Sen. Jeff Flake announced his decision not to run for reelection in 2018 and gave a scathing speech against Trump-era Republicanism in his retirement speech on the Senate floor.
Flake’s announcement opens up the 2018 Senate race in Arizona. Congresswoman Kristyn Sinema has announced her desire to run as the Democratic nominee, and former State Senator Kelli Ward plans to run for the Republican Party.
Ted Simons: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON'S JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE," WE'LL DISCUSS THE BIG NEWS OF THE WEEK: SENATOR JEFF FLAKE DECIDING "AGAINST' RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION. WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHY THE DECISION WAS MADE AND HOW IT CHANGES THE STATE'S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE. THAT'S NEXT, ON THE "JOURNALISTS ROUNDTABLE."
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Ted Simons: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON'S JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE. I'M TED SIMONS. JOINING US TONIGHT, LAURIE ROBERTS OF THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC, BOB CHRISTIE OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, AND STEVE GOLDSTEIN OF KJZZ RADIO. SENATOR JEFF FLAKE SHOOK UP STATE AND NATIONAL POLITICS THIS WEEK BY ANNOUNCING THAT HE IS NOT RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION NEXT YEAR. SURPRISE, SHOCK, EARTHQUAKE, BOMBSHELL -- WHAT WAS THIS?
Laurie Roberts: IT WAS ALL OF THE ABOVE ON THE POLITICAL RICHTER SCALE, A 20 ON A SCALE OF 10. EVERYBODY WAS CAUGHT UP SHORT. I THINK IT'S A REFLECTION OF HOW MUCH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS CHANGED WHEN SOMEONE IS CONSERVATIVE AS JEFF FLAKE IS NOW CONSIDERED TOO MUCH OF A RHINO OR TOO LIBERAL TO BE A LEADER IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ANYMORE.
Ted Simons: NOT ONLY THAT, HE SAID THERE MAY NOT BE A PLACE FOR HIM IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ANYMORE.
Bob Christie: HE FACED AN UPHILL BATTLE. THE POLLS WERE HORRIBLE. HE CONTINUED ON -- I STARTED TALKING TO HIM ABOUT THIS ISSUE IN JULY WHEN HE RELEASED THE BOOK, CRITICISM FROM TRUMP SUPPORTERS AND TO HIMSELF. HE SAID I DID THAT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT. IT MIGHT HURT MY CHANCES, BUT I THINK I CAN WIN. I'M GOING TO STAY IN IT -- UNTIL A WEEK BEFORE HE PULLED THE PLUG.
Steve Goldstein: TWO WEEKS AGO WITH KIRSTAN SINEMA ANNOUNCING SHE WAS RUNNING. THE NATIONAL GUY THAT LOOKS AT THE RACE, I SAID WHAT ABOUT SINEMA GETTING IN? HE WILL LOSE TO WARD. THE BUZZ WAS THAT JEFF FLAKE WAS GOING TO PULL OUT. EVERY PERSON AROUND TOWN SAID OF COURSE NOT, BUT HE WAS RIGHT.
Ted Simons: HE PROBABLY PULLED OUT BECAUSE OF DIMINISHING CHANCES OF REELECTION. ON THE FLOOR, HE ATTACKED THE TENOR AND TONE OF THE REPUBLIC PARTY.
Sen. Jeff Flake(SOT): RECKLESS, OUTRAGEOUS BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN EXCUSED AS TELLING IT LIKE IT IS, WHEN IT'S JUST RECKLESS, OUTRAGEOUS AND UNDIGNIFIED. WHEN SUCH BEHAVIOR EMANATES FROM THE TOP OF OUR GOVERNMENT, IT'S SOMETHING ELSE. IT'S DANGEROUS TO OUR DEMOCRACY. WE MUST STOP PRETENDING THAT THE CONDUCT OF SOME IN OUR EXECUTIVE BRANCH ARE NORMAL. THEY ARE NOT NORMAL. THE NOTION THAT ONE STOOD STAY STRONG AS THE ALLIANCES ARE UNDERMINED AND THE STABILITY OF THE WORLD IS UNDER STABLE BY THE NOTION OF THOUGHT THAT GOES INTO 140 CHARACTERS. TO DO NOTHING IS AHISTORIC, AND I BELIEVE PROFOUNDLY MISGUIDED.
Ted Simons: THAT WAS A CONDENSED VERSION OF THE SPEECH THAT ITSELF WAS A CONDENSED VERSION OF THE BOOK. DID HE WRITE THE BOOK AS A LET'S SEE HOW THEY REACT TO THIS?
Laurie Roberts: I THINK HE WANTED TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR IN THE MORNING AND HIS CONSCIOUS WAS SUCH HE WANTED TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT WHAT HE FELT DEEPLY ABOUT. HE DOESN'T SEE GOVERNMENT AS LIGHTLY THOUGHT OUT TWEETS OR WHATEVER HE SAID, HE DOESN'T SEE THAT AS A PRINCIPLE WAY OF GOVERNING. HE WAS SAYING WE HAVE TO STAND UP FOR OUR VALUES AND CHARACTER. IT'S A CONSEQUENTIAL SPEECH THAT WILL HAVE NO IMPACT.
Ted Simons: I WAS GOING TO SAY THE NUMBER THAT RALLIED AROUND JEFF FLAKE -- NOTHING. CRICKETS CHIRPING OUT THERE.
Bob Christie: THE SENATOR SAID THAT, I'M EXPECTING SUPPORT FROM MY FELLOW REPUBLIC COLLEAGUES AND THERE WERE CRITICS. IF YOU GET AN X ON YOUR BACK FROM STEVE BANNON OR PRESIDENT TRUMP AND YOU HAVE AN UPHILL BATTLE. THE DONORS RUN AWAY. YOUR ABILITY TO RUN A CAMPAIGN IS DIMINISHED. YOU ARE FRAMED AS AN ANTI-REPUBLIC, RHINO OR SOMEONE THAT DOESN'T SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT. IT'S DAMAGING.
Laurie Roberts: SOMEONE THAT ERODED 90% OF THE TIME ON TRUMP SUPPORTED LEGISLATION INCLUDING HEALTHCARE REFORM HOW HE CAN BE CONSIDERED OUTSIDE OF THE BOUNDS OF WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR FOR A REPUBLIC. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT CAN BE. THAT TELLS YOU HOW MUCH THIS PARTY HAS CHANGED. PEOPLE SAY THAT THERE IS A SPLIT. I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS. THE TWO PEOPLE HAS LEFT, BOB CORKER AND JEFF FLAKE STRONG OPPONENTS TO TRUMP'S BEHAVIOR, TRUMP HAS WON.
Ted Simons: STEVE BANNON EARLIER THIS YEAR SAID, YOU WATCH. THE REPUBLIC ESTABLISHMENT WILL PUSH HIM OUT. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY PUSHED HIM OUT, BUT HE'S OUT. BANNON WAS RIGHT.
Steve Goldstein: IS THAT THE REPUBLICAN ESTABLISHMENT?
Ted Simons: WHAT IS THE REPUBLICAN ESTABLISHMENT?
Steve Goldstein: COVERING THE PRIMARIES, ALWAYS CONSERVATIVE, THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE JEFF FLAKE -- WE ARE OVER DOING THIS STYLE VERSUS SUBSTANCE, BUT FLAKE BELIEVES IN GENTLEMANLY POLITICS. GEORGE BUSH WAS LIKE THAT. IT'S SO MUCH LESS ABOUT VOTING RECORD AND DO YOU GET IN LINE WITH DONALD TRUMP? ARE YOU ACCEPTING THE FACT THAT PERSONAL ATTACK IS POLITICS. THERE IS NO BE FRIENDS BEHIND THE SCENES. WE MUST ATTACK EACH OTHER.
Bob Christie: HE MADE THAT POINT IN LOCAL MEDIA. I COULD WIN, BUT I HAVE TO RUN A RACE THAT SOLD OUT MY PRINCIPLES. WHAT HE HASN'T ANSWERED IS THE THOUGHT AMONG FOLKS LIKE ME AND POLITICAL CONSULTANT CLASS, THOSE THAT FIGURE OUT THE WAY THE WIND IS BLOWING, THAT HIS POLL NUMBERS WERE HORRIBLE, HE WOULD BE ASKED TO LEAVE SO THEY COULD GET A CANDIDATE IN THERE TO BEAT KELLY WARD AND A GENERAL ELECTION. THERE IS A GREAT FEAR AMONGST THE REPUBLICANS THAT SHE'S UNELECTABLE. SHE SAYS THAT'S RIDICULOUS, BUT THEY WANT SOMEONE THAT CAN WIN.
Ted Simons: WITH THAT IN MIND, DID DONALD TRUMP AND STEVE BANNON WIN IN THIS INSTANCE?
Laurie Roberts: YES, STEVE BANNON, HE'S BACKING KELLY WARD. DONALD TRUMP, FLAKE HAD TO BE NEXT TO JOHN MCCAIN, THE PERSON THAT BOTHERED HIM MOTH. IT'S A STRONG STATEMENT. CORKER LEAVES. FLAKE LEAVES. IT'S A STRONG STATEMENT THAT HIS PARTY IS IN THE ASCEND ANCEE AND YOU BETTER GET OUT OF THE WAY OR WE'LL PUSH YOU OUT OF THE WAY.
Ted Simons: IS FLAKE SEEN AS HONORABLE BECAUSE OF HIS SPEECH, OR A QUITTER?
Steve Goldstein: FLAKE WILL HAVE A FINE LIFE AFTER THE SENATE. DO YOU STAND UP FOR YOUR PRINCIPLES AND DECIDE NOT TO DIRTY YOURSELF. ONCE YOU ARE IN THE BATTLE, DO YOU DECIDE IT'S THE BIGGER SENSE. JEFF FLAKE DECIDED HE WAS NOT RIGHT FOR THIS BATTLE BUT HE PRESERVED HIS SANITY. COMING BACK TO WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT WHETHER HE WON OR NOT. IT'S TO BE SEEN IF THAT CHAPTER IS WRITTEN. IF KELLY WARD DOESN'T WIN, STEVE BANNON LOST.
Ted Simons: IF KIRSTAN SINEMA BECOMES UNITED STATES SENATOR DOES STEVE BANNON STILL WIN?
Bob Christie: NO, HE LOSES. THAT'S CLEAR. I WAS TRYING TO MAKE THE POINT A MINUTE AGO, NOT SURE IF I DID, JEFF FLAKE IS A SOLID REPUBLICAN. HE DOESN'T WANT THE SEAT TO GO TO KIRSTAN SINEMA. HE DOESN'T WANT IT TO GO TO WARD, BUT HE DOESN'T WANT IT TO GO AGAINST SINEMA. WARD WOULD HAVE BEEN PUMMELED. IF WE DON'T GET A DECENT CANDIDATE, KELLY WARD IS UNELECTABLE, SHE DISAGREES. IF WE HAVE KELLY WARD AGAINST KIRSTAN SINEMA, WE COULD SEE KIRSTAN CINEMA. THAT'S WHAT THE MAINSTREAM REPUBLICANS ARE WORRIED ABOUT.
Laurie Roberts: WILL THEY HAVE THE DISCIPLINE TO SETTLE ON ONE CANDIDATE? I AGREE SHE DOESN'T HAVE A CHANCE OF WINNING THE GENERAL ELECTION. THE PEOPLE THAT COULD GIVE US THE FIRST DEMOCRATIC SENATOR IN 30 YEARS WOULD BE THE FAR RIGHT WING OF THE PARTY.
Ted Simons: I WANT TO GET TO WHAT'S NEXT, DOES HE STAY IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?
Steve Goldstein: I THINK THE STRENGTH OF SINEMA MAKES THAT IMPOSSIBLE.
Steve Goldstein: IS HE GEARING UP FOR 2020 TO TAKE ON DONALD TRUMP? I WOULD BE SHOCKED.
Ted Simons: WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Bob Christie: HE'S SOURED ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY RIGHT NOW. I DON'T KNOW WHO EXPECTS TO COME BACK IN TWO OR FOUR YEARS.
Ted Simons: IF HE COMES BACK, IT WILL BE REPUBLICAN?
Laurie Roberts: ABSOLUTELY. IT'S MORE REPUBLICAN PARTY, COME BACK TO HIM.
Ted Simons: IF IT DOESN'T?
Laurie Roberts: HE GOES TO LIVE HIS LIFE. NOT EVERYTHING IS ABOUT POLITICS.
Ted Simons: HE CAN'T DO THAT.
Laurie Roberts: I THINK HE'S DONE AN HONORABLE THING AND STOOD UP FOR HIS PRINCIPLES. WHETHER THAT'S PARTICULARLY COURAGEOUS, IT IS ADMIRABLE.
Ted Simons: I WANTED TO FINISH FLAKE BEFORE WE MOVE ON POST-FLAKE, WHAT COMES NEXT THE IMPACT OF HIS DECISION? YOU CAN HEAR THE WHEELS GRINDING EVEN FROM HERE.
Laurie Roberts: IF YOU ARE A POLLSTER, THIS IS A GREAT TIME FOR YOU. I IMAGINE A DOZEN PEOPLE HAVE POLLS OUT TO FIND OUT IF THEY HAVE A CHANCE IN THIS PARTICULAR RACE. THE THREE PEOPLE I'M WATCHING -- NAME SOMEONE AND THEY ARE INTERESTED. THE THREE I'M WATCHING, MARTHA MCSALLY, SOUTHERN ARIZONA. DOUG DUCEY AND JEFF DEWITT. THE LAST TWO, IF YOU ARE DONALD TRUMP, YOU WANT TO HAVE SOME SAY SO IN WHO YOU ARE GOING TO GET. IF YOU ARE CONVINCED KELLY WARD IS NOT THE PERSON, WHICH I ASSUME HE'S THINKING OR HE WOULD HAVE ENDORSED HER BY NOW, SO YOU WANT TO ENDORSE THAT SEAT. IF YOU ARE DOUG DUCEY AND YOU GET A CALL FROM THE PRESIDENT THAT SAYS, I NEED YOU, ARE YOU GOING TO SAY NO?
Ted Simons: BUT ARE YOU GOING TO SAY YES TO DONALD TRUMP IS IF YOU ARE DOUG DUCEY?
Steve Goldstein: HE WAS NOT WILLING TO GET INTO THE FRAY AND CRITICIZE TRUMP. HE'S TRYING TO PLAY BOTH SIDES. WE ALL KNOW POLITICIANS TEND TO HAVE LARGE EGOS. I WOULD BE HARD PRESSED TO THINK IF MATT SALMON THINKS HE'S GOING TO RUN, AND MARTHA MCSALLY GETS IN, WHO IS GOING TO TWIST SALMON'S ARM TO GET OUT?
Ted Simons: I'M HEARING BILL MONTGOMERY. JAN BREWER WANTS SOMEONE TO ASK IF SHE'S INTERESTED.
Bob Christie: I TALKED TO SCHWEIKERT A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT FROM JEFF FLAKE. HE SAID, IT'S MY MOM. IT'S EVERYBODY LOOKING AT THIS. HERE'S THE WAY IT WILL SHAKE OUT. YOU WILL SEE LOTS OF PEOPLE WRITING STORIES AND RUMORS. NOT MCSALLY OR WHATEVER. THERE ARE POLLS OUT IN THE FIELD RIGHT NOW, AND WE WILL, WHEN THE POLLS COME BACK MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK DEPENDING ON HOW GOOD THEY ARE, WE'LL SEE IT SHAKE OUT. WHETHER THERE IS A GOOD JUMPING IN OF PEOPLE, WHEN DO WE ANNOUNCE, A WEEK OR A MONTH FROM NOW? THE POLLS WILL SHAKE IT OUT AND SEE WHO CAN BEAT KIRSTAN SINEMA. CAN PAUL GO SAAR BEAT KIRSTAN SINEMA, CAN MCSALLY, CAN THE GOVERNOR?
Ted Simons: IS THAT THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN IF YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN?
Laurie Roberts: YOU HAVE TO GET PAST KELLY WARD. THAT'S WHY I GO BACK TO DOUG DUCEY. HE IS SUCH A BIG NAME AND BIG DRAW, HE WOULD SCARE THE OTHERS AWAY AND YOU WOULD HAVE A HEAD TO HEAD. HE SAID HE WOULDN'T WANT TO DO IT, BUT IT SOLVES PROBLEM FOR HIM AND HIGHER PROFILE ON A NATIONAL SCALE. HE SAID HE DOESN'T WANT TO DO IT, AND I BELIEVE HE DOESN'T WANT TO DO IT, BUT IF HE'S THE GUY THAT GETS THAT PHONE CALL, HOW WILL HE SAY NO?
Laurie Roberts: HE HAS THE EDUCATION FUNDING ISSUE TO SOLVE BECAUSE HE WON'T RAISE TAXES. HE'S UP FOR REELECTION. IF YOU ARE ASSURED A ONE-TO-ONE RACE AGAINST KELLY WARD.
Ted Simons: IF YOU ARE A REPUBLIC, YOU HAVE TO BEAT KELLY WARD AND THE BANNON BANDWAGON. YOU HAVE TO HAVE ENOUGH IN THE TANK TO DEFEAT KIRSTAN SINEMA WHO IS A LONE DEMOCRAT FOR THIS SENATE SEAT. WHAT DO YOU DO?
Steve Goldstein: IF THERE WAS TRUE PARTY LOYALTY, WHICH I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANYMORE, BUT DOUG DUCEY DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT'S AN ALBATROSS AROUND HIS NECK. ONE WOULD EXPECT HE WOULD WIN FAIRLY HANDEDLY FOR ELECTION. HE'S NEVER SOMEONE THAT WANTED TO BE ANYTHING BUT AN EXECUTIVE. I'M HARD PRESSED HE WOULD WANT TO BE ONE OF 100.
Ted Simons: NATIONALISM, EXCUSING EVERYTHING THE PRESIDENT TWEETS ON A DAILY BASIS. THAT'S DOUG DUCEY?
Laurie Roberts: IF YOUR PRESIDENT CALLS YOU, AND YOU ARE A GOODREPUBLICAN, HOW DO YOU SAY NO?
Bob Christie: I DON'T THINK THAT THEY ARE IMMUNE FROM THE BANNON ATTACK FROM THE PARTY, THE TEA PARTY WING OF THE PARTY. THAT'S WHERE KELLY WARD CAME FROM. THIS IS THE ANTIGOVERNMENT WING, ANTIESTABLISHMENT WING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY NOW IN CONTROL. WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO IS FRAME THEMSELVES IN A WAY, DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM MODERATE REPUBLIC PAST THEY HAVE AND FRAME THEMSELVES AS A DISRUPTER, FRIEND OF DONALD TRUMP, SUPPORTER OF DONALD TRUMP, PROTECTIONIST AS A BORDER WALL PERSON. IF THEY CAN MOVE THAT WAY AND AVOID IT --
Laurie Roberts: HE'S THE PERFECT CANDIDATE. HE'S PROLIFE. HEAVY ON IMMIGRATION, FOR THE WALL THING. HE SUPPORTS HEALTHCARE REFORM STRONGLY. HE'S ANTI-RAISING TAXES.
Bob Christie: HE'S FREE TRADE.
Laurie Roberts: I'M PRETTY SURE HE WILL HAVE PLENTY OF MONEY BEHIND HIM FROM A PARTICULAR FOUR LETTER WORD STARTING WITH K AND ENDING WITH "H."
Ted Simons: SHORTLY AFTER FLAKE GAVE HIS SPEECH HE WAS ASKED WHO SUCCEEDS HIM AND WHAT HE'S CONCERNED ABOUT. HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT BLIND LOYALTY. HERE'S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.
Jeff Flake (SOT): I'M CONCERNED WITH CANDIDATES THAT AS THEIR CAMPAIGN AND PLATFORM SAY, I AGREE WITH THE PRESIDENT, WHATEVER THE PRESIDENT WANTS. THAT'S NOT WHAT ARIZONA NEEDS. ARIZONA NEEDS SENATORS THAT ACT LIKE SENATOR, NOT BEING A RUBBER STAMP FOR ANY PRESIDENT IN EITHER PARTY.
Ted Simons: PRETTY GOOD VISUAL FOR A PRESS CONFERENCE. AGAIN, HE'S RIGHT. IN ORDER FOR HIM TO WIN, HE WOULD HAVE TO DO THAT. IN ORDER FOR WHOEVER IS NEXT, THEY'LL HAVE TO DO THAT AND PIVOT AWAY TO WIN THE GENERAL OVER KIRSTAN SINEMA?
Steve Goldstein: THAT'S WHY THE DONALD TRUMP FACTOR THROWS THINGS INTO A TIZZY. YOU WANT TO BE IN LINE WITH DONALD TRUMP, BUT DONALD TRUMP CAN TURN ON YOU THE NEXT DAY. THAT'S THE THING WITH TWITTER OUT THERE.
Bob Christie: WE SAY THIS IS THE YEAR DEMOCRATS CAN WIN. THEY NEVER DO. LITTLE GRAIN OF SALT, THINK ABOUT IT.
Laurie Roberts: THERE IS A MIDTERM ELECTION, BEFORE THE FIRST PERSON GOES TO THE POLL, WHOEVER THE REPUBLICAN TO RUN IS, UP 12%.
Ted Simons: MCCAIN IS TENUOUS. NEXT YEAR COULD BE MOMENTOS IN ARIZONA POLITICS. IF MCCAIN STEPS DOWN, YOU COULD HAVE TWO NEW SENATORS FOR ARIZONA.
Steve Goldstein: YOU COULD HAVE EVERY MEMBER IN CONGRESS RUN AS WELL. YOU COULD SHAKEUP THE ESTABLISHMENT SO MUCH. MCCAIN HAS BEEN CRITICIZED AS BEING SENATOR U.S.A. INSTEAD OF SENATOR FROM ARIZONA. HE'S IN TUNE WITH WATER ISSUES, SERVICES COMMITTEE. DOES ARIZONA LOSE ANYTHING THEY HAVE WITH TWO FRESHMAN.
Ted Simons: DO THEY HAVE ANYONE BUT KIRSTAN SINEMA RUNNING FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE?
Bob Christie: YOU DON'T SEE ANYONE THAT INSTANTLY POPS TO MIND.
Ted Simons: GREG STANTON ANNOUNCED HE'S GOING TO RUN.
Bob Christie: GREG CAN DO IT. STEVE FARLEY, DAVID GARCIA WHO RAN FOR GOVERNOR NEXT YEAR. THERE'S A FEW, BUT THE BENCH IS NOT DEEP. THAT'S A CONCERN. OF COURSE, IF SENATOR MCCAIN BECOMES DISABLED OR HAS TO LEAVE OFFICE OR PASSES AWAY, HE WILL, IF IT HAPPENS BEFORE APRIL 30TH, I BELIEVE, THE GOVERNOR WILL BE ABLE TO APPOINT SOMEONE TO BE AN INCUMBENT GIVING THE REPUBLICS ANOTHER LEG UP. AFTER THAT, YOU HAVE TWO YEARS TO WORRY ABOUT THIS. THE BOTTOM LINE PREMISE IS, THERE'LL BE AN EARTHQUAKE IN POLITICS NEXT YEAR.
Ted Simons: WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE LOWER ON THE TOTEM POLE CLIMBING UP.
Laurie Roberts: IT'S NOT GOOD FOR ARIZONA TO HAVE TWO FRESHMAN. THE TWO WE HAVE NOW, I WONDER WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE HAVE SENATORS, TWO OF THEM AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TOTEM POLE?
Ted Simons: MAYBE THEY'LL BRING PORK BACK. YOU NEVER KNOW.
Laurie Roberts: WE HAVE PLENTY OF PORK.
Ted Simons: SENATOR FLAKE WASN'T HAPPY. BEFORE WE GO, SECRETARY OF STATE MICHELLE REAGAN VIOLATED THE LAW. ATTORNEY GENERAL SENDS OUT A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR. SHE VIOLATED THE LAW. NOTHING IS COMING OF IT?
Steve Goldstein: THE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T HAVE PENALTIES TO PUT THE OFFICE IN DIRE STRAITS. IF GOVERNOR DUCEY WERE TO GO FOR SENATE, I'M NOT SURE A LOT OF REPUBLICS WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEE MICHELLE REAGAN IN THE SENATOR'S OFFICE BASED ON THIS STUFF.
Ted Simons: SHE DIDN'T SEND OUT TIME.
Bob Christie: BEFORE THE ELECTION, SECRETARY OF STATE IS REQUIRED TO SEND OUT THE PAPER PHONE BOOK WITH TEXTS PROPOSED. SOMEONE DIDN'T FLICK A SWITCH OR SET THE BOX RIGHT. 200 PEOPLE WERE NOT INCLUDED. BY LAW SHE HAS TO DO THAT. HER STAFF DIDN'T TELL HER FOR LIKE, TEN DAYS. SHE LEARNED ACCORDING TO THE INVESTIGATION. SHE LEARNED ABOUT IT ON NPR.
Steve Goldstein: THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT.
Ted Simons: HOW DO YOU KNOW MORE THAN MICHELLE REAGAN? WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE ELECTION?
Steve Goldstein: THE COVER UP IS ALWAYS WORSE. HER OFFICE KNEW ABOUT THIS AND DECIDED TO KEEP IT UNDER WRAPS.
Laurie Roberts: SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN HER OFFICE. SHE BLAMES THE VENDOR, IBM IN THIS CASE THOUGH IT'S NOT TRUE. WHEN HE AGREED TO RESIGN, THAT'S 200,000 PAMPHLETS, 400,000 VOTER IN A CLOSE RACE. SHE SAYS, NO REASON TO RESIGN. NO ONE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, SHE HAS NO CLUE WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE OFFICE. BY THE WAY, WE ARE GETTING A NEW VENDOR. IT WASN'T THE VENDOR'S FAULT.
Ted Simons: COULD GET A NEW GOVERNOR.
Bob Christie: THAT COULD HAPPEN. SHE'S FACING TOUGH COMPETITION IN HER PRIMARY AND GENERAL NEXT YEAR. THIS IS NOT HER FIRST MISSTEP. BOTTOM LINE, HER STAFF THOUGHT THE PUBLIC WOULDN'T NOTICE IF THEY DIDN'T GET THEIR BALLOT.
Laurie Roberts: THEY DIDN'T TELL HER BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T THINK SHE COULD HANDLE IT OR THEY DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A BIG DEAL.
Bob Christie: CALL A PRESS CONFERENCE AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED. THIS IS HOW WE'LL FIX IT. IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
Ted Simons: THAT'S WHERE WE'LL STOP IT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
Ted Simons: MONDAY ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," WE'LL HEAR ABOUT A PLAN TO IMPROVE THE VALLEY'S ECONOMY THROUGH THE ARTS, AND WE'LL DISCUSS FREEDOM OF SPEECH ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES WITH FIRST-AMENDMENT ATTORNEY FLOYD ABRAMS. THOSE STORIES MONDAY, ON "ARIZONA HORIZON." TUESDAY, A LOOK AT CHANGES TO THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AS THE NEXT ENROLLMENT PERIOD BEGINS. WEDNESDAY, SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO UKRAINE, KURT VOLKER, JOINS US ALONG WITH RETIRED GENERAL PHILIP BREEDLOVE FOR THE LATEST IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS. THURSDAY, PHYSICIST LAWRENCE KRAUSS TALKS ABOUT THE OBSERVED COLLISION OF TWO-NEUTRON STARS AND HOW IT CHANGES ASTRONOMY. AND FRIDAY, IT'S ANOTHER EDITION OF THE "JOURNALISTS ROUNDTABLE."
THAT IS IT FOR NOW. I'M TED SIMONS. THANKS FOR JOINING US. YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND! ºº
Laurie Roberts: Reporter, Arizona Republic
Bob Christie: Reporter, Associated Press
Steve Goldstein: Reporter, Arizona Republic
