Rep. Jeff Flake on How the GOP Can Get Its Groove Back

[tommygarage1776]

Broaden our base ? Big Tents are at a Circus. Stand Up ! The tone and tenor of the Illegal immigration debate has hurt the party ?" No the Amnesty Proponents in the GOP siding with Ted Kennedy and Chuck Schumer have hurt the party. Reagan Republicans know we have 15% unemployment and cannot sustain the continued cheap labor invasion of illegals. Rid the party of the RINO's who cross the aisle and the party will be back to standing for something and once again be a force for prosperity

[FukRepublicans]

blah blah blah.... fuk'n fraud.

[AProbableAnomaly]

Jeff Flake you are a true American Representative for the people! Right on Jeff Flake! What is wrong with personal liberty, with a balanced budget?! You are absolutely right! Keep fighting those earmarks! GREAT job Jeff Flake!

Go Jeff Flake!

[Womanizer2985]

This speech changed my entire perspective on Jeff Flake. So much so that I now think he needs to run for President in 2012. Unlike Ron Paul, he is likable, charismatic, and not tied to the Klan. He is perhaps the most powerful liberty candidate who can run against Obama and WIN. He could beat Romney, Huckabee and all the others.

JEFF FLAKE 2012!

[davidmesaaz]

He is my Congressman and he is very popular here. Several mayors sometimes don't like him because he doesn't bring home the pork. But after 8 years in office he is the gold standard in fiscal responsibility. He is the standard in which all other congressmen should be judged on fiscal issues.

[HoboOfSixthGrade]

he is my dad! not even kidding

[xyberfunk]

Jeffrey Flake is a patriot.

He is one of the few who all week long, day after day is battling in the house for YOU!

For Democrats, For Republicans, For the AMERICAN PEOPLE. For all of us...

If you consider yourself an American, you should (at minimum!) turn on c-span some morning and witness what goes on in our House of Representatives.

It is not about Republican vs. Democrat.

it is We The People vs. The Government.

Our founding fathers warned us of this over and over...

[FukRepublicans]

2 many pale faces n ur party. it's pretty much a rap 4 the next 20 years....

[barbaramedal]

How about your stand on Amnesty Jeff? listen to the folks in this or your are not going to get re-elected

[davidmesaaz]

As some one in his district I think that he will have no problem getting elected. He runs unopposed in every election. Arizona is proud to have him represent us.

[whoo689]

Barry Goldwater would be proud that at least one district in his home state elected a guy like Jeff Flake. Now if only he can get elected Senator. ;)

[winslowwind]

If Jeff Flake can learn from Ron Paul and follow true Republican principles by walking the walk not just talk the talk, he will be re-elected. If he lets the pressure of the elite affect his good judgement we will not re-elect. SImple. Hold Mr Flake and all Representatives accountable to the people. Jeff knows the Constitution, I have great faith that he will follow the Constitution.

[chevydriver1123]

While Flake's words are pretty spot on I would love to see if the Republicans can actually act on them. As it currently stands the Republicans are only slightly less socialist than Democrats and have no problem with christian right activism.

[jp3711nc1]

Maybe things will work out themselves with democrats being themselves hypocrites maybe people will vote republicans in it happens every election cycle.

[beatlesmc1]

keep fighting the hacks and parasites in Washington. they've got nothing on you.

[LPBguy]

He's not perfect, but he's a hell of a lot more principled than most congressmen.

"Flake initially supported the Patriot Act and the Iraq War, but more recently has changed his position to one of cautious opposition, including voting against appropriations for both."

He DID vote against the Homeland security act however, and serves on the liberty caucus along with Ron Paul. He seems like a politician libertarians can trust.

[xelenty]

Flake by name, flake by nature.. How and why would anyone be stupid enough to believe that the republicans would ever stand for liberty and limited govt.. They have had 2 lengthy terms since 1980.. ALL of which increased the size of govt beyond most peoples wildest imaginations..

This is the speech of a politician trying desperately to find a 'reason' to be a politician.. Sadly he has no interest in REASON, that's for sure..

[nickd4818]

And I'm sure the merry band of class warriors and social doctors in the White House and Congress right now stand for limited government right?

[xelenty]

I have no more love to give the class warriors either.. they all say what people want to hear, change, limited govt are all rhetoric when it comes down to reality.. Its all big govt and the bigger the better for these hypocrites, whatever political colour they hail from.. :)

[johnycannuk]

What is with the knee-jerk "if you criticize the Republicans you must love the Democrats" , black and white, us and them mentality?

Perhaps that is a problem with the party too.

You can blab the "Oh yeah, but what about the Dems1!!111!" all you want, it doesn't change the facts - Since 1980, Republicans' have ruled with 20 of 28 years and have INCREASED the size of government every time.

xelenty is right. That doesn't mean he's a Dem. REpubs say one thing and do the opposite, as history shows

[newyorkairsoft]

Agree. Almost every time I mention how big the government grew under a conservative party [which DO NOT represent true conservatism anymore] I get slammed with "LIBERAL" by a Nazi police.

[aallppiinnee]

It's called Congress.

[truthadvocate]

Branding 101. Send a single simple consistent message over time that is relevant to the target audience. This is right on. If the GOP would have hammered this simple brand "limited government, economic freedom" throughout the last election campaign, they would have had a chance. With this message they would have differentiated themselves from Bush and really differentiated themselves from Obama! Jeff Flake is one of the good ones.

[burnhippiesforfuel]

i'm not sure what to think about the gop. it's unfortunate that obama and the congress screwing up may be the reason republicans are turned to instead of the return to principles mr. flake (and others) advocate. the positive view is that so-called moderates may be forced to the right as a reaction and social issues will be less important than fiscal and foreign policy.