# NEW Stupid Republican Idea of the Day (Part 3) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 4, 2023, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588 "2023-07-04T21:42:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 155
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2024, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/3081 "2024-01-19T16:56:02Z")
I read where most jurists employ the “plain meaning” approach, meaning the words as written and understood by a reasonable person are what they are—with one exception. If a given application of the “plain meaning” leads to a cruel or absurd outcome, even the strictest textualists may hold their noses and conclude that the law clearly _intended_ something, whether or not it explicitly states it. I’d think that a ruling that a given candidate could run for president, win the election, but don’t expect an invitation to the inauguration falls cleanly in the “absurd” category. ---
**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:** [January 19, 2024, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/3082 "2024-01-19T17:05:21Z")
If they prevail in that theory, that’d still be a big victory for the Republicans. If Trump were to run and win election, but then be declared ineligible to actually be the President, the result wouldn’t be a Democrat in the White House. It’d be Trump’s running mate in the White House. The Republicans would still get to run on the Trump brand that appeals to their base, would still get Republican president (and one easier for the moneyed interests to manage), and would have a big pile of fuel for their outrage machine. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2024, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/3083 "2024-01-19T17:18:24Z")
I agree that it is highly unlikely that they would come up with such a response, but I could imagine the following (still probably unlikely) scenario. Roberts, thinking about his legacy is trying (and mostly failing) to tamp down the impression that his court is a influenced by partisan politics. The last thing he wants is for them to be in the position of deciding who gets to be president. So they might grab onto this line of reasoning to agree that under this reading of the amendment, he can be on the ballot whether or not he was and insurrectionist so he gets on the ballot and the election goes forward. As to the real question of whether Trump can hold office, that isn’t an actual issue until he has won, and so no one has standing. Then Roberts sits back and crosses his fingers in hopes of a Biden victory so that the whole question becomes moot. ---
**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:** [January 19, 2024, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/3084 "2024-01-19T20:41:05Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > The Republicans would still get to run on the Trump brand that appeals to their base, would still get Republican president (and one easier for the moneyed interests to manage), and would have a big pile of fuel for their outrage machine. But could you imagine Trump’s reaction to this? He’s spent three years now whining about being denied the presidency based on an election he lost; imagine what he’d do to protest being denied the presidency _based on an election he actually won_. The world boggles. ---
**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:** [January 19, 2024, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/3085 "2024-01-19T20:45:27Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Roberts, thinking about his legacy is trying The problem with that is, in unprecedented times, he’s going to have a legacy no matter what he does. All he can really influence is what kind of legacy that is. Even if he kicks the can down the road in the manner you suggest, all he’s really done is leave the mess for the next Supreme Court to clean up. At some point, we’ll have a non-eligible candidate running again, based on the precedent Roberts set, and then have that person win, and the Court of that day will have to make another choice. And they’ll curse Roberts’ name the whole time they’re watching that juggernaut bearing down on them. ---
**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:** [January 19, 2024, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/3086 "2024-01-19T21:09:05Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > But could you imagine Trump’s reaction to this? He’s spent three years now whining about being denied the presidency based on an election he lost; imagine what he’d do to protest being denied the presidency _based on an election he actually won_. It would basically set the stage for a violent civil unrest throughout the country, with the most violent faction being declared the winner. Or whoever gets control over the military. I hope the SC does not want to go full banana republic. ---
**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:** [January 19, 2024, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/3087 "2024-01-19T21:23:48Z")
Loser Donald tells Hannity that if there’s no presidential immunity, then Obama will be indicted when he leaves office. > **[Trump confuses Biden and Obama... again](https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-joe-biden-obama-b2481534.html)** > > ‘Donald Trump is not well, we know this – He really does think that Barack Obama is still president of the United States,’ Joe Scarborough says ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2024, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/3088 "2024-01-19T21:48:44Z")
Obama is clearly still renting space in Trump’s head. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2024, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/3089 "2024-01-19T21:52:12Z")
And he _loves_ it when African-Americans rent his spaces. ---
**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:** [January 19, 2024, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/3090 "2024-01-19T23:19:28Z")
If the Republican ticket were to win (in a given state) with a candidate who is clearly ineligible to hold office, the electors would essentially be free to cast their votes for whosoeverthefuck they want to. That would be interesting. ---
**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:** [January 19, 2024, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/3091 "2024-01-19T23:30:38Z")
Book-banning finance bro complains that public libraries don’t carry Vivek Ramaswamy’s book. > **[Conservative mocked for book-ban rebuttal bemoaning lack of Republican reads...](https://www.rawstory.com/republican-book-bans/)** > > The political party that keeps trying to make books bans happen is outraged that libraries won’t carry their books, a new interview shows. Hedge fund CIO James Fishbank appeared on Fox News Friday afternoon to offer his rebuttal to mounting outrage... ---
**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:** [January 20, 2024, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/3092 "2024-01-20T03:31:28Z")
Ron DeFuhrer’s speech in NH today got crashed by Vermin Supreme. > ---
**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:** [January 20, 2024, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/3093 "2024-01-20T03:59:11Z")
Loser Donald says the 1/6 riot was Nikki Haley’s fault. > ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/3094 "2024-01-20T04:48:57Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Loser Donald tells Hannity that if there’s no presidential immunity, then Obama will be indicted when he leaves office. > [@Smapti](#): > > Loser Donald says the 1/6 riot was Nikki Haley’s fault. Jeez, and his supporters think _Biden_ is suffering from dementia? ---
**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:** [January 20, 2024, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/3095 "2024-01-20T05:14:11Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Jeez, and his supporters think _Biden_ is suffering from dementia? TBF, Individual-ONE is not suffering from dementia. That is a condition brought on by aging. He has basically _always been like this_. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/3096 "2024-01-20T05:15:34Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > This would actually be pretty cool if it worked that way, and the supreme court decided that Trump could be the Repbulican nominee but couldn’t actually be president even if he won the general. That would make my day. “Hey, Trump! You thought we’d let you take office? Psych!” ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/3097 "2024-01-20T05:31:14Z")
TBF, Tan the Conman isn’t suffering from dementia. He rather seems to be enjoying it. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/3098 "2024-01-20T13:46:11Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > > [@Smapti](#): > > > > > as section 3 prohibits individuals only from _holding_ office, not from _seeking_ or _winning election_ to office.” > > I think when you’ve dug down to the Air Bud level of legality (“There’s no rule against a dog playing basketball!”), you should just give up. Reminds me of the case where the cops were accused of violating the Miranda rights of a suspect by ignoring his requests for a lawyer. What he said to the cop was “I want a lawyer, dawg”. The cop claims he asked for a lawyer dog, not a lawyer. The Louisiana Supreme Court sided with the cop. The mind boggles. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/true-crime/wp/2017/11/02/the-suspect-told-police-give-me-a-lawyer-dog-the-court-says-he-wasnt-asking-for-a-lawyer/](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/true-crime/wp/2017/11/02/the-suspect-told-police-give-me-a-lawyer-dog-the-court-says-he-wasnt-asking-for-a-lawyer/) ---
**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:** [January 20, 2024, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/3099 "2024-01-20T20:38:12Z")
[![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GET9Fd7XoAEYT88?format=jpg&name=medium) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GET9Fd7XoAEYT88?format=jpg&name=medium) Ah, yes. “Something has NOT BEEN DONE TO ME”, a normal thing that normal people say. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/3100 "2024-01-20T21:02:28Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > The Louisiana Supreme Court sided with the cop. The mind boggles. Well, look at his skin color. Of _course_ he wants a dog. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588.md?page=154) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588.md?page=156)