Posted on 03/16/2018 7:10:26 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake is retiring at the end of his term but he may not be giving up on politics altogether.
The staunch critic of President Trump said Thursday during a speech at the National Press Club that he may take on the commander in chief in 2020.
"It's not in my plan to run for president, but I am not ruling it out. Somebody needs to stand up for traditional Republicanism," Flake said. "Somebody needs to raise that, for nothing else than to give people hope that that decent party will be back. We'll get through this."
He also said the blind loyalty to Trump shown by many of his fellow Republican colleagues means the GOP “might not deserve to lead.”
While Flake acknowledged the uphill battle of defeating the president if the election were held today, the Arizona Republican said all that could change dramatically if the GOP has disastrous results in the midterm elections.
"Not today, but two years from now, possibly. Things can unravel pretty fast," Flake said. "As soon as he's viewed as one who loses majorities in the House and the Senate, and there's no chance that someone in the 30s can win re-election, people might move on."
He also said if Trump does not lose support from his base, there is still another option to run as an independent.
"I'm not ruling that out either," he said. "There are going to be a lot of other people in the party looking for something else."
Steve Duprey, who represents New Hampshire at the Republican National Committee, said his chances are not looking good.
"It's virtually impossible to beat an incumbent for the nomination,” he said, reports FoxNews.com. “But that doesn't prevent people from trying with various degrees of seriousness."
It’s difficult to say whether Flake is serious or not, considering he acknowledged in October that he wouldn’t even be able to win a GOP primary in his state.
"The bottom line is if I were to run a campaign that I could be proud of, and where I didn’t have to cozy up to the president and his positions or his behavior, I could not win in a Republican primary," he said the day after announcing he wouldn’t seek reelection." "That’s the bottom line."
Arizonans have seen fit to elect not one but two of the most despicable men ever to set foot on Capitol Hill. Can anyone explain that?
whats with that weird, idiotic grin on his face?...strange guy...
Lololol....maybe in the demonrat party....but he would have to survive the hellary hitmen.....
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
“It’s not in my plan to run for president, but I am not ruling it out.”
LOL.
5.56mm
Great idea Jeff the Flake. You can’t even get re elected to your senate seat in your own state, but somehow think you have a chance at the presidency.
I swear, these moron politicians are actually even dumber than I give them credit for.
Flake or another progressive Republican like him will run a well financed 3rd party campaign. I have no doubt.
What an idiot!!!
This would give me great pleasure. Flake would be so soundly trounced in a primary that I would be surprised if he ever went for public office again. He is soundly disliked and I know he does not realize it. If he runs as he says he might, he will find out.
Remember, Flake was a lobbyist for a mining company in Namibia before he was a senator. He is probably leaving office anticipating an earlier return to lobbying
There is estimated to be over twelve thousand Lobbyists in Washington. Congresspersons and staffers “go downtown” to become lobbyists and the big draw is money. This revolving-door activity lets elected officials persons supposedly representing the interests of citizens then become involved with big-money interests of for-profit corporations or special interest groups.
The world of K Street means that former congress members, even with “modest seniority,” can move into jobs paying $1 million or more annually not including bonuses. So, public officials become taken over by private interests.
Trump tries to “Drain the Swamp” by closing the loopholes in the Lobbying Disclosure Act used to influence policy without disclosing their activities. His executive order goes further than only restricting registered lobbyists. It includes “lobbying activities,” which includes preparing and strategizing for contacts other people make.
So, Jeff Flake will always act flaky by being in for himself and not the interest of citizens or the nation whether in or out of office.
Maybe he snd Rick Scott can run together and both get humiliated.
AND SOROS.
I wish the right person finds Soros.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.