# Resolved : Congressional Republicans Are Evil **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 8, 2017, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125 "2017-05-08T13:39:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2017, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/21 "2017-05-08T18:44:43Z")
In this context, a figure of speech I used to describe the “correct” legislative process. What that might actually be is fluid, and depends on the results. Sometimes, if there’s no substantial difference and the result is what the person making the argument desires, this process is irrelevant. But the phrase itself comes from _Dune_. Kanly is the art of vendetta, and there are certain rules about how political assassinations may and may not be performed. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2017, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/22 "2017-05-08T18:44:50Z")
In light of President Trump’s public statement that _“Nobody knew that health care could be so complicated”_ and Congressman Labrador’s public statement that _“Nobody dies because they don’t have access to health care”_ we have to concede the stupidity is as likely an explanation as evil. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2017, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/23 "2017-05-08T19:32:55Z")
It’s kind of driving me crazy to see so many leftists analyze this as “objectively evil” and so forth, not because I feel sorry for Republicans, but because that sort of inaccurate analysis makes it less likely that we’ll win. Republicans didn’t do this so they could twirl their mustachios and give deep-throated chuckles of villainy. They did it because it aligns with several principles of theirs relating to states’ rights, low taxes, and a construct of personal freedom that depends on minimal government interference. The attack on them needs to be based on several factors: 1. They were desperate for a partisan win, so they passed this before examining it fully. 2. They refused to wait for a CBO analysis of it. 3. They valued principles over effects: the bill will likely result in actual harm to millions of people for minimal actual benefit. They’re behaving like blinkered ideologues rather than wise stewards of the public trust. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2017, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/24 "2017-05-08T19:35:49Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > 217 House Republicans voted to murder poor people to give rich people more money. . Hyperbole is not your friend in an argument. What they voted for is to make a bad system even worse. Maybe this will wake the poor people up and get them to vote for their own interests. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2017, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/25 "2017-05-08T19:45:55Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > On the bright side: 217 Republicans are finding out that voting in favor of unpopular legislation makes them unpopular with their constituents and may result in not being reelected. And good riddance to them. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2017, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/26 "2017-05-08T19:46:55Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Uh, what? He means the next step will be to gut Medicare. More tax cuts for the rich. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2017, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/27 "2017-05-08T19:48:18Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > It’s simps like you that lap up the fake news like it’s ice cream and think that the piss that the Republicans are raining down on you is lemonade. If you think these Republicans think that voters like you are anything more than gullible rubes than you’re quite mistaken. I’m an average working guy who already had insurance, and mine didn’t skyrocket. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2017, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/28 "2017-05-08T20:02:48Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > 217 House Republicans voted to strip healthcare from millions of American citizens, which will result in thousand of preventable deaths. They did this to facilitate cutting taxes on the richest in our society. > > In essence, they voted for a bill that will kill poor people while making the rich richer. This is as close to an objectively evil piece of legislation as I can envision. Could it be worse? Perhaps if they allowed the rich to actually hunt the poor and sick for sport, but the net effect here is the same. > > 217 House Republicans voted to murder poor people to give rich people more money. They are morally unfit for public service. How is this any different than the other 100 times they did this? How does it get past the senate? Will they destroy the filibuster for this? McConnell has not indicated that he is contemplating this. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2017, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/29 "2017-05-08T20:03:01Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Republicans didn’t do this so they could twirl their mustachios and give deep-throated chuckles of villainy. They did it because it aligns with several principles of theirs relating to states’ rights, low taxes, and a construct of personal freedom that depends on minimal government interference. Nonsense. I agree that this wasn’t evil for the sake of being evil. Nor was it merely stupidity (although I don’t credit a lot of the people involved with an over abundance of intelligence). But it wasn’t a matter of upholding principles either. This was about money. Our private health care system is a well-funded special interest. They paid off Republicans to trash a public health care system that offered a better alternative than their own. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2017, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/30 "2017-05-08T20:08:11Z")
> [@Rick\_Sanchez](#): > > The more I see from this Republican administration, the more I come to view ‘Designated Survivor’ as an aspirational feel-good fairytale. Same here! ---
**Author:** ![greenmario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/97f17d/32.png) [@greenmario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greenmario)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2017, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/31 "2017-05-08T20:11:18Z")
Murderers in Congress? Someone should call the police! ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/32 "2017-05-08T20:18:31Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > How is this any different than the other 100 times they did this? > > How does it get past the senate? Will they destroy the filibuster for this? McConnell has not indicated that he is contemplating this. Reconciliation, the same way they put a repeal of the ACA on Obama’s desk a year ago. Of course, now that it’s no longer symbolic, they have to actually THINK about what they’re doing, and how it looks. Thus, the current shitshow. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2017, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/33 "2017-05-08T20:24:53Z")
I was not a fan of Obamacare when it was being offered up, and have personally not done well under that system. But, I think it’s better, on the whole, for the country than what we had before. It does next to nothing to contain costs, but it does spread the risk around better than before. I’d still prefer a more European style system to our monstrosity of an Insurance Program, but that’s not in play. Having said that, what the Republicans are offering up is an abomination. It’s a hastily thrown together piece of legislative garbage, aimed more at giving a tax cut to the wealthy than anything else. There’s a slim chance I may benefit from this legislation, but it’s bad for the country. And to listen to the House members saying things like: “Well, it’s up to the Senate to fix the flaws” would de laughable if it wasn’t so idiotic. The Republicans have shown time and again that they just don’t know how to govern. All they seem to know how to do is to give rich people tax cuts, and try to whittle away at abortion laws. Oh, and start unnecessary wars. And offer up buffoonish presidential candidates!!! ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2017, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/34 "2017-05-08T20:30:03Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > A healthy economy with plentiful jobs leads to [healthier](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-leahy-phd/unemployment-health_b_2616430.html) lives. Since tax cuts can help the economy they should be good for people’s health. As far as I can tell, the only jobs this administration is interested in creating involve mining coal, slaughtering chickens\* and harvesting crops\*. They are low paying, soul killing jobs that serve to widen the economic divide. Jobs like these are not conductive to health and healthy lifestyles. Are you SERIOUSLY claiming that bringing back coal mining jobs by cutting profit killing safety regulations is good for people’s health??? - the list is somewhat longer I’m going for jobs under the category of “jobs typically held by low-skilled immigrants”. Which are mostly agricultural or in meat and poultry processing. They are all physically demanding and the meat and poultry jobs are also really really gross. Despite the repeated insistence by some Conservatives that Americans REALLY want these jobs, employers that offer them to real Americans find that most of them quit before lunch on the first day and virtually none of them last a week. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2017, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/35 "2017-05-08T20:43:31Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > Since tax cuts can help the economy they should be good for people’s health. Wait…cutting taxes for 2% of the population makes the other 98% healthier? Really? ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2017, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/36 "2017-05-08T20:44:27Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I’ve seen footage of several people who stood up and said that Obamacare saved their life. Are they liars? I know this is the Pit and serious debate is not expected. But arguing from anecdote? Really? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2017, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/37 "2017-05-08T20:47:10Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > Despite the repeated insistence by some Conservatives that Americans REALLY want these jobs, employers that offer them to real Americans find that most of them quit before lunch on the first day and virtually none of them last a week. I’m reminded of the orchard owner in California who went to a government-run employment center looking for pickers to work at well above minimum wage. Ended up hiring exactly one citizen, who didn’t bother coming back after his lunch break. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2017, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/38 "2017-05-08T20:48:28Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > No, they don’t believe that. They aren’t interested in a perfect world for everybody. They believe that if we give rich people more money then rich people will have more money. > Was I wooshed? Not at all. When Republicans pass a tax cut for the rich, they never say “we’re doing this so they have more money”. There’s always some other goal. “We’re doing this to create jobs”, or “we’re doing this for better health care”, or “we’re doing this to spur innovation”. Maybe they really believe it; maybe they believe if they just give rich people enough incentives to be richer that pollution and unemployment and health care will all just fix themselves. They’re getting paid a lot to believe it; they may be delusional, but not evil. ---
**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:** [May 8, 2017, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/39 "2017-05-08T20:50:32Z")
But they don’t believe it- at all. That’s just their cover story, I mean, talking point. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2017, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/40 "2017-05-08T20:52:13Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > It’s simps like you that lap up the fake news Politifact is fake news? You Brits who think they understand American politics should worry about your own problems. > **[Is Paul Ryan right about soaring Obamacare premiums?](https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2017/feb/03/paul-ryan/testing-paul-ryan-claim-obamacare-premium-increase/)** > > U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan has received a lot of criticism (and a False rating from us) for his claims that actuaries [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125.md?page=3)