# 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:** 193
**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 25, 2026, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3841 "2026-03-25T00:31:49Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > It is explicitly illegal under federal law to deploy any type of federal forces into a polling station and any attempt to do so will be shut down by judges within **minutes**. Judges (or at least, some judges) might declare it illegal within minutes. How does that get the thugs out of the polling places? ---
**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 25, 2026, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3842 "2026-03-25T00:36:11Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > How does that get the thugs out of the polling places? Just to be clear, we’re still talking about the thugs that don’t exist, because the government has nowhere near the kind of manpower for an operation of this scale, right? The threat of holding their bosses in contempt will do just fine, to say nothing of the fact that the punishment under the law for even ordering them to be there in the first place is a lifetime ban on ever holding federal office. > **[18 U.S. Code § 592 - Troops at polls](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/592)** ---
**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 25, 2026, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3843 "2026-03-25T01:24:22Z")
@sSmapti is surely correct that the feds do not run the federal elections; the 50 states do. But he’s utterly missing / ignoring something real key about that correct fact. All the fascists need to do is mess with a few gerrymandered blue congressional districts in reliably red states with already red already criminal state governments and state electoral authorities who’re partisan hacks. Every place they do that, using state level manpower and maybe some Proud Boyz, another reliably blue federal rep seat goes red. it won’t take many of those to stop a “blue wave” in Congress dead in its tracks. Many states that “swing” for the presidency do not do so as much for their federal senators. And especially not for governors. The majority of what were swing states for the 2024 presidential election are hard red in the state legislature and the state executive branch. Those folks push in the right parts of their state and they can flip their statewide senate vote from slightly blue to slightly red. And “slightly” is all it takes in our winner-take-all system. ---
**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 25, 2026, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3844 "2026-03-25T01:35:11Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > All the fascists need to do is mess with a few gerrymandered blue congressional districts in reliably red states with already red already criminal state governments and state electoral authorities who’re partisan hacks. > > Every place they do that, using state level manpower and maybe some Proud Boyz, another reliably blue federal rep seat goes red. it won’t take many of those to stop a “blue wave” in Congress dead in its tracks. Democrats only need to flip a net total of three seats to win a House majority. History and current polling suggests Democrats are actually likely to flip 40+ seats.They’d need to “mess with” a few THOUSAND precincts to nullify that, and they’d need to do so without state and federal judges (who are on call on Election Day SPECIFICALLY to prevent such shenanigans) noticing, and it would take the full compliance of elections officials who refused to do anything of the sort when pressed by Trump himself to do so in previous cycles. And keep in mind that courts can and DO order re-votes when blatant fraud occurs. I reiterate: the sheer scale and decentralized nature of American eoections makes any attempt to fraudulently alter the outcome on a national scale, or even a local scale, practically impossible. Say you want to stop Democrats from voting in, let’s say, Birmingham, AL. The city has 73 polling stations. You’d need a force of thousands to control them all, and that’s just one district in a mid-sized city. [https://www.bhamwiki.com/w/List\_of\_polling\_places\_in\_Birmingham](https://www.bhamwiki.com/w/List_of_polling_places_in_Birmingham) ---
**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:** [March 25, 2026, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3845 "2026-03-25T03:50:18Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > There just aren’t 100,000+ potential recruits to be had. Well, WE should all get hired. Undermine from within. Plus that juicy signing bonus! ---
**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 25, 2026, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3846 "2026-03-25T04:15:40Z")
About that bonus - it only pays out at $10k a year over five years, it only applies to retired agents returning to work, and if you leave before your fifth year you have to pay it back. And agents say they haven’t been getting paid any of it anyway. > **[The Devil is in the Details: Homeland Security's ICE Bonus Program - Law 4...](https://www.l4sb.com/blog/the-devil-is-in-the-details-homeland-securitys-ice-bonus-program/)** > > The excitement of a new opportunity often blinds us to the details. Whether it’s a lucrative job offer, a major vendor contract, or a partnership agreement, the big numbers—the salary,... > **[Unpacking rumor ICE agents aren't receiving $50K bonuses](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/unpacking-rumor-ice-agents-arent-152800052.html)** > > The source of the rumor, a subreddit for ICE employees, was quickly set to private after reports documenting employee complaints went public. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3847 "2026-03-25T04:30:46Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > the Supreme Court has already ruled that a state of emergency requires stronger grounds than “Donald Trump says so”. I hope your not thinking that the ruling on tariffs was some overarching statement by the SCotUS on the powers of the Presidency, because it wasn’t. ---
**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 25, 2026, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3848 "2026-03-25T04:43:24Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > that the ruling on tariffs Wrong ruling. > **[Supreme Court rejects Trump’s effort to deploy National Guard in Illinois](https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/12/supreme-court-rejects-trumps-effort-to-deploy-national-guard-in-illinois/)** > > The Supreme Court on Tuesday left in place a ruling by a federal judge in Chicago that bars the Trump administration from deploying National Guard troops in Illinois. In a \[…\] ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3849 "2026-03-25T04:50:57Z")
Wow, it’s almost like I was right and SCotUS decisions are only applicable to the question before the court. ---
**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 25, 2026, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3850 "2026-03-25T04:57:54Z")
The point is that the president cannot arbitrarily declare a state of emergency where none exists and doing so does not give him the power to take control of elections. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3851 "2026-03-25T04:59:51Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > no way am I buying that it’ll be a blue wave this November If we talk about “blue waves” can we refer to Trump’s victory as a [red tide](https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/redtide.html)? ---
**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 25, 2026, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3852 "2026-03-25T05:07:09Z")
Here’s some people who are clearly expecting a blue wave; > **[A record number of Republicans are leaving the House | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/11/politics/record-republicans-leaving-us-house-hern)** > > The number of Republicans leaving the US House of Representatives after this term has reached a historic high, deepening concern in the conference over the chamber’s already razor-thin margins. I guess they didn’t get the “don’t worry, we’re gonna fix it so you all stay in office for life” memo. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3853 "2026-03-25T06:44:19Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > All the fascists need to do is mess with a few gerrymandered blue congressional districts in reliably red states with already red already criminal state governments and state electoral authorities who’re partisan hacks. > > Every place they do that, using state level manpower and maybe some Proud Boyz, another reliably blue federal rep seat goes red. it won’t take many of those to stop a “blue wave” in Congress dead in its tracks. And even if they don’t have the numbers to make a difference in the balance of power, democracy will still be hobbled by forcefully interfering in an election and getting away with it with no consequences. It would be 1/6 on steroids. Even if the Dems _actually take over the Senate_, which probably won’t happen, they won’t be able to remove Trump. The only thing that will make a difference, treason-wise, is that there would be an actual trial after impeachment in addition to opening more favorable hearings. But hearings and trials aren’t enough if the GOP has demonstrated being able to violently interfere in elections with no repercussions. The more they demonstrate that there is indeed nothing to fear from efforts to destroy democracy, the more they assuage their cowardly followers to become a little less cowardly. ---
**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 25, 2026, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3854 "2026-03-25T06:51:44Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > And even if they don’t have the numbers to make a difference in the balance of power, democracy will still be hobbled by forcefully interfering in an election and getting away with it with no consequences. It would be 1/6 on steroids. So they’ll be unsuccessful, but more so? > [@Ludovic](#): > > Even if the Dems _actually take over the Senate_, which probably won’t happen Kaishi currently puts the odds of it happening at 48%. (The House they put at 84%.) We only need one to block them from passing partisan legislation. [https://kalshi.com/markets/controls/senate-winner](https://kalshi.com/markets/controls/senate-winner) [https://kalshi.com/markets/controlh/house-winner/controlh-2026](https://kalshi.com/markets/controlh/house-winner/controlh-2026) > [@Ludovic](#): > > they won’t be able to remove Trump. Making him into a lame duck with no power to pursue a legislative agenda is just as good. The perpetual sense of pessimism around here is not productive. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3855 "2026-03-25T08:08:12Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Kaishi currently puts the odds of it happening at 48%. Umm, . . . yeah, what’s the point… ---
**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 25, 2026, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3856 "2026-03-25T12:54:46Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I guess they didn’t get the “don’t worry, we’re gonna fix it so you all stay in office for life” memo. I think the memo most of those folks got was “Just being Whoever (R) is not enough. You’re not trumpy enough to be allowed to continue in office. The trumpies will replace you.” ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3857 "2026-03-25T13:25:27Z")
Yes, the replacements for these retiring congresspeople are going to be even more MAGA. And some of them may win. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3858 "2026-03-25T13:31:03Z")
In all the elections that have been held since Trump took office, I haven’t heard of a single Republican winning. Even in districts that went strongly Trump, Dems have flipped them with 20-, 30-, or 40-point margins. ---
**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:** [March 25, 2026, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3859 "2026-03-25T13:34:31Z")
So instead of stupid ideas coming from Republicans, this thread demonstrates how opponents of Republicans prefer to argue among themselves. ---
**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:** [March 25, 2026, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/3860 "2026-03-25T15:17:42Z")
No we don’t! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678.md?page=192) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678.md?page=194)