Sen. Jeff Flake to retire at end of term, not running for re-election

[Fanatical Meat]

Just saw his speech on the Senate floor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjZuWSFatUg&feature=share

powerful.

he was a 1st term senator but was 7 terms in the House.
wonder whats he going to do now?

Watch some youporn, then take a job at some dumb conservative think tank or be a lobbyist

 

[woolfe9998]

Flakes speech was devoid of policy criticisms and his own voting record shows he supports trump 90+% percent of the time.

He is a loser who is trying to get his 15 minutes of fame.

Him and other Republicans who are calling out the president are not heroes, they are the same scumbags who vote to gut your ability to sue banks and who support agency heads who are actively trying to destroy the very agency they head.

Because Flake does't disagree with the republican party on many substantive policy issues, and Trump's policies are mostly in line with standard GOP stances. Flake's speech was a callout to the party regarding its attitude of hostility and anger toward the left, and toward minority groups they are scapegoating for the nation's problems, of which he sees the rise of Trump as a symptom.

Flake is solidly conservative, no doubt. I think his voting record is even more conservative than the average GOP senator. But Flake thinks Trump is unfit to govern, that he's embarrassing the country with his erratic foreign policy, constant childish behavior, and his dishonesty. As I already said, I think Flake should run rather than pullout, and he should run on a platform which is critical of Trump, even though he thinks he can't win if he does. So I don't think Flake is exactly a paragon of political courage.

However, consider what over 90% of the GOP in Congress is doing in relation to Trump. Nothing, that's what. Many of these people know that Trump is a terrible president and they're saying nothing at all. I think there's value in conservative republicans going on record criticizing Trump. Because of that, I don't think it's terribly pragmatic to treat someone like Flake with hostility as some libs are doing in this thread. When someone is speaking the truth, which Flake has done in this speech, this should be acknowledged and encouraged. I'm not saying we canonize Flake. I just don't think we should be criticizing him for making this speech.

 

[ivwshane]

Because Flake does't disagree with the republican party on many substantive policy issues, and Trump's policies are mostly in line with standard GOP stances. Flake's speech was a callout to the party regarding its attitude of hostility and anger toward the left, and toward minority groups they are scapegoating for the nation's problems, of which he sees the rise of Trump as a symptom.

Flake is solidly conservative, no doubt. I think his voting record is even more conservative than the average GOP senator. But Flake thinks Trump is unfit to govern, that he's embarrassing the country with his erratic foreign policy, constant childish behavior, and his dishonesty. As I already said, I think Flake should run rather than pullout, and he should run on a platform which is critical of Trump, even though he thinks he can't win if he does. So I don't think Flake is exactly a paragon of political courage.

However, consider what over 90% of the GOP in Congress is doing in relation to Trump. Nothing, that's what. Many of these people know that Trump is a terrible president and they're saying nothing at all. I think there's value in conservative republicans going on record criticizing Trump. Because of that, I don't think it's terribly pragmatic to treat someone like Flake with hostility as some libs are doing in this thread. When someone is speaking the truth, which Flake has done in this speech, this should be acknowledged and encouraged.

I acknowledge his acknowledging of trumps incompetence. Now what? Nothing has changed and shitty policies are still being pushed through.

If someone is a sexual predator and they condemn Harvey, bill Cosby, and O'Reilly, does that make them courageous? I think not. You certainly don't say, "well he's one of the good sexual harassers".

 

[mect]

I acknowledge his acknowledging of trumps incompetence. Now what? Nothing has changed and shitty policies are still being pushed through.

If someone is a sexual predator and they condemn Harvey, bill Cosby, and O'Reilly, does that make them courageous? I think not. You certainly don't say, "well he's one of the good sexual harassers".

Seriously, comparing conservative politics to sexual predators is useless. We are never going to have all politicians supporting the policies we want, but it is conceivable to have politicians that behave like adults, are respectful to those they disagree with, and aren't blatantly and openly dishonest about obvious facts. I agree that Flake isn't a saint or anything, but he is certainly one of the four most respectable republican senators, and should be applauded for doing what few others are.

 

[ivwshane]

Seriously, comparing conservative politics to sexual predators is useless. We are never going to have all politicians supporting the policies we want, but it is conceivable to have politicians that behave like adults, are respectful to those they disagree with, and aren't blatantly and openly dishonest about obvious facts. I agree that Flake isn't a saint or anything, but he is certainly one of the four most respectable republican senators, and should be applauded for doing what few others are.

Applaud away. I'm just not going to give them a pat on the back for being less of a scumbag then the rest of the scumbags.