# 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:** 302
**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 22, 2024, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/6021 "2024-06-22T22:50:53Z")
What’s the problem? Go ahead and [wear the _unearned_ Combat Infantryman Badge.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/texas-congressman-wont-stop-wearing-180541892.html) That won’t upset anyone. Right? (Link goes to Yahoo.) > More than a month after a news report revealed that the Combat Infantryman Badge Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, wears on his lapel was revoked since he was never eligible for the award to begin with, the congressman refuses to take the pin off. > > Nehls’ stubbornness has garnered growing criticism from veterans and others in the community of stolen valor researchers, who say the issue is simple: The rules for the CIB are clear, and Nehls did not qualify. > > “The veteran community is starting to get to the point now where there’s no room for forgiveness at this point because now they see, ‘Hey, this wasn’t an error. He’s doubling down now,’” said Anthony Anderson, an [Army](https://www.military.com/army) veteran who runs Guardian of Valor and was instrumental in uncovering Nehls’ revoked award. “He knows he didn’t earn this award.” Personally I think “stolen valor” is a nonsense term. And free speech does cover wearing anything you want. The issue here, as I see it, is the lying about it and using it for his political gain. ---
**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:** [June 22, 2024, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/6022 "2024-06-22T23:47:36Z")
If I understand this correctly, it was originally illegal to lie about having been in the armed forces, but that was struck down as a 1A violation. The new law says that you can’t lie about having been in the armed forces in order to profit from it. Whether or not lying about it to win an election counts, I’m not sure. From a handful of wiki pages: [Military impostor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_impostor) > In the United States, the [Stolen Valor Act of 2005](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stolen_Valor_Act_of_2005), which criminalized any false claim regarding military service, was struck down as violating the [Free Speech Clause](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Speech_Clause) of the [First Amendment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Amendment). Subsequently, the [Stolen Valor Act of 2013](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stolen_Valor_Act_of_2013), which makes it a [federal offense](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_offense) to falsely claim to have received any of several major military awards with the intention of obtaining money, property, or other tangible benefits, was passed and remains in effect.[[39]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_impostor?useskin=vector#cite_note-USlaw18-704-39) There are additional laws criminalizing the altering or forging of discharge documents,[[40]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_impostor?useskin=vector#cite_note-USlaw18-498-40) and attempting to obtain veteran’s benefits from the government. ETA: If it can be shown that he lied about being in the armed forces in order to get campaign donations, maybe that would count? [Stolen Valor Act of 2005](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stolen_Valor_Act_of_2005) > Initially the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit decided _Alvarez_ on August 17, 2010, ruling the Stolen Valor Act unconstitutional.[[25]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stolen_Valor_Act_of_2005?useskin=vector#cite_note-25) Specifically, in the 2–1 decision, Judge [Milan Smith](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milan_Smith) stated for the court that lies not within traditionally unprotected subsets of false facts are subject to First Amendment protection, the Stolen Valor Act is not subject to defamation law precedent, and there’s no compelling reason for government interest in banning such lies.[[26]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stolen_Valor_Act_of_2005?useskin=vector#cite_note-26) [Stolen Valor Act of 2013](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stolen_Valor_Act_of_2013) > The law amends the federal criminal code to make it a crime for a person to [fraudulently claim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_imposter) having received a valor award specified in the Act, with the intention of obtaining money, property, or other tangible benefit by convincing another that he or she received the award. > > The law is a revised version of [a previous statute](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stolen_Valor_Act_of_2005) with roughly the same name that had been struck down by the [Supreme Court of the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States) in _[United States v. Alvarez](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Alvarez)_ (2012). In that case, the Supreme Court ruled the arrest and prosecution of a citizen for wearing and claiming to have received unearned military awards, who did so without criminal intent, under the 2005 law violates their constitutional right to [freedom of speech](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_speech). ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2024, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/6023 "2024-06-23T00:14:02Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > What’s the problem? Go ahead and [wear the _unearned_ Combat Infantryman Badge.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/texas-congressman-wont-stop-wearing-180541892.html) That won’t upset anyone. Right? (Link goes to Yahoo.) > > > More than a month after a news report revealed that the Combat Infantryman Badge Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, wears on his lapel was revoked since he was never eligible for the award to begin with, the congressman refuses to take the pin off. > > > > Nehls’ stubbornness has garnered growing criticism from veterans and others in the community of stolen valor researchers, who say the issue is simple: The rules for the CIB are clear, and Nehls did not qualify. > > > > “The veteran community is starting to get to the point now where there’s no room for forgiveness at this point because now they see, ‘Hey, this wasn’t an error. He’s doubling down now,’” said Anthony Anderson, an [Army](https://www.military.com/army) veteran who runs Guardian of Valor and was instrumental in uncovering Nehls’ revoked award. “He knows he didn’t earn this award.” > > Personally I think “stolen valor” is a nonsense term. And free speech does cover wearing anything you want. The issue here, as I see it, is the lying about it and using it for his political gain. _I used to train really hard for marathons. Then I realized that you can just BUY those stickers that say “26.2”. They don’t check._ — some comedian ---
**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:** [June 23, 2024, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/6024 "2024-06-23T02:07:52Z")
I have a sneaking suspicion that Biden isn’t the source of his guy’s problem. > ---
**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:** [June 23, 2024, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/6025 "2024-06-23T04:09:15Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > If I understand this correctly, it was originally illegal to lie about having been in the armed forces, but that was struck down as a 1A violation. Just because it isn’t illegal doesn’t mean the rest of us can’t be scornful. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2024, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/6026 "2024-06-23T08:29:06Z")
CAn’t Tell when to Use upper or lOwEr casE letters, Either. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2024, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/6027 "2024-06-23T11:29:45Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I have a sneaking suspicion that Biden isn’t the source of his guy’s problem. Well, it looks like he has quite an ornate watch, and a wedding ring. The girlfriend might, just might be a little bit of a problem. ---
**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:** [June 23, 2024, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/6028 "2024-06-23T18:41:54Z")
Can’t get a girlfriend because of Biden? And he thinks _Trump_ is going to fix that? 🙄 Now I’m imagining Trump at a campaign rally doing a Rodney Dangerfield from the end of Caddyshack: “We’re all gonna get laid!” ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2024, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/6029 "2024-06-23T19:15:05Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > > Guy at Trump rally can’t get a girlfriend because of Biden. I’m a woman. Let’s see…who would I rather spend the evening with? Yeah, the guy’s probably right. [![](https://i.imgur.com/8VyynYK.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/8VyynYK.jpg) OR [![](https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-4e25379142436c0024e2f36119945c11-lq) ](https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-4e25379142436c0024e2f36119945c11-lq) ---
**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:** [June 23, 2024, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/6030 "2024-06-23T19:40:53Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > Now I’m imagining Trump at a campaign rally doing a Rodney Dangerfield from the end of Caddyshack: “We’re all gonna get laid!” It’s been done. > **[Trump says men are 'so lucky' for his 'baby bonuses' plan](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11821757/Trump-says-men-lucky-baby-bonuses-plan.html)** > > Donald Trump had a special message for the men in the audience at the Conservative Political Action Conference Saturday when he detailed his plans to have 'baby bonuses' for couples. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2024, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/6031 "2024-06-23T22:51:55Z")
I’m not straight and I’d make the same choice. ---
**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:** [June 24, 2024, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/6032 "2024-06-24T14:03:41Z")
Trump’s press secretary attacks CNN’s debate moderators while being interviewed by CNN. CNN anchor, like an SDMB mod gave her a few chances to get back on track and then ended the interview about 30 seconds after it was started. > **[CNN Anchor Pulls Plug on Trump Staffer Interview Over Alleged Moderator Bias](https://www.tmz.com/2024/06/24/cnn-anchor-ends-interview-trump-jake-tapper-kasie-hunt/)** > > A CNN anchor became so indignant over Trump's Press Secretary criticizing the alleged bias of her CNN colleagues who will moderate Thursday's Presidential debate, she pulled the plug on the interview! ---
**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 24, 2024, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/6033 "2024-06-24T14:30:11Z")
you misspelled “PressBot” ---
**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 25, 2024, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/6034 "2024-06-25T03:50:27Z")
I went to find a source for [this story](https://news.yahoo.com/news/rep-jackson-baselessly-accuses-biden-162226315.html) and it was full of the usual accufessions about doped-up Joe the President, but the best part was the last few paragraphs > [@](#): > > These accusations would be laughable if they weren’t so dangerous, particularly because a [Defense Department inspector general report](https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-white-house-pharmacy-prescription-drugs-1234953535/) released in January of this year detailed how Trump’s White House Medical Unit gave out controlled substances with minimal oversight and even worse record keeping. … _Rolling Stone_ reported in March that [Trump’s White House was “awash in speed” and Xanax](https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-white-house-drugs-speed-xanax-1234979503/). Trump staff told Rolling Stone that the former president’s White House Medical Unit was “like the Wild West” with easy access to stimulants and sedatives for employees. > > Trump nominated Jackson … to become his Secretary of Veterans Affairs in 2018. [Jackson withdrew his nomination](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ronny-jackson-withdraws-as-trumps-nominee-to-lead-veterans-affairs/2018/04/26/5a343806-48f6-11e8-9072-f6d4bc32f223_story.html?utm_term=.2ce123e28651) after [allegations came to light](https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-promised-the-best-people-but-another-nominee-faces-serious-allegations-630659/) accusing him of writing illegal prescriptions, having outbursts of rage and drinking on the job. ---
**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:** [June 25, 2024, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/6035 "2024-06-25T04:17:13Z")
It gets stupider. Ronny “Johnson”, as Confused Donald recently called him, was asked by Fox News about these magic dementia cures Biden is supposedly being injected with, and he immediately mentioned Provigil… which is one of the drugs he was overprescribing while he was Donald’s Secretary of Feelin’ Groovy. > [https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/25/ronny-jackson-nomination-va-sleeping-pills-553127](https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/25/ronny-jackson-nomination-va-sleeping-pills-553127) > [@](#): > > Ronny Jackson, the White House physician who is battling to save his nomination to be the secretary of veterans affairs, regularly handed out the sleep drug Ambien and the alertness drug Provigil to West Wing officials traveling on overseas flights. > **[Modafinil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modafinil)** > > Modafinil, sold under the brand name Provigil among others, is a wakefulness-promoting medication used primarily to treat narcolepsy. Modafinil is also approved for stimulating wakefulness in people with sleep apnea and shift work sleep disorder. It is taken by mouth. Modafinil is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in people under age 17. > Modafinil has potential for causing severe allergic reactions, mental (psychiatric) effects, hypersensitivity, adverse intera... > [@](#): > > Modafinil, sold under the brand name Provigil among others, is a wakefulness-promoting medication used primarily to treat narcolepsy. Gee, I wonder who we know who’s repeatedly been observed falling asleep in a public place and could probably benefit from anti-narcolepsy meds? As usual, every accusation is a confession. ---
**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 25, 2024, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/6036 "2024-06-25T05:49:04Z")
And just in case you were missing the Stasi, [the American Accountability Foundation is here to allay that feeling.](https://www.aol.com/news/conservative-backed-group-creating-list-041630979.html) > From his home office in small-town Kentucky, a seasoned political operative is quietly investigating scores of federal employees suspected of being hostile to the policies of Republican [Donald Trump](https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump), an effort that dovetails with broader [conservative preparations](https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-conservatives-trump-heritage-857eb794e505f1c6710eb03fd5b58981) for a new White House. > > Tom Jones and his American Accountability Foundation are digging into the backgrounds, social media posts and commentary of key high-ranking government employees, starting with the [Department of Homeland Security](https://apnews.com/hub/us-department-of-homeland-security). They’re relying in part on tips from his network of conservative contacts, including workers. In a move that alarms some, they’re preparing to publish the findings online. > > With a $100,000 grant from the influential [Heritage Foundation](https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-conservatives-trump-heritage-857eb794e505f1c6710eb03fd5b58981), the goal is to post 100 names of government workers to a website this summer to show a potential new administration who might be standing in the way of [a second-term Trump agenda](https://apnews.com/article/trump-policies-agenda-election-2024-second-term-d656d8f08629a8da14a65c4075545e0f) — and ripe for scrutiny, [reclassifications, reassignments or firings](https://apnews.com/article/biden-2024-government-regulations-democrats-6badc3b424b9eff3ba51e0ec35a8d824). ---
**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 25, 2024, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/6037 "2024-06-25T07:29:13Z")
Hey, here’s an idea: [spend thousands of dollars of campaign funds at private social clubs](https://www.yahoo.com/news/ethics-office-substantial-reason-believe-224940953.html). (Link goes to Yahoo.) > The Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) has found “substantial reason to believe” that Reps. [Wesley Hunt](https://search.yahoo.com/search?p=Wesley%20Hunt) (R-Texas) and [Ronny Jackson](https://search.yahoo.com/search?p=Ronny%20Jackson) (R-Texas) improperly utilized campaign funds at two social clubs in Texas. > > In two separate reports released Monday, the OCE — an independent, nonpartisan entity that reviews allegations of misconduct regarding lawmakers and staff members — found that Jackson and Hunt spent thousands of campaign dollars at two private Texas social clubs in a way that it said violates ethical standards. That’s two more hypocites on the red side of the aisle. And speaking of hypocrites, the idiot republicans in Louisiana managed to not only get a requirement that schools display the Decalog enacted into law, but [they also managed to get the state sued for so doing]([https://Louisiana](https://Louisiana) parents sue over placing Ten Commandments in schools). (Link goes to Yahoo; embedded links go to NBC News, Yahoo, MSNBC, and Americans United for Separation of Church and State.) > Nine Louisiana families filed a federal lawsuit Monday against their state’s education department and their local school boards challenging the constitutionality of a radical new law requiring that the [Ten Commandments](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/louisiana-law-requires-ten-commandments-displayed-every-public-school-rcna157949) be displayed in public school classrooms. > > The lawsuit was unveiled less than a week after Louisiana’s Gov. [Jeff Landry](https://search.yahoo.com/search?p=Jeff%20Landry) put pen to paper and made his state [the first in the country](https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/louisianas-ten-commandments-law-grave-threat-civic-morality-rcna158155)to require all public schools to display the Christian commandments in classrooms since the Supreme Court declared such a requirement unconstitutional more than 40 years ago. > > The families, who are Jewish, Christian, Unitarian Universalist and nonreligious, alleged [in court papers](https://www.au.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Roake-v.-Brumley-complaint-6.24.24.pdf) filed in the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Louisiana, that the new law “substantially interferes with and burdens” the parents’ First Amendment right to raise their kids in whatever religion they want. ---
**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:** [June 25, 2024, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/6038 "2024-06-25T09:21:23Z")
Was the Wild West a big drug area? That seems like an odd descriptor. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2024, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/6039 "2024-06-25T09:43:19Z")
It’s just a general term for lawlessness. Don’t overthink it. ---
**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 25, 2024, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/6040 "2024-06-25T10:14:31Z")
Or you could do like the pubbies do and just don’t think in the first place. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588.md?page=301) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588.md?page=303)