# GOP TP wing seems to be doubling down on being even more extreme - Successful long term strategy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 1, 2014, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-tp-wing-seems-to-be-doubling-down-on-being-even-more-extreme-successful-long-term-strategy/680302 "2014-02-01T21:14:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-tp-wing-seems-to-be-doubling-down-on-being-even-more-extreme-successful-long-term-strategy/680302/141 "2014-02-06T19:01:57Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Like I said, Congress MUST consider the Constitutionality of everything it does and every bill it passes. That’s part of its responsibility. It does so even without this requirement to state it in every bill **(which is why it’s not really necessary to do so).** **Exactly.** Also, see above post. A bill can be constitutional for reasons Congress never thought of. That’s the **courts’** call. And adding a preamble does nothing but confuse that issue. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-tp-wing-seems-to-be-doubling-down-on-being-even-more-extreme-successful-long-term-strategy/680302/142 "2014-02-06T19:03:51Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > That hardly makes it “extreme” though. Congress does lots of things it’s not required by the Constitution to do . . . And when it does, that’s when **RWs** start crying “Extremism!” or worse. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-tp-wing-seems-to-be-doubling-down-on-being-even-more-extreme-successful-long-term-strategy/680302/143 "2014-02-06T19:59:34Z")
Just as a Point of Information: Congress could follow that silly idea by just printing Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18 at the top of all legislation. _The Congress shall have Power … To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof._ Proof the Teahadists can’t _read_ as well as being unable to _think_. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-tp-wing-seems-to-be-doubling-down-on-being-even-more-extreme-successful-long-term-strategy/680302/144 "2014-02-06T20:19:35Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > **Exactly.** Also, see above post. A bill can be constitutional for reasons Congress never thought of. That’s the **courts’** call. And adding a preamble does nothing but confuse that issue. No, it is NOT the court’s call, unless and until someone brings it to a court. Congress MUST decide what is and isn’t constitutional to pass laws. It can’t possibly function otherwise. All of its power comes from the Constitution, and every member is sworn to uphold it. This simple requirement to state where the power for a bill comes from in the Constitution wouldn’t change the power of a court in any way, including the power to rule that its power goes beyond what was stated. It doesn’t confuse the issue to simply state what people are assuming anyway. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-tp-wing-seems-to-be-doubling-down-on-being-even-more-extreme-successful-long-term-strategy/680302/145 "2014-02-06T20:20:52Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Just as a Point of Information: Congress could follow that silly idea by just printing Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18 at the top of all legislation. > > _The Congress shall have Power … To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof._ > > Proof the Teahadists can’t _read_ as well as being unable to _think_. Sure. That wasn’t so hard. Maybe pointless, but not hard. And hardly “extreme.” ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-tp-wing-seems-to-be-doubling-down-on-being-even-more-extreme-successful-long-term-strategy/680302/146 "2014-02-06T20:25:00Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > And when it does, that’s when **RWs** start crying “Extremism!” or worse. But you don’t think they are extreme, do you? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-tp-wing-seems-to-be-doubling-down-on-being-even-more-extreme-successful-long-term-strategy/680302/147 "2014-02-06T21:13:58Z")
OK, let’s make this nice and simple: You want to pass a law requiring Congress to state the Constitutional basis for each law they pass? Let’s start with that one. What’s the Constitutional basis for a law requiring Congress to state the Constitutional basis for all laws? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-tp-wing-seems-to-be-doubling-down-on-being-even-more-extreme-successful-long-term-strategy/680302/148 "2014-02-07T00:34:52Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Fine, new analogy: Muslims! Not an ethnicity, but a religion only. > > So, do you hold all Muslims responsible for acts of terrorism by Muslims who justify it with religion? > > Why not? They choose to be Muslims. They could leave any time. You have a seriuous penchant for picking really poor analogies. Religions are not social clubs that can be joined or dropped at will. Most religious people have a belief system that is part of their lives. Claiming that people “choose” a religious belief is a remarkable demonstration of ignorance. There is a certain level of choice involved, to the extent that one’s beliefs need to resonate with one’s world view, but a claim that [believers of X] “choose” to be [believers of X] is just silly. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-tp-wing-seems-to-be-doubling-down-on-being-even-more-extreme-successful-long-term-strategy/680302/149 "2014-02-07T01:59:12Z")
When I was nine, my grandmother swore to me that Davy Crockett was a Methodist. Good enough for me. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-tp-wing-seems-to-be-doubling-down-on-being-even-more-extreme-successful-long-term-strategy/680302/150 "2014-02-07T13:47:53Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > OK, let’s make this nice and simple: You want to pass a law requiring Congress to state the Constitutional basis for each law they pass? Let’s start with that one. What’s the Constitutional basis for a law requiring Congress to state the Constitutional basis for all laws? Well played. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-tp-wing-seems-to-be-doubling-down-on-being-even-more-extreme-successful-long-term-strategy/680302/151 "2014-02-07T13:54:01Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > You have a seriuous penchant for picking really poor analogies. > > Religions are not social clubs that can be joined or dropped at will. Most religious people have a belief system that is part of their lives. Nope. It’s a PERFECT analogy. The claim was that if you associate with a group, you’re responsible for what others in it do. And for some people, political affiliation is as important, or more important, than religion. > [@](#): > > Claiming that people “choose” a religious belief is a remarkable demonstration of ignorance. There is a certain level of choice involved, to the extent that one’s beliefs need to resonate with one’s world view, but a claim that [believers of X] “choose” to be [believers of X] is just silly. No it’s not. You are completely free to leave your religion at any time for any reason. If your religion has been hijacked by those who support terrorism or violence or hatred, you are supporting terrorism and violence and hatred if you continue to associate with it, according to the logic. What you don’t get is that your point supports my argument - it would be silly to tell someone that they should just leave their religion because somebody else who is a member of that religion did something wrong. You wouldn’t presume to say such a thing, because you know religion is about much more than just affiliating with other people. Same goes for a political party. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-tp-wing-seems-to-be-doubling-down-on-being-even-more-extreme-successful-long-term-strategy/680302/152 "2014-02-07T13:55:15Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > When I was nine, my grandmother swore to me that Davy Crockett was a Methodist. Good enough for me. I’ll bet you could find a grandmother out there who would say Jesus was a Methodist. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-tp-wing-seems-to-be-doubling-down-on-being-even-more-extreme-successful-long-term-strategy/680302/153 "2014-02-07T14:45:12Z")
“Fanaticism can be described as redoubling your effort when you have forgotten your aim.” _- George Santayana._ ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-tp-wing-seems-to-be-doubling-down-on-being-even-more-extreme-successful-long-term-strategy/680302/154 "2014-02-08T01:37:20Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > “Fanaticism can be described as redoubling your effort when you have forgotten your aim.” > _- George Santayana._ That is awesome. What a great quote. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-tp-wing-seems-to-be-doubling-down-on-being-even-more-extreme-successful-long-term-strategy/680302/155 "2014-02-08T09:20:19Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > What you don’t get is that your point supports my argument - it would be silly to tell someone that they should just leave their religion because somebody else who is a member of that religion did something wrong. It’s not silly. Not when you are supporting the people doing the “wrong things” by participating in that religion. And especially not when they are doing those “wrong things” because that’s exactly what the religion demands that they do. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-tp-wing-seems-to-be-doubling-down-on-being-even-more-extreme-successful-long-term-strategy/680302/156 "2014-02-08T18:02:40Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Well played. And unanswered. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-tp-wing-seems-to-be-doubling-down-on-being-even-more-extreme-successful-long-term-strategy/680302/157 "2014-02-08T18:06:45Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > I’ll bet you could find a grandmother out there who would say Jesus was a Methodist. I found a fervent Baptist who swore they had the one true church of Jesus, and all others had fallen for snares of Satan. All other Baptist sects, that is. Methodists and other low creatures weren’t worth mentioning. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-tp-wing-seems-to-be-doubling-down-on-being-even-more-extreme-successful-long-term-strategy/680302/158 "2014-02-08T18:37:01Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > I found a fervent Baptist who swore they had the one true church of Jesus, and all others had fallen for snares of Satan. > > All other Baptist sects, that is. Methodists and other low creatures weren’t worth mentioning. > [@](#): > > Hedley Lamarr: I want rustlers, cut throats, murderers, bounty hunters, desperados, mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits, vipers, snipers, con men, Indian agents, Mexican bandits, muggers, buggerers, bushwhackers, hornswogglers, horse thieves, bull dykes, train robbers, bank robbers, ass-kickers, shit-kickers and Methodists. - Blazing Saddles (1974) 🙂 As for the TP and the more conservatives going extreme, confirmation of that comes from the recent change of course Bohener had to take regarding his recent ideas on taking on immigration reform this year, not so fast said the TP and other extremists, and so the double down continues even if it means that Hispanics will go the same way as the African Americans. > **[Wall Street Journal Whacks Boehner For Caving To ‘Talk-Radio’ On Immigration](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/wall-street-journal-boehner-immigration-reform-talk-radio)** > > The conservative editorial page of the Wall Street Journal isn’t impressed with... > [@](#): > > Wall Street Journal Whacks Boehner For Caving To ‘Talk-Radio’ On Immigration > > … > > After Boehner’s immigration pitch earlier this week was met with derision from conservatives, the Journal on Thursday highlighted the real reason for the punt. > > > [@](#): > > > > ``` > > So great is the House GOP fear of a talk-radio backlash that it won't even pass smaller bills that 75% of Republicans agree on. There will be nothing to codify the legal status of children of illegal immigrants who have lived here for decades. And no expanded green cards for foreign graduates of U.S. colleges, a policy Mitt Romney endorsed. And no cleaning up the work-visa morass that has obliged U.S. farmers to hire illegals to harvest their crops. > > > > ``` > > And the Journal doesn’t buy the logic that Republicans should steer clear of the issue before this year’s midterms. > > > [@](#): > > > > ``` > > Some Republicans who do want to vote for immigration reform say they don't want to divide the party over such a contentious issue in an election year. Better to take this up in 2015, they say. But the opponents will raise the same furor whenever it comes up, and Democrats will be less likely to compromise figuring they can use the issue to drive minority voter turnout in 2016. > > > > ``` ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-tp-wing-seems-to-be-doubling-down-on-being-even-more-extreme-successful-long-term-strategy/680302/159 "2014-02-08T18:50:16Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > I’ll bet you could find a grandmother out there who would say Jesus was a Methodist. Reminds me of this exchange: > [@](#): > > **Archie Bunker:** God isn’t black. > **“George”** \* **Jefferson:** Scientists have already proved that Jesus was an Ethiopian. > **Archie Bunker:** Well, the Ethopians say he was an Ethiopian, the Presbyterians say he was a Presbyterian… > \*Actually Henry Jefferson, covering for George’s refusal to set foot in a “honky household”. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-tp-wing-seems-to-be-doubling-down-on-being-even-more-extreme-successful-long-term-strategy/680302/160 "2014-02-08T18:51:26Z")
Wow. The _Wall Street Journal editorial page_ says the Republicans are being too partisan. The End Times must be near. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-tp-wing-seems-to-be-doubling-down-on-being-even-more-extreme-successful-long-term-strategy/680302.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-tp-wing-seems-to-be-doubling-down-on-being-even-more-extreme-successful-long-term-strategy/680302.md?page=9)