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bigtree

(94,286 posts)

131. impeachment isn't on the table

Thu Jan 18, 2018, 10:00 AM

Jan 2018

...because Mueller hasn't come forward with his findings.

Besides, how many Democrats are committed right now to impeachment? I'm not getting this as a standard for republicans speaking out against Trump. If we hone to the notion that there's no value in their speaking out because of their republicanism, there isn't one of them that will pass the test.

Flake's the hammer on all of the news shows I saw reporting this, and Trump is the nail. Not ONE distracted from the criticisms Flake leveled about Trump's attacks on the press to focus on his own record. That's how it should be, Flake, however compromised or hypocritical, is not the clear and present danger that Trump represents. Nor is he some sort of flash point that we should be spending our time ripping apart.

He's retiring, and it's really only going to serve those who want to distract from his criticisms of Trump, those who want to muddle and divide the opposition, to make Flake's republicanism the issue instead of his speaking truth to power.

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Wow, wow, wow! Flake! [View all] bigtree Jan 2018 OP

An outstanding speech. And long overdue. spooky3 Jan 2018 #1

It Will Be Interesting To See Both Trump's & The Repugs.... global1 Jan 2018 #11

The minority influence literature in social psych says that spooky3 Jan 2018 #15

Check Out This From McCain.... global1 Jan 2018 #21

Thanks. Unfortunately, McCains health may mean he cant spooky3 Jan 2018 #38

Conjecture cilla4progress Jan 2018 #29

Snowflake? C'mon it's right there flibbitygiblets Jan 2018 #109

Hahahahaha cilla4progress Jan 2018 #117

Snowflake is the name of the Arizona town where he's from DesertRat Jan 2018 #121

Well there you have it flibbitygiblets Jan 2018 #123

Spot on but lacking substance as Flake refuses to stand up to Trump onit2day Jan 2018 #114

Won't miss him when he retires though. lagomorph777 Jan 2018 #2

I will, when he's replaced by a tea partier. pnwmom Jan 2018 #83

AZ might flip Motownman78 Jan 2018 #92

"Pretty words." LenaBaby61 Jan 2018 #89

As much as I wish it was otherwise, that is my assessment, too. BobTheSubgenius Jan 2018 #101

Exactly. The GOP is made up of opportunists and frauds nothing more. bench scientist Jan 2018 #108

He has always been very conservative, except on immigration WyLoochka Jan 2018 #135

When he starts voting against Trump, I will listen n2doc Jan 2018 #3

This. NT Bleacher Creature Jan 2018 #26

This x 1000. bullwinkle428 Jan 2018 #41

yup. nt Javaman Jan 2018 #45

Damn skippy. reflection Jan 2018 #47

Yep n/t LittleGirl Jan 2018 #52

Kabuki theater. Flake will vote for Trump legislative packages NCjack Jan 2018 #53

He has legislation right in front of him NOW he could support n2doc Jan 2018 #58

OK, Flake. show us that you have a spine. Vote for Net Neutrality. NCjack Jan 2018 #62

I agree - especially because it's essentially tied in to the topic of his speech. LisaM Jan 2018 #86

"Yeah, I think he is Stalin but he always gets my vote" dalton99a Jan 2018 #73

Watching. Going to call my Senators and Rep when he is livetohike Jan 2018 #4

But he'll still vote for everything trump wants. This is BS grandstanding. NightWatcher Jan 2018 #5

Flake is running for President. Zoonart Jan 2018 #6

He would have absolutely no chance bearsfootball516 Jan 2018 #50

Slate - "Flake's Empty Words" - a caution NRaleighLiberal Jan 2018 #7

+1, Flake; "Trumps horrible, now watch me vote for his horrible legislation" uponit7771 Jan 2018 #19

+2 NewJeffCT Jan 2018 #25

Yep. As horrible as dump is not fooled Jan 2018 #111

CNN, MSNBC and, even Fox News covering speech. oasis Jan 2018 #8

faux cut away... spanone Jan 2018 #18

Fox's Howard Kurtz slams Flake after the speech. Foxbots rarely oasis Jan 2018 #49

What is he saying? smirkymonkey Jan 2018 #22

Basically, Trump's attack on the press is no different than that oasis Jan 2018 #46

Thanks! smirkymonkey Jan 2018 #65

Words, words, words . . . hatrack Jan 2018 #9

Don't fall for the okey doke on him. SweetieD Jan 2018 #10

This is not about the speaker. Its about a Republican spooky3 Jan 2018 #14

Still, its a speech, not a vote. JHB Jan 2018 #12

This is better than nothing and is historical... steve2470 Jan 2018 #13

We need to get over ourselves. Flake will never vote in line with the Democrats. Mr. Ected Jan 2018 #16

that's an important point bigtree Jan 2018 #24

NPR was interviewing Flake this morning BoneyardDem Jan 2018 #36

Flake is a not fooled Jan 2018 #112

Yes, he is saying what needs to be said PatSeg Jan 2018 #43

Very well said Time for change Jan 2018 #122

Yeah, yeah, yeah...what's his voting record? Iggo Jan 2018 #17

Excellent speech. greatauntoftriplets Jan 2018 #20

Flake thinks Trump is Stalin. But he is still willing to vote for his agenda. mn9driver Jan 2018 #23

He actually said this?!!??? JustAnotherGen Jan 2018 #28

Doesn't mean shit mindfulNJ Jan 2018 #27

i missed it...im sure it will be on later... samnsara Jan 2018 #30

Enough in there to justify impeachment kennetha Jan 2018 #31

Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2018 #32

Talk is cheap . He doesn't like trump but votes republican values. Pence or Ryan? He'd be fine lunasun Jan 2018 #33

On MSNBC this am, he criticized Trump's dishonesty misrepresenting the facts-BUT wishstar Jan 2018 #34

I disagree. It was pure political stuntsmanship. He was making a 2020 campaign commercial Stinky The Clown Jan 2018 #35

what do you do with that assessment, that position? bigtree Jan 2018 #37

I won't dismiss Flake gratuitous Jan 2018 #39

Flake is leaving bigtree Jan 2018 #44

So you're saying that Flakes Fine Speech is directed to Democrats? gratuitous Jan 2018 #48

politics isn't as static as you describe bigtree Jan 2018 #51

As I said, I'm not "dismissing Flake" gratuitous Jan 2018 #55

I 'embrace' Flake's criticisms of Trump today. I endorse what he said bigtree Jan 2018 #59

Well, good for you gratuitous Jan 2018 #61

yet you took pains to highlight Flake over the truths he spoke today bigtree Jan 2018 #63

There is negligible value in ANY republican speaking out against Trump... Saviolo Jan 2018 #97

so the several discussions about Trump, the press, and his impact on the press around the globe bigtree Jan 2018 #100

I didn't say none, I said negligible. Saviolo Jan 2018 #110

using that standard bigtree Jan 2018 #116

All Flake is doing is tone policing Trump Saviolo Jan 2018 #133

if he is, he's 'tone policing' poorly bigtree Jan 2018 #134

fine. someone running on the notion that cheato is a tyrant mopinko Jan 2018 #40

True but so was Cory Booker yesterday misanthrope Jan 2018 #125

Ah. The old fallback to WhatAboutIsm Stinky The Clown Jan 2018 #132

Fine but there's sauce for the goose and gander alike misanthrope Jan 2018 #138

Well played. WhatAboutIsm *and* BothSidesIsm. Stinky The Clown Jan 2018 #140

Why you're playing your "ism-schism game" misanthrope Jan 2018 #141

Bless your heart. Stinky The Clown Jan 2018 #142

Did he just throw his hat into the ring? MissKat Jan 2018 #42

flake bunny planet Jan 2018 #54

Morons enid602 Jan 2018 #56

This is important. Flake will still vote for all the GOP bills, he's very conservative, AJT Jan 2018 #57

Folks, there is a profound difference between core constitutional principles and political agendas Tom Rinaldo Jan 2018 #60

THIS FirstLight Jan 2018 #87

Agreed and thank you. MuseRider Jan 2018 #106

zero new info, flake supports trumps policies AlexSFCA Jan 2018 #64

Do not listen to what they say, look at what they do. dhol82 Jan 2018 #66

Blah, Blah, Blah matt819 Jan 2018 #67

Stalin must have borrowed it from Ibsen DFW Jan 2018 #68

Great speech davekriss Jan 2018 #69

If he said in his speech that he regrets any of his votes, PoindexterOglethorpe Jan 2018 #70

Can you say "2020 primary challenge"? nt Persondem Jan 2018 #71

Same flake who gave Trump the tax scam and voted to kill Obamacare dalton99a Jan 2018 #72

that would be the majority of the republican party bigtree Jan 2018 #75

He's all kinds of brave now that he "retired" apnu Jan 2018 #74

That was a great speech by Senator Flake Gothmog Jan 2018 #76

I agree!!! Touche' to Flake. Voting record or not, at least he's speaking out. Honeycombe8 Jan 2018 #77

Watch what he does, not what he says... diva77 Jan 2018 #78

better yet bigtree Jan 2018 #80

But but MFM008 Jan 2018 #79

"I cant believe what you say, because I see what you do." James Baldwin Perseus Jan 2018 #81

Nice speech. aquamarina Jan 2018 #82

The "truth" has been missing from the GOP for a long time GregGilman Jan 2018 #84

Yawn! Wake me when Flakes votes start matching his words against the traitor. LonePirate Jan 2018 #85

"Wake me when Flakes votes start matching his words against the traitor." LenaBaby61 Jan 2018 #90

Quick question.. FirstLight Jan 2018 #88

Henceforth to be known as "Flakey!" dchill Jan 2018 #91

Righteous. Obviously Flake is an intelligent guy. BlancheSplanchnik Jan 2018 #93

Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), who has compared Trump to Stalin, Perseus Jan 2018 #94

how many Democrats in the Senate calling for impeachment? bigtree Jan 2018 #95

That is not the issue. To say you will not vote to impeach Perseus Jan 2018 #99

it's absolutely relevant bigtree Jan 2018 #104

This is from Flake's speech Perseus Jan 2018 #98

Flake personifies British politician Iain Bank's comment... dobleremolque Jan 2018 #96

K&R. LOL, that's a classic line. KY_EnviroGuy Jan 2018 #102

Well gilligan Jan 2018 #103

I VERY much hope his words have at least some effect. BobTheSubgenius Jan 2018 #105

Despite the speech he remains a reliable Republican vote. Golden Raisin Jan 2018 #107

Jeff Flake is/will be campaigning for the 2020 nomination INdemo Jan 2018 #113

That whore couldn't find his spine until he decided to leave the Senate. Fake! RainCaster Jan 2018 #115

But he never VOTES the way he talks! Tatiana Jan 2018 #118

Awed. raven mad Jan 2018 #119

Will he be the Goldwater that eventually invites our Nixon to take a hike or be impeached? PubliusEnigma Jan 2018 #120

Good speech, however actions speak louder than words burrowowl Jan 2018 #124

WOW is so right! mrsadm Jan 2018 #126

great speech but mnmoderatedem Jan 2018 #127

I had been looking forward to this, babylonsister Jan 2018 #128

impeachment isn't on the table bigtree Jan 2018 #131

Sorry, but I'm not impressed. Words are cheap & Flake votes w/45* 95% of the time. catbyte Jan 2018 #129

Basically ConnorMarc Jan 2018 #130

Talk is cheap SoCalDem Jan 2018 #136

piss on jeff flake anyway KG Jan 2018 #137

Flake just voted Thomas Farr out of Committee for a lifetime seat on the Nanjeanne Jan 2018 #139