Sen. Flake: GOP Must Stand Against Trump's Behavior 'Or Lose That Chance'

[Dulcinea]

Sen. Jeff Flake, the Arizona Republican who announced his retirement in a withering speech aimed at President Trump, tells NPR that he is "deeply saddened" to leave the Senate, but that lawmakers must take a stand now against the administration's behavior or "lose that chance."

Addressing his Senate colleagues on Tuesday, Flake — who has sparred with the president for months — called out the Trump administration for what he described as its "casual undermining of our democratic ideals" as well as "reckless, outrageous and undignified" behavior. Speaking to Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep, the Arizona Republican said it "was a tough speech to give."

"I love this institution. I'm not leaving because I'm sour on the Senate or Congress," he says. "I'm deeply saddened to leave it."

Flake, who served four terms in the House before being elected to represent Arizona in the U.S. Senate in 2013, said he would retire in early January 2019 rather than seek a second term in the Senate.

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/25/559959826/sen-flake-gop-must-stand-against-trumps-behavior-or-lose-that-chance

[BigmanPigman]

1. There are discussions now in the wake of his speech

that he knew he wouldn't get re-elected (same with Corker) due to the ultra rights wings' gains in their states and not due to their disgust with the moron's behavior.