Flaking Out in Harvard Yard

On Wednesday, retiring Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) was the keynote speaker at Harvard Law School for their Class Day ceremony.  It was a blistering speech, particularly addressed at Trump, but with criticism directed at his body, as well.  How blistering?  Here's how he gets into it --

"I'm here today as a representative of a co-equal branch of government, a branch which has been failing its Constitutional obligations to counteract the power of the president.  And in so doing is dishonoring itself at a critical moment in the life of our nation."

Three thoughts immediately come to mind.  The first is, great, it's about time hearing a Republican be so outspoken on what seems a pretty obvious reality.  Sen. Flake has been critical of Trump in the past, but he takes this to new heights -- in large part because of new lows.  Second, as has been said elsewhere, it's a horrible shame that the only Republican politicians we hear say such things are those who will be retiring or already have, so they have nothing to lose.  The others in office are a profile in cowardice and complicit in enabling this fascist administration.  And third, as much as I admire Jeff Flake's previous criticism of Trump and his withering word here -- and I admire them greatly -- one can't ignore that, even though he feels so strongly about the dangers of Trump, he pretty much has voted with Trump almost 100% of the time.  I understand that he's a conservative Republican, representing his state, and vote for issues he believe in.  But I also know that he's well-aware that by voting with Trump he is adding to Trump's sense of legitimacy, power, and normalization.  If you feel someone is as much a danger as Flake clearly does and says bluntly that he does, I think it's in your state's and the country's best interest to not support that person -- far more than in their interest to get a bill passed.

Anyway, here's the speech.  If you want to jump past his opening comments, you can get to the meat of the matter about 2-1/2 minutes in.