Flake Out

Sen. Jeff Flake will serve out his term but not seek re-election in 2018. AllahPundit has more:

 His reelection strategy never made sense: He’s a small-government conservatarian, which alienates Democrats, and he’s also the most outspoken Trump critic in the GOP caucus, which alienates populist Republicans. He had no path. As a man of principle, he apparently resolved earlier this year to do what his conscience told him to do and to let the chips fall where the may electorally. And they fell … poorly. 

 

Comments

[Catsmeat]

How do, all?

[JimNorCal]

Moar winning. This whole "remove and replace all RINOs while running the gov't, at least well enough to keep Dems from coming back into power" will be complicated! This is good news. Hopefully a pro-Trump candidate will be chosen.

[Clarice Feldman]

Retweeted Reuters Top News (@Reuters):
JUST IN: Trump administration will temporarily delay processing of most refugee applications from 11 countries - memo obtained by Reuters https://t.co/tRyEe3pLVs

Two can play this game00judges.

[anon ( AKA common man )]

Can Flake talk to his friends Graham, Portman Capito and Collins?

[anon ( AKA common man )]

a 60 vote majority without McCain and Flake and Corker stabbing us in the back. A guy can dream big dream but it might well be possible now.

[Clarice Feldman]

How much do you think Sally Quinn charges to hex people?

[Clarice Feldman]

daddy, I read a claim that it would take only 75K signatures under Alaska law to get a recall of Murkowski--

[jimmyk]

How long before "man of principle" becomes a term of derision. Or maybe it's happened already. There seems to be a presumption that one cannot support Trump as a matter of principle.

[jimmyk]

I didn't think senators can be recalled, period.

[Threadkiller]

Allahpundit says he is a man of principle as well.

Must be true.

[anon ( AKA common man )]

Clarice

Pretty sure there is no provision in the law to recall a sitting Senator.

[Clarice Feldman]

It depends enitrely on state law I think. But I could be wrong. :et me check.

[henry]

Serving out his term to work on DACA. Amnesty is the principle he'll fight for?

[Clarice Feldman]

jimmyk--you're right--no recall is possible for Congressmen or Senators.

[anon ( AKA common man )]

Found this on a quick search. Of course he might be all wet, but he seems to address all the points, and of course since he agrees with me I think this is dead solid perfect:

Contrary to popular Web sites, the recall of members of the U.S. Congress has never been permissible according to the Constitution, and no member of the Congress has ever been removed by such means. That’s because the U.S. Constitution sets the qualifications and terms for being a member of the House or Senate; changing those qualifications or terms (as in making them subject to a recall) is unconstitutional and would require a constitutional amendment.

Recall is not a new idea. At the Constitutional Convention, the Framers considered and rejected a national recall provision. Recall was raised again as an amendment in New York, but the 1788 ratifying convention defeated it. Why? Because the Constitutional structure held senators accountable. Originally, senators were elected by the state legislatures and were responsible to their state for their actions. At the same time, the Framers wanted to bring deliberation to the national legislature and sought to protect lawmaking from the whim of passion and majority faction.

[Captain Hate on the iPhone]

AllahPander is probably more morose than when Mega McCannz stopped replying to his emails.

[JimNorCal]

"(Flake) Serving out his term to work on DACA. Amnesty is the principle he'll fight for?"

Good point. Where are the conservative Senators that are putting forward plans to CUT SPENDING??!!??

Do we have to wait for the Trump second term to thoughtfully examine deleting the Depts of Energy and Education, PBS, Nat'l Endowment for the Arts, ....

[maryrose]

Jimmyk:
I think you can support President Trump but disagree with him on his methods.I like how he gets things done.
Like in clarice's post how he is delaying processing of applications for refugees.
He needs to work on his interactions with people who disagree with him.
He actually treats Democrats better than republicans.

[Threadkiller]

Senators can be removed by expulsion if they piss off their fellow club members enough. The States can't do squat when a limp-wrist like Flake shows his true colors well into his term.

[Threadkiller]

He actually treats Democrats better than republicans.

Facts not in evidence.

[anon ( AKA common man )]

Can you point me to where expulsion is addressed in the Constitution?

[henry]

Is TK moving to Arizona? Arpaio considering a Senate run. Rumored to be meeting with Bannon. (Wash Exam)

[Old Lurker]

"He actually treats Democrats better than Republicans."

And that seems fair to me. The Dems are being what Dems are and they are true to the face they showed the voters who elected them.

Any Republican that has been treated badly by Trump is treated that way because they ran with one face, then govern with another.

Frauds and turncoats do not deserve to be treated the same an opponent fighting for what they said they would.

Yes I know dems like to the general public like rugs, but their voters know the secret code and are not fooled.

GOP voters have been fooled and tricked for decades.

[Old Lurker]

like = lie

[Texas Liberty Gal]

maryrose - maybe this has been said previously but the fact that Flake is dropping out means Trump has won. You know that right? He has won using all the methods you oppose. Think about it.

[anon ( AKA common man )]

Never mind. Article 1 section 5. History is 15 expulsions and 14 of those for support for the Confederacy. Might be a great bar bet to ask someone to name the one sitting Senator who was removed by the Senate for other than support of the Confederacy. I currently dont know the answer BTW.

Requires a 2/3 majority so 67 votes. Not sure you could expell anyone today even if they are as sleazy as Menendez

[Old Lurker]

Somebody here (SqD???) was mentioning the demise of Western Europe via the wholesale replacement of their populations by others.

Been to CA lately?

https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/terence-p-jeffrey/census-bureau-446-california-dont-speak-english-home-356-texas-345-nm

[Texas Liberty Gal]

I like this - An American Patriot‏ @Onelifetogive 38s38 seconds ago
More
"Mr. President, please stop being so mean to the swamp", pleads the swamp...

[Threadkiller]

I was just about to post a link, anon.

👍

[Threadkiller]

That would be worth the move, henry.

The more Birthers, the better.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

http://dailycaller.com/2017/10/24/cnns-tapper-asks-flake-to-assess-trump-as-a-spiritual-leader/?utm_source=site-share

Did any of you think we were voting for a spiritual leafer? As far as I can tell, President Trump was supported by evangelicals because he was going to defend them from the democrat persecution machine, which he has done.

[henry]

LGBTQ gun club. Because they don't want to lose an arms race with Nazis. Hint: go to a regular people gun club, get instruction from a certified NRA instructor in gun safety and shooting. They don't bite.

From the first video at the link this group may inflict 100% casualties on themselves before any civil war starts.

[Comanche voter]

Sometimes a smoke is just a smoke, but a good cigar is a Smoke!

And in the Senator's case, sometimes a Flake is just a flake. Adios muchacho. Don't let the screen door slap you on the backside on your way out of the Senate.

[anon ( AKA common man )]

I am told its become news today that Sherrod Brown received a court order to stay away from his first wife in 1986 due to credible evidence of wife beating. Mandel is going after him on this. Of course due to JOM, I already knew this. But apparently it is news and is getting covered elsewhere.

[maryrose]

TLG:
I reserve judgment wrt whether President Trump has "won "using these tactics. We cannot lose any more Senate seats so whoever he and Bannon have in mind must be a sure fire winner.
Collins and Murky are unreliable so we need all the votes we can get.
Short term it may seem effective but in the long term I want an absolute guarantee we keep both the Senate and the House.

[maryrose]

Anon:
That is good news wrt Sherrod Brown.
No examples of Flake or Corker voting against President Trump's agenda.
Looks like they did a fine job these last 9 months.
Our president appears to be hypersensitive to criticism.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

https://twitter.com/HouseJudiciary/status/922943000573087749

This thread is about the House passing the "Stop Settlement Sluch Funds Act" where settlements must go to actual victims, not some environmental group or other worthless lefty organization.

[maryrose]

Is Arpaio a sure thing ?

[maryrose]

Moore looking good in Alabama.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

This is an excellent article explaining President Trump's foreign policy, which apparently Senator Corker doesn't understand (charitable) or opposes.

https://amgreatness.com/2017/10/24/trumps-malaysia-gambit-call-it-another-win/

[jimmyk on iPhone]

"Our president appears to be hypersensitive to criticism."

How common has it been for a president to be publicly criticized by those Senators in his own party? In his first year in office? Can you name one Dem who criticized Obama in 8 years?

[anon ( AKA common man )]

Maryrose

We agree on many things. so consider what I say carefully. Flake was a disappointment. He chose to write a book critical of the successful candidate for the highest office from his own party. He wrote his own epitaph. No reason to defend such behavior. Democrats dont do such unloyal behavior.

[Threadkiller]

Trump hypersensitivity to criticism caused Flake to run away.

[maryrose]

Who cares what Corker thinks about the foreign policy.
President Trump will get whatever he wants even if he has to shame people to get it.
Oh that is right , he already does that.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

maryrose,

Surely you know that as Senators in an election year they would vote for President Trump's agenda only for 2 reasons:

1. If no matter what a bill was going to pass.

2. If they knew a bill was going to fail but they were going to be protected by others voting no, like McCain on the healthcare bill.

Corker is mad at President Trump's "unprofessional" foreign policy, but it seems to me that his nose is out of joint because his advice isin't asked. JWhy he should be considered more of an expert than the President is beyond me.

Flake wrote a book criticizing the President and was in on that Sea Island meeting of NeverTrumpers. I have never trusted him since then, regardless of how he voted.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Donald J. Trump‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump 48s48 seconds ago

So nice being with Republican Senators today. Multiple standing ovations! Most are great people who want big Tax Cuts and success for U.S.

[Captain Hate]

I am told its become news today that Sherrod Brown received a court order to stay away from his first wife in 1986 due to credible evidence of wife beating. Mandel is going after him on this. Of course due to JOM, I already knew this. But apparently it is news and is getting covered elsewhere

Hmmmm, I thought it was based on a child custody dust up but that could've been more MFM lies. Make no doubt about it, I despise the hoarse voiced goof with every atom of my mortal shell but if I was on a jury in front of which he was accused of tuning up his current fatassed big mouthed harridan wife, the worst he gets is a hung jury.

[Threadkiller]

Sassehole is going to miss his playmates.

[maryrose]

I am not defending Flake or his book.
Plenty of Senators criticized President Bush including John McCain and he didn't publicly trash them.
He handled it with class.
President Bush was re-elected decisively so if you all can trash him I can pull back the curtain on President Trump.I will vote for him again in 2020 and we can talk again after he successfully wins re- election like President Bush did.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Chuck Schumer‏Verified account @SenSchumer

.@JeffFlake is one of the finest human beings I've met in politics. He is moral, upright, strong & will be missed in the Senate.

=====================================

Schumer called Flake moral. I will just let that sink in.

[henry]

Speaking of foreign policy success, Saudi Arabia no a notion of moderate Islam per the crown prince. Women can drive now. Wahabi clerics hardest hit.

[boatbuilder]

Test.

[henry]

now a nation. autospell.

[maryrose]

President Trump today wrt Republicans
"Most are good people"
Correction sir:
All are good people in God's eyes.
Work on the ones you have questions about.
Don't just write them off .
You need them for your agenda.
Politics 101.

[boatbuilder]

Test #2

(All my brilliant posts are disappearing--some of the really lame ones as well).

[anon ( AKA common man )]

How exactly would Schmucky know anything about moral?

[boatbuilder]

am told its become news today that Sherrod Brown received a court order to stay away from his first wife in 1986 due to credible evidence of wife beating. Mandel is going after him on this. Of course due to JOM, I already knew this. But apparently it is news and is getting covered elsewhere.

Posted by: anon ( AKA common man ) | October 24, 2017 at 06:03 PM

Good thing Mandel has Top Men on his crack oppo research team.

[Janet 🚬]

Schumer...what a guy. From 2009 - http://nypost.com/2009/12/16/schumer-calls-flight-attendant-who-told-him-to-turn-off-cell-phone-bitch/

" Sen. Chuck Schumer apologized today after word got out that he called a flight attendant a “bitch” for ordering him to follow the rules and turn off his cellphone before takeoff."...

"After the flare-up was reported, Schumer said he was sorry.

“The senator made an off-thecuff comment under his breath after the flight attendant walked away. He shouldn’t have made it, he regrets it and he has apologized for it,” Schumer spokesman Brian Fallon said."...

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

henry,

Those of us who follow Thomas Wictor on Twitter were aware this was going on.

Here is a Twitter thread with some interesting information about how and why:

https://twitter.com/ThomasWictor/status/922938749494886401

[maryrose]

MM:
Of course Jeff Flake is moral.
I would not presume to judge the morality of another person.

[maryrose]

Jeff Flake was present and helped Steve Scalise after he was shot.
We are a nation of amnesiacs.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

maryrose,

Senator Flake does just that.

[Clarice Feldman]

https://amgreatness.com/2017/10/23/investigating-the-investigators/

VDH on Mueller and Comey

[maryrose]

MM:
Says you.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/clinton-campaign-dnc-paid-for-research-that-led-to-russia-dossier/2017/10/24/226fabf0-b8e4-11e7-a908-a3470754bbb9_story.html

[maryrose]

Well 3 marriages- not that there is anything wrong with that...

[Clarice Feldman]

From the VDH article:FTA: Did the FBI pass around its purchased smears to other intelligence agencies and the Obama administration in the unspoken hope that, in seeing the file had been so sanctioned and widely read, some intelligence operative or one of the Obama people would wink and nod as they leaked it to the press?
And why did the progenitors of the Steele dossier fraud—the Fusion GPS consortium and former Wall Street Journal reporters (a firm that had a prior history of smearing political enemies with “opposition research”) and working indirectly on behalf of Russian interests—reportedly behind closed doors invoke the Fifth Amendment to avoid testifying about the dossier, its origins, and its funding before the House Intelligence Committee?
Increasingly, James Comey seems to be caught in contradictions of his own making. The former FBI director may well have misled the U.S. Congress in deliberate fashion, both about the timeline of events that led him to recommend not charging Hillary Clinton and about his denials that the FBI had communications about the bizarre “accidental” meeting on an Arizona tarmac between the U.S. Attorney General and Bill Clinton. How does an FBI Director get away with leaking his own notes, ostensibly FBI property, to the media with the expressed intent of leveraging the selection of a special prosecutor, only to succeed in having his friend, former FBI Director Robert Mueller, appointed to that very post—an official who presumably and earlier had been investigating possible Clinton collusion with Russian uranium interests?

[Captain Hate]

Vanderbilt Poofter joins the slap fight; still can't figure out who to cheer for:

http://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=372154

[Threadkiller]

Women can drive now. Wahabi clerics hardest hit.

Rear bumpers and husband's wallet tied for second hardest hit.

[boatbuilder]

http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/2017/09/05/why-bob-corkers-trump-criticism-should-draw-eye-rolls/105195882/

This by a "staunch Democrat" from Tennessee who supported Corker and hates Trump. Demonstrates what a CNN (!?) timeline which was linked by the current Best of the Web Today guy, Freeman, shows--which is that Corker was all praise and support for Trump when he thought he was in the running for Secy of State or some other top cabinet post, and started attacking Trump when he didn't get picked.

I'll link the BOTW piece if I can figure out how--it's behind the paywall.

[Threadkiller]

I would not presume to judge the morality of another person.

Then how do you know Trump is wrong by not saying "all" are good people?

Are you speaking for God or just using your own morality litmus test?

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

maryrose,

DId you listen to Flake's speech? Did you read the article about Flake's interview with Jake Tapper?

He most certainly DID judge President Trump's morality.

As you just did with your snarky comment about his 3 marriages.

[Threadkiller]

Earth to MM, maryrose is immune to facts and actual time lines.

[boatbuilder]

Schumer called Flake moral. I will just let that sink in.
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | October 24, 2017 at 06:26 PM

Apparently some substances are so irony-resistant that nothing sinks in, MM ;-)

[anon ( AKA common man )]

Corker as SoS? Dodged a huge bullet there.

[Jim Eagle]

Clarice,

A view from the Ledge is that they are all good questions in your 6:40, but will never get answered in our lifetime. Maybe when President Wolverine decides in 2046 that they are in the national interest will they be answered and released.

But not in our lifetime.

[Jane (Stand against the Coup)]

WP says Clinton and DNC paid for the Russian dossier.

This is huge.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

boatbuilder,

Ha! True!

[Extraneus]

He handled it with class.

This is Bush you're talking about? One man's "class" is another man's "doom the country to eight years of the most anti-American president we've ever had," whose administration led to the most polarized populace we've had since the civil war.

Aside from that, Bush handled it with class.

I think I'll stick with Trump's low-class tweets.

[anon ( AKA common man )]

WaPo apparently now has out a report that says Clinton campaign and the DNC paid for the report referred to as the Trump dossier. Steele wrote at least part of it.

[Jane (Stand against the Coup)]

According to Fox, Flake had no chance of winning his primary, and was also for open borders. Laura Ingraham said he sounded like Nancy Pelosi in his speech.

[henry]

So DNC and Hillary paid for the dossier, and got a slobbering McCain to market it and take it to the press? We need to burn DC to the ground. (Except for Clarice's house and the Ledge).

[Jim Eagle]

Jane,

And they coordinated with Maverick to make it even more non-partisan by having him (GOP) give it to Comey. Which makes it even HUGER!

[Jane (Stand against the Coup)]

Hillary Clinton's campaign bamboozeled the US intelligence agencies to believe there was some Russian interference.

Think about that.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

anon (aka common man),

I posted the link to the Washington Post story at 6:38.

[GUS]

SHIT HITTING THE FAN. THE COMPOST is GOING ROGUE on THE LIBTARDS

[anon ( AKA common man )]

Congrats MM. You want flowers or what?

[Neo]

WaPo: Marc E. Elias, a lawyer representing the Clinton campaign and the DNC, retained Fusion GPS, a Washington firm, to conduct the research.

[boatbuilder]

here's the Best of the Web link (but it is behind the paywall). https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-about-bob-1508870554

This Freeman guy is pretty good--but because of the stupid paywall nobody reads him. I still get e-mails with the beginnings of his columns but I ain't paying for the WSJ so I only read what I get.

[Jim Eagle]

henry,

I don't think the Ledge is in DC but in MD, Potomac exactly, off River Road overlooking the Potomac River falls. I could be wrong and if I am I'll treat you to a dinner at The Old Angler. OL knows it well.

[Threadkiller]

I think she was pointing it out if you wanted to read it, anon.

[Captain Hate]

Summon the Flaming Skulls!

[anon ( AKA common man )]

Neo apparently you cant post that, since MM posted a link at 6:38.

[Neo]

When dis [fill in the democrat] know the dossier was a Clinton/DNC product and when did they forget it ?

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

anon,

Did you think I was being snarky? I am sorry. I just thought you might like to read the story. I am not in the business of trying to one-up people.

I apologize for any misunderstanding.

[anon ( AKA common man )]

I tend to not click on links as non secure links are a problem. If a posting has more info then occasional I will go ahead a click a link. Rarely without enough info to entice me. Never on just a link title alone.

[boatbuilder]

I think MM was just providing info, common man. (and a link, which is helpful). Jeez.

[joan]

Maryrose, I've been reading the back and forth about Trump's behavior for the past couple of weeks, where you have debated various people about the president's criticism of Ryan, Corker, and, today Flake. I haven't wanted to jump in, even though I have strong feelings about how each of these senators have created problems for Trump. (I should include McCain here also, though I don't remember if you, Maryrose, have defended him. Don't think so. It really doesn't matter.)

Maryrose, any one of us here has a right to express our opinion, and I'm not criticizing you for yours, but I think you are forgetting or are ignoring who and what DJT is. And, sometimes, I think you do this willfully. Maybe not, because I don't know for sure, but you never appear to concede in a debate or discussion as others do to you because they like and respect you so much (as I do.)

I think this paragraph from The Flight 93 Election article in Claremont by Publius Decius Mus is why I don't get irritated like you do by our president's apparent irascible behavior. You are expecting Trump to be something he is not and never will be -- and, thank God he is our president.

"Trump’s vulgarity is in fact a godsend to the conservatives. It allows them to hang their public opposition on his obvious shortcomings and to ignore or downplay his far greater strengths, which should be even more obvious but in corrupt times can be deliberately obscured by constant references to his faults. That the Left would make the campaign all about the latter is to be expected. Why would the Right? Some—a few—are no doubt sincere in their belief that the man is simply unfit for high office. David Frum, who has always been an immigration skeptic and is a convert to the less-war position, is sincere when he says that, even though he agrees with much of Trump’s agenda, he cannot stomach Trump. But for most of the other #NeverTrumpers, is it just a coincidence that they also happen to favor Invade the World, Invite the World?

"Another question JAG raised without provoking any serious attempt at refutation was whether, in corrupt times, it took a … let’s say ... “loudmouth” to rise above the din of The Megaphone. We, or I, speculated: “yes.” Suppose there had arisen some statesman of high character—dignified, articulate, experienced, knowledgeable—the exact opposite of everything the conservatives claim to hate about Trump. Could this hypothetical paragon have won on Trump’s same issues? Would the conservatives have supported him? I would have—even had he been a Democrat."

DJT is not going to be the suave, sophisticated, genial statesman who ameliorates among the egotistical swamp he deals with. He cannot be anything other than what he is -- he says he is working for the American people. He's not going to stroke an egotistical senator's grandiose opinion of himself (unless it suits him.) Trump is what he is. Thank God he is not HRC.

[anon ( AKA common man )]

Maybe the apology should be mine. I took it as I was repeating the unnecessary since you had already revealed it. My mistake. Sorry for that. carry on.

[Beasts of England]

Wow.

(yes that's a political comment, re: dossier, so sue me...)

:)