# Stupid liberal idea of the day **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 20, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086 "2011-04-20T15:35:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 183
**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 16, 2015, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/3641 "2015-07-16T13:28:46Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Remember that adaher consistently ranks among the top SDMB posters in the “factually wrong” category. Among? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/3642 "2015-07-16T13:38:10Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Umm… John Wilkes Booth wasn’t a Southern aristocrat, he was a sympathizer from Maryland who worked as an actor. Maryland isn’t a Southern state? ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/3643 "2015-07-16T13:38:27Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > There have only been around [12 convictions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_convicted_of_treason#United_States) in the US over our history. That list of 13 shows only ten convicted for treason against the U.S.A.; Thomas Dorr (of the Dorr Rebellion) was convicted of treason against Rhode Island; the remaining two (including John Brown) were convicted of treason against the Commonwealth of Virginia for their actions at Harper’s Ferry. At least five of the 13, including Dorr, were pardoned or had their verdicts annulled. But not John Brown. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/3644 "2015-07-16T13:41:46Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Maryland isn’t a Southern state? Maryland fought for the Union. From my experience as a Southerner (born in Georgia, raised in Louisiana and Arkansas, now live in Virginia), most Southerners do not consider Maryland a Southern state. I don’t believe most Marylanders do either, but I can’t say that with as much certainty. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/3645 "2015-07-16T13:49:09Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Umm… John Wilkes Booth wasn’t a Southern aristocrat, he was a sympathizer from Maryland who worked as an actor. Booth was famous, well-off, and Southern. > [@](#): > > As for Lincoln did or did not do, he did NOT order that every man who ever wore rebel gray was to be hanged or shot- which he would have been completely within his authority to do, given the ancient and respected precedent for the fate of traitors. Certainly Lincoln had every intention of letting the South up easy. The only CSA army to have surrendered at the time of his death was Lee’s. Davis was still free. Johnston’s army and many others were still on the loose, and some were still fighting. To say that Lincoln pardoned them is playing fast and loose with the facts. In fact, it is ignoring history. Both of which are typical of **adaher**. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/3646 "2015-07-16T13:52:14Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I don’t believe most Marylanders do either, but I can’t say that with as much certainty. I was born in a section of Maryland which certainly does consider itself part of the south. (St. Mary’s County) At the time of the Civil War, eastern and southern Maryland (including Baltimore) would have considered themselves southern, although admittedly that area has shrunk in modern times. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/3647 "2015-07-16T13:54:50Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Maryland isn’t a Southern state? > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Maryland fought for the Union. From my experience as a Southerner (born in Georgia, raised in Louisiana and Arkansas, now live in Virginia), most Southerners do not consider Maryland a Southern state. I don’t believe most Marylanders do either, but I can’t say that with as much certainty. Maryland was considered a “border state”; it allowed slavery, had a lot in common with northern Virginia and had a lot of Confederate sympathizers. Lincoln actually had to sneak into DC in the middle of the night to his inauguration, and his suspension of habeas corpus was in large part to secure DC against being cut off from the rest of the Union. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/3648 "2015-07-16T14:25:25Z")
That was at the start of the war. Later on, when the CSA’s defeat was assured, Maryland became pretty strongly Unionist, although still with plenty of bitter-enders like Booth. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/3649 "2015-07-16T17:03:01Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > That was at the start of the war. Later on, when the CSA’s defeat was assured, Maryland became pretty strongly Unionist, although still with plenty of bitter-enders like Booth. Those bitter-enders apparently got a lot more numerous, considering that in 1939 the state adopted as its state song “Maryland, My Maryland” a Civil War era tune calling on Maryland to join the Confederacy. (While also calling Lincoln a tyrant and despot and the Union ‘Northern scum.’) ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/3650 "2015-07-16T17:27:39Z")
[Democrats like Pres. Obama aggravated the California water shortage.](http://www.speaker.gov/general/ending-president-obama-s-man-made-water-shortage-california) Is this really true? Perhaps I should ask in GD or GQ, but first I want to give the Republiopaths a chance to gloat: “See, we’re not _always_ the dimmest bulb on the tree!” ---
**Author:** ![Haberdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Haberdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haberdash)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/3651 "2015-07-16T18:42:04Z")
The daily bulletin of the Church of Obama is deeply upset that a member of the media engaged in “contentious questioning” of Dear Leader. > **[Bill Maher takes "\*sshole" Major Garrett down a peg: If you want to get a...](https://www.salon.com/2015/07/16/bill_maher_takes_sshole_major_garrett_down_a_peg_if_you_want_to_get_a_rise_out_of_obama_why_not_just_shout_the_n_word/)** > > Garrett explained that his scolding at the president's hands was merely because he was being "provocative" How dare a reporter ask the President a question about U.S. foreign policy. The unmitigated heresy! ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/3652 "2015-07-16T18:46:18Z")
> [@Haberdash](#): > > The daily bulletin of the Church of Obama is deeply upset that a member of the media engaged in “contentious questioning” of Dear Leader. > > [http://www.salon.com/2015/07/16/bill\_maher\_takes\_sshole\_major\_garrett\_down\_a\_peg\_if\_you\_want\_to\_get\_a\_rise\_out\_of\_obama\_why\_not\_just\_shout\_the\_n\_word/](http://www.salon.com/2015/07/16/bill_maher_takes_sshole_major_garrett_down_a_peg_if_you_want_to_get_a_rise_out_of_obama_why_not_just_shout_the_n_word/) > > How dare a reporter ask the President a question about U.S. foreign policy. The unmitigated heresy! Uhh, no, it’s more like “why is a reporter questioning whether Obama is content with captured Americans remaining captured?”. ---
**Author:** ![Haberdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Haberdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haberdash)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/3653 "2015-07-16T18:55:40Z")
Because he’s a fucking reporter and not a member of the Obama PR team? ---
**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:** [July 16, 2015, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/3654 "2015-07-16T19:03:13Z")
So, **Haberdash** , have you stopped beating your wife yet? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/3655 "2015-07-16T19:17:23Z")
> [@Haberdash](#): > > Because he’s a fucking reporter and not a member of the Obama PR team? What does being a reporter have to do with making baseless accusations of monstrous inhuman feelings? ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/3656 "2015-07-16T19:20:09Z")
I rather enjoyed Obama’s figurative bitch-slapping of Garrett, however. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/3657 "2015-07-16T19:24:34Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > I rather enjoyed Obama’s figurative bitch-slapping of Garrett, however. Yeah, it was something like “For a dick, you’re pretty clever.” ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/3658 "2015-07-16T19:26:40Z")
> [@Haberdash](#): > > The daily bulletin of the Church of Obama is deeply upset that a member of the media engaged in “contentious questioning” of Dear Leader… > How dare a reporter ask the President a question about U.S. foreign policy. The unmitigated heresy! Wow. I throw you guys a softball (Democrats responsible for water shortage) and you come back with this. 😃 I think that, with a little imagination, Googling “Have you stopped beating your wife?” will enlighten you. **Haberdash** , I assume you are an intelligent person; here’s a sincere question which I really do hope you explore, because an important part of the dialog here is understanding others’ cognition. Can you understand why most of us find your complaint stupid? Close your eyes and imagine that all the details are reversed; that an asshole leftist reporter asked GWB a stupid question about American soldiers dying in Iraq. Can you grasp or admit that you’d take the opposite position in that case? I’m quite serious: I hope that we turn this thread temporarily into an _Enlighten Haberdash_ thread. Round up some other of your ilk and get their opinions if you think the liberals are ganging up on you on this matter. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ What did you think of the Doper who came bouncing into the Pit, denouncing Obama for humiliating a Marine by making him hold an umbrella in the rain? That Doper slinked away, but only after photographs were produced showing Marines holding umbrellas also for GOP Presidents. When watching a hockey game, it’s normal to cheer for your team even when they resort to foul play. But if you can’t rise above that mentality when debating politics, just STFU please. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/3659 "2015-07-16T19:28:51Z")
Aside from the fact that Garrett’s question is ‘contentious’ by any reasonable standard, **Haberdash** , at least you’re doing slightly better than **Clothahump**. Keep trying, I’m sure you’ll do even better with practice. You probably want to lay off the ham-fisted editorializing though; if it’s really a Stupid Liberal Idea, the facts should speak for themselves. For those who can’t be arsed to follow the link, here is the question posed by Garrett to the President: > [@](#): > > "As you well know, there are four Americans in Iran, three held on trumped-up charges according to your administration and one, whereabouts unknown,” Garrett asked the president. “Can you tell the country, sir, why you are content with all the fanfare around this deal to leave the conscience of this nation, the strength of this nation unaccounted for in relation to these four Americans?” No, not a ‘gotcha ya’ at all. The President had (IMO) a pretty good answer too, but since I know **Haberdash** is all about fairness, I’ll give him a chance to explain it. ---
**Author:** ![Haberdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Haberdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haberdash)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/3660 "2015-07-16T19:33:25Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Can you understand why most of us find your complaint stupid? Close your eyes and imagine that all the details are reversed; that an asshole leftist reporter asked GWB a stupid question about American soldiers dying in Iraq. Can you grasp or admit that you’d take the opposite position in that case? Some of us actually oppose the worship and thin-skinned hypersensitivity of all Presidents, not just those who oppose whatever color-based team we’ve chosen to join. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086.md?page=182) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086.md?page=184)