AZ Republican Senate primary provokes bitter confrontation

[All Along The Watchtower]

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http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2012/aug/23/republican-senate-primary-provokes-bitter-confront/

Yes, even Jeff Flake is too "moderate" for the Tea Party activists.

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I'm not 100% sure, but I believe that Flake's 0.988 Nominate score makes him the most extreme member of Congress ever. The most liberal current member of Congress, Barbara Lee, only has a -0.744.

Imagine if Barbara Lee was significantly more liberal, and someone was seriously threatening to beat her in the primary from the left. Actually forget that, I can't imagine such a thing.

[Mr. Morden]

Doesn't Flake flirt with the libertarian wing of the party, at least on certain issues?  He's anti-Cuba embargo, and while voting for both Afghan and Iraq wars, became more dovish over time.  From Wikipedia, it looks like he also voted to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and is pro-guest worker program on immigration.  Whether all of that amounts to "not conservative enough" for you would I guess depend on what you consider conservative, and what issues you care about.

[minionofmidas]

Jeff Flake is an extremist, but not really the teaparty type of far rightist.

[Zioneer]

What's interesting is that this is probably the first bitter political confrontation between Mormon candidates in a long time. Cardon and Flake are both from very, very old Arizona Mormon families, so It'll be interesting to see how the Arizona Mormons divide their vote between the two. In fact, it could be a good indicator of how the future of LDS conservatism goes. Will it dig into traditional moralistic conservatism, or will there be a vague libertarian streak that pervades most political issues?

[RogueBeaver]

Flake will wipe the floor with him.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Flake will wipe the floor with him.

I'm inclined to agree.