House Republicans Don’t Appreciate Jeff Flake
His Anti-Pork Campaign Earns Him a Demotion
By Bluey Posted in Congress | Featured Stories — Comments (20) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
As Mark Kilmer noted earlier today, Rep. Jeff Flake topped the National Taxpayers Union's list of taxpayers' friends for 2006. It's the fourth year in a row Flake has ranked No. 1 on the list -- a significant achievement for which he deserves widespread praise.
But Flake likely won't get any recognition from House Minority Leader John Boehner, the man who has promised to return Republicans to the majority in the U.S. House. When the Republican Steering Committee stripped Flake of his seat on the influential Judiciary Committee last month, it was Boehner who told Flake it had to do with his criticism of party leaders. The message was simple: Republicans love their pork, and even the anti-earmark Boehner couldn't do anything about it.
Columnist Robert Novak reported the details in January, and today at the Heritage Foundation, Novak reminded us about the significance of Flake's demotion in the context of the NTU scorecard.
While I don't agree with Flake on everything (such as his views on Cuba), I do believe he's one of the most articulate Republicans on the issue of government spending -- with a record to back it up. It's a shame House Republicans don't appreciate him.
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House Republicans Don’t Appreciate Jeff Flake 20 Comments (0 topical, 20 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
you are absolutely correct! Rep. Flake is one of the main reasons I am still a Republican. Shame on the powers that be who don't recognize his integrity and good sense.
have you read Ryan Sager's book "the elephant in the room", it is pretty interesting and discusses the libertarian vs big government divide in the Republican Party. You might find it interesting.
Flake is another one of those libertarian minded "Western Republicans" that some here believe do not exist.
Molon Labe!
but I have read Bruce Bartlett's Impostor. Does that count?
because I have not read it. I should be receiving Neil Boortz's new book, "Somebody's gotta say it" tomorrow. I am looking forward to it.
Molon Labe!
but let's face it: we have been taken for a long, long ride. Who on Earth (excepting, especially, unusually attentive Republicans) could have foreseen the explosion in the growth of the federal government under G.O.P. control? It is an absolute disgrace, and it will take a generation (or two) to set things straight. I shall strive to persevere nonetheless. My (and your?) cross to bear, I must presume.
I checked yours on Amazon, I will read it. As to your point, I quite agree. The saddest part to me was the Congressional leadership elections after november 7, it is like our party didn't learn a thing!
Molon Labe!
Another reason not to donate money to the House and Senate campaign committees.
so we just need to keep him as a role model.
We should also be nagging our own Reps with this question:
"Why can't you be more like Jeff Flake?"
My elected Representative (Peter Hoekstra) tends to tout his ratings, although this most recent one was not one of his better ones. Even still, with a 64% rating, he was the highest-scoring Michigan Congressman (next-highest was Mike Rogers at 60%). Granted, Michigan's politicians on both sides are doing what they can to rake in goodies now, especially considering the state's economy has gone, well, belly-up...
"I could explain, but that would be very long, very convoluted, and make you look very stupid. Nobody wants that... except maybe me."
for an overall approval rating for Congress? I'd like to know.
____
Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled, or hanged. — J. Michael Waller
I support Jeff Flake on many issues, but he is definitely not an ideal Republican model, he is a huge supporter of McCain's amnesty plan. Flake advocates an open-border policy because it supplies big-business an endless supply of cheap labor.
If I had to choose between two evils, I'll take a Republican who has a taste for pork any day over a Congressman who wants to give blanket amnesty and Social Security benefits to illegal immigrants.
"Back in the thirties we were told we must collectivize the nation because the people were so poor. Now we are told we must collectivize the nation because the people are so rich. "
William F. Buckley, Jr.
Flake is definitely one of the strongest Republican supporters of amensty in the House.
"The defense of our nation begins with the defense of our borders." - Rep. Tom Tancredo
but I guess if our Cuban embargo seems a little stubborn, one should remember Fidel's own stubbornness as the reason.
I could barely stand to read this story. One guy sticks up for financial discipline and THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP DEMOTES HIM!!!!! AAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! Does the Republican party stand for anything conservative anymore. This makes me angry at every level.
Note to house leadership: maybe if you would embrace conservative principles, such as limited government spending, you may just be on track to get the majority back.
For three years in a row Jeff Flake has won the distinguished Congressional Liberty Index published by Dr. Clifford Thies of Shenandoah Univ. The Liberty Index judges both economic and civil liberties. Flake scores "Most Libertarian" in the entire Congress, even beating out Ron Paul.
With Rudy Giuliani as President, a fellow libertarian-leaning Republican, I have a feeling Flake's profile and position will be greater come 2008. We just have to wait.
For the Liberty Index: www.rlc.org
Eric Dondero
www.mainstreamlibertarian.com
Is there something that Flake was criticizing party leadership on besides pork? If he's a libertarian in the mold of Ron Paul, he's probably not having much of anything nice to say vis-a-vis the war in Iraq or its prosecution... although he didn't vote for the Dem's non-binding resolution, which is something in his favor. If party leadership had their concerns about this, then the Judiciary committee probably wasn't the place for him...
All things considered, though, anybody up for leaning on party leadership to get him onto the Ways and Means committee? He'd be about the perfect guy for the job in a minority role.
"I could explain, but that would be very long, very convoluted, and make you look very stupid. Nobody wants that... except maybe me."
entrenched Beltway Republicans not wanting to change after our recent losses.
Molon Labe!