Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., often appears to be a lone wolf crying in the distance as he is among a handful of conservatives voting against spending measures and piddling acts of recognition that Congress wastes its time with instead of just closing up shop for the day. But Flake’s consistent philosophy has brought him some special attention after six years in the U.S. House, as Esquire magazine has named him among the 10 best members of Congress.

Flake is best know for his vocal campaign against earmarks. But Esquire is praising him for his opposition to sweeping powers of surveillance presumed by the Bush administration that Congress has sought to rein in:

A true conservative, Flake is as rare as the dodo. Republicans should learn from him, and liberals and libertarians will find in him a strong privacy-rights ally. With Democrat Adam Schiff (Calif. 29), he’s led a rearguard action to place domestic terror surveillance under court guidance.

Other members of Flake’s class, according to Esquire, including Reps. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., Mike Pence, R-Ind. and Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, as well as Sens. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, and Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn.

The popular magazine has a worst-10 list as well, surprisingly topped by Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas (who shouldn’t be on the list simply because of his strong support for open government laws). Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, also made the list (just barely) as did Democratic Reps. John Murtha of Pennsylvania and William Jefferson of Louisiana.