# NEW Stupid Republican Idea of the Day (Part 2) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 7, 2022, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018 "2022-02-07T00:52:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 331
**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 31, 2022, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/6606 "2022-12-31T01:16:43Z")
Meh. This bill is almost certainly unconstitutional, and introducing it literally days before the end of session indicates it’s not even a serious effort to get it passed. I’d prefer Democratic congressmen spend their time governing rather than pandering like WWE stars cutting promos about what they’re gonna do this Sunday at Hell in a Cell. ---
**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 31, 2022, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/6607 "2022-12-31T01:19:39Z")
Democrats need to start being as petty as the Repugs. ---
**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 31, 2022, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/6608 "2022-12-31T01:52:38Z")
Introducing gag legislation during lame duck sessions isn’t how Republicans win elections. ---
**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 31, 2022, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/6609 "2022-12-31T01:59:48Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, the conservative activist married to controversial Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, admitted in a deposition held earlier this year that she did not have any evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election, a transcript revealed Friday. So… she had no evidence. But pressed forward anyway, lying about supposed “fraud”. What the hell was she hoping to gain from her lies? Because that’s what she admitted; that she was deliberately lying. ---
**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 31, 2022, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/6610 "2022-12-31T02:02:40Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Meh. This bill is almost certainly unconstitutional, and introducing it literally days before the end of session indicates it’s not even a serious effort to get it passed. So? Its a nice way of calling attention to the disgusting GOP candidates. Do you have a problem with Democrats “playing politics”? Are they supposed to just keep quiet while the other party fucks the country? ---
**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 31, 2022, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/6611 "2022-12-31T03:02:01Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > So? Its a nice way of calling attention to the disgusting GOP candidates. Do you have a problem with Democrats “playing politics”? I don’t consider trolling to be good politics, no. Emulating the Matt Gaetzes and Marjorie Taylor Greenes of the world isn’t going to accomplish anything but drag the party down to their level. I want to see Democrats making a serious push for marijuana legalization or serious campaign finance and lobbying reform, not wasting their time on puffery, because it’s the former that can get voters on their side. > [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Are they supposed to just keep quiet while the other party fucks the country? The solution to Republicans fucking the country is not to start fucking it from the other end. ---
**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 31, 2022, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/6612 "2022-12-31T03:04:10Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > not wasting their time on puffery, because it’s the former that can get voters on their side. Are you aware of the basic American Voter? ---
**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 31, 2022, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/6613 "2022-12-31T03:09:31Z")
If Democrats focused their talking points around marijuana legalization or a $20 minimum wage, they’d have the basic American voter in their pocket for a generation. ---
**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 31, 2022, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/6614 "2022-12-31T03:52:22Z")
Last cycle, $15 minimum wage was a pretty big talking point. Did it work? ---
**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 31, 2022, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/6615 "2022-12-31T04:09:01Z")
You’ve got to get the younger citizens involved AND to the polls. Apathy is strong with them. Dems have the issues, get organized. ---
**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 31, 2022, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/6616 "2022-12-31T04:15:48Z")
The Democrats massively outperformed expectations, didn’t they? Now just think of what they could’ve accomplished if they hadn’t been wringing their hands about “bipartisanship” and trying to please Trump voters in Iowa and had gone full-bore on that message. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2022, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/6617 "2022-12-31T04:35:52Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Last cycle, $15 minimum wage was a pretty big talking point. Did it work? Well, in _my_ state it did. ---
**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 31, 2022, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/6618 "2022-12-31T05:14:31Z")
BTW, if you feel like people aren’t getting excited about $15 per hour, it’s probably because we’ve been asking Democrats to make that a rallying point for so long now that that $15 per hour in 2007 would now be $30 adjusted for inflation. If anything, the number is too low, and when the Bidens and Schumers of the party quietly mumble about maybe raising it to $12 by 2028 if Ted Cruz says it’s OK, people are disincentivised to vote because they feel it’s not worth their time. ---
**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 31, 2022, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/6619 "2022-12-31T06:20:38Z")
The campaign expenditures reported by the George Santos campaign showed 37 expenditures for $199.99, one cent below the requirement to keep receipts. > **[Santos campaign finances show dozens of expenses just below FEC's threshold...](https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/30/politics/george-santos-campaign-finance/index.html)** > > Records that Rep.-elect George Santos' campaign filed with the Federal Election Commission show 37 expenditures, on office supplies, hotels, ride-share app Uber, restaurants and more, for the exact same amount: $199.99. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2022, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/6620 "2022-12-31T12:56:07Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, the conservative activist married to controversial Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, admitted in a deposition held earlier this year that she did not have any evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election, a transcript revealed Friday. No evidence of fraud you say? Look in the mirror you moron. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2022, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/6621 "2022-12-31T15:07:00Z")
I personally see no reason why someone running for Federal office shouldn’t have to have a background check done and pass at least a minimum security clearance. I’m a lowly government contractor and I am held to a higher ethical and accountability standard than folks like Trump, MTG, Boebert, etc. Maybe if we start looking into their personal and professional histories _before_ they have a chance to get elected, we’d see a lot fewer of these clowns running for office. ---
**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:** [December 31, 2022, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/6622 "2022-12-31T16:03:08Z")
Hell, **a whole lot of us** have to pass background checks more stringent that that for a Congresscritter. Minimum security clearance (with mods) should be a base requirement. The mods should, however, allow for “youthful indiscretion” and the like. The check needs to be carefully non-discriminatory. ---
**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 31, 2022, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/6623 "2022-12-31T16:27:45Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The campaign expenditures reported by the George Santos campaign showed 37 expenditures for $199.99, one cent below the requirement to keep receipts. Isn’t this, in itself, a crime? “Structuring”, I think it’s called? And you can’t make passing a security screening a requirement to run for Congress, at least not without an amendment. But I see no reason why the screening couldn’t be done, and the voters informed of the results, whereupon they could make their own decisions. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2022, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/6624 "2022-12-31T16:41:23Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Isn’t this, in itself, a crime? “Structuring”, I think it’s called? I believe structuring is specific to transactions with financial institutions. So, I don’t believe the conduct here would _de facto_ constitute a crime although the pattern is certainly evidence of possible misuse of campaign funds. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2022, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/6625 "2022-12-31T16:53:41Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > evidence of possible misuse of campaign funds. Speaking of which… [https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/30/politics/kansas-attorney-general-campaign-finance-violations/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/30/politics/kansas-attorney-general-campaign-finance-violations/index.html) It’s too bad that this wasn’t made public during the campaign for AG. Although, given the ridiculously terrible race that the Democratic candidate ran, it probably wouldn’t have made a difference. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018.md?page=330) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018.md?page=332)