Discussion: Flake On 2020: Hasn't Ruled Out Run, Hopes Trump Gets Primaried

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Thereā€™s something hilariously charming about the way these guys play coy about this early on. The most calculatedly ambitious people on the planet act all casual, theyā€™ll say ā€œWell, I havenā€™t really done much thinking about itā€ and so forth, when theyā€™ve thought of little else since they were about 14.

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ā€œIf nothing else, simply to remind Republicans what conservatism is and what Republicans traditionally stood for.ā€

Considering that Flake has not opposed any of Trumpā€™s cabinet nominees other than Haspel or anything that passes as Trumpā€™s legislative agenda there does not seem to be any significant difference between Flakeā€™s notion of Republican conservatism and Trumpism. Different packaging but same disastrous policy.

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No Jeffy, justā€¦ NO!

Pence almost defines ā€œopportunistic and consciencelessā€, but you give him a run for the money. The bat-s#it-crazy #EverTrumpers donā€™t like you and anyone who has come to know you (me and my other fellow Arizona residents), thinks you should retire to a job you can handleā€¦ Faro dealer at the Alhambra in Tombstone.

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Reading this - about the coy play and the long-held desire since say age 14, and the particular snapshot of Flake - with the look on his face of a mischievous 14 year old - evoked a chuckle.

I think it would be healthy for the GOP if Trump got primaried. But, dear Senator, it would be even more healthy for the country if you stood more firmly and countered more directly and in action (votes) the odious statements, and legislation emanating from the WH. Unless those really are aligned with the establishment conservatives - in which case the only thing you really object to is the presidentā€™s odious style, not his egregious actions and policies. That is - while you are still in the Senate: put up or shut up.

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He added that if he were to run, he would run as a Republican since he ā€œcanā€™t imagine doing anything else.ā€

Well, thereā€™s yer problem Jeffy: a complete lack of imagination.

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If Flake wanted to slow down Trumpā€™s dictatorship, he should have stayed in the Senate and told everybody he was a potential vote for conviction if the House went Dem and they impeached Trump. He could actually vote against Trumpā€™s judicial nominees and stand up to McConnell too - but has he ever actually cast an anti-Trump vote in the Senate? He was also part of the stealing of the Supreme Court seat from Obama/Garland conspiracy ā€œhatchedā€ by Mitch McConnell - except if Hillary won in 2016 he would have pushed for a confirmation of Garland to keep Hillary from filling the seat left open by Scaliaā€™s death. Jeff Flake is about as useless to American democracy as is Mitt Romney - nice guy Mormons glad handing the Chamber of Commerce while wearing nice suits and keeping their hair neatly groomed. Trump will chew him up and spit him out if he runs in 2020 - maybe Mark Cuban will run against Trump and speak some truth about the dictator.

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I thought about it when I was 14. Then I thought about what happened to Kennedy and what the Presidency did to LBJ (the first president I really remember) and thought better of it. Iā€™ve seen nothing since to cause me to change my mind.

Wanting the job should be an automatic disqualification for holding it. Watching the current Ā§Resident has reinforced that thought for me.

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I hope he, or someone else, does primary Trump. I donā€™t see Trump multitasking well. Heā€™d be so focused on the incoming criticisms that it may actually serve as a release valve for the constant pressure building from the Mueller investigation. If someone is going to run, Iā€™d imagine theyā€™d have to declare soon after the midterms.

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Yeah, heā€™ll have a lot to run on:

Iā€™m the Republican who wants to tell the truth about everything thatā€™s wrong with our party!

Crickets

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Flake has no chance of becoming president in 2020 or ever. The Republican Party has tossed him in the trash along with their Goldwater buttons. If he runs, it will be a matter of principle and/or pride only. I hope he does run, because itā€™s sure to annoy the shit out of Dump, and might even damage him depending on how effectively Flake exploits his various scandals and crimes.

But the most Flake can hope to achieve for himself with a run is to audition for the ā€œrespected elder statesmanā€ role in the next R administration. State or Defense, maybe.

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:moneybag:

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If Flake was truly the standup guy he dreams he is, for the remainder of his term he would declare himself an Independent Republican and caucus with the Democrats. If McCain were to do likewise, Democrats would be in the majority, investigations could be called pronto, and our democracy would suddenly be functioning again, at least in part. But no. That would require actual political courage.

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                             Flake

Itā€™s just so ā€¦ apropos ----

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Iā€™ve often thought that. We should draft people. Find Bill Bradley, wherever he is, and compel him to be President for eight years. He should have been President, but it was all too silly for him.

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I hope he gets primaried by several third party candidates. I just read on Huffpost that MAGA is hiring a whole bunch of millennials to work on his reelection and paying them. Average salary $41,000. Unbelievable!!! Dems should do something like that. Tom Steyer and Soros should respond with a similar offerā€¦since money buys everything in this country, I guess whatā€™s good for the goose itā€™s good for the gander. They want to maintain control at any cost. The 1% have taken over and the rest of us are turning into their slaves, obedient ones. I am not joking, I see this fascist takeover happening at a fairly rapid pace.

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So says the gutless wonder who voted with the Trump Agenda >95% of the time.

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"If nothing else, simply to remind Republicans what conservatism is and what Republicans traditionally stood for.ā€

And how, pray tell, has this administration betrayed any of those cherished anti-science, anti-environment, anti-women values?
YOU GOT YOUR WISH, you pack of craven hyenas - a vulgarian traitor who sold the country out to the russians and china is a small price to pay for a diseased and starving peasantry and your precious, precious tax cuts.
I donā€™t get you Flake, to what exactly are you referring?

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same attitude about women and the poors without the swearing and oafish behaviour

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Iā€™m going with ā€˜pride.ā€™

In fact, Iā€™m all in.

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