Flake and Corker feel liberated to speak their minds. That should terrify Trump.

[orangecrush]

Flake and Corker feel liberated to speak their minds. That should terrify Trump.
Flake’s decision to retire means that he gets to leave the Senate on his own terms and apparently that entails going full “Bulworth.”

In an op-ed for The Post, Flake explains that he decided not to seek reelection in order “to remove all considerations of what is normally considered to be safe politically.”

“For the next 14 months, relieved of the strictures of politics, I will be guided only by the dictates of conscience,” he promises. “It’s time we all say: Enough.”

While some might sulk from the scene, Flake is flooding the zone. He was omnipresent and ubiquitous across media platforms last night and this morning, from CNN to NPR, warning in dire terms about the GOP’s retreat from Reagan-style conservatism.

Some in the Washington chattering class are under the mistaken impression that — because they will never face voters again — Flake, Corker and McCain are not being that courageous by going public with their fears about Trump.

Here’s a quick thought experiment for these pundits: Can you imagine Chris Dodd, Evan Bayh and Byron Dorgan saying in 2009 that Barack Obama was debasing the country? Or Fred Thompson, Phil Gramm and Jesse Helms saying in 2001 that George W. Bush needed adult day care? Or George Mitchell, Sam Nunn and David Boren going on CNN in 1993 to call Bill Clinton a congenital liar?

Of course not. In fact, it’s inconceivable. As Flake said yesterday, this is not normal. None of it: not Trump’s behavior, nor the reaction to it.

That’s why the mainstream media cannot cover the back-and-forth like a remake of “Mean Girls.” It’s so much more than just another Trump Twitter feud. Objectively, this is an extraordinary moment in our nation’s history.

-- In a year of remarkable days, yesterday was one of the most remarkable. Whether it will be a pivot point remains unclear. Flake’s 18-minute speech on the Senate floor announcing his resignation will be talked about for a generation. (It’s worth your time to read the transcript.)

-- The million-dollar question now: Will Flake embolden more senators to speak out or will his experience scare them into silence? There are several GOP senators who feel the same way he does, but they won’t put their views on the record.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2017/10/25/daily-202-flake-and-corker-feel-liberated-to-speak-their-minds-that-should-terrify-trump/59efd11030fb045cba000a28/?utm_term=.131362c3c581

[50 Shades Of Blue]

1. This reads like a PoliticusUSA article.

[awesomerwb1]

2. Don't buy that. The rest of the gopers

are probably running for re-election if Bannon/twitler hasn't scared them.

Since that's the case, I doubt any of those cowards will say anything negative about twitler before Nov. 2018.

It's up to us to stop the stupid/imbecilic divisiveness and vote and help get out the vote like never before.

Any Dem is better than a gop a-hole.

[MontanaMama]

3. Actions speak louderth an words.

They can say anything they want about how abnormal and horrible Dotard is and none of it matters because they continue to vote for his shit storm agenda at every opportunity. They can go to hell IMO.

[Rhiannon12866]

4. It's up to the Republicans to take down Trump, same as with Nixon

More Republicans need to get on board - but this is a start.

[orangecrush]

5. That is the point

And Flake and McCain aren't leaving now.

They have a long time to go to be thorns in Trumps rump.

[Rhiannon12866]

6. We can only hope they're empowering more Republicans to get on board

We really need Ryan and McConnell, but this is a good start. Trump is going after Republicans and they need to take action...

[orangecrush]

7. this is where we are right now

hanging on until 2018.

GOTV.

[Rhiannon12866]

10. The way things are going, we can't afford to wait till 2020

Things get more outrageous and damaging by the day! The news is all about Trump's latest Tweets or attacks, while behind the scenes the Trump cabal is doing serious damage to this country and Americans. The Republicans need to take action, here's hoping that more get on board!

[orangecrush]

11. I'm with you

And following this closely.

[hatrack]

12. Ryan and McConnell?

[Turbineguy]

8. Trump is undoing their brand.

They are probably trying to figure out how to make him a Democrat.

[orangecrush]

9. yeah

Unfortunately, he's undoing Democracy also.

[hatrack]

13. They already are: "He's not really a Republican! He's not a TRUE Republican!"

Heard and seen pretty much every day in the scrubby undergrowth of Pundit Forest.