close to a Mississippi state of mind as you can find. That the state voted for trump is not accidental and voting with trump that high a % of the time is not accidental either.
You dont vote for trumpcare and say you are crossing trump.
7
It is appalling that Senator Flake is but one of a few Republicans who have stood up to Trump. Many of the commentators here talk praise Trump for the stand he takes on issues like immigration trade. Trump talks about these issues but shows little will to do something other than blame everyone else. It's the Democrats. It's "some" Republicans. It's the mainstream press. Most of congress, and most definitely the White House incumbent, are political weanies -- too afraid to put their reputation or career at risk. From this story's description of Senator Flake, he sounds like a man with true courage. Do we want our political leaders to blow with the wind or stand up for what they believe to be right?
4
Any reasonable person (which by definition excludes #45's supporters) who has lived in Arizona as long as I have (42+ years) knows that the portrait painted by the reporter of Senator Flake is false. to wit: he is not known for his "decency" and his "independent" streak.
In this regard, the reporter admits as much by citing Flake's voting with #45 and Republicans "91.5% of the time. (The other 8.5 % of his votes were on meaningless issues.) For example. Flake is in the pocket of the NRA and is against any reasonable gun control (background checks and banning assault weapons to name just a few); votes against the ACA every time it has come up for a vote; tells lies about the workings of the National Labor Relations Board (an agency for which l worked as a field attorney from 1995-2010), etc.,etc. In short he is wrong on every issue for the people of Arizona.
As for Flake having "to worry" about Kyrsten Synema (Synema), nothing could be further from the truth. Indeed, those of us who have followed her career that began in the Arizona legislature, where she was a seemingly true liberal, have seen her morph into an unrecognizable Democrat in Congress where she's voted with Republicans and #45 at least 50% of the time. In short Synema is a Republican in Democrats' clothing. Democrats like me, and there are many, will work to ensure that she never gets past the primary.
6
He might be a nice gentleman but he is still a right winger.
Better to die on your feet...
Are there so many dumb deplorables in USA?
5
Congratulations to Mr. Flake for caring more about our country than his party or his election! There are very few statesmen/women in politics today. I'm sure history will look favorable to Mr. Flake, particularly after Trump get impeached.
15
"Mr. Flake favors immigration and free trade — stances that put him at philosophical odds not only with the president, but also with many Arizonans. In 2013, he was part of the bipartisan “Gang of Eight” group of senators who put forth an immigration overhaul that would have offered immigrants in the country illegally a path to citizenship."
Correction. Mr. Flake favors ILLEGAL immigration and UNFAIR trade - stances that put him at philosophical odds not only with the president, but also with many Arizonans. Add to them millions of other Americans outside the state whose votes carried Trump to victory last November. Flake and others within the Republican Party have a choice. Either adapt to the present political environment by modifying their positions on key issues or lose on election day. Flake seems content digging his heels in and accepting defeat. So be it. He won't be missed.
2
Take solace Mr. Flake that you have 'done the right thing' to speak the truth about this tragedy that we find ourselves in, with a game show host abusing his power and destroying everything that this country stands for.
Take pride that you have separated yourself from the legions of fellow republicans and enablers that think like you, but do not have the backbone to speak up, for fear of retribution from the Trump / Bannon annihilation machine.
25
At least Sen Flake has had the courage to write it. I read the book and there is a lot of common ground. We can agree to differ. This is the way it used to be when we voted and stayed friends. I never saw anyone carrying guns except the cops and I never saw them take their guns out of their holsters. People had hunting rifles and that's where they went. I don't remember any gun crime. Now there is division and gun toting. Never intended. Politics of division maybe easier to get votes and money. Bad behavior. Not democratic. I refuse to cooperate. Mr. Trump acts with an ideology that does not belong in America. No one should be going along with it. Shame.
24
As both major parties continue to get pulled toward the extremes, voters like myself have been abandoned. I abhor the politics of Ryan, McConnell, and Trump but I also don't support the Democrats' leftist Sanders wing. I believe in limited government (including when it comes to lifestyle choices), economic freedom, free trade, protecting our environment, and pro-immigration. In 2017, I have become a voter without a party.
6
This article is troubling on so many levels! I'm a Democrat who appreciates a willingness of any party representative to realistically and logically assess the leadership of our country. While I may not have voted for Sen. Flake - I sure am a supporter of his integrity and leadership. We need more Republicans willing to call out Trump and the weakness of leadership on both sides of the aisle - that allows Trump to remain in office. This isn't a party issue - it's a decency issue and based on protecting our democracy.
10
It is a shame that the Republican Party is knocking off its less extreme Senators; however, this will really endanger their majority, which is probably more important in terms of reducing the harm that they are causing the nation, including people who will die because the far right succeeds in taking away their healthcare coverage.
5
If only all lawmakers had a sense of duty to the country. The Trump Administration poses a clear and present danger to the country, democracy, the planet and the world. It is a wrecking ball.
7
Not that long ago, the Goldwater conservatives were anything but traditional, instead considered the radical fringe by the Republican party. In a few years from now, Trump Republicans will be considered the moderates. And so it goes.
2
Anyone who stands up to Trump is a patriot and should be honored accordingly.
11
You've hit the nail on the head! We aren't using the right word to describe Trump and his enablers. They are simply unpatriotic.
6
Are you guys being serious or is this satire?
Sad when legislators’ seats appear to be more important than putting country before party; sadder still that when they do stand up to a straight-up bully they’re hailed as courageous heroes.
Remind me again how many in the GOP spoke out when the Access Hollywood tape came out, and how many stood up to defend John McCain when his military service was questioned?
9
Bravo, Senator Flake !!! Your comments on Trump are spot on.
We are all more than "just" Democrats or Republicans. We are Americans, and, above all, we need and require Truth to move forward in a positive and productive way.
Good luck, Sir.
30
"Arizona Senator Jeff Flake is the embodiment of the progressive plague within the Republican Party. And Flake isn’t hiding his disease either. He has written a book in which he proclaims to be a proud globalist conservative.
No way, Jeff. There ain’t such an animal as a globalist conservative. Once you cross over into the progressive realm of open borders, which brings with it multiculturalism and the conditions for terrorism, gang-related violence, immigrants who refuse to assimilate, the eradication of the Judeo-Christian culture, and an assault on our system of constitutional law, you lose your figurative license as a bona fide conservative.
In Flake’s new book, “Conscience of a Conservative,” Flake, in his own words, makes the case for his personal lack of conservative credentials. Newsflash, Jeff! Being a member of the Republican Party does not a conservative make. John McCain is the perfect example of a conservative imposter in the GOP. And now, so are you." http://judybeth.com/2017/08/02/jeff-flake-you-are-not-a-conservative/
4
DanielDaniel. It sounds more like you are describing a narrow minded white racist than a conservative. This country was built on immigrants. Terrorists are homegrown here. I just came back from France, shortly after the attack in Nice, yet i felt safer there than here. Any place that tourists normally went, Versailles, Eiffel Tower, etc. heavily armed soldiers patrolled. There were NO citizens with weapons. Here I go to the grocery store and people have guns on their hip. Did that protect anyone in Las Vegas? Jeff Flake may be a more moderate Republican, But frankly, i am sick and tired of Conservatives running the show and would like to see the party become a true Republican party again, one that represents Republicans of many sides, not ONLY conservatives!!!!
6
Next time please considering not returning to the US if you feel so unsafe here. As a country France is so far gone culturally that it makes this Quebecois weep. I love America and I am glad it is not as eager to trade a millennia worth of progress and development simply to have kebab store on every street
1
Sadly, I am a centrist who has crossed party lines to vote Republican sometimes......Admired, respect Danforth, Hatfield, Kennedy, Baker...Since the bottom dwellers crybaby whiners and permanent "victims" of the radical right have shown up--can barely stand to even watch them do their filth dance on camera....Tea Party or Freedom Caucus, they are still a group that prefers screaming to talking, whining to learning and feeds a "base" that I would never allow on my property....It is tragic and sad because this country thrived in a healthy two party system and both parties now are pretty impotent on policy and long on crazy....
Good centrist Democrats and Republicans are being sent away while the noise makers and "fake" patriots assault our senses with lots of truly stupid and unworkable garbage that they have little intention of ever doing......
As Americans, we have STOPPED looking to solve problems and spend more time complaining and blaming than fixing...Those brave enough to try and work across party lines are treated like traitors...Pathetic, but we do get the government we truly deserve..Our mirrors must be truly fogged up these days.
14
No Wall, no Support. Bye Bye Jeff...
3
Utter nonsense, if anything Flake has not spoken out ENOUGH against the worst scourge ever to disgrace the WH. Flake should have stood with McCain when John voted against Trump's despicable health care proposal. Flake should have criticized Trump when Trump pardoned Arpaio but Flake failed again. AZ may swing to the left and hopefully that swing will rid the state of McCain, Flake and Arizona's awful Gov Ducey.
8
He speaks poorly of Trump but votes along side Trump policies. He will regain his party's nomination again and will win his general election since Arizona is a hard core conservative state.
2
Marvin Roffman defied Mr. Trump when the self-styled king of debt (and manipulator of bankruptcy) pressured Roffman's stock analysis group to fire him because the Wall St. Journal quoted Roffman's opinion that the Trump Taj Mahal couldn't stay in business. Mr T went too far by insisting on edits in a retraction letter Roffman had drafted, and T was foolish enough to put his bullying into writing. A lawyer told Roffman he would "love to get a letter like that" - and Roffman was awarded $750K for unlawful discharge from his former employer plus an amount from T, subject to a nondisclosure agreement.
Roffman is now very successful.
THIS is a lesson in integrity!
And of course, many many people lost a lot of money on T's Taj Mahal fiasco.
5
Flake is "decent" in the same manner as Romney... which is really neither decent nor effective. Rather, it is the appearance of decent.
5
Here's the question no one wants to pose: Are the "decent" Republicans willing to formally break with Trump and the populists? This means formally setting up a third party, maybe called the "Conservative Party," to which all the decent Republicans could adhere, perhaps for argument's sake including roughly half of the current Senators and Congressmen, as well as half of the current state governors. This probably means, short term, a swing to the Democrats in state and national elections. What is worse? Democrats winning in 3-way races, or continuing to align with Trump and the populists? Jeff Flake can be part of a nucleus group to get going. What about Ben Sasse? The current party is beyond redemption. Where has Romney been? Where has the Bush family been? For that matter, where has the "Republican intelligencia" been, i.e., David Brooks and company? Go for it. It's very late in the game, you allowed Trump to wrest the nomination, and now we have Trump. But better late than never.
19
Yet somehow, Flake still votes with Trump - and against the interests of his constituents - more than 90 percent of the time. He didn't say "no" to any of the ill-advised "repeal and replace" efforts, even to follow the lead of his fellow senator John McCain in calling for a return to regular order.
He's also not brave enough to follow his mentor Barry Goldwater in staying out of women's and families' private medical decisions (Goldwater was pro-choice ). or in standing up to the right-wing evangelicals.
So you have the worst of all possible worlds. Still, he "looks" like a senator, which ought to count for something with Trump.
17
There was a time when moderate Republicans were the backbone of their Party. No longer, for the Party mantra now is Party before principle and country. What will the Republican establishment do when Bannon and his sociopathic supporters take the reins. Can't happen? At the moment, 80 percent of Republicans support Trump and all of the idiocy he promotes. Mr. Flake has many faults, but for the most part he is preferable to those who will run against him in the primaries. Trump, who has loyalty to nobody but himself, is perfectly content to see the Republican Party implode. Yeah, let's make America great again.
19
Pathetic that arizonians might not re-elect a man of strong moral character simply because he disagrees with 8.5% of what the president does. Trump never got the memo that in politics 100% of your party doesn't agree with you 100% of the time. Thats good news for us liberals. Nothing like a president throwing temper tantrums when he doesnt get his way 100% of the time.
10
The point of becoming a political leader--be it Governor, Senator, Congressperson, etc.--is to represent a set of ideals. This being a republic, one runs on these ideals, and Electoral College notwithstanding, a majority of people who shares these ideals elects him or her to office.
If Senator Flake is unpopular with Arizonans for challenging Trump's devastating regime, then he should take solace in the fact he has not fed this monstrous administration. This will be especially true after Trump's final folly, be it an ecological disaster, financial crisis, World War III, or all of the above.
5
"challenging Trump's devastating regime,"
Are you writing satire? Flake votes with Trump 100%.
I would argue the point of becoming a political leader is to practically solve problems, with ideology, an evil, having nothing to do with it. But I'm weird like that.
1
Flake is a Koch Bros product. He produces for them. He howls at the wind he blows.
2
Flake. Just add a 'y' and you got this guy's number. Follow me:
in 2016 he jumped on the Trump bandwagon re immigration, crime and the rest of the agenda.
Now, facing defeat, he is walking it all back to woo back the constituency he threw under the bus back then: Hispanics and Latinos. He must think they have short memories and even lower IQs to even a attempt his stunt.
But then again: Flake-y.
3
Flake was perfectly willing to deprive millions of health care, so he should be in peril, although any GOP replacement will still vote with Trump.
Tweedledum and Tweedledee
4
Yes Flake voted for the President's agenda 90% of the time, but don't say anything negative. Trump and his followers are thin skin, and will make you pay if you go off script.
Arizona has two of the strangest and most ineffective senators in the nation. Flake is an over-ambitious libertarian of convenience: He seized on the issue of trade with Cuba and Castro as a way to get funding from commercial interests that profit from trade with Cuba. He allied himself when he was a congressman with ultra-liberal legislators from the northeast to do it. What Arizona has to do with Castro or with Cuba is anyone's guess. The other one, McCain, is also a self-promoting, thin-skinned opportunist who brought us Sarah Palin and who cares very little for enlisted soldiers. His staff is one of the worst in the nation in responding to constituent requests. Good riddance to both of them.
4
In 1996, Representative JC Watts said this to the Republican National Convetion: "Character is doing whats right when nobody is looking." Sen. Flake is one of the few Republicans today to show even a hint of the character Republicans used to make the centerpiece of their campaigns.
1
I don't know how those republicans who don't speak out against Trump can live with themselves. I almost feel sorry for them for sacrificing their integrity for their political futures.
7
There is such a thing as blind loyalty, the operative word being "blind". Have we really reached a point where having quarrels with a president on anything from policy decisions to overtly destructive and insulting behavior will not be tolerated?
One can only be grateful that the same blind loyalists weren't involved in the founding of the country, the Bill of Rights and the Constitution where learned men versus reality tv egomaniacs and quarreling factions, stayed in rooms arguing out their differences for days coming together through compromise to serve the greater good, not one interest group or leader (they didn't have parties back then, which says something).
The truth is, as this piece indicates, that Jeff Flake for all of his criticisms of Trump, has a voting record that strongly supports conservatism and Trump's agenda. That indicates that Flake's objections are specific, not broad in disagreement with basic tenets that frankly the president isn't big on adhering to himself. The latter point makes the insistence on purity extremely ironic given Trump's mercurial temperament and lack of devotion to ideology. So, what we're really talking about is a cult of personality with a personality that expects unreserved adulation. Good luck with that.
14
Senator Flake, and Corker may think they are republicans, but if they have they are blind to what's been going on in the party for the last 20+years. What are referred to as "Establishment" republicans, are for the most part the moderate, and reasonable arm of the party. These are also the people on Steve Bannon's hit list. The "Populist" are the take no hostages arm of the party. They give no quarter, and without a thought in their head about sign on to anything that trump says and does. I have yet to meet a republican who can make a compelling argument for the "Wall"
Most thinking people realize the damage caused by years of partisan squabbling. Yet here we are. With a president, and I use the term loosely, who relishes division in his country, and who takes a sort of perverse pleasure in mocking, and insulting people. His supporters love it, not because it is just, or moral, righteous, or anything that is logical or reasonable. They love it because it, at least to some degree, there is vindication. trump voters feel that trump has heard them, and they love him for it, for years no one else listened. Flake, Corker, and others must decide for their country or for their party, because the republican party belongs to trump now, so the decision is to belong to trump or leave the party. Conservatism is dead.
25
All the people you mention VOTED WITH TRUMP, so you don't know what you are saying.
@ Debbie:
[Conservatism is dead.']
Well, it's still alive & well in the Establishment Democratic Party.
Flake could do well with the Clinton-Obama-Clinton-Pelosi-Schumer 'bipartisans', & with voters like the commenters here who insist Democrats need to drop the 'liberal extremism' (!?!) & pander to the conservative blue collar crowd to make up for votes lost in the past (lost by exactly the same sort of pandering, & by taking progressives for granted!).
The various factions in US politics are being realigned, & the labels will eventually shift to catch up.
I think what we will be seeing is a new social-democratic or progressive party emerging, & finally giving a clear voice to truly egalitarian public-interest-based policy. Current corporate Dems & the GOP will agree that they really are 'stronger together', & the Tea Party radicals can go the way of the John Birch Society & the Klan, maybe out to an armed camp in the desert funded by Sheldon Adelson, the Mercers & the Kochs (where they can shoot sage grouse, & weigh in on cow pasture arguments between the Bundys & ('the') BLM).
Love how the Times likes to use this to portray Trump as a dictator. More fake news. The truth is if you cross Trump you are crossing his agenda and the American people. So in essence, yes if you cross the American People you will do so at great political risk. This is a big issue?
5
"The American People" by and large did not vote for Trump. The two dozen misinformed voters Trump has left are the loud mouths who get attention. The majority of American people are horrified by this President.
4
looks like you don't understand that a minority of people voted for Trump. a distinct minority. and a much greater majority of Americans do not like how he acts, what he stands for, who he is and especially his policies. so, drop the phone passive aggressive nonsense and wake up. your guy is not our guy.
4
Speak for yourself. The actual majority of Americans didn't vote for Trump and don't support his loony policies and abhorrent behavior. He's not a dictator, he's an aspiring dictator who behaves like a thug. That is not to say that he is unpopular with everyone; clearly there are a significant number of people who support him, but it's a big stretch to conflate that with "the American people". Funny, I didn't see the same attitude when Obama was elected twice with both the electoral college and the popular vote ... hmmm
3
Cross the American People at your own risk you mean....
3
This country is divided and no one group of supporters represent "the American people". Trump won the electoral college. Since he has managed to alienate far more people than voted for him and that's on top of losing the popular vote. It's time for Trump fans to stop implying they represent anyone or anything other than themselves and their preferences, which was also true of Obama supporters albeit with a much bigger constituency as I'm fairly certain you and your party pointed out at the time.
It's a sad day when a politician can't support what's best for his people and America and must blindly support a leader who is unquestionably a serial liar hell-bent on destroying the core of what is American. Replacing Republicans with integrity by Trump puppets brings us closer to an autocracy, the one thing our democracy was designed to prevent.
12
My US Rep is such a coward she only holds phoney town halls so she can pretend she doesn't hear us questioning the president's collusion with Russians. She's not afraid to fly an A-10 into the face of the enemy, but she is loath to confront the Russians.
Seriously, she pretended she could not understand that question repeatedly during a phone town hall she invited us to, but then held us all hostage to her tales of heroism. I hope she gets primaried by a real nut job so we can have a real hero back in that saddle.
Too bad Flake's own positions on health and humanity aren't worth saving him from what ever lunatic they can find to moon over his primary. This is gonna be one butt ugly primary in AZ.
10
Flake is a flake. he broke President Reagan's 11th Commandment for Republicans. He will be removed. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy/RINO/phony conservative.
3
In taking on Donald Trump, he accomplished nothing... Absolutely nothing. He went along with Trump on destroying Obamacare. Flake is really a nothing. He'd probably go along with Trump's plan for tax cuts for the rich, more coal and destroy America. The GOP over what's best for America, that's Flake. Although he isn't much different than Senators Murkowski (AK) or Cornyn (TX) or Portman (OH). All bad for America. Good luck Puerto Rico with the GOP in charge.
11
Flake is hardly a "nothing." I do not agree with his votes, but he is holding the space for decency in this country, which is the only way we will get out of this ugliness. Have you seen his Republican challenger in Arizona? NOTHING about her is admirable. Absolutely horrid.
5
Back to you. I know his Republican rival is worse than he is ... But what's the difference between Hermann Goering and Joseph Goebbels? Both of them working on Tax Cuts for the rich and working to make everyone's life more complex by working to destroy Obamacare. No difference.
1
Appreciate your argument, of course. And it is also true that people are searching for a way to tack towards decency and have that reflected in policy. A tiny group of reasonable voices is emerging, fragile. Flake has to balance political realities with decency to be able to gain any voice whatsoever.
He does risk that there will be movement back towards center or even left of center when he does that. It is its own form of courage. I cannot see how the country survives unless we can restore civility, decency in the political process and there can be debate. Both of Arizona's senators know this. Both have been critiqued as "flake-y" and ineffective. But McCain torpedoed the horrid ACA reforms offered by Senate Republicans.
He is not seeking re-election. He is seeking history.
LIkely he and Flake talked. Flake did not have to vote no and risk future voters turning against him until more reasonable discourse emerges and his actual voice can be heard...because McCain's vote was enough.
This is how reasonable Republicans are having to maneuver right now.
I say more power to them.
The incredible ugliness spewing from Flake's challenger is poisoning the air in Arizona. I sincerely hope it does not cross borders to California or anywhere else.
Strategy. Tactics. Both are very very important and extraordinarily tricking in the time of Bannon. ER, ah, I mean, Trump.
1
Dear Senator Flake, as a resident of AZ if you want to stay relevant and walk your talk and put your money where your mouth is? Change parties and run as a Democrat. You would however, have to vote that way as well. That's really the problem, isn't it? Talk is cheap. Guts take some courage.
8
"No one told him to" have integrity - he just had it!
4
Sod off, Swampy. You're going to get primaried into oblivion, along with all of the other impostors posing as Republicans.
3
Lucretia, you want more Trump? What good is that going to do you, granny is out on the streets already, no more medicaid
1
Jeff Flake is another closet Liberal (RINO) and should be defeated and replaced with what the Tax paying voters of Arizona want , a real conservative, not a person willing to play ball with Liberal in Washington!!!!.....I would ask Flake, "How much Money did you accept from George Soros in your Campaign"??????
3
The money line in this article was the “This is more about protecting the seat for Republicans”. This is why we are in the place we are as a country, It is not about what is best for Arizona or the country but what is best for republicans. This is why we have Trump. The stupid people don’t have to think or put any effort into understanding issues and how those issues will have an effect on their lives, just vote for the R. To be that brainwashed, to believe any lie, to have no integrity, principles, or character is to be republican. They deserve the scorn which is heaped upon them by thoughtful people everywhere.
13
Never seen so many far right-wingers comment on a Times piece. Welcome to reality ladies and gentleman.
12
No doubt they must have gotten tired of listening to AM radio and decided to read something for a change.
Flake, Corker, Heller and all the rest of the Democrat-lite "Republicans" are part of the problem - and part of the reason for Trump's election.
Certified swamp creatures.
4
Sorry about that, Senator Flake. It's good when you are true to your convictions; it's even better when you can be true to your convictions and win as well. At least you will have an intact conscience, which is a lot more than some of your colleagues will have.
You should not have to worry that if you say something negative about a president, his minions will target and destroy you. Where are the Woodward and Bernstein, where is the DEEP THROAT, who will take down this MAD ROMAN EMPEROR of a president?
9
"By their deeds ye shall know them." There's what one says and then there's what one does. Mr. Flake may criticize Trump, but look at his voting record. When you vote more than 90% of the time with the president, you are not "taking him on." You are enabling and agreeing with him. Will the media please stop repeating this nonsense about Flake somehow being an outlier, just because he says he is? Look at his voting record.
8
Amen, you are absolutely correct. Flake can vote with the devil but denying it won't stand with his voting record of toe the line with McConnell. For some reason the NYT is giving cover to him. Flake votes against the interests of Arizona citizens. Kirsten Synema has my vote, not a flake, ever.
2
The article does not state the obvious. The mainstay of Republican voters are people who generally do not think about what they are about to do, but instead wait for orders from their interpreters, faux news, allen jones, et al, who put events into their own perspective before releasing them to the obedient viewers and listenership. But, as the article infers, they do vote regularly.
11
I am not a Republican though I had an opportunity to meet Jeff Flake a few years ago. After last night's 60 MInutes expose of a criminal, drug dealing Congress, truly talking out of both sides of their mouth, it is even harder to find respect for Republicans.
However in meeting and listening to Jeff Flake, I heard a thoughtful, articulate, committed public servant. Proud of him.
2
Me too.
So, decency and independence are qualities that are an anathema to the Republican party's base in Arizona? For Jeff Flake, his personal traits are admirable but he is at odds with the reality of where the Republican party is today. If the president's very own and hand-picked SOS thinks his boss is a "moron", what does that say about the 63 million people who voted for him?
If Kelli Ward is hitching her wagon to the White House in her quest to unseat Flake, the Stephen Bannon effect on the future direction of the GOP is what's at stake in Arizona and elsewhere. The president's ultimatum to Republican lawmakers is, "it's me or else".
4
Why not ask him why he is going to support the Senate budget resolution that will dig the country into a deep debt hole. Answer: Because he is just another alligator in the GOP swamp.
2
In what sense has Sen. Flake "taken on" Trump? He votes with him every single time. Aesthetics don't count for much in these troubled times. Sorry, Jeff, no sympathy until you really break with 45*.
4
As most know there is a charming moment in the WIZARD OF OZ in which the Cowardly Lion begs for 'courage' but that is what is missing in the sycophants who surround Trump. None have the courage to tell Trump he is an 'empty suit' someone who acts as a bully but has no integrity only self interest to guide him in the job. Each one of them knows that Trump does not understand nor can conduct himself in that role with competence, skills and knowledge nor moral principles other than his overweaning self interest. He is a fraud and Jeff Flake and all Republicans know that but fail to remove him from office...shame, shame, shame. Flake knows this as do all his colleagues. Who will stand up and say the obvious, "You're fired!"
6
I lived in AZ for 2 1/2 years and Jeff Flake was my congressman. He presents a nice-guy persona, but he's an opportunist like all politicians. I have a hard time believing he's speaking his conscience. It's more likely he took a calculated risk that AZ leans more pro-illegals / anti-Trump and he'd be better positioned as an anti-Trump moderate. It looks like that was a miscalculation and he might lose. Shed no tears for him - shortly after the election he'll land a grand 'ol seven figure "job" as a lobbyist. Of the 535 members of congress, trust none of them.
I did enjoy how the Times treated Flake with kid gloves in this article - I guess it's true the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
4
As an Arizonan I can firmly say that Flake can't have it both ways. His courage needs also to extend to his votes. But his willingness to show some gumption is noteworthy. They don't call his challenger "Chemtrails" Kelli Ward nuts for no reason. Synema would be a blessing so perhaps Flake' s greatest contribution would be ceding his seat to a Democrat.
5
A propos of nothing: Within the past generation Arizonans have elected Evan Mecham, Fife Symington, and Jan Brewer as Governors. I know nothing of AZ politics but, to an outsider, that doesn't bode well for Flake when it comes to beating out Ward in the GOP primary.
3
And many people who crossed Hillary Clinton were found dead. Which is worse?
2
How many? Tell us what Infowars has to say on this.
2
The Republicans should nominate Flake for President in 2020. He's the kind of Republican the country needs.
And leukemia is the kind of cancer the country needs.
3
I read Sen Flake's book. It should have been titled "Follow Me I'm Right Behind You". Good words, truly, but the Senator fails to follow up on his own clearly articulated principles. His 91.5% voting record supporting Trump's agenda simply shows his hypocrisy and lack of backbone. When it matters in standing up to this administration like he advocated in his book he folds like a cheap suit.
5
I just commented the same thing you said. He's a Trumpster. He's a GOP Trumpster right to end. Truthfully, Corker and McCain are about the same, worthless.
2
The decision to bad mouth Trump publicly was risky. However one’s personal integrity is important. Presuming his integrity includes what is best for the Country and his constituents, could Flake have protected that integrity by vote without voicing his distaste for Trump? Maybe. His votes against Trump would have given him away probably also. Pick your poison but protect your integrity.
2
Not to worry Sen. Flake. We don't necessarily agree with your stances, but we WILL vote for you over another Trump puppet!
The poor Jeff Flakes's of the world have nothing when it comes to the Steve Bannon's of the world who have the support of the money, the Evangelical's and the Alt Right!!
2
He tried to have it both ways: profess loyalty to ethics and morality and vote the other way. Transparent hypocrisy at it's worst!!
2
Everything trump touches dies. Sometimes faster, sometimes slightly less fast. But it dies.
4
Yeah Trump sure showed Roy Moore in Alabamie the cost of running against his candidate.
Flake voted with Trump to throw the poor in Arizona off Medicaid, unlike his courageous and patriotic colleague John McCain.
Maybe the folks in Arizona are tired of the joke the state has become with the likes of Joe Arpaio and his GOP enablers.
4
Apparently it takes the biggest con man in history putting the world on the brink to get even a small percentage of republicans to see where the most toxic, most dysfunctional major party in American history has led us.
6
Isn't Flake on 'the list' ??? Maybe why he is on his way out with Corker.
1
Click the link and you find the Flake's challenger "from the left" is Krysten Sinema. What qualifies Sinema as "from the left"? She's left of Flake, I'll give you that, but what policy positions does she hold that qualify her as a candidate of The Left as opposed to, for example, a candidate of socially-tolerant pro-business centrists? (Not to be coy, "socially-tolerant pro-business centrist" seems like an accurate characterization of Sinema; "liberal" or "left" does not.) Sinema is who she is. Let's use a description which is reasonably fitting given the positions she holds and the policies she advocates.
6
Krysten Sinema is my US Rep and you are correct - she is not a liberal. Could she have been elected is she was? Probably not. So, you know, this is Arizona and we take what we can get.
1
America the colorful is deeply conservative-schizo and Flake is part of this craziness. While his statements and his book attack the unfit Donald his voting for Trump almost all the time shows his devious side. Hopefully the democratic challenger has a chance.
9
Senator Flake and the rest of the Republicans built the Grand Old Party of Hatred. As they say, "When you rides the tiger, its hard to get off." Senator Flake is not a moderate, he is not even a moderate Republican. the Republican voters do not want a moderate, They want a far right fascist. I weep for our country.
17
When will the Republican Party wake up and realize they are being used by a con-artist to destroy the very government and Constitution they pledged to uphold? Once Trump has drained them for all they are worth he will dump the Republicans and form his own party, one that is aliened with Russia and sympathetic to autocratic rule.
10
We have very little to fear from trump. He's been caught in enough fake-news claims to never again be taken seriously. Adding together those who never voted for Trump plus those who will never vote for him again makes up a hefty percentage.
I find it highly amusing when Repiblicans talk about the president's agenda. He has no agenda. Never has, never will.
He made promises that a normal thinking person knew were lies - better, more affordable healthcare for all, Mexico will pay for the wall, tear up NAFTA. There were no plans to implement them as we nave seen. That was someone else's job because he doesn't think he just talks. He says whatever will make his foolish followers clap and cheer.
We've seen this play before in world history. It never plays well.
14
This senator's troubles can be simply explained.
Flake's a fake.
6
We have been watching evolutionary history!
Never in biology have we seen vertebrates mutate to invertebrates until the 2017 GOP, this will be referred to as the Trump Devolution.
17
Last years Presidential campaign was an exercise in exasperation. Neither candidate represented the best in their party and the electorate had to base their decision on the least of two evils. As a long term conservative and Republican supporter, basing my politics on common sense and a keen respect for capitalism and the Constitution, I was willing to give Trump a chance to be the plain speaking builder he claimed to be. From Day 1 his bullying, aggressiveness, pettiness and lack of common sense policies have alienated me and millions of others of moderate conservative minded people. These people would seen to include Senators like McCain, Heller, Corker and Flake who are speaking out for inclusive conservative policies and attitudes. Where are all the other sensible Republican leaders. One would expected some principled leadership from Ryan and others. But they remain silent, cowered by Trump and his henchman Bannon. Republicans need to speak up and face down the Bannons of the world. If they wait to long and continue to be timid, surely the Democrats will win in twelve months and in three years recapture the White House. Where will the Republicans be then? Well the Whigs, Federalists, "No Nothing " American Party and of course Bull Moose Party all come to mind!
4
While I am not a big fan of how Trump operates, Mr. Flake's belief that a conservative should be "steady and measured and predictable" would be fantastic if it were true. But, only a cynic would have predicted these senators would vote against the very platform they ran on. I am now one of those cynics. I don't trust either party to do the right thing. I do know the Democrats want to steal everything. But, it looks like the Republicans are learning fast from their friends on the other side of the aisle.
5
"(T)he democrats want to steal everything"
Really? And which news source did you get THAT little gem? Let me guess... Bannon's Breitbart 'Fake news generated while you wait' enterprise?
3
I’m curious to know what you think the Democrats are trying to steal and how they’re doing it. What did Obama steal over the last 8 years?
I understand not trusting either party. But the current White House has more ethics violations already than any other I’m aware of.
It's not to one's advantage to have Trump's support during an election. GOP Members of Congress should show some the guts, rally against him and his smarmy election. Before it's too late...
9
The Joe McCarthy era seems a plausible cautionary tale for this new phase of Trumpster demagoguery. Welch created the pivotal moment, citing decency to topple the vicious anti-Commie fervor. Bannon bolsters Trump's own pseudo-populist 'hysteria'- stoking the base with a new kind of paranoid hate.
Surely, we can hope that more than decency can prevail again--that rational GOP figures will stay strong.
But only a Democrat can truly give voice to a counter 'movement' --and that is lacking so far. This is a greater worry than GOP wafflers. Currently, all we hear is Trump 24/7...and snipes at his atrocious misstatements, ignorance and vulgarity.
We need a Welch, Barbara Jordan, Sam Ervin..a down-to earth voice from the left to restore sanity.
6
It says a lot about the Republican party when it's members live in political fear of a toothless tiger named Donald J. Trump. Especially when that "tiger" hasn't accomplished anything and has somewhere around a 70% disapproval rating. What exactly are they living in fear of, again?
17
Capitalism is dying. Will democracy be pulled down with it? Reagan has done more than anyone to accelerate its demise. Trump or Flake, neither will solve our problems.
Religion is just elites trying to stay in power, nobody who is paying attention believes in God.
Money in politics and gerrymandering are the end. We lost on money and politics, the last test is gerrymandering.
7
"The mayor, who calls himself a conservative Republican, said he was not currently backing Mr. Flake, whom he views as exacerbating divisions within the party and undermining the president’s agenda."
-------
It's a problem when people value unity over truth.
13
After watching Sen. Flake promote his new book, I just assumed he was going to challenge Trump for the nomination in 2020. Young, sane, conservative, pro-immigration, and from a western state. He's the best hope the establishment GOP has to run against Trump.
4
What I don't understand, though, is that Flake wrote in his book about the need to return to genuine deliberative processes in Congress, and yet he was among those perfectly willing to vote for a series of ill-conceived and hurriedly wrought health care bills meant primarily to undo Obamacare without putting anything decent in its stead. So as much as he might 'cross' Trump in word, he doesn't really do so in deed when push comes to shove.
8
It is an absolute slap in the face of every U.S. citizen, and an open threat to the world at large that we US Citizens still allow mr trump to remain our president after all he has said and done and threatens to impose upon the US and the world. This is a new experience for me as I am sure it is for many of you. I have lived through the crooked likes of Nixon, the partisan Reagan, and the humiliating Clinton years, but none of them compare in scope to the threat mr trump poses to not only the United States, but the world. This situation is unprecedented and it seems to me that we do not have time to discuss political protocol. We have an ape at the helm and the rocks are dead ahead and looming closer every day we split hairs on proper protocol.
5
One of my favorite movies is "The Quiet Man". Among the wonderful scenes in that movie is the scene where the Protestant minister, a universally respected man in the vastly Catholic community, hosted the bishop. When he was leaving the town, the Catholic priest gets all the townspeople to line the streets and cheer the bishop as he leaves town, to revive his prospects of staying in the community. The priest covering his collar leads the cheers.
So, a modest proposal. Democrats, cross the line and vote for Flake and Heller as decent men. Don't let the Bannon's of the world and his lackey Trump ruin our society.
2
Vote for them in GOP primaries? Maybe, I suppose. But in the general? No way. Their positions on issues are uniformly awful. There's nothing to work with. Decency is great if we more or less want the same things but just have different approaches to achieving those ends. The problem is that we don't want the same things. Look at what they do when they have the opportunity to legislate. Republicans are anti-worker, anti-environment, against access to affordable health care, pro war, anti-science. The list of things that makes them awful goes on and on. (Name the GOP-initiated policies and programs that have benefitted a significant number of Americans. Please, let's hear them. Feel free to go back 100 years.) Bannon and Trump are more aggressively awful than Flake and Heller but Flake and Heller are still awful. I would never vote for either of them in a general election.
2
I for one am still awaiting a credible, viable, logically consistent, truly discernible definition of "limited government, economic freedom" that Republicans ALWAYS spew on about but NEVER clearly explain, and in fact often contradict. Such mantras may sound fabulous to those who don't parse them. Does 'limited government' mean smaller in size, limits to its control and management, both? It's far from clear that Republicans have deduced that less government control and regulation seems to spawn egregious big business abuse. 2008, anyone? Does 'limited government' translate to 'unlimited corporations'? Or is that exactly why they want less government? Because unlimited corporate profits means quid pro quo unlimited donations to Republican candidates? You know, as in buying the U.S. government wholesale?
And 'economic freedom'? Please explain. Does that mean lower credit interest rates, fair student loans, job mobility with health insurance, any health insurance at all, freedom from the clutches of banks (like Wells Fargo, say) and loans (like payday) that many Americans consider predatory, and the special freedom in seeing that our tax money is well spent? Or is it simply that Republican affiliates offer their 'free market' junk and we have the freedom to buy it, or not? Because that's not real freedom.
The Republicans, 'con-moderate' Flake included, seem to make little real effort to clarify what seems to be little more than regurgitated marketing tag lines.
7
60 minutes did a segment years ago on Jeff Flake, when he was a member of the House of Representatives. At that time Jeff Flake was the lone leader in the House to stand up against the billions of $'s of wasteful "earmark" spending by Congress, Remember the "bridge to nowhere".
Now, Senator Flake is one of the few GOP Senators with the courage to stand up to Trump and call out his madness. Senator Flake is a real hero in my book.
4
Arizona is Sheriff Arpaio territory so any GOP candidate will have to swallow the hate and racism and go all in with the Trump as Savior crowd. Hope is that that contingent remains firmly within the State of Arizona.
At this point in time, the Trump as Savior movement is strong and healthy but not growing. It's a full year until the 2018 midterms and between now and then who knows what is going to happen. Hardships and disappointment due to lack of good healthcare policies or war. Both are very real possibilities and could make Trump less a Savior and more the Liar acknowledged. It will take something catastrophic to shake the Messiah from his throne.
3
It says a lot that Senator Flake is in a very small group as someone in the GOP willing to show some level of credibility and integrity in saying what we all know -- Emperor Trump is not wearing any clothes. Flake appears to have few regrets in challenging Trump, and if that costs him his job, it's a job not worth having.
Haven't looked at the latest polls, but my guess is that the Republicans' approval numbers are worse than Trump's, and for good reason. When you refuse to call out the dangerous and despicable despot that Trump is, that makes you complicit and arguably worse. If there's any justice, Republicans will pay a very heavy price in the 2018 mid-term elections.
6
From your mouth to God's ear.
"Mr. Flake said he had known from the start that taking on Mr. Trump might do him political harm."
Trump has done harm to the entire United States.
Trump and his people form a disaster to this nation. They attack a strong conservative like Jeff Flake because he doesn't worship the Trump ego. Let's face it, conservatism is dead and the new Republicanism is to worship Donald Trump. It requires an inability to think. Thinking was a trait of conservatism.
Andy Surabian reveals the problem with Trump people. He states,
“No one told him to go out and be the face of the anti-Trump resistance in the Republican Party. No one told him to go out and write a book that was basically an anti-Trump screed. The reason the race is in play is because of Jeff Flake’s actions.”
Surabian's measure of a Republican is one who gets on his knees to Trump, not one who knows how to think.
Surabian doesn't know that he is worshiping an exceedingly weak president who has demonstrated that he can't run a White House. Surabian shows that the Republican Party is desperately clinging to the erratic Trump ego for leadership. They are in fear of Trump's churlish insults; It's all they have, and it's a mess.
14
Voted 90 % of the time with Trump and he's supposed to be someone with principles? Good riddance
11
Well Peter, when you measure someone's principles by whether or not they take the same political positions as you you're on a real slippery slope. A slope that will eventually lead to either Fascism or Communism. Am I hysterically overstating? Not really, I said eventually.
I myself disagree vehemently with Senator Flake's positions. I'm a liberal. He's not. But is he exactly the same as those Republicans who will go along with Trump no matter what? Definitely not.
Perhaps you're one of those young "progressives" who have decided that Freedom of Speech is just a trick of the oppressors. Those folks are well on their way to what I call Communism.
To put it simply a Fascist is someone willing to create a dictatorship to advance rightwing policies. A Communist the same for leftwing policies.
Study the history of the first half of the 20th century if you don't know what I'm talking about.
1
I disagree with Jeff flake on most policy matters but I highly esteem his integrity and care for all Americans. He may be for tougher immigration policies but he has spoken out against demonizing immigrants whether documented or not. He also spoke in support of a democrat who got attacked for her Muslim faith. If people like he and Sasse were in top positions I'd argue fiercely against them but I wouldn't fear for my country or feel disgust. As much as I'd like to see a democrat win, I suggest he marginalize fringe candidates winning by running as a write in a la murkowski. I suspect he'd make a good run of it, even maybe win, free of the republican primary's rewarding of extreme nut cases.
38
Both Sasse and Flake should have put their votes where their mouths are. Then they could speak out.
1
Yes, I'm certain you'd be all over Flake's integrity if he was talking about Bill Clinton's trysts, or Hillary's use of the now defunct Clinton Foundation.
1
Democrats in AZ haven't wanted Flake for a long, long time. He's voted the GOP party line at every critical vote. If he began to change his votes to match his book, maybe we'd be less eager to see him go. Will we get someone worse? How could it be much worse than a senator who talks out of both sides of his mouth?
79
That's often known as compromise.
This is politics, not a purity test. See, you accept the tea party/gop premise, but its flawed from inception.
In a big country, in large states, with many people and many view points, its not all one way. Simple (read there, ignorant) folks want things easy to understand. But politics is not like that.
Flake and Sasse are republicans, they enabled this abomination called trump. At least they are pushing back, showing some spine, and trying to serve their constituents rather than being trump stooges. Good on them I say. Now, if a good few Dems could challenge these guys that'd be fine, too.
2
I'm a Democrat in California. I would definitely vote against him since I don't agree with his policy stands. But I can see and appreciate the difference between him and all the Republican politicians who will go along with Trump no matter what. Hard to understand why you can't see.
1
Agree. His story of the Mexican man who worked faithfully for his family for much of his life does not mention if he was paid same wages as the brethren. I doubt it.
1
His current only announced primary opponent sponsored a forum on government-caused "chemtrails," what the sane among us call contrails.
She also hustled up to Nevada to stand with Cliven Bundy.
So she probably -- probably because this is AZ, after all-- would lose to Flake in a primary.
Which is why unless someone else declares, it'll be an interesting general election between a centrist Democrat with a colorful past -- Kirsten Sinema -- and Flake
4
And, here is where the media and NYT gets it all wrong, all the time. Trump, Trump, Trump... they want to bash Trump continuously on his policies when, in actuallity, they are bashing us who put him in office because of his policies. So, everytime u bash him, u bash us Americans who put him there. But, you are really only speaking to your biased beleaguered readership which is dwindling and circling the toilet.
5
So, Trump goes away if we ignore him? Sounds more like a Russian play.
3
>So, everytime u bash him, u bash us Americans who put him there.
Correct. We're angry that you're trashing our country.
6
Okay, so if we disagree with the policies you believe in we're bashing you. Which is, apparently, wrong.
But you clearly disagree with the policies I believe in, like the policies that President Obama was advancing. So that means, by your reasoning, that you started bashing me eight years ago.
5
If one weren't already familiar with the New York Times, one could read this article and come away with the mistaken impression that the New York Times is fond of conservatives.
5
You could try to actually think, Lee. One can appreciate a particular conservative while disagreeing with most conservative stands. Just like a conservative who thinks could appreciate a particular liberal while disagreeing with most liberal stands.
2
No, cross Trump VOTERS at your own risk. To quote The Who, we won't get fooled again (by Swampy GOPe globalist, open borders, neo-Cons.
11
Well there's nothing left for you Trump voters to be fooled by when you've already been taken in for by a second-rate con.
6
Not being fooled again? By Mnuchin and the Plutocrats--a The Who tribute band?
3
You and "Ron" are of a piece. I want to see what you say in 3.5 years, if we as the USA are still standing
3
Instead of expressing concern solely for their short term political careers, can't these Republicans think of their progeny?
Are their great great grandchildren going to be ashamed of them? Or will they proudly say, "Yes, my great great grandfather was one of the few brave Republicans who stood up against the 45 administration. It cost him his career, but he did the right thing, and we will always be proud."
32
We need leaders to call out Trump on is unfitness, his use of disinformation. This is what we want in our leaders.
28
I am a left leaning moderate, and a resident of the great state of Arizona. The next time I agree with a vote by Flake will be the first. That some might consider him a moderate is a testament to the true insanity of the republican majority in this state. (Example: Tens of thousands of his constituents would benefit from access to affordable health care, and he has no qualms about throwing them to the wind. If this isn't the great moral question of our time, what is?) As to his vocal criticism of Trump, consider me an ingrate, but I don't see him beating the drums among his spineless colleagues on the senate floor. Or on the street corner, for that matter. Yes, she/he that could replace him might be worse, but trust an Arizona democrat when I tell you that unfettered conservative rule will doom us all anyway.
83
Run, Kyrsten, run!
5
when telling the truth about a dangerous man... the preident of the U.S.... endangers your job as a U.S. senator... youre livng in the wrong state!
16
Kelli Ward in a nutshell: "McCain you're a sick old man and practically dead, quit or die so I can take your place, and back Trump in taking away health care from sick Americans, and maybe start an overdue land war in Asia". This is a "values" candidate" supported by the "religious" right.
42
Well stated.
2
Sounds like she is the real flake in this election.
2
Isn't Iran in Asia? We could well have TWO land wars there before the end of the Trumpster's first term. After all, that's what got Dubya reelected.
Political beliefs have always been a spectrum from conservative on one end to liberal on the other. In an ideal democracy, all of those beliefs are equally viable and compromise helps to create effective policy and governance.
What the Republicans under Trump are doing now is building a wall that only allows in those willing to subsume their own beliefs in favor of bowing down to a President who has no loyalty or respect for them.
The Republicans are sacrificing their individual beliefs, their sense of what is right and wrong, even risking the respect of the constituents who elected them into office, all to keep the Naked Emperor happy. In doing so, they are isolating and driving off the last remaining Republicans, like Jeff Flake, who are still willing to stand up while others are bowing down.
Ultimately the fate of the Republican Party lies as much in the hands of the Voters as it does in the hands of the Party Leadership. If they are upset that Congress isn't getting anything done, that their Representatives aren't listening to them, will they vote for Independent Minded Republicans like Jeff Flake [though even his record is spotty]? Or will they continue to vote into office Representatives and Senators who only listen to the Hive Mind of what was once the Republican Party?
9
Good riddance to the old Republican party. Trump's base is entirely aware of what is going down in Washington. The corruption and immorality will be coming to an end soon. Everything is not what it seems, and some of these politicians are not who they pretend to be.
1
You are describing Democrats, not Republicans...
1
Trump's base are truly base. No sense, no critical thinking ability, and no ability to apply logic.
1
If Jeff Flake does not win the Republican primary in a state like Arizona, then it will demonstrate that the Republican Party is damaged beyond repair.
5
No one is rooting more loudly than Chuck Schumer for Steve Bannon to win his war on the GOP establishment.
6
Sad commentary when all these GOP sheeples walk on tiptoes around the most inept, corrupt person in political history. They have no conscience.
36
I have learned that our liar and chief is easy to read. He wants loyalty, which means "just say yes." When he calls something fake news, it's the truth. When he says "believe me" he is telling a bold face lie. When he says he knows more than anybody, he is saying "I am a moron." Politicians and cabinet members being afraid to speak the truth is just the beginning of an autocracy. Steve Bannon knows this and knows how to win the game in this reality show called the Trump Presidency. However, in any game there are winners and losers and the losers are us.
2
Flake has become his name.
5
This article should be named "Cross your voters that put you in office could spell trouble for Senator Flake"
Both Senators Flake and McCain made promises to voters, both have violated their promises with following their opinions instead of why they were elected.
Both need to go into retirement.
7
“And Republicans will now GET (not “have”) to field a candidate to succeed Mr. Corker, who announced late last month that he was not running next year.”
TFIFY
2
There will be no lesson learned until after Flake's next election. If he loses, then Trump and his simian Trumpoholics will have won; if Flake wins, it will constitute another bit of evidence regarding Trump's weakness among people who can read, write, and think.
8
Thank God we have such superior people like you to inform the nation of its shortcomings! Still--YOUR candidate is the one that went down in flames, correct?
1
It will be difficult for me, a Tucsonan, to vote for Flake.
He is politically a RINO and also not a good Mormon.
I am not a Mormon, but I like Mormon values.
I do not like and strongly oppose tolerance of illegal immigration.
5
Mormon value...but, do you like Trump, then?
2
Mr. Flake, like so many other RINOS has got to go. America would be in such better shape, financially, morally, etc IF we had people in our government who really cared about Americas well being instead of lining their own pockets. FLAKE IS A PHONY CONSERVATIVE and will be defeated.
5
“Jeff Flake is not a conservative, nor does he have a conscience,” Media Research Center President Brent Bozell III declared in a statement denouncing Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) for misappropriating the title of a book written by Bozell’s father.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Bozell exposes Flake as an “imposter,” posing as a conservative, who has wantonly betrayed conservative principles at every turn:
"On behalf of my late father and my family, I am denouncing Senator Jeff Flake and his new book, dishonestly titled, 'Conscience of a Conservative.'
"Since entering the Senate in 2013, Jeff Flake has, time and again, proven he is part of the indulgent hypocrisy in Washington. While he waxes poetically about conservative principles, his Conservative Review Liberty score is an abysmal 53%, also known as: 'F.' In 2013, I watched first-hand as Flake refused to sign a letter pledging to defund ObamaCare, among his many betrayals to conservatism. Jeff Flake is neither a conservative nor does he have a conscience.
6
Political jeopardy: the price for being honest about a dangerous, mentally unbalanced President? Heroic in my book. Thank you Senator Flake.
8
Gone in 2018.
End of Story!
7
[[“No one told him to go out and be the face of the anti-Trump resistance in the Republican Party.]]
Yikes! Paranoid much? What kind of language is that?
1
If someone believes, as Mr. Flake and Mr. Corker evidently do, that Donald Trump is unfit to be president and is a real danger to this country, they have an obligation to speak out, regardless of the political costs. I disagree vehemently with both of these senators on most, possibly even all, policy issues, but I agree that Trump serving as President represents a national crisis that goes far beyond typical partisan concerns. At historical moments like this, men and women of principle have had to risk far more than their political careers try to save their countries. That so many Republican leaders are unwilling to take the political risk that this moment requires speaks volumes about their priorities, character, and commitment to our country.
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This is analogous to the Harvey Weinstein situation. Power is only held when everyone stays silent. The many are scared and stay mute and watch the few that speak out fail. When everyone speaks out they realize the power was an illusion kept in place by fear of speaking out.
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Jeff Flake, aptly named, is not in trouble for questioning the President's fitness. He is in trouble for failing to represent the interests of the people who elected him. Our state has watched John McCain make a regular practice of running as a conservative during the primary only to reprise the "firebrand" personae that makes him so beloved among progressives and the liberal media. Hopefully, our state will make an example out of Flake and show future candidates that we will not fall for their bait and switch tactics. If people like Flake and McCain want to be RINO moderates, they should say so when they ask for our votes.
This has nothing to do with a love for Trump. It's about Obamacare, tax reform, immigration and the future prosperity of our nation. And, by the way, we know that articles like this one are part of a campaign to save Flake from having to suffer for betraying those who voted for him.
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To suggest that John McCain is beloved among progressives and the liberal media is ludicrous, and just goes to show how out of touch the modern bastion of radical extremism masquerading as the Republican Party really is. Occasionally McCain is granted grudging respect for crossing his leadership and showing minimal integrity. Love? ROFL.
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John McCain, John Roberts and Anthony Kennedy have done more to advance the progressive movement in America than Nancy Pelosi could ever hope for. OK...their actions reflect their fundamental beliefs. I am simply saying that they should admit who they truly are rather than portraying themselves as conservatives in order to achieve high position.
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He seems smart and classy. Hope he survives.
I live in Arizona. Initially I was heartened by Mr. Flake speaking out against Trump. But he votes with the President most of the time, and he voted to throw many Arizonans off healthcare. He is spineless and like most of the GOP in DC, has lost his moral compass. Actions speak louder than words in a press conference or a book. I don't see his "decency".
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Thank goodness some Republicans are drawing some lines. I wish the man well and applaud him for speaking out, though my politics are very different. I do hope many more Republicans return to their moral roots and recover their senses. If not, they stand to represent the very worst in this country - racism, sexism, fascism.
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Liberals are still in a quandary as to why Congress refuses to act en masse against our obviously unstable and dangerous POTUS. It's really simple. the GOP-dominated Congress and the POTUS share nearly the entire same voter base. Approx 30% of the voting public are not informed enough about any topic in our society to recognize how toxic this POTUS is to our Republic. Congress takes advantage of that fact. Power is far more important than the fact that they're helping fulfill Dr. Johan Galtung's prediction about the demise of our empire by 2020.
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Excuse me. Any party who cannot win without the votes of Illegals is not only pathetic, but highly immoral and treasonous.When you have the big corporations,media,Hollywood and the entire entertainment industry backing you, and you're still losing you go insane. If anyone is dangerous it is Hillary and her Democrats.
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Senator Flake appears to be one of those rare Republican "birds"...a conservative of the old-school Republican Party. Punished electorally for standing up for what is right and decent, he is in danger of defeat. What does this say about Republicans in Arizona?
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It says they are a great bunch of people doing the right thing.
No, I don't think so.
He was elected to represent the people of Arizona, not the Republican agenda. They are not one and the same. We are close to becoming a swing state and our reps better remember that.
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So when was Peoria annexed to Airizon?
The coverage of the perils of Republican politicians opposing Trump always makes it sound like this is motivated by fear of grassroots opposition--the "base." The "base" is the easily manipulated and credulous froth around Koch political network, which funded the Tea Party, the shifting to the extreme right of the Republican party, the campaign against Obamacare, and the extreme conservative takeover of the local and state elected bodies. Trump--far from "draining the swamp" is doing exactly what they want on every score-- on taxes, anti-environmental legislation (they are oil refiners, remember), the evangelical anti-public school movement--Betsy DeVos and her husband have been donors for a long time. The Kochs were John Birchers and this Frankenstein political movement could be called "Son of John Birch." Jane Mayer's "Dark Money" does a comprehensive and meticulous reporting job on this, for anyone who cares to understand how it happened. And they held their meeting for their top 100 donors last Thursday and Friday. Any Republican senator who turns against Trump knows perfectly well that this is what he or she is up against. Hundreds of millions of dollars of plutocratic wealth. The Kochs were against Trump for a while. But he appointed all their buddies and is doing their bidding. It's playing perfectly into their hands.
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Julia: You are exactly right! If only everyone would read Jane Mayer's "Dark Money"! Two major factors in the horror of our national psyche/politics right now are "Money and Extremist Religion".
Thanks, Pat. It's required reading for anyone who cares about the subject. In fact, the Washington Post has a piece on the Koch meeting today and Greg Sargent's column headlined "The Scamming Runs Very, Very Deep" underscores the point. The only reason the Republicans keep saying that they "need" to pass "tax reform" to "keep the base happy"--is because it will make the Kochs happy. New York Times, where are you on this story? And the Kochs have been incredibly successful through their disinformation campaigns at persuading the gullible that their economic and cultural interests equate with those of rural and working class Americans.
As Bernie Sanders has recognized, the Koch Bros. prefer open borders and driving wages down to $3 an hour by flooding the labor market with unlimited immigration, legal and illegal. Trump may be delivering on repealing some environmental regulations but the Koch Bros. are dead-set against immigration reforms and enforcement. Thus, they keep people like Jeff Flake, Thom Tillis, James Lankford, etc. in their pocket to thwart immigration reform.
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If a large number of republicans stood up, it would be over. 45 can and will trample individuals but not a whole party. At least Mr. Flake had the guts and the moral wherewithal to do it. Good for him.
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I may not agree with his position on a number of fronts. But, do like the fact that he has taken a stance against Mr. Trump and not just become a blind follower. It does say something positive about his character.
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My reasons for hoping Flake is defeated have nothing to do with his few fights with Trump. There are many more important reasons to vote against him. The massive amount of support he has given Trump: Gorsuch, DeVos, Sessions. The list could go on.
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The result of the Republican Party's romance with Trump will be defeat at the polls and a resurgence of the Democratic Party. This can happen only if the Democrats abandon their move to the center and stand for something 180 degrees away from the Republicans. We don't need Republican Lite.
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Lesson here, do not go to a gunfight brandishing a knife. Something the democrats increasingly seem to forget. Bernie sanders vs trump? Not a chance. Hillary vs trump. We all know that outcome. How about Biden vs trump?.. same story. I think Al Franken vs trump should be worthy. Mike Bloomberg vs trump would be the heavyweight title but mike is out. The democrats better get rid of the dead weight among their ranks. Republicans figured that out when the tea party took over.
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William Wintheiser: "Hillary vs Trump. We all know that outcome." You are forgetting that Hillary far and away won the popular vote, by almost 3 million! It is the archaic Electoral College to blame for Trump winning, not the unpopularity of Hillary!
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I applaud his courage and conviction, maybe we can go back to getting things accomplished.
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I'm hoping the larger story here is that this Republican mess Trump has unleashed will result in a Democrat as US Senator in Flake's old seat.
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If Sen. Flake was willing to take heat for disagreeing with Trump publicly, he might have put his vote where his mouth was and not voted for Trump's terrible policies 100% of the time. Writing a book is also often a prelude to running for higher office. I welcome principles, but his behavior doesn't seem entirely selfless to me.
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The people of this country has ELECTED Pres. Trump and his agenda, either you get on the TRUMP TRAIN or get out of the way.
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The comma fault earns you some Trump cred, but why are you screaming?
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No American with an ounce of patriotism will ignore the daily madness coming out of the WH. We will resist this clown's every move, thank you very much.
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Actually, Trump lost the popular vote. The Trump "base" represents, at best, less than a third of US citizens.
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Another lesson for Republicans is that you savage your own at your own risk. Arizona Republicans know they want to replace Jeff Flake with someone who obediently walks in lockstep with Donald Trump, but surprise surprise, the first would-be replacement isn't panning out, and now they're looking tto the second and third strings to find the robot, not the person, they seek.
Better that they should give up this fool's errand and go with what the senator they have instead of pining for someone who does not exist.
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Flake needs to join the Libertarian Party at this point, even though it represents the worldview of only 5% or so of Americans, 10% max. Because in 2017-2018, Republican + Trump, and Trump = Republican.
If that's not clear now, it'll be painfully clear to everyone -- even the Flakes and Kasiches and Susan Collinses of the world -- in six months. You're either for Trump down the line, or there's no place for you in the Republican Party: the party's voters won't tolerate you.
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Yeah, join the Libertarians and Ayn Rand right wing fringe and guarantee that he'll never be elected to any office, ever again. Yeah, he's a lovely guy who votes to lower taxes for the rich and balance the budget on the backs of the poor and middle class. I love Mormons, they make good neighbors, I just don't want them to represent me.
Here in AZ, we can hope that a primary fight can split the Repuplicans and maybe move the race to Synema. She's not perfect but she is a moderate.
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Exactly, Bill. Republican voters are tired of GOPe hacks who are really Democrat-Lite. We know who Chuck Schumer is. He makes no attempt to hide it. We respect his authenticity - if not his ideology. Not true for Flake. All he stands for is re-election.
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That should have been "Republican = Trump, and Trump = Republican." Sorry...
I'm no Republican and never will be, but I admire Jeff Flake as somebody who is being condemned by a lot of misguided Arizonians for speaking the truth about Trump.
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Of course you admire Flake. He's anti-Trump, and so are you. Dah.
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For all the ink spent on Corker, painting him as a stand-up guy for "speaking truth to power", there is no real similarity between him and Flake. Although I do not agree with many of Flake's positions, I have always felt that he was a decent guy, and was somebody who brought reason and decency to the table. His stance on Trump is reasoned, and consistent, and he objected early on to Trump's behavior. Corker has been a Trump cheerleader from the start, and only got in a Tweet scrap with Trump once Corker decided he was not going to run again. He really had nothing on the line, That he facilitated the rise of a person he knew to be a dangerous candidate, right up until the point that being outspoken against Trump would have no real personal consequences, shows what a shallow opportunist he really is.
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I think it's possible that Corker really did support Trump and then stop supporting him when he finally realized how terrible he was.
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Corker competed for the SecState job and lost. Now he wants revenge. Just another Swamp hack.
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How do you get glowing media coverage as a Republican? Act like a Democrat.
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According to the article, Sen. Flake has voted with Trump 91.5% of the time, that's hardly a Democrat.
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What votes? Congress has done nothing of importance on Trump's agenda. You can't count naming Post Offices.
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More of this "poor me" the media is against us whining.
It's a good opening tactic but lacks sophistication and depth.
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I would change the story's headline slightly:
Jeff Flake’s Lesson for Republicans: Speak Out or Live the Rest of Your Life Knowing You Were Silent
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That could be one of the most meaningless statements I have ever heard.
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You mean like all those that knew about Hillary's corruption?
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Like they care. All they care about is being re-elected. That's pretty obvious. trump would have never happened if these people actually cared about this country.
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So what we're saying here is that conservatives/Republicans are vulnerable if they possess a spine and a moral compass at the same time. Sorry, Mr. Flake, I disagree with your politics but I admire your behaviour.
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Another Democrat looking out for the welfare of the GOP.
But, of course, that gets him nothing, since even were you an Arizonan, he wouldn't have your vote. The real lesson Republicans need to learn is that of critical mass. There comes a point where even Bannon can't go after everyone individually. Hang together, or hang separately.
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He speaks out and then votes with Trump. He’s a nice guy that still hasn’t truly developed a spine. For example, he voted for Trumpcare. He clearly voted against the needs of Arizonans and stood with Trump. He could have stood up to that awful bill along with Senator McCain. I am thrilled that Krysten Synema has entered the race. She will have definitely have my vote. Bravo to the folks that picket his office weekly.
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