# 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:** 249
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4961 "2026-07-01T21:20:47Z")
So do I but we’ll see. The Nehls are like cockroaches. Unfortunately, the same D candidate from the last time is running again, and she’s not an especially inspiring figure. But maybe they overplayed the redistricting. There’s only so many ways to slice up safe districts for the gerrymander until they become tossups, especially when it’s looking like a rough year in general to be a Republican candidate ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4962 "2026-07-01T23:20:42Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Unfortunately, the same D candidate from the last time is running again, and she’s not an especially inspiring figure. I think in general the losing candidate should be given another chance - name recognition is an expensive to generate thing, and barring a scandal or truly dismal showing, building on the previous campaign seems sensible. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2026, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4963 "2026-07-02T00:10:41Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > > [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > > > So, of course, he’s not standing for re-election. But in favor of his equally corrupt brother, Trever. > > I hope Troy’s remarks work as Death Nehls for the brother’s chances, too. - Who had the wet trout last? ---
**Author:** ![Tierce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@Tierce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tierce)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2026, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4964 "2026-07-02T01:17:53Z")
Seen online, in response to this one: “JD Vance puts the Christ in ‘Christ, what an asshole!’” ---
**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:** [July 4, 2026, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4965 "2026-07-04T00:29:57Z")
In context that quote is so much worse though. As a Christian he believes that economic policy exists to “support the dignity of all human beings”, so “We want every American to be able to raise a family, to be able to support themselves in comfort and in dignity” so “That’s why we don’t like low-wage foreigners coming in and undercutting the wages of American workers” Effectively he’s admitting that he doesn’t consider foreign workers to be human beings. ---
**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:** [July 4, 2026, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4966 "2026-07-04T12:43:19Z")
And of course, American workers are just _stampeding_ to all those low wage jobs that are available now that we’ve kicked out the migrants. 🙄 ---
**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:** [July 5, 2026, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4967 "2026-07-05T18:45:27Z")
Nikki Haley, come on down! Your own words and actions want to slap you silly. [![](https://images.spot.im/image/upload/v200/sdkxfrjjtpqoc3qfee3x) ](https://images.spot.im/image/upload/v200/sdkxfrjjtpqoc3qfee3x) ---
**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:** [July 5, 2026, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4968 "2026-07-05T19:01:34Z")
And let’s give Texas Congress-critter Nehis (guess the party) involved in celebrating America’s distinctive roots and virtues. [![](https://images.spot.im/image/upload/v200/o5j40lvigphfdvwd3yhb) ](https://images.spot.im/image/upload/v200/o5j40lvigphfdvwd3yhb) ---
**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:** [July 5, 2026, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4969 "2026-07-05T20:38:00Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Your own words and actions want to slap you silly. You can accurately label her as Nikki Haley, self-proclaimed socialist. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2026, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4970 "2026-07-05T21:46:37Z")
Allow me to rephrase: Nehls: You have to love our party. This is what we gotta do. We gotta put white sheets on MAGA. We need some pointy hoods and torches. We gotta show the world that we’re the party of racist, nazi scumbags. ---
**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:** [July 6, 2026, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4971 "2026-07-06T02:56:16Z")
“I got mine, Jack. Too bad your ancestors didn’t figure it out earlier.” ---
**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:** [July 6, 2026, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4972 "2026-07-06T03:07:01Z")
The cognitive dissonance Republicans have towards the Statue of Liberty is always amusing. ---
**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:** [July 6, 2026, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4973 "2026-07-06T08:15:01Z")
Isn’t something this incredibly STUPID enough to revoke his “Dr.”? [![](https://images.spot.im/image/upload/q_60,fl_lossy,dpr_3,h_100,w_92,c_scale,f_avif/v200/fhvx0vl3fnxmmr9msmuf) ](https://images.spot.im/image/upload/q_60,fl_lossy,dpr_3,h_100,w_92,c_scale,f_avif/v200/fhvx0vl3fnxmmr9msmuf) ---
**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:** [July 6, 2026, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4974 "2026-07-06T08:18:53Z")
Shoot, I only used my auto insurance once the entire 14 years I owned a car. I guess I was a fake motorist. ---
**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:** [July 6, 2026, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4975 "2026-07-06T10:53:41Z")
I don’t get it. Isn’t people not using their insurance a good thing? They’re the ones who subsidize the people who _do_ use their insurance. Without them, the whole system will collapse. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2026, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4976 "2026-07-06T11:31:56Z")
I mean, technically most people ought to get at least annual preventive-care checkups, which are typically covered by insurance. So if large numbers of enrollees are really not using the system **at all** , that’s not optimal. I remain unconvinced that the numbers in this situation are really as asserted, though. ETA: Oh, I see. The Trump administration and its mouthpieces like Dr Oz are pushing the narrative that there are millions of “phantom patients” enrolled in ACA without their knowledge and/or in addition to the insurance plan they actually use. [Here’s an article critiquing those claims.](https://www.ahip.org/news/articles/health-insurance-101-and-paragons-myth-of-the-phantom-patient) ---
**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:** [July 6, 2026, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4977 "2026-07-06T12:00:37Z")
But again, if that were true, it would be a really good thing. Because anyone running that “scam” is just providing free money to the system, to no benefit to themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2026, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4978 "2026-07-06T12:10:35Z")
No, the [argument](https://paragoninstitute.org/private-health/explaining-the-rise-of-phantom-aca-patients/) is that ACA plan agents seeking to maximize commissions overenrolled many people, generally without their knowledge, in _fully subsidized_ plans. So, no premiums income to the plan (although, no expenditure either if people aren’t using benefits). ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2026, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4979 "2026-07-06T12:32:05Z")
Republicans oppose any subsidy that does not go to a Republican. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2026, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4980 "2026-07-06T12:40:30Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > ACA plan agents seeking to maximize commissions overenrolled many people, generally without their knowledge, in _fully subsidized_ plans. If true, then the fraud and waste is in payments to the insurance companies and their brokers, just as has been shown in Medicare. IOW, it’s not the program itself; it’s the bad actors that take advantage of the lack of oversight. You know, capitalists. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678.md?page=248) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678.md?page=250)