GOP Sen. Jeff Flake Is Flakin’ Out
“Human Ken Doll” Wants To Be “Barbie” Now
October 24, 2017HUGE: The Clinton Campaign Paid For The Infamous “Russia Dossier”
October 24, 2017Another one is on his way out…
Jeff Flake: “We must never adjust to the coarseness of our dialogue, with the tone set up at the top” https://t.co/Qva2THYxlF pic.twitter.com/SJXO0kGrjT
— POLITICO (@politico) October 24, 2017
According to this, Sen. Jeff Flake is flakin’ out. He’s not seeking reelection.
Condemning the nastiness of Republican politics in the era of President Donald Trump, Sen. Jeff Flake on Tuesday announced he will serve out the remainder of his term but will not seek re-election in 2018.
The bombshell, which Flake, R-Ariz., detailed Tuesday afternoon on the Senate floor, will further roil Republican hopes of keeping the party’s 52-seat Senate majority in the midterm elections of Trump’s first term, when the president’s party historically loses seats in Congress.
It also likely will upend the race for Flake’s seat.
Flake, one of the Senate’s more prominent critics of President Donald Trump, has been struggling in the polls.
He told The Arizona Republic ahead of his announcement that he has become convinced “there may not be a place for a Republican like me in the current Republican climate or the current Republican Party.”
His reason? Trump. He doesn’t believe there’s room for a “traditional, libertarian-leaning conservative Republican” in DC anymore.
“Here’s the bottom line: The path that I would have to travel to get the Republican nomination is a path I’m not willing to take, and that I can’t in good conscience take,” Flake told The Republic in a telephone interview. “It would require me to believe in positions I don’t hold on such issues as trade and immigration and it would require me to condone behavior that I cannot condone.”
“This spell will pass, but not by next year,” Flake added.
Here’s Sarah Sanders’ take:
.@PressSec on Jeff Flake: “Based on the lack of support that he has from the people of Arizona, it’s probably a good move.” pic.twitter.com/upR3n2mSbY
— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) October 24, 2017
Some people are interpreting this as, “the GOP is in disarray!”
With Jeff Flake & Bob Corker Out
GOP is starting to look like all the other Trump Businesses
BANKRUPT
owing billions to those who built it— UNITE & FIGHT (@stopthenutjob) October 24, 2017
So many different takes…
Jeff Flake establishment hack flees swamp as #Trump #DrainTheSwamp operations continue! https://t.co/Oj98iIxEAZ pic.twitter.com/ToiOhnteI4
— BenGarrison Cartoons (@GrrrGraphics) October 24, 2017
JUST IN: Jeff Flake did not notify President Trump he was retiring during today’s luncheon, NBC News confirms.
— NBC Politics (@NBCPolitics) October 24, 2017
Oh…weird.
Senator Jeff Flake retiring is evidence that many Republicans, just like most Americans, don’t like unified #GOP control of the government. https://t.co/D8v4Azm1K1
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) October 24, 2017
Breaking News!!! Swamp Draining!!! Jeff Flake will NOT seek reelection in Arizona! #MAGA
— Joseph DePasquale (@JoeStocks) October 24, 2017
No, it’s evidence that anti-Trump Senators like Jeff Flake will have a tough time winning primaries. https://t.co/0FR0QfIIsm
— Rep. Steven Smith (@RepStevenSmith) October 24, 2017
Hey @JeffFlake: if this is really the reason, it’s dumb. You can seek reelection without taking that path. https://t.co/g51bCpmCYP pic.twitter.com/eOPIcUXgT8
— Ben (@BenHowe) October 24, 2017
If your concern is that you would lose, what would that “loss” cost you? You more interested in saving face than doing what’s right?
— Ben (@BenHowe) October 24, 2017
Flake leaving is bad news. Disagreed with him at times but he’s a man of principle. GOP needs more thoughtful leaders and debate, not less.
— Rory Cooper (@rorycooper) October 24, 2017
So now what?
Kelli Ward, the former state senator from Lake Havasu City who lost her primary challenge last year against Sen. John McCain, has emerged this year as the top GOP alternative to Flake, but other names have been mentioned as possibilities: Arizona State Treasurer Jeff DeWit, former Arizona Republican Party Chairman Robert Graham and Arizona Board of Regents member Jay Heiler. Lesser-known Republicans Craig Brittain and Nicholas Tutora also have filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission and are running.
We’ll see…
