# Fantasy Island -Are Republicans losing their grip on reality? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 23, 2011, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-island-are-republicans-losing-their-grip-on-reality/582841 "2011-05-23T01:31:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-island-are-republicans-losing-their-grip-on-reality/582841/61 "2011-05-24T03:09:18Z")
> [@Chen019](#): > > He’s got a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Chicago & an A.B. from Harvard. I think he’s capable of grasping the basics of evolution. I don’t. > [@](#): > > It would be a striking coincidence if the distribution of abilities and behavioral patterns that was optimal for one sex turned out to also be optimal for the other, rather like two entirely different math problems just happening to have the same answer. Complex organisms have a broad range of abilities, allowing them to survive in a broad range of social and physical environments; there is no ‘optimal’. Furthermore, he seems to have trouble grasping the basics of math. Wouldn’t the number of ‘entirely different’ math problems with a given answer be infinite? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-island-are-republicans-losing-their-grip-on-reality/582841/62 "2011-05-24T03:38:16Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It’s a public policy question about education. It’s also a basic moron test. It’s a “gotcha” disguised as a public policy question. A public policy question would sound more like _“What is your stand on the inclusion of evolution and/or creationism in the curricula of taxpayer-supported public schools?”_ Or _“What are your proposals with respect to how your administration would approach this issue?”_ If you want to hold his feet to the flames, _do_ it, fercryinoutloud. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-island-are-republicans-losing-their-grip-on-reality/582841/63 "2011-05-24T03:44:08Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > If he’s that out of touch with reality, he’s not qualified to be President. Duh. He’s a _Republican_! ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-island-are-republicans-losing-their-grip-on-reality/582841/64 "2011-05-24T03:48:11Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Duh. > > He’s a _Republican_! This _is_, after all, the party that put SARAH FUCKING PALIN on their ticket in 2008. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-island-are-republicans-losing-their-grip-on-reality/582841/65 "2011-05-24T04:00:00Z")
Well, Palin is pretty damning evidence against evolution… ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-island-are-republicans-losing-their-grip-on-reality/582841/66 "2011-05-24T04:17:29Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Well, Palin is pretty damning evidence against evolution… Nah, she’s just proof that the human race has gone beyond natural selection in a very, _very_ unhealthy way. ;\_; ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-island-are-republicans-losing-their-grip-on-reality/582841/67 "2011-05-24T04:17:47Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > This _is_, after all, the party that put SARAH FUCKING PALIN on their ticket in 2008. :smack: Screw that _parvenu_ shit. They’re the party that put Richard Nixon in the WH. Twice. I’ve never consented to a Pubbie having that job ever since. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-island-are-republicans-losing-their-grip-on-reality/582841/68 "2011-05-24T05:16:23Z")
A lot of Repubs in office are very smart. They have no doubts about evolution. But in order to win they have to appeal to voters who are wandering around in the antediluvian jungles. Without that vote they lose. So what do you expect them to say? If they are pro choice, they have to run strongly against it. There are some pretty smart repub pols who have to sell a big chunk of their integrity to win. ---
**Author:** ![Naxos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/50afbb/32.png) [@Naxos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Naxos)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-island-are-republicans-losing-their-grip-on-reality/582841/69 "2011-05-24T05:35:10Z")
> [@astro](#): > > [Fantasy Island - Are Republicans losing their grip on reality?](http://www.slate.com/id/2295128/) Actually, the are not. Since Reagan they’ve been systematically going after the racist, intolerant and religious vote, which they have been claiming in a substantial majority. They know what they’re doing. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-island-are-republicans-losing-their-grip-on-reality/582841/70 "2011-05-24T06:15:44Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > You ridiculously simplify the course of the Bush administration and at any rate Bush had one of the lowest approval ratings when he got out of office. Simplification aside, Bush had a rather high approval rating _among Republicans_ when he left office. More disturbingly his approval rating among Republicans topped 80% _during Katrina_. ---
**Author:** ![Naxos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/50afbb/32.png) [@Naxos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Naxos)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-island-are-republicans-losing-their-grip-on-reality/582841/71 "2011-05-24T06:40:35Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Simplification aside, Bush had a rather high approval rating _among Republicans_ when he left office. More disturbingly his approval rating among Republicans topped 80% _during Katrina_. That’s right. All he had to do is to spread his “kill the dark skinned” message and marry it to nationalism and the conservative vote followed him hook, line and sinker. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Jacquelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Le\_Jacquelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Jacquelope)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-island-are-republicans-losing-their-grip-on-reality/582841/72 "2011-05-24T06:44:37Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > I am a registered Democrat, but I believe that Republicans had the grownup edge prior to say 1977. At that point the trends began to reverse. Still, the complete collapse of the Republican’s policy apparatus only occurred last decade: it might be dated from the point that Paul O’Neill resigned from the treasury. > > Paul Krugman once worked for the Reagan administration. Considering his about-face on globalism, he’s practically a reformed sinner! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![New\_Deal\_Democrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9d8465/32.png) [@New\_Deal\_Democrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Deal_Democrat)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-island-are-republicans-losing-their-grip-on-reality/582841/73 "2011-05-24T15:45:37Z")
> [@Naxos](#): > > Actually, the are not. > > Since Reagan they’ve been systematically going after the racist, intolerant and religious vote, which they have been claiming in a substantial majority. > > They know what they’re doing. Currently the Republicans are cultivating the votes of those with jobs. At least fifteen million Americans are unemployed, and face long term unemployment. Any serious effort to help them will require tax increases, not only on “the very rich,” but on the reasonably comfortable. According to Gallup 52 percent of Americans consider themselves to be thriving. 44 percent consider themselves to be struggling. 52 out votes 44. Also, many of the struggling think the government cannot help them, and can only hurt them with tax increases. These are inclined to vote Republican. > **[Gallup - Workplace Consulting & Global Research](https://www.gallup.com/home.aspx)** > > Gallup is more than management consulting. Learn how our understanding of the human experience helps clients and the billions they serve thrive. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-island-are-republicans-losing-their-grip-on-reality/582841/74 "2011-05-24T16:01:09Z")
They should love Obama then. He’s given them nothing but tax cuts. Of course, most teabaggers have no idea Obama cut their taxes, but he did. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-island-are-republicans-losing-their-grip-on-reality/582841/75 "2011-05-24T16:01:44Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > It’s a “gotcha” disguised as a public policy question. A public policy question would sound more like _“What is your stand on the inclusion of evolution and/or creationism in the curricula of taxpayer-supported public schools?”_ Or _“What are your proposals with respect to how your administration would approach this issue?”_ > > If you want to hold his feet to the flames, _do_ it, fercryinoutloud. He could have answered it while explaining his position. He’s not restricted to a one word answer. He could say that while he may personally believe in Creationism, it’s not supported by science but by faith, therefore he is against the teaching of it in public schools, limiting science class to only what can be provable, which is Evolution. > [@gonzomax](#): > > A lot of Repubs in office are very smart. They have no doubts about evolution. > > But in order to win they have to appeal to voters who are wandering around in the antediluvian jungles. Without that vote they lose. So what do you expect them to say? > > If they are pro choice, they have to run strongly against it. > > There are some pretty smart repub pols who have to sell a big chunk of their integrity to win. If they are all of the same mind, I expect them all to say they are pro-choice. If every single serious Republican candidate says that, either the primary voters will have no choice but to elect one or elect a psycho with no chance of winning. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-island-are-republicans-losing-their-grip-on-reality/582841/76 "2011-05-24T16:17:24Z")
> [@New\_Deal\_Democrat](#): > > Currently the Republicans are cultivating the votes of those with jobs. At least fifteen million Americans are unemployed, and face long term unemployment. Any serious effort to help them will require tax increases, not only on “the very rich,” but on the reasonably comfortable. > > According to Gallup 52 percent of Americans consider themselves to be thriving. 44 percent consider themselves to be struggling. 52 out votes 44. Also, many of the struggling think the government cannot help them, and can only hurt them with tax increases. These are inclined to vote Republican. > > [Gallup - Workplace Consulting & Global Research](http://www.gallup.com/home.aspx) You assume that people doing well are greedy assholes. That’s not necessarily true. After all, Ryan assumed that by protecting those over 55 from his attempting to destroy Medicare we’d support it. Didn’t work very well, did it? ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-island-are-republicans-losing-their-grip-on-reality/582841/77 "2011-05-24T18:05:59Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > They should love Obama then. He’s given them nothing but tax cuts. Of course, most teabaggers have no idea Obama cut their taxes, but he did. Oh, they know. They just don’t care. All the tax cuts in the world won’t turn Obama white. ---
**Author:** ![New\_Deal\_Democrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9d8465/32.png) [@New\_Deal\_Democrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Deal_Democrat)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-island-are-republicans-losing-their-grip-on-reality/582841/78 "2011-05-24T20:32:27Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > **You assume that people doing well are greedy assholes.** That’s not necessarily true. After all, Ryan assumed that by protecting those over 55 from his attempting to destroy Medicare we’d support it. Didn’t work very well, did it? Not all of them, certainly, but many of them. A political movement should encourage members to think they are virtuous, but it has to appeal to self interest. During the War in Vietnam the anti war movement was powerful on college campuses, because most male college students did not want to fight in Vietnam. When President Nixon ended the draft in 1973 he killed the anti war movement, and the new left. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-island-are-republicans-losing-their-grip-on-reality/582841/79 "2011-05-25T00:07:24Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Simplification aside, Bush had a rather high approval rating _among Republicans_ when he left office. More disturbingly his approval rating among Republicans topped 80% _during Katrina_. What were the approval ratings for President McKinley after the Galveston Hurricane in 1900? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-island-are-republicans-losing-their-grip-on-reality/582841/80 "2011-05-25T00:12:08Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > What were the approval ratings for President McKinley after the Galveston Hurricane in 1900? :rolleyes: You were like six when it happened, but if you didn’t know. Bush fucked up the response to Katrina. Because he’s an idiot. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-island-are-republicans-losing-their-grip-on-reality/582841.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-island-are-republicans-losing-their-grip-on-reality/582841.md?page=5)