# 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:** 480
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/9581 "2025-01-11T00:27:57Z")
Why is Charlie Kirk a thing? ---
**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 11, 2025, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/9582 "2025-01-11T01:03:17Z")
Actually, his thing-ness explains quite a few things about the magacult - the racism, sexism, transphobia, ethnonationalism, admiration for authoritarian states, opposition to birthright citizenship, even why guys like Ramaswamy pal around with them. It’s because they want a caste system where everything from your socio-economic opportunities to your basic human rights are determined by the circumstances of your birth and are fully immutable. And they want it because it’s the only way mediocre shitheads like Charlie Kirk are capable of maintaining any position of authority or getting people to pretend to like them. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2025, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/9583 "2025-01-11T04:02:11Z")
TRUMP IS A LIAR, A FAKE, news at eleven. Trump shares video of Greenland residents asking him to buy the island Donald Trump posted a video showing Greenland residents wearing “Make America Great Again” hats, expressing their support for the U.S. president-elect and urging him to purchase the island. The footage was reportedly filmed during a recent visit by Trump’s son to Greenland. In the video, locals criticize the current Danish government and voice their hopes for the island’s future under U.S. ownership. “We’ll see you soon,” Trump captioned the video. Danish media said Trump’s team bribed homeless people with a hotel dinner and they posed as his supporters for a video Trump Jr. visited Greenland this week. A video went viral on the internet of locals wearing “Make America Great Again” caps during his visit professing their support for the U.S. president-elect and asking to make the island part of the United States. Today, Denmark’s largest broadcaster DR said that many of these supporters “turned out not to be political activists at all, but homeless and vulnerable citizens”. They can often be found near the supermarket right in front of the Hans Egede Hotel, where the dinner in support of Donald Trump was held. From Twizzler posts I refuse to reference. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/9584 "2025-01-11T11:16:41Z")
I wondered why Don, Jr was dispatched to Greenland… guess we know now. Staged video opportunity. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/9585 "2025-01-11T14:47:56Z")
If, a big if, they get dinner at a hotel, I hope the hotel will make an event out of it and expose there lies. ---
**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 11, 2025, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/9586 "2025-01-11T15:49:53Z")
“If you can’t fill a fire hydrant, you aren’t qualified to host the Olympics.” This guy does know what a fire hydrant is, right? ---
**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 11, 2025, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/9587 "2025-01-11T20:31:33Z")
Peter Thiel wrote an op-ed in the Financial Times that reads like the ravings of a coked-up eugenicist. > [@](#): > > The apokálypsis is the most peaceful means of resolving the old guard’s war on the internet, a war the internet won. My friend and colleague Eric Weinstein calls the pre-internet custodians of secrets the Distributed Idea Suppression Complex (DISC) — the media organisations, bureaucracies, universities and government-funded NGOs that traditionally delimited public conversation. In hindsight, the internet had already begun our liberation from the DISC prison upon the prison death of financier and child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2019. Almost half of Americans polled that year mistrusted the official story that he died by suicide, suggesting that DISC had lost total control of the narrative… > > Our First Amendment frames the rules of engagement for domestic fights over free speech, but the global reach of the internet tempts its adversaries into a global war. Can we believe that a Brazilian judge banned X without American backing, in a tragicomic perversion of the Monroe Doctrine? Were we complicit in Australia’s recent legislation requiring age verification for social media users, the beginning of the end of internet anonymity? Did we muster up even two minutes’ criticism of the UK, which has arrested hundreds of people a year for online speech triggering, among other things, “annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety”? We may expect no better from Orwellian dictatorships in East Asia and Eurasia, but we must support a free internet in Oceania. > **[A time for truth and reconciliation](https://www.ft.com/content/a46cb128-1f74-4621-ab0b-242a76583105)** > > Trump’s return to the White House augurs the ‘apokálypsis’ of the ancien regime’s secrets > **[I Have No Idea What Peter Thiel Is Trying to Say and It’s Making Me Really...](https://gizmodo.com/i-have-no-idea-what-peter-thiel-is-trying-to-say-and-its-making-me-really-uncomfortable-2000548724)** > > In a rambling op-ed for the Financial Times, the master of the universe ranted about the JFK conspiracy, ‘The Decameron,’ immortal rulers from ‘Gulliver’s Travels,’ and Jeffrey Epstein. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2025, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/9588 "2025-01-11T21:25:32Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Peter Thiel wrote an op-ed in the Financial Times that reads like the ravings of a coked-up eugenicist. I read that thing and my head hurts from the crazy. Amongst all the ranting is his idea that apartheid South Africa = Biden’s term in office. And that Trump, champion of truth and freedom, will reveal the Deep State and destroy it. 'Cuz that’s how Trump rolls. Some rich people’s brains apparently curdle from all that money–money which can’t seem to buy them the simple things, such as having EVERYONE bow down as they pass and call them Your Grace. So sad! > **[Trump Ally Peter Thiel’s Op-Ed Turns Heads for Being ‘Beyond Nuts’](https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-ally-peter-thiels-op-ed-turns-heads-for-being-beyond-nuts/)** > > Thiel’s piece Friday in the Financial Times looked forward to a time of “truth and reconciliation” in the Trump administration. ---
**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 12, 2025, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/9589 "2025-01-12T00:28:33Z")
I say again, _money makes people stupid_. The effect is proportional. Op Cit. ---
**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 12, 2025, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/9590 "2025-01-12T00:41:35Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > I say again, _money makes people stupid_. I’d say it’s more the other way around - money makes stupid people think they’re smart. ---
**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 12, 2025, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/9591 "2025-01-12T00:51:13Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I’d say it’s more the other way around - money makes stupid people think they’re smart. Damn, you got that one 100% correct. Even worse, it makes stupid lucky people think they’re smart. The luck I refer to, of course, is their having the money. ---
**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 12, 2025, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/9592 "2025-01-12T02:19:04Z")
And finally it also allows them to convince not so lucky stupid people that the lucky stupid people are smart. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2025, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/9593 "2025-01-12T05:20:27Z")
Back in 2016, I commented on a social media discussion that Trump was a moron, had numerous bankruptcies and failed businesses, and had mental health issues like narcissism. One of the replies by a MAGA was Trump is a hugely successful businessman and is always the smartest person in the room. There was no way he could have any mental health issues because he was so successful. Trump is successful as a con man and grifter. I’ll give him that. I listen to Trump talk and I think the men in white coats with giant butterfly nets need to take him away. I also know people who think he’s the greatest President this country has ever had. ---
**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 12, 2025, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/9594 "2025-01-12T05:42:31Z")
Apparently sign language is woke now. [![](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6pjsxq4f4wvihelm4lphbk5e/bafkreiat6axvcatopf7lfko2knjj6cugdpai5vgkze6vwkodilcibpjfgq@jpeg) ](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6pjsxq4f4wvihelm4lphbk5e/bafkreiat6axvcatopf7lfko2knjj6cugdpai5vgkze6vwkodilcibpjfgq@jpeg) ---
**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 12, 2025, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/9595 "2025-01-12T07:09:54Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > One of the replies by a MAGA was Trump is a hugely successful businessman and is always the smartest person in the room. There was no way he could have any mental health issues because he was so successful. Good comment, and it reminded me of a MAGAt comment made in a thread on a predominantly right-wing board about Trump taking over Canada: > [@](#): > > You are misreading Trumps comments [that demonstrate his ignorance of Canada and Canadians]. He is only pointing out his negotiating position as a precursor to discussions. He is a master negotiator. … There is more from that poster (a lot more), but that will do to address @dasmoocher 's remarks about Trump being a hugely successful businessman. All that we’re missing is “the smartest person in the room,” but that poster may have claimed that elsewhere. I wasn’t about to look; there is only so long I can plow through that claptrap they spout. MAGAts see him as a master negotiator; those of us who are not MAGAts see him as a bully who plays a zero-sum game that in no way resembles reasonable negotiation between two parties who want to eventually reach an agreement on something. If I’m in the market for a car and you have one I like and want to buy, great. We’ll negotiate a price we’re both happy with. But if I’m in the market for a car and you have one but don’t want to sell it, then no legitimate negotiation is possible. You cannot bully anybody into selling their car. But that’s how Trump “negotiates.” He bullies people into doing things they don’t necessarily want to do. He has a variety of tactics he uses to accomplish this, but overall, he just bullies people into making deals they do not want to make, and in the end, it’s always “Trump wins, you lose.”. That’s not the sign of a “master negotiator” nor a sign of a “hugely successful businessman.” Successful businesspeople reach a conclusion that both parties are happy with. When Trump “negotiates,” only one party ends up happy—Trump. That’s the sign of a bully, plain and simple. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2025, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/9596 "2025-01-12T14:20:52Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > He has a variety of tactics he uses to accomplish this, but overall, he just bullies people into making deals they do not want to make, and in the end, it’s always “Trump wins, you lose.”. Another aspect of Trump’s business history is that even if a negotiated deal is acceptable at the onset, a contract is signed, and a project is delivered to Trump, he stiffs the contractor. Trump will claim the work is somehow deficient and dare the contractor to sue him, knowing that they can’t match his legal resources and he can threaten to blackball them with other developers and clients. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2025, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/9597 "2025-01-12T15:25:01Z")
To respond to one of the objections to having ASL interpreters at press conferences: I wasn’t aware that live press conferences had closed captioning for the attending audience. How does that work? Video screens with a text scroll? ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2025, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/9598 "2025-01-12T15:29:57Z")
Some Texas Republican has come forward with what they all denied was their intent but all us liberals fully expected. He’s putting forth legislation in Texas to make abortion murder, and punish the woman as well as the previous law to punish the doctor. His stated justification: the confusing split policy on fetal death, whereby killing a pregnant woman is charged as a double murder, and causing someone else to miscarry can be charged as murder. In other words, “Is murder when the baby is wanted, but not murder when it isn’t wanted.” Anyone who called this can fill in their Bingo card. ---
**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 12, 2025, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/9599 "2025-01-12T16:53:06Z")
> [@LurkMeister](#): > > How does that work? Video screens with a text scroll? I’ve seen that at some operas above the proscenium, a display showing translations, but that’s a performance with known text at a permanent venue. Not so feasible at a press conference. It’s just the Republicans shoving another Other out of their big tent. “Deaf people? Just shoot 'em – they won’t hear the bullet coming anyway.” ---
**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 12, 2025, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/9600 "2025-01-12T16:56:16Z")
And what’s supposed to be the problem with having an ASL interpreter, anyway? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588.md?page=479) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588.md?page=481)