# NEW Stupid Republican Idea of the Day (Part 4) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 22, 2025, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678 "2025-02-22T21:08:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 190
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3781 "2026-03-23T21:27:49Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > > [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > > > If the US doesn’t suffer a major terrorist attack in the next three years, I will be pleasantly surprised. > > Presumably you mean a foreign one? Got plenty of the domestic variety going on already, much of it instigated by the government itself. The current criminal regime _wants_ a foreign terrorist attack on the USA. Ideally around September so they have an excuse to cancel or otherwise interfere with the mid-term elections in Nov. _Of course_ there’s going to be a terrorist attack. Or “terrorist” attack. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2026, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3782 "2026-03-23T21:34:21Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Ideally around September so they have an excuse to cancel or otherwise interfere with the mid-term elections There is no such fhing as “the federal government cancelling elections” and people really need to stop talking about it as if it were something that could happen. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3783 "2026-03-23T21:37:18Z")
We’ll have that convo in November. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2026, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3784 "2026-03-23T21:37:28Z")
We’ll take great comfort in the fact that it can’t happen, when it does. Of course the federal government can cancel elections. They’d do it by sending in troops to everywhere people are trying to vote, and telling them that anyone who tries to vote will be shot. Or they’ll break into the places afterwards and confiscate all of the ballots. Or they’ll let the elections go through, and arrest anyone of the wrong party who wins. And yes, of course all of those things are illegal. And? ---
**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:** [March 23, 2026, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3785 "2026-03-23T21:40:38Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > They’d do it by sending in troops to everywhere people are trying to vote They’re gonna need a couple million more soldiers to “send troops” to 120,000 polling places in 42 states, to say nothing of the 8 that don’t even HAVE in-person voting. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2026, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3786 "2026-03-23T21:42:32Z")
OK, so one of the other methods, then. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3787 "2026-03-23T21:45:43Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > They’re gonna need a couple million more soldiers to “send troops” to 120,000 polling places in 42 states, They only need to send them to targeted blue and purple locations. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2026, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3788 "2026-03-23T21:45:56Z")
Which would require a degree of competence, coordination, and precise execution that this admin has not demonstrated at any point thus far. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3789 "2026-03-23T21:46:00Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the strait. Scared the cat off my lap with my guffaw! Well done. This is why I just can’t quit the Dope. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2026, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3790 "2026-03-23T21:49:26Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > There is no such fhing as “the federal government cancelling elections” and people really need to stop talking about it as if it were something that could happen.. I agree with you. “Elections” happen in Russia and in North Korea. I expect the same kind of “elections” to be happening in the US soon. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2026, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3791 "2026-03-23T21:50:50Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Which would require a degree of competence, coordination, and precise execution that this admin has not demonstrated at any point thus far.. I’m afraid “they are too stupid and/or incompetent to actually pull this off” is not filling me with great confidence. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2026, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3792 "2026-03-23T21:53:20Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > “Elections” happen in Russia and in North Korea. I expect the same kind of “elections” to be happening in the US soon. The central government doesn’t control elections in the US. The 50 states do. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2026, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3793 "2026-03-23T22:02:21Z")
And the US federal government also doesn’t control elections in Venezuela or Iran. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3794 "2026-03-23T22:03:23Z")
A realistic expectation is that they will attempt to interfere with elections, ignoring propriety and the law in the process, and enjoy _some_ level of complicity at the state and local levels. Whether it will have any real effect on results will remain to be seen. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2026, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3795 "2026-03-23T22:05:09Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > A realistic expectation is that they will attempt to interfere with elections, ignoring propriety and the law in the process, and enjoy _some_ level of complicity at the state and local levels. Feasible, though it’ll probably work out for them about as well as when they tried it in 2020. > [@Chronos](#): > > And the US federal government also doesn’t control elections in Venezuela or Iran. So now we’re back to predicting a military takeover of the entire country? They better get Congress working to reauthorize the draft now if they expect to have a couple million infantrymen in the streets by November. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2026, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3796 "2026-03-23T22:39:27Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > The current criminal regime _wants_ a foreign terrorist attack on the USA. Ideally around September so they have an excuse to cancel or otherwise interfere with the mid-term elections in Nov. > > _Of course_ there’s going to be a terrorist attack. Or “terrorist” attack. Yes, that’s as close to an “of course” as is possible. Donald MUST be able to Declare an Emergency. If he doesn’t, Democrats will take the House and Senate and impeach his ass–and this time, convict. So, yes, “something” will happen. Ideally for them, something real. But if not, there will be more ‘little’ real attacks such as we’ve had in recent weeks—guys in ‘Property of Allah’ hoodies shooting up bars, etc. Then, with a population used to being afraid, anything is possible. As for Smapti’s ‘it can’t happen here’ fantasies—it’s all too likely that when it does happen, we won’t have an open Internet anymore, so we won’t be able to _I Told You So_ him. Nice for Smapti! Bottom line: a lot of people are making MAJOR money, and they want it to continue, and they need Donny-boy in place for that to go on. They will be interfering with the November elections in ways both large and small, to that end. Count on it. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2026, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3797 "2026-03-23T23:02:54Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > As for Smapti’s ‘it can’t happen here’ fantasies—it’s all too likely that when it does happen, we won’t have an open Internet anymore, so we won’t be able to _I Told You So_ him. Nice for Smapti! Bookmarking this for November 4th. ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3798 "2026-03-23T23:28:54Z")
I think this is comparable to the run up to Y2K. There were people who thought that it could be a major disaster, but it turned into a minor nothing burger. That was because a lot of competent hard working people put in the work to make sure the rollover to 2000 went smoothly. There are those who are working very hard to subvert the next election, and there are many others who are working hard to see that it doesn’t happen. I think there a decent chance that each side will have some successes, but the forces of law, order, goodness and normalcy will by and large win. However the issue is still in doubt, and complacency serves no one. Keep fighting the good fight. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2026, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3799 "2026-03-23T23:30:21Z")
> [@Tatterdemalion](#): > > There were people who thought that it could be a major disaster, but it turned into a minor nothing burger. I do recall a website that, for like a week into 2000, was listing the current date as being in the year “19100”. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3800 "2026-03-23T23:32:53Z")
Of course the next one is coming up soon. > **[Year 2038 problem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_2038_problem)** > > The year 2038 problem (also known as Y2038, Y2K38, Y2K38 superbug, or the Epochalypse) is a time computing problem that leaves some computer systems unable to represent times after 03:14:07 UTC on 19 January 2038. > The problem exists in systems which measure Unix time—the number of seconds elapsed since the Unix epoch (00:00:00 UTC on 1 January 1970)—and store it in a signed 32-bit integer. When the data type's maximum value is surpassed, the integer will overflow to its minimum value, which syst... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678.md?page=189) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678.md?page=191)