Jeff Flake should read 'How to win friends and influence people"

From The Hill:

Flake strikes at earmark of Hastert’s

By Jonathan
Allen

Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) escalated his anti-earmark crusade yesterday by attempting to strip a request by Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) out of a defenseappropriations bill.Flake offered an amendment designed to kill a $2.5 million provision intended for a technology organization created by one of Hastert’s former aides. The amendment, one of about 10 he offered, was expected to fail miserably as of press time.

{snip}

Flake said yesterday that he did not realize the earmark was one of Hastert’s when he decided to fight it on the floor, but knowing that the top House GOP leader had requested the funding didn’t change Flake’s plans.“I don’t want to avoid someone just because they’re in a leadership position,” Flake said yesterday.

{snip}

Some lawmakers and aides were shocked by Flake’s decision to go forward with an amendment targeting one of Hastert’s earmark requests.“I’ve never seen that before,” said Rep. John Murtha (Pa.), the senior Democratic defense appropriator and another Flake target. “I can’t imagine what he’s doing.”

and

Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.), an appropriator who supported Hastert’s request on the floor yesterday, said Flake’s effort could be characterized as either a
“principled approach” or “a strong showing of stupidity.”

“I think he’s doing it on principle,” LaHood said.

Let me venture a guess here - either Jeff Flake doesn't expect the Reps to keep control of the House, or doesn't expect to get a leadership post if they do. Because, while many words can describe him (I like "neolithic neo-con"), "stupid" isn't on the list.

On edit: Jeff Flake posted an entry in The Hill's CongressBlog yesterday. Since it is short, here it is in its entirety -

We have tried to target things that do not belong in a defense bill. This is a bill meant to fund defense operations, and I feel to see what they have to do with each other.

For example, there is an appropriation for the Mystic Aquariam, which is in Connecticut, but the money is going to Ohio. Why should we be funding this with defense money?

There is a technology transfer center in Illinois. This may be a good thing, but why are we funding this with the defense bill.