# 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:** 292
**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:** [June 12, 2024, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/5821 "2024-06-12T02:50:12Z")
_Freedom of speech, unless I disagree_ _Free market, unless I don’t like what you are doing_ _ **Freedom!** _ certain restrictions apply ---
**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:** [June 12, 2024, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/5822 "2024-06-12T03:01:14Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > As I have said in discussions, if you want a fact that is forever and ever amen, talk to your pastor. As near as I can tell, there have been exactly zero religions where that has been the case. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2024, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/5823 "2024-06-12T03:04:35Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > As near as I can tell, there have been exactly zero religions where that has been the case… Religions change their central tenets based on new available evidence? I did not know that. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2024, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/5824 "2024-06-12T03:08:40Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > > [@Monty](#): > > > > As near as I can tell, there have been exactly zero religions where that has been the case… > > Religions change their central tenets based on new available evidence? I did not know that Evidence? Never said that. I just said, AFAIK, all religions change. It could be an attempt to remain relevant or to become more popular, to name just a couple of reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2024, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/5825 "2024-06-12T03:40:28Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Religions change their central tenets based on new available evidence? I did not know that. When a religion does it, it’s called a “schism”. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2024, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/5826 "2024-06-12T08:02:37Z")
Now that Hunter Biden has been convicted, on various online platforms (no link because I do not want to give them the traffic), the magaflatearther cultists are falling all over themselves calling President Biden “the father of a convicted felon”. Yet, they’re thrilled to post “I will proudly vote for the convicted felon in November”. Logical–heck, rational–heck2, just plain old thought is not their forté. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2024, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/5827 "2024-06-12T11:58:15Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > > [@Pleonast](#): > > > > Don’t oversell it. Science is our best understanding of the truth. But as the public saw during the pandemic, science can be messy and contentious before it gets close to the truth. > > What alternative would you recommend, then? I would recommend not assuming that science is always correct. Because people who say: > [@snowthx](#): > > That’s the great thing about science. It’s true whether you believe it or not. Often forget: > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > > [@Pleonast](#): > > > > …science can be messy and contentious before it gets close to the truth. > > That’s a feature, not a bug. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2024, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/5828 "2024-06-12T12:06:00Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > the magaflatearther cultists are falling all over themselves calling President Biden “the father of a convicted felon”. Yet, they’re thrilled to post “I will proudly vote for the convicted felon in November”. Considering Don Jr and Eric seem to have inherited their father’s (lack of) morals and intelligence but without the cultlike admiration from sheepish followers who would donate to their legal defense, I suspect they’ll eventually be able to proudly declare they would proudly vote for the felon patriarch of a family full of felons. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2024, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/5829 "2024-06-12T12:17:36Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/gsCTpREM48M/hqdefault.jpg "Vote Sideshow Bob For Mayor (The Simpsons)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsCTpREM48M) ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2024, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/5830 "2024-06-12T12:29:02Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > Because people who say: > > > [@snowthx](#): > > > > That’s the great thing about science. It’s true whether you believe it or not. > > Often forget: > > > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > > > > [@Pleonast](#): > > > > > > …science can be messy and contentious before it gets close to the truth. > > > > That’s a feature, not a bug. No, I haven’t forgotten that science is messy and contentious. When dealing with bumper-sticker politics and confronting science denial (climate change, pandemic precautions/Dr. Fauci, human origins, etc.), you have to start at that level, because the conversation rarely goes beyond that, by getting into the nuances of the scientific method. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2024, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/5831 "2024-06-12T13:27:51Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > > [@Alessan](#): > > > > Well, yeah. Most of the Middle East prefers Pepsi. > > “Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger… no Coke - Pepsi…” Although it’s the other way 'round at the Billy Goat. [![](https://www.duetsblog.com/files/2018/08/billy-goat-tavern_1521252982640.jpg_5150394_ver1.0_640_360.jpg) ](https://www.duetsblog.com/files/2018/08/billy-goat-tavern_1521252982640.jpg_5150394_ver1.0_640_360.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2024, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/5832 "2024-06-12T14:02:38Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Although it’s the other way 'round at the Billy Goat. Wait, Saturday Night Lied to me? ---
**Author:** ![Jumpbass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jumpbass/32/147_2.png) [@Jumpbass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jumpbass)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2024, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/5833 "2024-06-12T14:06:00Z")
I seem to recall that SNL had more than one sketch in that diner and that they changed the beverage and made a point of it. It’s been a long time, so I could be wrong… ---
**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:** [June 12, 2024, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/5834 "2024-06-12T14:37:46Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Logical–heck, rational–heck2, just plain old thought is not their forté. “Forté” is an adjective. It, appropriately enough, means “loud”. It is not the word you want here. “Forte” refers to the part of a foil closer to the hilt, which is better suited to performing casual amputations, as opposed to the tipward part of the foil, which is called the “foible”. Just, fail to write “forté” outside of a musical context. In spoken conversation, it is fine, because it is what people understand, but in writing, it is simply wrong. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2024, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/5835 "2024-06-12T14:48:47Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > “Forte” refers to the part of a foil closer to the hilt, which is better suited to performing casual amputations, as opposed to the tipward part of the foil, which is called the “foible”. Or, more relevantly, “forte” also refers to the area of a person’s expertise. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2024, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/5836 "2024-06-12T15:46:33Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > > [@Pleonast](#): > > > > Because people who say: > > > > > [@snowthx](#): > > > > > > That’s the great thing about science. It’s true whether you believe it or not. > > > > Often forget: > > > > > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > > > > > > [@Pleonast](#): > > > > > > > > …science can be messy and contentious before it gets close to the truth. > > > > > > That’s a feature, not a bug. > > No, I haven’t forgotten that science is messy and contentious. When dealing with bumper-sticker politics and confronting science denial (climate change, pandemic precautions/Dr. Fauci, human origins, etc.), you have to start at that level, because the conversation rarely goes beyond that, by getting into the nuances of the scientific method. I hadn’t intended to imply you personally had, but my writing was not clear on that point. My apologies. My point was that people who are well educated (and know and trust science generally) forgot about the messy process of science during the pandemic. They expected middle-school science where the authority figure tells them the answers to be memorized. When science changed the answers, they felt confused and betrayed. I dislike promoting science as truths revealed by authorities, because that’s not what it is and people thinking so has real consequences. Your quip “it’s true whether you believe it or not” triggered me along that line. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2024, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/5837 "2024-06-12T16:18:49Z")
No worries, and we are in agreement! During the pandemic, I had conservative friends of mine arguing with me over the SAH orders and mask mandates and the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines. They are smart, professional, people, and not some backwoods blockheads. But they had been drinking the Fox News Flav’r Aid, and as you say, were very confuzzled why the changing situation demanded changing messages and strategy, and not a strict, monotone and consistent answer for what was going on. It’s like they were fighting against the facts, looking for any ember of weakness, and the changing strategies gave them that - enabling doubt and over-questioning the info that was being shared in public. Simple statements like my quip managed to penetrate the layers of doubt (altho I am not sure it had any long-term effect on their thinking about it). ---
**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:** [June 12, 2024, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/5838 "2024-06-12T16:25:25Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > I dislike promoting science as truths revealed by authorities, because that’s not what it is and people thinking so has real consequences. Your quip “it’s true whether you believe it or not” triggered me along that line. In fact, I always tell my students that there are no authorities at all in science (nor math). There are experts, and you would do well to listen to them because they’re usually right, but there are no authorities. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2024, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/5839 "2024-06-12T16:27:10Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > but there are no authorities. Donald Trump knows more about science than anyone. Just ask him. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2024, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/5840 "2024-06-12T16:51:06Z")
> [@Jumpbass](#): > > I seem to recall that SNL had more than one sketch in that diner and that they changed the beverage and made a point of it. We all know the failure of memory, but I’m pretty sure they switched it up during a time when the Cola Wars heated up - IIRC, a competitor salesman (Pepsi, I guess?) came in and offered them a deal to get them to switch. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588.md?page=291) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588.md?page=293)