General Discussion
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(11,029 posts)I wonder if this will have any impact on the Mormon vote in the state. I know Trump's team has been pretty desperately courting the Mormons for the past couple months.
karynnj
(59,504 posts)I can not imagine that Utah could be in play (or Idaho).
Salviati
(6,008 posts)... he had voted "present"
NonPC
(305 posts)As an Arizonian, I find it comical that people outside of Arizona even know of this guy. He did absolutely nothing in office. I doubt that his own family listens to him -- let alone the Mormon church members.
Jeff Flake and Dan Quale -- nice looking empty suits. Martha McSally -- empty headed Trumper.
Ready for another true AZ Senator -- Mark Kelly.
DownriverDem
(6,229 posts)Yes he's a repub, but a fiscal repub. We don't have to agree with him, but he's not an empty suit. He's regularly on CBS and a critic of trump. We all know these aren't normal times. To defeat trump we need as much help as we can get.
Chipper Chat
(9,680 posts)lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)Biden would never do that, right? Right?
TwilightZone
(25,471 posts)Pretty much every president in memory has had members of the opposing party either in the cabinet or as ambassadors, etc.
In that context, Biden could do a lot worse than Flake. If exit polls show that independents went heavily for Biden and/or there was significant GOP crossover, putting someone like Flake in a position is a good political move for 2022 and beyond.
theaocp
(4,241 posts)AdamGG
(1,292 posts)Obama had Jon Huntsman as Ambassador to China and a Republican as Secretary of Defense. Clinton had William Cohen and a couple others. It's smart politics to to coopt some of the other side.
NonPC
(305 posts)Yeah, Jeff Flake brings a 1000 watt smile to the party -- and nothing else. There are qualified Republicans who could serve in the cabinet -- Jeff is not one of them. A 2024 Presidential bid -- yeah right.
theaocp
(4,241 posts)AdamGG
(1,292 posts)I don't know that much about Flake, but someone like Kasich or Charlie Baker who is centrist and has competent executive experience would be a shrewd political move. Co-opt some sane Republicans and let the GOP stay the party of Qanon, militia members and hardcore evangelicals and we can maybe hold onto the House/Senate a lot longer than we did after 2008.
oasis
(49,389 posts)a double flush .
Politicub
(12,165 posts)Is he influential in any way? Like are there people sitting around who will see this and say, Shiver me timbers. If Biden is good enough for Jeff Flake, hes good enough for me.
It makes me ill to think of a republican getting a seat as important as one on the cabinet.
I think Flake is setting himself up for a presidential run in 2024. No matter who wins - though he actually seems to be coming down on Biden's side, which is surprising that he would even tell us that - he's going to present himself as a return to normalcy for the GOP. Part of his schitck before biting Susan Collins upon leaving the Senate (passing along his were-Jeffism to her) was pretending to be someone who considered bipartisanship and would "listen" to the other side, especially when Kavanaugh was being confirmed, before returning to type and doing whatever McConnell said like a good puppy.
TlalocW
NorthOf270
(290 posts)Wednesdays
(17,380 posts)Yeah, he'll get maybe three percent in the GOP primaries.
luvtheGWN
(1,336 posts)HermitageHermit
(42 posts)If there is a Democratic victory next week, Trump and his base will be repudiated from the party.
Should cause the ascendancy of the Flake-Kasich-Romney wing of the Republican Party to reassert control over the party machinery and be able to get their man the nomination. Although Flake's name really doesn't do that much for him, he does look like someone who could play the role of President in a Hollywood production.
TlalocW
(15,384 posts)Generic good-looking guy. Only served one term, leaving in 2019, which sets him up, like I said, for a presidential run in 2024, where no matter who wins in 2020, he can set himself up as the return-to-normalcy candidate for the republicans. Also allows him to be an outsider of sorts. Always made a big deal about appearing bipartisan, which we all know is bullshit but will play well in Peoria.
Kind of without a personality as well. I just think he'll fit right in with the Romneys/Rubios/Jebs of the party.
TlalocW
Baked Potato
(7,733 posts)TwilightZone
(25,471 posts)Of course, he's not even in Congress anymore.
theaocp
(4,241 posts)We could have the same thing with more Democrats.
TwilightZone
(25,471 posts)A not-insignificant segment of the voting public *wants* some level of bipartisanship. Not everyone is a rabid partisan like we are.
But, hey, purity and animosity have worked out so well for us in the past so let's go back to that.
theaocp
(4,241 posts)I repeat, FUCK REPUBLICANS.
BlueNProud
(1,048 posts)madaboutharry
(40,212 posts)Giving credit where it is due.
calimary
(81,320 posts)Thatll always be my reaction to folks like Jeff Flake.
Flaked out on America til it was LONG past too late.
But, I guess, better late than never.
madaboutharry
(40,212 posts)People like Flake dont have courage. It takes them coming to a point of unbearable self- loathing to take action.
He probably could not look himself in the mirror. And maybe he plans to be a part of whatever new Conservative party emerges after the Republican Party is declared DOA.
greenjar_01
(6,477 posts)NorthOf270
(290 posts)Should we give him another week to think about it?
catbyte
(34,403 posts)Coward.
Tribetime
(4,699 posts)Dream Girl
(5,111 posts)icwlmuscyia
(296 posts)When the country needed you to stand up against Trump.
LiberalLovinLug
(14,174 posts)Um yes they are.
40% of Americans will do just that.
Gilbert Moore
(218 posts)Me thinks all of these endorsements are scheduled with release dates by Team Joe so that everybody doesn't do there own thing and endorse the same day.
Glad he did this !
bucolic_frolic
(43,182 posts)IronLionZion
(45,454 posts)doesn't make up for being a total flake on every important Senate vote
ffr
(22,670 posts)Otherwise they're just drones doing what they're told by their masters.
musclecar6
(1,690 posts)Late than never. Every little bit helps with the race to the finish.
AZ8theist
(5,476 posts)OnDoutside
(19,962 posts)dlk
(11,569 posts)I really dont care do U?
Earthshine2
(4,044 posts)Or are you just a flexible Flake?
This guy would not be making this announcement if he expected Trump to win a second term.
We'll see other republicans jump ship just to be with the winner. F*ck 'em. Know your enemies; know your allies.
llmart
(15,540 posts)the male version of Susan Collins.
Orrex
(63,215 posts)I have absolutely no respect for these career lock-steppers who suddenly find their spines once they're no longer in a position to rein in their vile party's systemic corruption.
Good for Jeffy casting the obviously correct vote. He deserves no more praise than any other private citizen, and arguably less than that because he wore the "voice of reason" mask while rubber-stamping everything his owners wanted.
NorthOf270
(290 posts)Cried about the optics, delayed the hearings for a week and voted for the rapist anyway. And he wasnt even running again.
klook
(12,157 posts)Supported LBGT rights 37% of the time, women's rights 31% of the time. Supported labor rights and wages 11% of the time, taxing the wealthy 0% of the time, restricting money in politics 0% of the time, financial sector regulation 0% of the time, gun control 0% of the time, internet freedom 0% of the time, environmental protection 0% of the time. Oh yeah, also consistently voted against public health care.
(Sources: politicsthatwork.com, ballotpedia.org.)
Flake voted with Trump 92% of the time. (Source: Axios)
Yeah, he's just the kind of guy we need to boost Biden's "reaching across the aisle" cred.
JohnnyRingo
(18,636 posts)When they leave office he gives them back along with their balls.
Ask Joe Walsh.