# Move over Louie Gohmert, there's a new idiot in town.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-louie-gohmert-theres-a-new-idiot-in-town/832407
**Category:** Politics & Elections
**Created:** [April 11, 2019, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-louie-gohmert-theres-a-new-idiot-in-town/832407 "2019-04-11T21:41:30Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2019, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-louie-gohmert-theres-a-new-idiot-in-town/832407/1 "2019-04-11T21:41:30Z")
Ladies and Gentlemen, may [I introduce to you](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRBfM709Yqc) the Congressman from Kentucky, Rep. Thomas Massie.
The video is a five minute interaction between Sec. John Kerry and Rep. Massie. In the conversation, Massie does not understand that a political science degree is a liberal arts discipline. He points out, correctly, that the average atmospheric CO2 level has been far higher, including during the age of mammals. But, he does not understand that CO2 levels were significantly higher is because of geologic activity millions of years ago.
The most shocking part is that Massie thinks he totally owned Kerry during the exchange. How does a man this stupid manage to get into a position of authority?
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### Author:  [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2019, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-louie-gohmert-theres-a-new-idiot-in-town/832407/2 "2019-04-11T21:59:43Z")
He’s not actually dumb. He has a BS and MS engineering degrees from MIT.
There’s something else going here that includes but is not limited to academic snobbery.
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### Author:  [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2019, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-louie-gohmert-theres-a-new-idiot-in-town/832407/3 "2019-04-11T22:00:02Z")
> [@Drum\_God](#):
>
> Ladies and Gentlemen, may [I introduce to you](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRBfM709Yqc) the Congressman from Kentucky, Rep. Thomas Massie.
> …How does a man this stupid manage to get into a position of authority?
There seems to be an insatiable appetite for Stupidity among Republican voters.
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### Author:  [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2019, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-louie-gohmert-theres-a-new-idiot-in-town/832407/4 "2019-04-11T22:02:50Z")
I’m not sure the party that keeps re-electing Hank Johnson to GA-4 has a lot of moral high ground from which to sneer at the stupidity of other parties’ voters.
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### Author:  [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2019, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-louie-gohmert-theres-a-new-idiot-in-town/832407/5 "2019-04-11T22:07:36Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#):
>
> He’s not actually dumb. He has a BS and MS engineering degrees from MIT.
>
> There’s something else going here that includes but is not limited to academic snobbery.
Wait a minute. Massie has advanced degrees from MIT yet does not understand varying carbon levels in geologic timeframes? Seriously?
So you’re saying that what we may have here is an MIT engineer scoffing at a Yalie’s liberal arts degree having the word “science” but not being a real science?
I did not look into Massie’s credentials, I admit. I am stunned to hear that he has such a prestigious education. Did he maybe hit his head on the way to the committee room?
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### Author:  [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2019, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-louie-gohmert-theres-a-new-idiot-in-town/832407/6 "2019-04-11T22:20:56Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#):
>
> I’m not sure the party that keeps re-electing Hank Johnson to GA-4 has a lot of moral high ground from which to sneer at the stupidity of other parties’ voters.
The party that elected, and still supports Trump, has no place to criticize anyone regarding stupidity. Or really anything else for that matter.
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### Author:  [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2019, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-louie-gohmert-theres-a-new-idiot-in-town/832407/7 "2019-04-11T22:23:58Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#):
>
> I’m not sure the party that keeps re-electing Hank Johnson to GA-4 has a lot of moral high ground from which to sneer at the stupidity of other parties’ voters.
I gather the main objection to Johnson is a ‘Guam tipping over’ remark, and the concept that the remark was serious and literal (and therefore the product of stupidity) is held or dismissed according to party lines. I further gather that Johnson has had health problems which, before being resolved, resulted in some slowness of speech.
But on the GOP side we have the aforementioned Louie Gohmert, Massie, and so many others, past and present: Paul Broun, Devin Nunes, Todd Akin, Jim DeMint, Michelle Bachmann, Steve King…what an embarrassment of riches! Tales are still told of the astonishing dim-bulbery of Dan Quayle. Heck, of the four last GOP Presidents, only one had a reputation for having made it into that third-digit range of IQ.
Of course there is a lot of subjectivity in these assessments, but how many Republicans would want to bet cash on the outcome of an impartial administration of a reliable IQ test to the current Congress–specifically, on the mean-score-by party?
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### Author:  [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2019, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-louie-gohmert-theres-a-new-idiot-in-town/832407/8 "2019-04-11T23:00:00Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#):
>
> I’m not sure the party that keeps re-electing Hank Johnson to GA-4 has a lot of moral high ground from which to sneer at the stupidity of other parties’ voters.
Nah, actually, we’re pretty good. You can tell, because we can post some new bit of jaw-dropping stupidity from Republicans pretty much every day, and you still have to go back almost a decade for your counter.
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### Author:  [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2019, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-louie-gohmert-theres-a-new-idiot-in-town/832407/9 "2019-04-11T23:36:08Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#):
>
> I’m not sure the party that keeps re-electing Hank Johnson to GA-4 has a lot of moral high ground from which to sneer at the stupidity of other parties’ voters.
Have there been a lot of stories eaten up by left wingers how Hank Johnson said really dumb things, but his followers are led to believe that those stupid comments are actually Mr. Johnson totally owning some conservative?
I can’t wait to see your examples.
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### Author:  [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2019, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-louie-gohmert-theres-a-new-idiot-in-town/832407/10 "2019-04-11T23:50:05Z")
> [@Miller](#):
>
> Nah, actually, we’re pretty good. You can tell, because we can post some new bit of jaw-dropping stupidity from Republicans pretty much every day, and you still have to go back almost a decade for your counter.
I guess I could have posted Maxine asking the bank CEOs about student loan programs the other day, about a decade after the federal government took over student lending, but Johnson’s concern about Guam capsizing is such a classic moment in history that I couldn’t resist.
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### Author:  [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2019, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-louie-gohmert-theres-a-new-idiot-in-town/832407/11 "2019-04-11T23:53:55Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#):
>
> I guess I could have posted Maxine asking the bank CEOs about student loan programs the other day, about a decade after the federal government took over student lending, but Johnson’s concern about Guam capsizing is such a classic moment in history that I couldn’t resist.
Your guy thinks windmill noise causes cancer.
As long as you support him, you have no credibility in this area and thusly I snicker at the attempt.
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### Author:  [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2019, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-louie-gohmert-theres-a-new-idiot-in-town/832407/12 "2019-04-12T00:09:29Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#):
>
> I guess I could have posted Maxine asking the bank CEOs about student loan programs the other day, about a decade after the federal government took over student lending…
It’s a shame Betsy DeVos’ meetings aren’t televised.
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### Author:  [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2019, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-louie-gohmert-theres-a-new-idiot-in-town/832407/13 "2019-04-12T00:20:57Z")
> [@Drum\_God](#):
>
> Wait a minute. Massie has advanced degrees from MIT yet does not understand varying carbon levels in geologic timeframes? Seriously?
He probably does understand, but he believes, correctly, that his constituents don’t, and will think that his obvious sophistry is actually a cogent argument.
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### Author:  [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2019, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-louie-gohmert-theres-a-new-idiot-in-town/832407/14 "2019-04-12T00:22:58Z")
> [@Drum\_God](#):
>
> So you’re saying that what we may have here is an MIT engineer scoffing at a Yalie’s liberal arts degree having the word “science” but not being a real science?
This is a big chunk of it. Academic snobbery with a healthy mix of libertarian douchebaggery.
But he’s not dumb.
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### Author:  [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2019, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-louie-gohmert-theres-a-new-idiot-in-town/832407/15 "2019-04-12T00:41:26Z")
I’m certainly noticing the pattern HD is trying to establish.
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### Author:  [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2019, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-louie-gohmert-theres-a-new-idiot-in-town/832407/16 "2019-04-12T02:01:57Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#):
>
> I guess I could have posted Maxine asking the bank CEOs about student loan programs the other day, about a decade after the federal government took over student lending, but Johnson’s concern about Guam capsizing is such a classic moment in history that I couldn’t resist.
> [@Ravenman](#):
>
> It’s a shame Betsy DeVos’ meetings aren’t televised.
[Betsy DeVos thinks “Some students can learn better with larger classes, with more students to collaborate with.”](http://www.livingindialogue.com/shaking-head-betsy-devos/?fbclid=IwAR1aVKuJCqy5aw-_4SO5D9UXSxIRiYMftiHIMdxyXHyXUbTMlh5PDPWDpfY) Not everyone agrees.
Like, even in the area where you\* try to slam Waters, it turns out that the GOP’s leader in this area is far more of a fuckin moron.
I’m far from saying our side is perfect. There are some mustard stains on our suits. But your side treats hogshit like [Scrooge McDuck treats gold coins](https://giphy.com/gifs/money-swimming-diving-n59dQcO9yaaaY).
\*HD, obviously–Ravenman’s cool.
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### Author:  [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2019, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-louie-gohmert-theres-a-new-idiot-in-town/832407/17 "2019-04-12T11:44:47Z")
> [@Chingon](#):
>
> I’m certainly noticing the pattern HD is trying to establish.
I suspect there’s an “Obama thinks there are 57 states!” checkmate move in store.
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### Author:  [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2019, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-louie-gohmert-theres-a-new-idiot-in-town/832407/18 "2019-04-12T11:55:42Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#):
>
> This is a big chunk of it. Academic snobbery with a healthy mix of libertarian douchebaggery.
>
> But he’s not dumb.
Ah, dumb like a fox; he’s smart enough to know that his supporters are dumb.
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### Author:  [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2019, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-louie-gohmert-theres-a-new-idiot-in-town/832407/19 "2019-04-12T12:06:53Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#):
>
> I suspect there’s an “Obama thinks there are 57 states!” checkmate move in store.
[off-topic] When I’m referring to the electoral college I often write “51 states”, mostly to save keystrokes but partly to see if some yokel will need to post a _Gotcha stupitimus!_
Potus is responsible, and receives reports, for Puerto Rico, Guam, and other non-states as well as the 50 states. I wonder if they add up to 57 separate polities altogether and Obama was using a shorthand.
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### Author:  [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2019, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-louie-gohmert-theres-a-new-idiot-in-town/832407/20 "2019-04-12T12:26:07Z")
Yeah, this is a “you’re not a real scientist, hur hur, shut up” moment. Of course the distinguished gentleman would mind his words if addressing a straight science Ph.D. who would instead be accused of being a cloudheaded theoritician who doesn’t actually make and fix things people use.
> [@septimus](#):
>
> [off-topic] When I’m referring to the electoral college I often write “51 states”, mostly to save keystrokes but partly to see if some yokel will need to post a _Gotcha stupitimus!_
>
> Potus is responsible, and receives reports, for Puerto Rico, Guam, and other non-states as well as the 50 states. I wonder if they add up to 57 separate polities altogether and Obama was using a shorthand.
There’s at least 57 polities that participate in the Democratic primaries: 50 states, DC, 5 unincorporated territories and Americans Abroad. But I’ve always seen Barry’s “57 states” as just an honest brainfart after an exhausting stretch of campaigning rather.
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