Opportunism not playing well for Jeff Flake

Even when Flake inadvertently votes the right way, he backtracks when confronted

The latest Public Policy Polling survey does not bode well for Arizona’s junior senator Jeff Flake. In fact, after just 3 months in office Flake has already become one of the most unpopular senators in the country. We’d understand if Flake lost favor over his stance on granting amnesty to the at least 25 million illegal aliens who have invaded our country, but that’s not the reason for his decline.

It’s no secret where Seeing Red AZ stands on Jeff Flake. We strongly supported conservative businessman Wil Cardon in his bid for the senate seat, open through Jon Kyl’s retirement. Our previous regard for Club for Growth fell to zero after the group ran vicious back-to-back, distortive, independent expenditure campaign ads intentionally misrepresenting Cardon.

Flake has done nothing to earn the trust of conservatives. From laughingly breaking his term limits pledge — declaring “I lied” — or using the flimsiest excuse to cravenly avoid casting a responsible vote opposing “cap-and-tax,” the junk science-based, massive national energy tax, to doing a pre-senate race waffle on his always liberal stance on illegal immigration. Flake’s opportunistic moment, was so  “jarring” to the pro-open borders Periódico de la República de Arizona (Arizona Republic), it even editorialized the guy they idolized as a “statesman” had become a mere “politician.”

So imagine our plight as we find ourselves defending what we know to be his self-serving vote, parting company with mentor McCain on expanding background checks for gun purchases. For his vote, the República, which writes lengthy reports on bullying, again engages in name calling, this time calling Flake a “coward.”  We were rapidly thrust back to our senses when finger-to-the-wind Flake vacillated the day after his vote.  Flake flim-flamingly said he cast his nay vote because the language was “too broad.”  Constitutionally-based conservative convictions never entered the picture. 

The raucous protestors outside his office, along with his “long time friend” Gabrielle Giffords and her hypocritical, carpetbagging husband Mark Kelly — who despite their friendship, have pledged they will support a senate challenger, have prompted Flake to now propose a “streamlined” version he hopes will win Congressional support.

In appeasing the gun control advocates demanding he apologize for failing to support Barack Obama’s prized legislation restricting firearms, the aptly named Flake alienates conservatives who believe in the relevance of the Second Amendment of the Constitution. He’s lucky he doesn’t face the Republican voters he needs until 2018.

The polling questions regarding Flake asked by the left-of-center — they call themselves “Democratic-leaning” — Public Policy Polling, run from page 3 through 7 of the 21 page report and can be viewed here. Their polling on the same topic also includes Alaska, Nevada, and Ohio.

Jeff Flake: Senator Vacillator

Concerned about the threats of Second Amendment restrictionists to remove him from office, Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake is already doing an about-face on his “nay” vote on universal background checks.

His Thursday vote, separating from his mentor John McMaverick, earned him the animosity of the Arizona Republic, which called him a “coward.”

On Friday, Flake’s Phoenix office was the scene of a protest, as anti-gun activists jeered, “Shame on Flake.’  It doesn’t take much to cause the junior senator to backpedal. Within two days, he was singing a new tune and calling for a new gun bill.

“I hope this debate isn’t over. I hope we can continue,” Flake waffled. “We do need to take measures to make this situation better and we can do so in a way that is consistent with the Second Amendment,” said contortionist Flake.

Remember, Flake is actually speaking of the bill he just voted against.

Now, with his finger in the wind, Flake says he cast his nay vote because the language was “too broad.”  After uncomfortable clashes with the newspaper, the raucous protestors outside his office, along with his “long time friend” Gabrielle Giffords and her opportunist husband Mark Kelly — who despite their friendship, have pledged they will support a senate challenger — Flake is now proposing a “streamlined” version he hopes will  win Congressional support.

Flake can’t have it both ways. In appeasing the gun control advocates demanding he apologize for failing to support Barack Obama’s prized legislation restricting firearms, Flake alienates Second Amendment supporters, who believe in the relevance of the Constitution.

Grow a spine, Mr. Flake.

Jeff Flake a “coward” says AZ Republic

Opportunist Flake casts unusual vote upsetting his media friends

This morning’s editorial in the Arizona Republic, Senators take cowardly exit, gives a scathing evaluation of Arizona’s junior senator. The rage fairly jumps off the page as it focuses on Jeff Flake, opining his “nay” vote on universal background checks was “extremely dismaying” while huffing “this was not a proud day for Arizona’s new senator.” It blames NRA Executive VP Wayne LaPierre for the votes they despised:  “It shouldn’t have to take political bravery to stare down the NRA on an issue like this. But, obviously, that is what it is going to take for any meaningful gun-law reform to pass. Flake, alas, failed that test on Wednesday,” spews the editorial.

It’s happened before, as we pointed out in Oops — Jeff Flake’s crown slips as he sinks to mere McPolitician,” when, as an unwavering amnesty-supporting congressman, Flake did an about-face to win conservative votes for the senate seat he so blatantly coveted. At the time, editorialist Doug MacEachern called Flake’s change of heart on legalizing millions of illegal aliens “jarring.”  Imagine our surprise as the Republic declared the vacillating Flake to be a mere “politician” — no longer a “statesman” — for emulating John McCain’s border fickleness during his own 2010 senatorial campaign.

For yesterday’s vote, the newspaper lavishes praise on John McCain, who it claims, “did not fail” as “one of just four Republicans who dared follow their conscience on this bill.” McCain is complimented for taking the path “of the maverick once more.”

Flake, taken to the Republic’s woodshed, is soundly admonished not to let “the harangues of Wayne LaPierre ring through [his] ears the next time this bill comes up.”

Conservatives should make no mistake. Flake’s vote reflected an acknowledgement of realities and his own future political interests.

On April 1, in a post titled, Jeff Flake: Why is only 1 bridge “too far?” Seeing Red AZ exposed Flake’s inconsistent positions on the mega issues of guns and amnesty, writing: “While colluding with Democrats and his mentor John McCain to throw open our nation’s southern border to illegal aliens, Jeff McFlake demonstrated his political savvy Sunday on NBC’s ”Meet the Press”— doing a great impression of an equivocator. Aware that he has alienated a good segment of Republican grassroots activists with his longstanding allegiance to amnesty, he scurries to take a tougher position on universal background checks on gun sales, hoping to solidify his eroding support.”

Such is the duplicity of Jeff Flake. Get used to it or get rid of him before he becomes further entrenched. He already sways like a monkey on a branch.

Et tu, Senators McCain and Flake? & Update

Obama’s Second Amendment restrictions supported by AZ Senators

The famous quotation, “Et tu Brute?” originated in Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar. The translation “and you Brutus?” relates to Caesar’s recognition of Brutus’ betrayal, as he literally and figuratively stabbed him in the back. The term is widely used to signify the utmost treachery.

The Ides of March commemorates March 15, 44 BC, the day Caesar was attacked by a group of Roman senators, and ultimately killed by one he wrongly considered his friend. Today’s date is a month — and many centuries — later but the effect of the scheduled senate vote could prove the same with Arizona citizens in the role of Caesar.

For Arizonans who value their Second Amendment rights, McCain and Flake have already demonstrated the ultimate betrayal with their easy acquiescence to join with Obama in constraining our Constitutional freedoms.

Liberal Harry Reid and his gun control supporters are desperately seeking the 60 votes they need to pass expanded background checks on firearms purchases, hoping to sway finger-to-the-wind senators ahead of today’s vote.  McCain, reveling in his Maverickness, has always shown his eagerness to stand with liberal Democrats on a wide range of issues.  The recent motion to proceed with Obama’s gun grab passed with the help of both Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake.

A variety of gun votes are scheduled for 4:00 PM (ET) today including what has become the critical issue of expanding background checks to include sales at gun shows and over the Internet. Encroachment on all private sales, even between friends and relatives has rightly raised citizen’s concerns.

Now, former U. S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly are pushing for legislation to further expand background checks, pressuring her close friend Jeff Flake. Last week, Giffords thanked McCain and Flake, saying she was proud of them as they voted with Democrats.

Kelly warns their longtime friendship wouldn’t stop him from backing an opponent to Flake. “You know, friendship is one thing. Saving people’s lives, especially first-graders’ is another,” said the former astronaut.

This video is a worthy reminder of the men who claim to represent Arizonans in the U.S. Senate:

http://www.nationalgunrights.org/videos?videoid=X57J27DegXg

Standing in the White House rose garden surrounded by family members of victims of the Newtown, Connecticut school shooting and Gabrielle Giffords who was wounded in the Tucson shooting, Barack Obama angrily blamed the defeat of his major gun-control proposal on what he referred to as “lies” spread by the National Rifle Association.  Obama called it “a pretty shameful day for Washington,” declaring, “It came down to politics. The gun lobby and its allies willfully lied about the bill.”

All of the votes taken today — April 17 — can be seen here. Click on the ‘vote’ column to see each U.S. Senator’s individual roll call vote on the bills listed.

McCain and Flake split on S 649, the expanded background checks, with McCain voting in favor and Flake demurring. Otherwise it was an in-tandem day for Arizona’s two senators with the duo voting as a team. Is this evidence they are owned by Wayne LaPierre and the NRA, or responding to their Second Amendment supporting constituents who hold the power of the vote that matters most to them?

McCain: Knife restrictions, mental evaluations next?

What would McCain consider as next step in ”curbing violence?”

As John McCain aims to restrict Second Amendment rights in the wake of the Newtown shooting tragedy, the Obama regime is buying up billions of rounds of bullets, to guard against law abiding citizens being able to possess firearms that function.

Yet the most recent attack that seriously wounded at least 14 people — two remain in critical condition — was carried out by a knife wielding perpetrator.

The brutal stabbing occurred on the Lone Star Community College campus in Cypress, Texas. Many of the victims were stabbed in the face and neck. The assailant used a razor type knife and told authorities he had fantasized since childhood about stabbing people to death.

Will this vicious act signal the implementation of registration and restriction of knives? Will department stores be required to perform cursory mental health evaluations before knives could be purchased? Some reports indicated the slasher used a box-cutter or “exacto” knife. Could the burden for checking purchasers fall on the orange-aproned Home Depot clerks? Who will monitor on-line purchases of cutlery sets?

This past weekend in Goodyear, Arizona, a 64-year-old man — a constituent of Sen. John McCain’s — savagely attacked and fatally stabbed his wife and grown son in their home. In the heavily publicized Jodi Arias murder trial taking place in McCain’s home state –just 7 miles from his palatial high-rise condo, one of the weapons she used to kill Travis Alexander was — you guessed it: A knife.

In a joint appearance with Chuck Schumer on Face the Nation, McCain — echoing Obama’s press secretary Jay Carney — told Bob Schieffer that he didn’t understand why some Republicans want to filibuster the gun control bill being pushed by Harry Reid, Schumer, and Obama. The loopy, Democrat colluder, McCain believes Harry Reid’s pledge to Republicans that they can offer amendments. Reid also has a bridge to sell.

The Democrats Rapid Response Team makes use of McCain in a video to bolster Obama’s restrictive measures:

Jan Brewer reconfigures illegal aliens as victims

McSleight of hand works magical transformation

AZ Gov. Jan Brewer, working in ever-closer alignment with her McCain cabalian advisors, is shining the light on what she calls “one of the most horrendous crimes against humanity” –  human trafficking. Brewer has formed a task force to combat “a form of modern-day slavery where people profit from the control and exploitation of others.”

Take a look at the names of those appointed to this ludicrous task force. It’s a veritable ‘Who’s Who’ of McCain allies and higher office seekers. It’s even co-chaired by Cindy Lou Hensley McCain — awkwardly described as a philanthropist/advocate/business owner — who has developed a deep concern for “victims of forced labor.”

 Let’s keep our eye on the ball.  Cindy’s husband, Señor Juan McCain, is leading the so-called Gang of 8, made up of four Democrats and an equal number of RINOs, committed to ramming through Obama’s agenda to undercut our own American citizen job seekers and college-bound students by facilitating the amnesty dream of the left, while increasing Democrat voter registration and ensuring the demise of the Republican Party.

Make no mistake.  These “victims” are not snatched in the darkness and taken against their will.  They are complicit in being “trafficked,” paying their transporting “coyotes” thousands of dollars to furtively transport them into the United States.  Rather than victims, they are co-conspirators in criminal activity. They should be charged as criminals, not reconfigured into objects of sympathy.

When John McCain and Jeff Flake achieve their goal of open borders, there will be no coyotes to pay. This is all about legalizing illegals, by putting the foxes in charge of the henhouse.

Brewer asserts her new squad has been tasked with preparing and submitting to her– no later than September 20, 2013 – a detailed summary of findings and final recommendations pertaining to human trafficking. The timing is peculiar, given that Arizona’s 2014 gubernatorial race will already be well underway and her irrelevancy will be showing.

As Brewer continues to take her marching orders from McCain, the question to ask is, “How long will it be before she joins him in reigning in our Second Amendment rights?”

To aid in deciphering this “modern-day slavery” baloney we direct you to  our popular post “Lingo” which includes an indispensable glossary.

Limitations on ammo, guns, driving panic

As the Obama regime continues to advance restrictive gun-control legislation, average Americans are attempting to stock up on ammunition, which is in short supply. Ammo was the big seller this past weekend at the two-day Crossroads of the West Gun Show at the Ontario Convention Center in southern California.  ”The line to purchase ammunition snaked around the exhibit hall,” said Bob Templeton, gun show owner. “It was taking nearly three hours for shoppers to make their way to the head of the line,” he said.

Not only are private individuals feeling the pinch, but law enforcement agencies nationwide are also affected, as firearms and ammunition fly off the shelves across the country, causing some dealers to limit sales.

Ammunition shortage continues to increase demand and prices, stripping some store shelves bare as gun owners rush to buy ammunition in anticipation of restrictive new gun laws.

CNS News runs a report, Ammo Manufacturers Scramble to Keep Up with Demand, Reassure Eager Customers, complete with information from various manufacturers.

As examples, here in Phoenix the disturbing news is that the Phoenix Police Department has stopped providing officers with 100 rounds of ammunition per month for practice. Tennessee’s Highway Patrol is still waiting for rifle and shotgun ammunition ordered in November.

Reports of government stockpiling of ammunition, and the lack of reasonable answers has increased public concerns. Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) and 14 of his House colleagues, who signed onto his March 5 letter, have asked the Department of Homeland Security to explain its purchase of approximately 2 billion rounds of ammunition of various calibers over the course of the last year — a fact which is believed to be exacerbating the bullet shortages. In his letter LaMalfa asks, “Are these purchases being conducted in a manner that strategically denies the American people access to ammunition?”

Great question, Congressman.

Additionally, the Social Security Administration posted this notice requesting a quote for ammunition indicating its intent to purchase 174,000 hollow point bullets. Why does the agency that is charged with sending senior citizens their monthly social security checks need bullets? Click on the first link under RFQ and read page 4.

Watch as presidential candidate Barack Obama, at a 2008 campaign event, declared he will not take Americans’ guns away:

“When you all go home and you’re talking to your buddies and you say, ah ‘He wants to take my gun away.’ You’ve heard it here; I’m on television so everybody knows it. I believe in the Second Amendment. I believe in people’s lawful right to bear arms. I will not take your shotgun away. I will not take your rifle away. I won’t take your handgun away.”

Maybe not.  But denying us the right to buy ammunition produces the same results, doesn’t it?

Kirkpatrick, Barber: Will gun control backfire in rural AZ?

Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick (CD1) is increasing her vulnerability as the midterm elections approach. Previously ousted by district voters, she was given another bite at the congressional apple after redistricting changed the parameters. Now taking the Obama administration’s hard-line on curtailing gun ownership by way of imposition of increasingly rigid regulations, Kirkpatrick risks alienating rural Arizona voters who comprise solid portions of the First Congressional District. Many rural voters — even Democrats — tend to be supportive of Second Amendment rights.

Ron Barber’s CD 2 covers part of Tucson and extends to the border, with vast rural areas dotted with ranching communities, similar to Kirkpatrick’s. Democrat Barber also has the added complication of proximity to the U.S.- Mexico border, where crime is rampant and Arizona citizens want the ability to defend their families and property.

All of Arizona’s Democrat Congressional delegation now support restrictive gun-control proposals. Before being co-opted by Obama on this highly charged issue, Kirkpatrick previously touted her credentials as the only Arizona Democrat in Congress with an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association.

Don’t look for that to be the case in 2014.

This article in the daily gives insight into the voters who comprise these congressional districts.

Jeff Flake: Why is only 1 bridge “too far?”

Inconsistent positions on mega issues of guns and amnesty

While colluding with Democrats and his mentor John McCain to throw open our nation’s southern border to illegal aliens, Jeff McFlake demonstrated his political savvy Sunday on NBC’s ”Meet the Press”— doing a great impression of an equivocator.  Aware that he has alienated a good segment of Republican grassroots activists with his longstanding allegiance to amnesty, he scurries to take a tougher position on universal background checks on gun sales, hoping to solidify his eroding support.

“We do need to strengthen the background check system, but universal background checks, I think, is a bridge too far for most of us. The paperwork requirements alone would be significant,” said the Flakester.

Flake, using McCain toady Lindsey Graham (SC) as a prop, teamed with Democrat Sens. Mark Begich (AK) and Mark L. Pryor (AR) to introduce legislation intended to determine the mysteries surrounding mental illness and which people are legally barred from buying or owning a firearm.

Liberal Sen. Charles Schumer (NY), has introduced a bill that would require near-universal background checks for all gun sales, an issue he‘s long supported. His bill passed Senate Judiciary along a party-line vote after talks broke down over the issue of record-keeping on gun sales. McCain continues to infuriate conservatives as he positions himself as a key player aiding senate Democrat efforts to pass legislation to expand background checks for private sales of firearms.

A nimble student, Flake is already playing McCain’s “bi-partisanship” game like a pro. Democrat Schumer is one of his “Gang of Eight” amnesty partners, as is Lindsey Graham.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a party switching multi-billionaire, recently launched a privately funded $12 million massive ad campaign targeting senators of both parties on gun control. Schumer said he greatly respects Bloomberg’s passion on the issue, while disingenuously contending the ads are pro-gun.

And guess who is being targeted by Bloomberg’s ad to restrict Second Amendment rights?  None other than Jeff the Flake. Proof that having the convictions of a waffle isn’t a winning position.

Mark Kelly’s caught on film woes: Assault dogs & guns

Mark Kelly, husband of Gabrielle Giffords, has cultivated a close friendship with Barack Obama.  But even that imposing association isn’t enough to keep the former astronaut from making headlines away from outer space or the heady halls of Congress — where he has been a frequent visitor, as he touts his Second Amendment restrictions for America’s law-abiding gun owners.

First the co-founder of “Americans for Responsible Solutions,” (ARS) an advocacy group with the sole purpose of suppressing gun rights, was photographed March 5, in his own “oops” moment. Kelly, the gun restrictor, was hypocritically caught at Diamondback Police Supply in Tucson, AZ, making weapons purchases, including “high capacity” magazines, an AR-15 and a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol.  When the photo went viral, he claimed his purchase was intended as an illustration of the need for more stringent gun laws and to make a political point about how easy it is to obtain the kind of firearms he’s lobbying Congress to ban.

On its website, ARS states: “High capacity magazines are a deadly factor in gun violence,” advocating that “Congress should act to limit the sale of high capacity magazines, which are not needed for hunting or self-defense, but have proven very lethal.”

After being outed, liberal activist Kelly announced on his Facebook page that he was not going to keep the AR-15, which he has yet to pick up from the store. Kelly couldn’t immediately take possession of the rifle because the shop had bought it from a customer, entailing a 20-day waiting period.

Now gun store owner Doug MacKinlay has rescinded the purchase, questioning Kelly’s actual intent. MacKinlay said Monday in his own Facebook post that he “determined that was in my company’s best interest to terminate this transaction prior to his returning to my store.”

Not only has his pickup of his hypocritical weapons purchase been denied by the Tucson gun store owner, but a Kelly family dog has been involved in a vicious attack resulting in the death of an innocent.

Kelly’s “captured on film” troubles have continued as evidenced by this disturbing video. During a Kelly family vacation in the seaside resort community of Laguna Beach, his daughter’s 65-pound American Bulldog (a close relative of the notorious Pit bull) leaped down upon a baby seal, mercilessly attacking and killing the defenseless animal.

How long before Kelly will be moved to start an organization outlawing the breed?