Congressman Jeff Flake delivers farewell speech on House floor

[compromise]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwSBgHP83bk

[cbrons]

Isn't he moving to the Senate?

[compromise]

Isn't he moving to the Senate?
He is. He's not perfect, but he was one of the most fiscally conservative Representatives, voted against military intervention in Libya and foreign aid to Libya and Egypt, and did offer amendments to the Patriot Act (he was also important in getting sunset provisions in the Patriot Act while on the Judiciary Committee in 2001). I think he'll make a good ally for Rand Paul and Mike Lee.

[sailingaway]

Does he explain why he voted to extend the Patriot Act?

[Cleaner44]

He will be a HUGE improvement over Jon Kyl.

[acptulsa]

He will be a HUGE improvement over Jon Kyl.

Now if we could just be rid of that other current Arizona senator...

[itshappening]

They will have to carry McCain out of the senate in a box.

Truly a disgrace. At least Kyl had the good grace to retire and do something else with his life.

[itshappening]

By the way, Flake only won by 3 points, the LP candidate pulled in 5 percent. Just goes to show you that they can have an affect in close races.

[Confederate]

By the way, Flake only won by 3 points, the LP candidate pulled in 5 percent. Just goes to show you that they can have an affect in close races.

I'll say it again, fuck the LP.

[itshappening]

Flake is a big fan of the PATRIOT act and supported Iraq war though has recanted.

He deserves a LP challenge.

[compromise]

Flake is a big fan of the PATRIOT act and supported Iraq war though has recanted.

He deserves a LP challenge.

All but 3 conservative Republicans supported Iraq. Flake, like Walter Jones, turned against the Iraq War while attending Ron Paul's weekly Liberty Caucus meetings.

While I understand the LP's motives behind running against Flake (although I personally did support Flake), the LP are often a nuisance. They ran against Amash in both 2010 and 2012. The second time the LP got 3.2% of the vote. The LP got 2.7% of the vote when they ran against Bentivolio. They got 1.7% against Robinson. They didn't contest Massie, Mack, Lee, Bills, Yoho or Rand Paul, which I'm happy about, but LP challenges still pose a risk to liberty Republican candidates. We should send letters or emails or something to the LP not to contest Bentivolio or Amash in the future.

Denny Rehberg wasn't really a libertarian but he did have some good civil liberty positions, was a longtime member of Ron's Liberty Caucus and had endorsements by both Ron and Rand and lost his race 48.6/44.9/6.6 (D/R/L) in a red state, Montana, which the Republicans were expected to him. The Democrats actually campaigned for the LP guy in order to split the vote. Mia Love was very conservative, well versed in Austrian economics, a fan of Ron Paul and running in very red Utah - she lost 48.8/48.5/2.6 (D/R/L). Richard Tisei was a self-described libertarian in the reddest district of Massachusetts who opposed the Patriot Act and was exactly like Gary Johnson on social issues. He lost 46.4/45.3/4.3 (D/R/L). I can't really expect the LP not to challenge these candidates, but we should definitely urge fellow liberty-minded people to go with the candidates that agree with us on 85% of things and have a high chance of winning rather than LP guys who may agree on 100% of issues but have no hope of winning. Sure I support voting LP or CP if your Republican nominee is someone like John McCain, but its not always the best option for the cause of liberty. Had the LP not done so well in these three elections, we may well have seen two new liberty-leaning Representatives and one new Senator.

[itshappening]

I think your right about the LP in some respects. We will run a campaign to ensure they stand down against Amash and Bentivolio in 2014.

I'm not sad about Rehberg but deplore the "Montana shooters" group the liberals created. I strongly suspect Mia Love lost because voters in that Utah district could not vote for a black woman, it was the biggest surprise of the congressional elections as she should have won and I can't explain it much more than simply they did not want to vote for a black lady.

[talkingpointes]

Flake is a big fan of the PATRIOT act and supported Iraq war though has recanted.

He deserves a LP challenge.

Flake is awesome fiscally and is a good social conservative (abortion,marriage) but it still somewhat of a chicken hawk. When Romney came to town it was almost put on like a political marriage.

[compromise]

I think your right about the LP in some respects. We will run a campaign to ensure they stand down against Amash and Bentivolio in 2014.

I'm not sad about Rehberg but deplore the "Montana shooters" group the liberals created. I strongly suspect Mia Love lost because voters in that Utah district could not vote for a black woman, it was the biggest surprise of the congressional elections as she should have won and I can't explain it much more than simply they did not want to vote for a black lady.

Racism isn't really a problem in Utah. There was no racial segregation in Utah's past and blacks really aren't all that common there. It's not like we're talking about the South, and even the South elected Allen West, Jennifer Carroll and Tim Scott. Rather, a lot of white Americans, especially Republicans actually vote for black candidates in order to prove they're NOT racist, given the negative stigma associated with racism in modern America and the largely untrue allegations of racism made against the Republican Party. I don't think her race hurt her at all.

The district Mia ran for is the urban and suburban 4th district, next to Jason Chaffetz's 3rd district, a Latino Republican's district, which is largely suburban and rural.

[itshappening]

So how did she lose? She should have won by 10 points.

[compromise]

Flake is awesome fiscally and is a good social conservative (abortion,marriage) but it still somewhat of a chicken hawk. When Romney came to town it was almost put on like a political marriage.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/111-2010/h638
He actually voted to repeal DADT (15 Repub yes votes).

On foreign policy, he's not afraid to buck the party line, he's actually one of the best Republicans on foreign policy, especially when it comes to foreign aid and military spending appropriations, even back during the Bush era. He voted against the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. Some key foreign policy votes:

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/112-2011/h412
Flake - YES (87 Repub yes votes)

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/107-2002/h367
Flake - NO (only 10 Repub yes votes)

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/112-2012/h579
Flake - NO (70 Repub no votes)

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/112-2012/h370
Flake - NO (only 16 Repub no votes)

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/112-2011/h418
Flake - NO (only 5 Repub no votes)

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/112-2012/h498
Flake - NO (only 11 Repub no votes)

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/112-2011/h147
Flake - NO (this one took balls, only 3 Repub no votes)

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/111-2009/h675
Flake - NO (only 8 Repub no votes)

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/112-2011/h409
Flake - NO (only 20 Repub no votes)

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/111-2010/h474
Flake - NO (only 12 Repub no votes)

[talkingpointes]

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/111-2010/h638
He actually voted to repeal DADT (15 Repub yes votes).

On foreign policy, he's not afraid to buck the party line, he's actually one of the best Republicans on foreign policy, especially when it comes to foreign aid and military spending appropriations:

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/112-2011/h412
Flake - YES (87 Repub yes votes)

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/112-2012/h579
Flake - NO (70 Repub no votes)

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/112-2012/h370
Flake - NO (only 16 Repub no votes)

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/112-2011/h418
Flake - NO (only 5 Repub no votes)

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/112-2012/h498
Flake - NO (only 11 Repub no votes)

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/112-2011/h147
Flake - NO (this one took balls, only 3 Repub no votes)

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/111-2009/h675
Flake - NO (only 8 Repub no votes)

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/112-2011/h409
Flake - NO (only 20 Repub no votes)

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/111-2010/h474
Flake - NO (only 12 Repub no votes)

I didn't actually look it up. Thank you for your time and material, it is much appreciated. No condescending remarks and links.

[compromise]

I didn't actually look it up. Thank you for your time and material, it is much appreciated. No condescending remarks and links.
On foreign policy, Flake's like Mike Lee, possibly a little better. Good generally, but hawkish on Iran. Lee's better on civil liberties though.

[compromise]

So how did she lose? She should have won by 10 points.

She should have? The Dem was a longtime incumbent. The liberty movement was a factor in her loss. A lot of liberty people didn't realize she was a good candidate until Reason endorsed her. The liberty movement has some great campaigners.