# NEW Stupid Republican Idea of the Day (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 22, 2020, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-1/911140 "2020-06-22T07:01:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 450
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2021, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-1/911140/9018 "2021-12-16T19:07:09Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > You could trace it back even farther, to the early Cold War years of the late 1940s, the fall of China to the Maoist Communists, Sputnik, and the Joe McCarthy Red Scare. > > Or even earlier to the first Red Scare in the early post-WWI era. There’s always some minimum amount of Background Crazy in any society. We’ll never get rid of that completely, but in my life, up until 9/11, the general consensus was that the crazy people were the fringe. Left wing, right wing, we at least all agreed to mostly just ignore the underpants-on-their-heads crowd. But of course, “9/11 changed everything.” It was the first Great Conspiracy Theory of the internet age, and got the claws of crazy into a lot more people. You no longer had a few people like the Lyndon Larouche fanatics setting up a table in the park, you had Alex Jones leading thousands of people on street marches. It was next-level crazy, both in intensity and numbers. And it’s only gotten worse since then. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2021, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-1/911140/9019 "2021-12-16T19:27:12Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > But of course, “9/11 changed everything.” It was the first Great Conspiracy Theory of the internet age, and got the claws of crazy into a lot more people. I think your whole post is well said, but this bit in particular was my observation as well. The way Dick Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz and others ginned up national fear around non-existent Weapons of Mass Destruction™ in Iraq as their pretext to invade together with their “with-us-or-against-us” faux patriotism, was really the beginning of Trumpism as we know it today. I was appalled at how successful the tactic was. People just lost their minds. Bit of schadenfreude that Liz Cheney is now the one whose back is against the wall as she tries to put the toothpaste back in the tube. Daddy has a lot to answer for. ---
**Author:** ![Boycott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boycott/32/6741_2.png) [@Boycott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boycott)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2021, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-1/911140/9020 "2021-12-16T19:34:27Z")
First an old story about Nancy Reagan went viral. Now a story involving Jimmy Carter when he was in the Navy as a young man has been shared a lot. Hard to accept he was kicked around for a long time as being a posterboy of weakness. He was a student of Hyman Rickover who was known for taking no prisoners. If you were tough enough for Rickover that’s as high praise as you can get. > ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2021, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-1/911140/9021 "2021-12-16T21:31:16Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > {…} He was personal friends with the Clintons {…} Cite for Trump ever having a friend? It’s very clear that even his relationships with his children are transactional. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2021, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-1/911140/9022 "2021-12-16T21:35:51Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > The way Dick Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz and others ginned up national fear around non-existent Weapons of Mass Destruction™ in Iraq as their pretext to invade together with their “with-us-or-against-us” faux patriotism, was really the beginning of Trumpism as we know it today. I was appalled at how successful the tactic was. People just lost their minds. I feel like the naming of the “Patriot Act” was the most Orwellian thing I’d seen in real life up until then (at least from the US). I mean, there was always rhetoric, but does Doublespeak (US) go back further than that? ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2021, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-1/911140/9023 "2021-12-16T21:41:06Z")
The Department of War being renamed the Department of Defense? ---
**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:** [December 16, 2021, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-1/911140/9024 "2021-12-16T21:50:42Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > So, he would fight a war by drafting civilians, handing them a rifle, and sending them out to fight without – you know – _training_ them first? Because the cauldron of war so so much better at teaching them to fight than that stupid boot camp is. No, he’d fight a war by first inviting the enemy into his country, so all of the civilians could learn how to fight them right here. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2021, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-1/911140/9025 "2021-12-16T21:53:22Z")
> [@Boycott](#): > > optimism and ideas. > > fear and resentment politics. Guess which one is more powerful? ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2021, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-1/911140/9026 "2021-12-16T23:12:25Z")
Republican candidate for Governor of Colorado claims that the state’s openly gay governor is really straight and only pretends to be gay to get gay votes. > **[GOP candidate claims Colorado’s out gay governor is secretly straight](https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2021/12/gop-candidate-claims-colorados-gay-governor-secretly-straight/)** > > The gubernatorial candidate said that Gov. Jared Polis pretended to be gay to get elected and staged a "sham" wedding to his husband, all while he's having secret "swingers parties... ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2021, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-1/911140/9027 "2021-12-16T23:37:35Z")
😄😄🌈 amazing what people can imagine ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-1/911140/9028 "2021-12-17T00:49:15Z")
’ And I know this because I haven’t seen Polis on Grindr ever!’ ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-1/911140/9029 "2021-12-17T01:17:49Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > By Hook or by Trump we will. This IS a wonderful opportunity to take back the word “crook,” and reserve it for the use of those referring to _long stout poles with a hook at one end_. I say we go for it! ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-1/911140/9030 "2021-12-17T01:30:34Z")
Eric Trump admits the Trumps are too stupid to collude with Russia. > **[Eric Trump Claims That The Trumps Are Too Dumb Too Collude With Russia](https://www.politicususa.com/2021/12/15/eric-trump-claims-that-the-trumps-are-too-dumb-too-collude-with-russia.html)** > > While appearing on a podcast, Eric Trump said that his family is too dumb to collude with the Russians. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-1/911140/9031 "2021-12-17T02:37:08Z")
What in the esteemed name of Angus Podgorney…So Eric is being double-dumb here? Very statesmanlike quote, anyway: > [@](#): > > We didn’t know what a delegate was … What the hell do I know. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-1/911140/9032 "2021-12-17T02:44:58Z")
Donald Trump: I am a very stable genius! Eric Trump: None of us is smart! 🤔 🤨 ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-1/911140/9033 "2021-12-17T02:54:44Z")
Ahem, Eric Trump: ~~None~~ Nun of us ~~is~~ am be smart! ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-1/911140/9034 "2021-12-17T05:39:50Z")
San Diego County DA Summer Stephan is bringing conspiracy charges against leftist demonstrators who were involved in a brawl with Individual 1 supporters. She isn’t bringing conspiracy charges against the Individual 1 supporters. When she was campaigning, she ran against George Soros because he “backs anti-law enforcement candidates over experienced prosecutors, trying to tip the balance to the criminals.” “ANTIFA is known to use force, fear, and violence to further their own interests and to suppress the interests of others,” the DA’s charging document reads. “This tactic is referred to as ‘Direct Action’ and is known to mean acts of violence such as assault, battery, assault with deadly weapons, arson, and vandalism.” > **[Prosecutor Going After Antifa Peddled Antisemitic George Soros Conspiracies](https://www.thedailybeast.com/san-diego-prosecutor-going-after-antifa-once-peddled-antisemitic-george-soros-conspiracies)** > > San Diego DA Summer Stephan, who is bringing a conspiracy case against leftist protesters, once paid for a website that accused George Soros of funding anti-fascists. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-1/911140/9035 "2021-12-17T10:29:41Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Eric Trump: None of us is smart! Let’s all remember that, in this family of notably stupid people, they consider Eric to be “the stupid one”. I’ll let you take a minute to figure out how stupid that would have to make him. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-1/911140/9036 "2021-12-19T05:23:53Z")
Now it’s anti-vax politicians who are dropping dead. > **[Washington state Senator Doug Ericksen dies at 52](https://komonews.com/news/local/washington-senator-doug-ericksen-dies-at-52)** > > OLYMPIA, Wash. - Senator Doug Ericksen (R-Whatcom County) has died. The Washington State Senate Republican Caucus said the senator passed away on Friday. He was 52 years old. The Ferndale Republican's death came weeks after he said he had tested... ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-1/911140/9037 "2021-12-19T07:04:24Z")
My takeaway from this is “…Florida hospital…”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-1/911140.md?page=449) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-1/911140.md?page=451)