Flake is /OurGuy/ → ½ by Sirnotabot
Almost every post on the boards is attacking Flake. He's a swamp creature, but what he, Grassley, and Reps pulled off in that hearing room was genius.
When they returned after recess …. every Republican Senator was sitting in their seat except Cruz … nearly all of them. Only one of the Dems was in their seat, the rest were standing in the doorway or were in the hallway. A staffer whispers in Grassley's ear and he looks around, first right … Reps all seated, then left, Dems still standing around. Then he hits the gavel, Cruz enters and takes his seat, Dems still standing around. Grassley stares at the door for a while … knocks the gavel a few times, but much quieter than before. Flake enters, whispers something to Grassley in passing and takes his seat.
Then … "As a point of personal privilege, I'm going to invite Senator Flake to speak. Normally we would start the vote right now." … Dems still standing around the entrance … and it's no big deal, no hurry, Senator Flake is speaking, it's not the vote.
Flake "I've been speaking to the other side and I think it would be proper to delay the floor vote for up to but not more than one week to allow the FBI to conduct an investigation." The other side were aware that Sen. Flake was only going to vote "yes" based on an FBI investigation. The "one week" was probably news to them. They are still making their way to their seats.
Senator Flake "I will vote to advance the vote to the floor with that understanding." Then he compliments the chairman and the committee. He already knows it's over!
Grassley IMMEDIATELY calls roll (vote) you can hear some Dems say "wait … " they are still making their way to their seats, only 3-4 of them are seated. Feinstein interrupts and grabs Sen. Grassley's arm … "What are we voting on? Can we have a description" ….. The Dems are in complete disarray. They do not know what's happening. Sen. Grassley raises his voice, pulls away from Feinstein and says "We are voting on the motion to report the nomination to the floor …. Call the role!" Sen. Feinstein … "but that's not my understanding" (she thought she had a different deal with Flake) Flake responds "Well my understanding is the deal that the Democrats would accept a one week investigation limited in time and scope." … Feinstein starts to argue "Well … " … Then Sen. Grassley jumps in …. "we'll decide that and if there's any further discussion we'll have it after the roll …. CALL THE ROLL!"