Full text: Jeff Flake on Trump speech transcript

[Tennesseer]

Senator Jeff Flake had nothing to lose by giving this speech.

Full text: Jeff Flake on Trump speech transcript

Mr. President, near the beginning of the document that made us free, our Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote: “We hold these truths to be self-evident...” So, from our very beginnings, our freedom has been predicated on truth. The founders were visionary in this regard, understanding well that good faith and shared facts between the governed and the government would be the very basis of this ongoing idea of America.

As the distinguished former member of this body, Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York, famously said: “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.” During the past year, I am alarmed to say that Senator Moynihan’s proposition has likely been tested more severely than at any time in our history.

It is for that reason that I rise today, to talk about the truth, and its relationship to democracy. For without truth, and a principled fidelity to truth and to shared facts, Mr. President, our democracy will not last.

2017 was a year which saw the truth – objective, empirical, evidence-based truth -- more battered and abused than any other in the history of our country, at the hands of the most powerful figure in our government. It was a year which saw the White House enshrine “alternative facts” into the American lexicon, as justification for what used to be known simply as good old-fashioned falsehoods. It was the year in which an unrelenting daily assault on the constitutionally-protected free press was launched by that same White House, an assault that is as unprecedented as it is unwarranted. “The enemy of the people,” was what the president of the United States called the free press in 2017.

Complete transcript here: Full text: Jeff Flake on Trump speech transcript

Discuss.

[djAdvocate]

It is for that reason that I rise today, to talk about the truth, and its relationship to democracy. For without truth, and a principled fidelity to truth and to shared facts, Mr. President, our democracy will not last.

this is one of the main reasons i have kinda given up on the US.  a country incapable of dealing with facts is ripe for the picking by those that don't care about them.  China's leadership doesn't care about facts.  neither does NK's.  i don't hold out a lot of hope for the US until they remove themselves from that particular set of company.

[djAdvocate]

i read it end to end.  didn't think he had it in him.  it is one for the ages.

[irishpad]

As dj said, that speech is one for the ages.   He set aside partisan politics and spoke to the essence of a free society.   I would encourage all citizens to read this speech.    

[dondub]

  A speech like that could be construed as positioning oneself for being a POTUS candidate in 2020. President Pence will be vulnerable

just as Gerald Ford was in '76 as a non-elected occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

[bean29]

Jan 17, 2018 13:53:45 GMT -5 dondub said:

  A speech like that could be construed as positioning oneself for being a POTUS candidate in 2020. President Pence will be vulnerable

just as Gerald Ford was in '76 as a non-elected occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

President Pence will be vulnerable?    Did I miss something?

[dondub]

Not yet.

[busymom]

Wow!  Flake actually sounds (dare I say it?) presidential.  

[tallguy]

Jan 17, 2018 16:58:46 GMT -5 busymom said:

Wow!  Flake actually sounds (dare I say it?) presidential.  

First Republican in decades?   

[Tennesseer]

Jan 17, 2018 16:58:46 GMT -5 busymom said:

Wow!  Flake actually sounds (dare I say it?) presidential.  

It has been just about full twelves months since we have heard anything remotely presidential.

[dezii]

Jan 17, 2018 12:38:11 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Senator Jeff Flake had nothing to lose by giving this speech.

Full text: Jeff Flake on Trump speech transcript

Mr. President, near the beginning of the document that made us free, our Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote: “We hold these truths to be self-evident...” So, from our very beginnings, our freedom has been predicated on truth. The founders were visionary in this regard, understanding well that good faith and shared facts between the governed and the government would be the very basis of this ongoing idea of America.

As the distinguished former member of this body, Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York, famously said: “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.” During the past year, I am alarmed to say that Senator Moynihan’s proposition has likely been tested more severely than at any time in our history.

It is for that reason that I rise today, to talk about the truth, and its relationship to democracy. For without truth, and a principled fidelity to truth and to shared facts, Mr. President, our democracy will not last.

2017 was a year which saw the truth – objective, empirical, evidence-based truth -- more battered and abused than any other in the history of our country, at the hands of the most powerful figure in our government. It was a year which saw the White House enshrine “alternative facts” into the American lexicon, as justification for what used to be known simply as good old-fashioned falsehoods. It was the year in which an unrelenting daily assault on the constitutionally-protected free press was launched by that same White House, an assault that is as unprecedented as it is unwarranted. “The enemy of the people,” was what the president of the United States called the free press in 2017.

Complete transcript here: Full text: Jeff Flake on Trump speech transcript

Discuss.

I noticed seats behind him were empty...was wondering, since it was known the type of speech he was going to make, was the chamber empty of all members of the GOP and only Democrats were in attendance.

[djAdvocate]

Jan 17, 2018 17:05:27 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Jan 17, 2018 16:58:46 GMT -5 busymom said:

Wow!  Flake actually sounds (dare I say it?) presidential.  

First Republican in decades?   

let's not exaggerate.  i thought Kasich was passable.  McCain sounded pretty presidential in 2000.  let's see...who else?  i am sure there are a few more out there.

[dezii]

Jan 17, 2018 17:05:30 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Jan 17, 2018 16:58:46 GMT -5 busymom said:

Wow!  Flake actually sounds (dare I say it?) presidential.  

It has been just about full twelves months since we have heard anything remotely presidential.

Actually, our former President, while mostly silent, as he said he would , has spoken publicly a few times...both the ones , talks, I heard, were very Presidential........the problem..[sigh] he is not our President...

[Tennesseer]

Jan 17, 2018 17:39:38 GMT -5 dezii said:

Jan 17, 2018 17:05:30 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

It has been just about full twelves months since we have heard anything remotely presidential.

Actually, our former President, while mostly silent, as he said he would , has spoken publicly a few times...both the ones , talks, I heard, were very Presidential........the problem..[sigh] he is not our President...

Obama has spoken quite knowledgeably and eloquently since leaving office. But not as a current president these almost past twelves months. Hence my statement.

[midjd]

I can’t get excited about anything Flake says. Every time he’s actually had the ability to stand up to Trump, he’s rolled over and voted the party line. Bunch of hot air.

[Tennesseer]

Jan 17, 2018 17:34:27 GMT -5 dezii said:

Jan 17, 2018 12:38:11 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Senator Jeff Flake had nothing to lose by giving this speech.

Full text: Jeff Flake on Trump speech transcript

Mr. President, near the beginning of the document that made us free, our Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote: “We hold these truths to be self-evident...” So, from our very beginnings, our freedom has been predicated on truth. The founders were visionary in this regard, understanding well that good faith and shared facts between the governed and the government would be the very basis of this ongoing idea of America.

As the distinguished former member of this body, Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York, famously said: “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.” During the past year, I am alarmed to say that Senator Moynihan’s proposition has likely been tested more severely than at any time in our history.

It is for that reason that I rise today, to talk about the truth, and its relationship to democracy. For without truth, and a principled fidelity to truth and to shared facts, Mr. President, our democracy will not last.

2017 was a year which saw the truth – objective, empirical, evidence-based truth -- more battered and abused than any other in the history of our country, at the hands of the most powerful figure in our government. It was a year which saw the White House enshrine “alternative facts” into the American lexicon, as justification for what used to be known simply as good old-fashioned falsehoods. It was the year in which an unrelenting daily assault on the constitutionally-protected free press was launched by that same White House, an assault that is as unprecedented as it is unwarranted. “The enemy of the people,” was what the president of the United States called the free press in 2017.

Complete transcript here: Full text: Jeff Flake on Trump speech transcript

Discuss.

I noticed seats behind him were empty...was wondering, since it was known the type of speech he was going to make, was the chamber empty of all members of the GOP and only Democrats were in attendance.

Sometimes the senate chamber can be full. Other times, not. It all depends the business of the day or night of the speech.

[Opti]

How is this not the top news on MSN? I read the speech. I agree, I think he is planning to run for President.

[dezii]

Jan 17, 2018 17:50:31 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Jan 17, 2018 17:39:38 GMT -5 dezii said:

Actually, our former President, while mostly silent, as he said he would , has spoken publicly a few times...both the ones , talks, I heard, were very Presidential........the problem..[sigh] he is not our President...

Obama has spoken quite knowledgeably and eloquently since leaving office. But not as a current president these almost past twelves months. Hence my statement.

I know...was posting tongue in cheek...

[dondub]

I can’t get excited about anything Flake says. Every time he’s actually had the ability to stand up to Trump, he’s rolled over and voted the party line. Bunch of hot air.

Voting party line might be a tad bit different than being a Trumpoid. The fact that he has made this speech and other comments in the last year

that have been less supportive of Trump may be a clear indicator that he is:

1. A conservative Repo

2. not a fan of the repugnant one

[dezii]

Jan 17, 2018 17:51:27 GMT -5 midjd said:

I can’t get excited about anything Flake says. Every time he’s actually had the ability to stand up to Trump, he’s rolled over and voted the party line. Bunch of hot air.

Will take your word for it...don't follow members of GOP....not running again isn't going to help him...better, IMHO  he run , even if the base kill him...get his message out, be in the limelight...not sure which party he would run with...take it it would be GOP...hoping for Dem to cross over....don't see that.

[djAdvocate]

i think that this thing has at least three separate articles about it over at CNN.

[tallguy]

Jan 17, 2018 17:39:36 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

Jan 17, 2018 17:05:27 GMT -5 tallguy said:

First Republican in decades?   

let's not exaggerate.  i thought Kasich was passable.  McCain sounded pretty presidential in 2000.  let's see...who else?  i am sure there are a few more out there.

I'll point out that McCain in 2000 basically was two decades ago.  And, to be fair, GWB's first speech after 9/11 was a presidential moment.  Probably his only one, and again almost two decades ago.  Kasich said a bunch of the right things, but there were a lot of other things that were...problematic.  

[ken a.k.a OMK]

Flake nailed it. Now it's time for the GOP to stop kissing Trump's ass and work for our democracy.

[OldCoyote]

Says the liberal side of the board.

Now it's time for the GOP to stop kissing Trump's ass and work for our democracy
You mean something like Obama's my way or No way.

[dezii]

Jan 18, 2018 10:33:02 GMT -5 OldCoyote said:

Says the liberal side of the board.

Now it's time for the GOP to stop kissing Trump's ass and work for our democracy
You mean something like Obama's my way or No way.

I guess u just don't get it...Obama, good, bad, indifferent is no longer in power...he's a civilian just like you or I....Better off true but so are so many.

Now we have the Donald in power and for at least the next three years unless something unplanned happens and in almost finished his first year..old, he is doing a horrible, horrible job...Even the stock market according to those so called experts is a continuation of that departed ones doings...same with unemployment..even jobs not increased at same level of...

plus the country is as split as it has ever been since the war between the States...pure hate of the other side , not dislike, but absolute hate seems to be more the norm rather then the exception. Possible u might feel that is ok...I abhor that and do not feel that is a good thing for the/my  country...

[thyme4change]

Jan 17, 2018 17:51:27 GMT -5 midjd said:

I can’t get excited about anything Flake says. Every time he’s actually had the ability to stand up to Trump, he’s rolled over and voted the party line. Bunch of hot air.

I feel the same way. Although I do agree that none of his votes were out of character for him. But he said he would stand against Trump and then didn't.

If he voted for something that doesn't align with his traditional stance on DACA and immigration, then I will feel better about calling bullshit.