# Republicans: Explain this to me **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 7, 2003, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-explain-this-to-me/206080 "2003-10-07T16:07:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-explain-this-to-me/206080/21 "2003-10-07T18:01:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by refusal \* > \*\* > That said, I think it’s incredible that people reckon Arnie’s the best Republican in California (he couldn’t even manage a burger restaurant), but I guess that’s a little off-topic. \*\* Oh yeah, me too. I haven’t had a reaction beyond " What the fuck, are people in CA insane?" yet to Arnold running, so there hasn’t been much room for any other thoughts on him. Really, I don’t think there needs to be any other thoughts on the issue- that’s all encompassing. However, it does look my hopes for Space Ghost and Daria running for Prez/VP in 2008 are just one step closer to reality… ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-explain-this-to-me/206080/22 "2003-10-07T18:06:10Z")
Yeah, does anyone find it odd that out of 4.5 million people who voted Republican in '00 in California, the best they could come up with is Conan the Barbarian? ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-explain-this-to-me/206080/23 "2003-10-07T18:14:32Z")
Perhaps the [damned near-official conservative talking points](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,99326,00.html) on the subject of Arnold could serve to illuminate: > [@](#): > > Talking Points has never seen a newspaper try to destroy someone as aggressively as the Times is doing, but the tactic may backfire for two reasons. First, the actor has never been charged with a crime or sued in civil court. So his record is clean. There’s no Paula Jones here, no Monica Lewinsky, at least not yet. > > … > > Second, if the media is going to become part of political campaigns, that is actively try to help a candidate in its news pages as the Times is doing with Gray Davis, then our political system’s in trouble. Voters instinctively know this. Thousands of Californians have canceled their subscription to The L.A.Times. > > … > > But here’s the dilemma. Mr. Schwarzenegger may not be the right man for the job, but what is the alternative? There’s no question the Democratic party has hurt California. No honest person could dispute that. So as a voter, I could not support [Gov. Gray] Davis or [Democratic candidate and Lt. Gov.] Bustamante. You might also wish to look at the paragraph I left out there at the second ellipsis. I left it out both to keep the quote within the boundaries of reasonable quotation and to avoid… using… the phrase, **hypocritical motherf—** … AAAAHHHH!! [head banging on keyboard] 7yu6uyjh7yh [/head banging] Go see it for yourself. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-explain-this-to-me/206080/24 "2003-10-07T18:18:19Z")
The ol’ axiom…“DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO”… Maybe you should ask the democrats why they don’t try and whip the public into a frenzy over nothing like the republicans did. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-explain-this-to-me/206080/25 "2003-10-07T18:28:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by toque \* > \*\*Why were Clinton’s sexual adventures such a big deal while Schwarzenegger’s are not? Why was so much made of Clinton’s smoking pot. while it’s apparently okay that Bush did blow? > > I’m seriously looking for some insight here, but thought it was safest to post in the pit. \*\* Because it WORKS! Shit man, if we’re all up in arms because our favorite leader toots or gets tooted then we aren’t paying attention to those superficial issues. You know. The economy, war, terrorism, diplomacy - they all take a back seat to these hot issues. The fact that we get to whine to each other about _which_ flavor of politician is in the tooting spotlight is just an added bonus. Bubba All these posts and I’m the first to point out the REAL deal - Shame on you ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-explain-this-to-me/206080/26 "2003-10-07T18:34:46Z")
> [@](#): > > I am NOT a hypocrit–if Arnorld or Bush or Delay or any other Republican lies under oath I will call for removing them from office just as I did for Clinton. So the passel of lies that led to the Iraq war don’t count because he wasn’t under oath? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-explain-this-to-me/206080/27 "2003-10-07T18:36:45Z")
> [@](#): > > The legions of Republicans trumpeted that Clinton was unfit for office because he LIED UNDER OATH!!! Um, nope. The legions calling for his head started with Gennifer Flowers and Paula Jones, statements about whom were not made under oath, statements about whom were made before Clinton was elected president. > [@](#): > > I am NOT a hypocrit–if Arnorld or Bush or Delay or any other Republican lies under oath I will call for removing them from office just as I did for Clinton. Since I was talking about the call for Clinton’s head that went up _before_ he was elected or sworn, your declaration is as meaningless as your extra exclamation points. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-explain-this-to-me/206080/28 "2003-10-07T18:39:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stpauler \* > \*\*The ol’ axiom…“DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO”… > > Maybe you should ask the democrats why they don’t try and whip the public into a frenzy over nothing like the republicans did. \*\* Frankly, the Democrats needs to learn to Waffle On A Dime like the Republicans first. Its amazing how fast every single Republican I know changed their story from “Disgusted at the Adultery” and “Monica’s Cigar” to “Lied Under Oath”. Does the GOP have all your email addresses to tell you what to change your story to for the following day? Its the only explanation for the lock-step story changes. I guess the Democrats really Do need to get better organized… ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-explain-this-to-me/206080/29 "2003-10-07T18:41:05Z")
From **Sofa King** ’s link (and shouldn’t there be some sort of rule about warning before linking to O’lie-ly, like there is before linking to possible porn?): > [@](#): > > The Times is acting as Gray Davis’ chief supporter, throwing huge resources into digging up dirt on Schwarzenegger, **some of which seems to be true**. (emphasis added) First, can you imagine the psychic torture that Billy must have put himself through in order to be able to type out that bolded phrase? Second, is anyone else dumbfounded that he’s criticizing a newspaper for expending resources to report _the truth_? ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-explain-this-to-me/206080/30 "2003-10-07T19:08:44Z")
> [@](#): > > Why were Clinton’s sexual adventures such a big deal while Schwarzenegger’s are not? Here’s one Republican that didn’t give a flying fuck about Clinton’s sexual adventures. Don’t make overgeneralizations. I thought that was the sort of thing that liberals didn’t do. > [@](#): > > Why was so much made of Clinton’s smoking pot. while it’s apparently okay that Bush did blow? Once again, here’s a Republican that didn’t give a flying fuck about Clinton smoking pot. Again, don’t make overgeneralizations. They reveal your idiocy. > [@](#): > > Mainly because deep down all Republicans are actually monarchists. What they really want is a king and they see themselves as aristocracy. And what did I say about generalizations? This clearly must be the remark of a nimrod. > [@](#): > > Or maybe it’s just that your average Republican is a hypocritical pus-bag. No more so than your average Democrat. Note that the entire OP can be reversed as a criticism of the Dems. “Why is Schwarzy’s groping so bad when Clinton’s escapades were not?” Hypocritical pus-bag indeed. > [@](#): > > Yeah, does anyone find it odd that out of 4.5 million people who voted Republican in '00 in California, the best they could come up with is Conan the Barbarian? I actually find it odd that you’re so Ignorant about his capabilities. I have a suspicion that you suffer from the delusional belief that all actors are idiots and incapable of doing “real” work. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-explain-this-to-me/206080/31 "2003-10-07T19:29:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Revtim \* > \*\*No doubt the old “he’ll surround himself with the best advisors” chestnut will get rolled out. \*\* No doubt. Why don’t they just save the trouble and put these “advisors” on the ballot? I can’t wait 'til Arnold gets in office and tries to do his magic trick where he balances the budget by “eliminating waste”, without any specific proposals. How many months do you give him before he realizes it’s easier said than done, and raises taxes? New guy - same old story. ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-explain-this-to-me/206080/32 "2003-10-07T19:29:55Z")
Ah, fuck it. I can’t help it. Again from the O’Reilly marching orders, with my own helpful links added for emphasis: > [@](#): > > [It is simply wrong](http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/specialreports/10year/s_105448.html) for [powerful](http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/04/27/scaife.profile/) [media operations](http://www.cesnur.org/2002/moon_01.htm) to use their [vast resources](http://www.salon.com/news/1998/06/cov_08news.html) to [try and destroy](http://www.salon.com/news/1998/03/cov_17news.html) [individual Americans](http://www.ariannaonline.com/columns/files/020300.html), [politicians](http://observer.com/pages/story.asp?ID=6665) or [otherwise](http://www.bushcountry.org/news/may_news_pages/g_052203_alvarez_celebrity_boycott_list.htm). There’s no doubt that a [number of Times reporters](http://www.salon.com/news/1997/12/03news.html) were [sent on a mission – get something](http://www.publiceye.org/conspire/clinton/Clintonculwar8-08.htm) on Arnold. [And they did](http://www.opinioninc.com/aim/aimspec.html). Look, I’m sorry to go and shit all over this thread, but that statement made me angrier than a badger with a mousetrap on his 'nads. Hopefully my previous contribution outweighs this tantrum. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Trari\_de\_Reeson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Count\_Trari\_de\_Reeson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Trari_de_Reeson)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-explain-this-to-me/206080/33 "2003-10-07T19:45:26Z")
Because when asked about it Clinton said “I did not have sex with that woman” When Arnold was asked he said, yeah I did that and I’m sorry. As for the drugs nobody has really offered any credible evidence that Bush did “blow” But when Clinton was asked he said "I didn’t inhale. I am not saying that either one of them is superior, just that telling the truth is better accepted by the public then lying. ---
**Author:** ![My\_Darn\_Snake\_Legs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f14d63/32.png) [@My\_Darn\_Snake\_Legs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/My_Darn_Snake_Legs)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-explain-this-to-me/206080/34 "2003-10-07T19:49:26Z")
I’d rather have a person in office who is honest about past indescretions. It labels them as a real person. Someone who is tempted and has given in to temptation. “Didn’t inhale?” Are you kidding? That’s the dumbest thing I have ever heard! “Arnold, I hear you did some pot and squeezed some titties. True?” “Jah! I did. I don’t do it anymore though, and novon ever complained about it.” Ok, fine. Run for Governer. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-explain-this-to-me/206080/35 "2003-10-07T19:49:43Z")
**Sofa Kind** - So far I clicked on two of your links. The first is a puff piece on the tenth anniversary of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The second was a list of celebrity limousine liberals. Is your point that media should investigate politicians, or that they shouldn’t? Or are you arguing that the L.A. Times is as biased as Richard Scaife? Although I have heard the California governor’s race described as being "between the L.A. Times and Schwarzenegger. " Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-explain-this-to-me/206080/36 "2003-10-07T20:01:47Z")
Sorry about the misspelling of your user name, **Sofa King**. But, also in the spirit of helpful linking, perhaps we could discuss why allegations of abusive actions against women must be taken seriously if they are made against Schwarzenegger, but http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200~24781~1676763,00.html]not against Gray Davis. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-explain-this-to-me/206080/37 "2003-10-07T20:16:56Z")
Why not? Read your own damn link re Davis. Nobody with first-hand knowledge coming forth, either witnesses or victims. No charges, then or ever. No corroboration. Nothing to suggest that there’s any truth to it at all. Compare and contrast to the Gropinator stories - witnesses, victims, _and admissions_. One situation is true, one is, as far as one can tell, not. There is no comparison between truth and bullshit. If you’re really having trouble understanding why few accept your attempt to equate them, then your partisan blinkers are on even more tightly than we thought. Are you a supporter of the Republican Party more than you’re a respecter of truth? Apparently so. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-explain-this-to-me/206080/38 "2003-10-07T20:17:55Z")
**Shodan** ’s link doesn’t work for me. Anyone else? > [@](#): > > “Arnold, I hear you did some pot and squeezed some titties. True?” > “Jah! I did. I don’t do it anymore though, and novon ever complained about it.” > > Ok, fine. Run for Governer. I understand now! It’s OK to sexually harass someone _as long as they don’t complain about it_. And the issue is not whether he “squeezed some titties.” The issue is whether he has engaged in a decades-long pattern of sexual harassment and (based on some of the descriptions of his alleged acts) sexual battery, which allegedly continued up to as recently as 2-3 years ago. > [@](#): > > No more so than your average Democrat. Note that the entire OP can be reversed as a criticism of the Dems. “Why is Schwarzy’s groping so bad when Clinton’s escapades were not?” For one thing, quantity and duration. > [@](#): > > I actually find it odd that you’re so Ignorant about his capabilities. We’re ignorant of his capabilities because _he won’t talk about them_. He refused to appear in unscripted situations, refused to debate unless he had all of the questions in advance and has not as near as I can tell advanced a single qualification that he has for being governor. He spends a lot of time yammering about how he’s out to “terminate” Gray Davis (hardee-fucking-har, Arnold, we got it the first time and it wasn’t funny then) but not a lot of time talking about why he should be governor or what he’ll do once he is. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-explain-this-to-me/206080/39 "2003-10-07T20:25:36Z")
[Fixed Shodan’s link](http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200~24781~1676763,00.html) From Shodan’s link: > [@](#): > > After my story ran, I waited for the Times to publish its story. It never did. When I spoke to a reporter involved, he said editors at the Times were against attacking a major political figure using anonymous sources. Correct me if I’m wrong, but in the Arnold story, didn’t nine women allow their names to be used? Not that this excuses Davis if this is an accurate depiction of his behaviour, but it does explain why the story didn’t appear in the Times. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-explain-this-to-me/206080/40 "2003-10-07T20:58:26Z")
> [@](#): > > For one thing, quantity and duration. … And honesty. Don’t forget that. Schwarzy’s had no end of it so far. > [@](#): > > We’re ignorant of his capabilities because he won’t talk about them. Jesus Christ, boy, go read a fucking book! Are you telling me that your entire library of knowledge on these candidates is _what they themselves have said_ on TV? Christ, go to IMDB and read Schwarzy’s biography, if you’re gonna be so fucking lazy about it. Yeesh. > [@](#): > > He spends a lot of time yammering about how he’s out to “terminate” Gray Davis (hardee-fucking-har, Arnold, we got it the first time and it wasn’t funny then) but not a lot of time talking about why he should be governor or what he’ll do once he is. … Just like every single other politician out there… I’m still not seeing what’s so horrible about Schwarzy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-explain-this-to-me/206080.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-explain-this-to-me/206080.md?page=3)