# 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:** 49
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/961 "2012-12-30T04:01:14Z")
> [@Zeriel](#): > > Any gun control bill that includes the phrase “specifically named guns” is automatically suspect– Could you explain why? If you mean the semantic mistake of saying “guns” when they mean “firearms” then I’m with you on the nitpick, but you seem to be objecting to the _naming of specific weapons_, and I’d like to consider your argument, should you choose to make one. On the other hand, > [@](#): > > and this one makes the same mistake as the last AWB, namely it bans scary-looking guns while illogically **leaving untouched a panoply of hunting arms that are functionally equivalent** in terms of firepower. (Bolding added.) could you offer a citation for the bolded charge? Do you know that said panoply is exempted from the high-capacity magazine ban (no more than 10 rounds), or is not covered in the suspect “specifically named” list? ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/962 "2012-12-30T17:25:50Z")
> [@xenophon41](#): > > Could you explain why? If you mean the semantic mistake of saying “guns” when they mean “firearms” then I’m with you on the nitpick, but you seem to be objecting to the _naming of specific weapons_, and I’d like to consider your argument, should you choose to make one. Terribly simple, really. If one is interested in banning weapons based on firepower, one can lists ranges and/or combinations of calibers, actions, and magazine capacities that are banned or restricted in use. The way I see it, there is no reason to name specific weapons (either banned or exempted) unless either A) those weapons are SO unique that they don’t fit under a useful category of firepower-based bans (I am not aware of any weapon on either list that can be described that way) or B) the intent is to garner more support among non-knowledgeable people by banning the “scary” Bushmaster XM-15 but not grandpa’s Ruger Mini-14, even though they’re the same in terms of rounds put downrange per unit time. At least the magazine capacity ban is honest. It’d also be both more honest and more effective to ban 5.56NATO/.223 than listing AR-15 variants by name–but that will NEVER pass, because no one in the general public perceives a Mini-14 Ranch Rifle as an “assault weapon” despite the bare facts of ballistics. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/963 "2012-12-30T20:52:11Z")
Yeah, I agree with Zeriel here. Gun-control legislation that’s designed to be arbitrary and inconsistent for political reasons makes politicians look unserious if not corrupt. It doesn’t make a lot of sense from either side. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/964 "2012-12-30T21:49:15Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > Yeah, I agree with Zeriel here. Gun-control legislation that’s designed to be arbitrary and inconsistent for political reasons makes politicians look unserious if not corrupt. It doesn’t make a lot of sense from either side. In addition, I specify “ranges of calibers” as the only sensible approach because even specific caliber bans often turn out bizarre or ineffectual in practice: see, for example, Italy, where 9x19 pistol ammo (9mm Parabellum) and 5.56 NATO rifle ammo (what the AR-15 uses) are banned for civilian weapons…but you can buy 9x21, 10mm, and .40SW pistols and .223 Remington rifles, which are respectively more powerful and capable of being functionally equivalent. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/965 "2012-12-31T16:49:53Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > Maybe I should have just let this thread lie in the cold, cold, ground, but the Obama DoJ did something dumb, and this seemed like the place for that. > > [http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/taibblog/outrageous-hsbc-settlement-proves-the-drug-war-is-a-joke-20121213](http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/taibblog/outrageous-hsbc-settlement-proves-the-drug-war-is-a-joke-20121213) > > As Taibbi points out, the common folk get taken for great amounts for even appearing to be in the drug trade. Apparently great wealth has its privileges. Frankly, while I can condemn HSBC for this (although wondering if the Mexican bank employees were offered the usual _plata o plomo_ deal), I also wonder what the rational basis is for a US court to convict a company from one foreign country for activities in a second foreign country which are possibly not even crimes under the laws of the other countries. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/966 "2013-01-01T01:16:03Z")
Ah, good point. ---
**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:** [January 3, 2013, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/967 "2013-01-03T20:27:23Z")
> [@Bookkeeper](#): > > Frankly, while I can condemn HSBC for this (although wondering if the Mexican bank employees were offered the usual _plata o plomo_ deal), I also wonder what the rational basis is for a US court to convict a company from one foreign country for activities in a second foreign country which are possibly not even crimes under the laws of the other countries. Presumably because part of their permission to operate as a financial institution in the US involves not doing the sort of thing they did. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/968 "2013-01-04T01:16:53Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > As Taibbi points out, the common folk get taken for great amounts for even appearing to be in the drug trade. Apparently great wealth has its privileges. Drugs are the least of it. They were aiding terrorists and enemies of the state. If the govt. treated them the same as others the execs would be in navy brigs somewhere being “interrogated.” ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/969 "2013-01-25T04:09:55Z")
Really, Harry? Really? It’s bad enough that Obama thinks of himself as the god-emperor of the USA. Now you are trying to set yourself up in the same role in the Senate? JezzusFrickinChrist, no wonder our government is as fucked up as it is. > [@](#): > > The ill-named “filibuster reform” proposals floating around on Capitol Hill include the following: > > – Make it easier for one party to pass legislation, even if half the Senate disagrees: To stop debate on a contentious issue, 60 votes are now required. But the proposal being floated would create a way for the Majority Leader to pass any proposal with only 51 votes. > > – Create four “Super Senators” who hold the true power: Only four Senators would be able to offer amendments to legislation, effectively shutting out the other 96 from the legislative process. > > – Special power for the Majority Leader: The Majority Leader (now Reid) would have the special authority to add an amendment after debate is finished on a particular bill. Combined with the 51-vote threshold, this change would allow the Majority Leader to jam through just about anything without the Senate even debating it. > > In short, this is a terrible plan that would hand all of the Senate’s power to four people and would turn the Majority Leader into a tyrant. > **[Morning Bell: The Urgent Danger in the Senate](https://www.dailysignal.com/2013/01/24/harry-reid-filibuster-reform-taking-over-the-senate/?roi=echo3-14337293276-11107432-c1f068d9e3b1474c7e2780485ca15ede&utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Morning%2BBell)** > > Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is trying to change the rules so that he has power over all the other Senators. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/970 "2013-01-25T04:23:28Z")
> [@](#): > > …even if half the Senate disagrees… Half of a hundred is not fifty-one. Half of a hundred is fifty. The Heritage, huh? Yep. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/971 "2013-01-25T04:26:39Z")
Not sure what’s stupid about the first proposal, but the other two do seem awfully dumb. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/972 "2013-01-25T04:36:54Z")
“Obama thinks of himself as the god-emperor of the USA”? No wonder no one takes you seriously. And the complaint? Filibuster reform … making it harder to … _filibuster_. It used to be used for “debate on a contentious issue,” but the Republicans have turned it into a simple, no-frills obstructionist technique. The pros and cons of filibuster reform aside, you’re a fucking idiot. ---
**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:** [January 25, 2013, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/973 "2013-01-25T05:07:33Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > It’s bad enough that Obama thinks of himself as the god-emperor of the USA. Where does this bizarre meme come from? I am sincerely curious; should I ask in GQ ? > [@Clothahump](#): > > JezzusFrickinChrist, no wonder our government is as fucked up as it is. 😃 " I’ll give you three guesses; first two don’t count." 😃 ---
**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:** [January 25, 2013, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/974 "2013-01-25T09:56:48Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Where does this bizarre meme come from? It’s right-wing-crazy-speak for “Obama is accomplishing things we don’t like despite our attempts to stop him”. See also: “ramming down our throats”. But I agree that the filibuster reforms as set out by **Clothahump** , if accurately portrayed, are stupid ideas. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Jocko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncle_jocko/32/2932_2.png) [@Uncle\_Jocko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Jocko)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/975 "2013-01-25T13:22:39Z")
“-- Make it easier for one party to pass legislation, even if half the Senate disagrees: To stop debate on a contentious issue, 60 votes are now required. But the proposal being floated would create a way for the Majority Leader to pass any proposal with only 51 votes.” Oh My (Muslim Communist) God!!! Passing _ **any proposal** _ by majority vote! What will these godless heathens think of next? On the other hand, considering the current Republican mania of gerrymandering and changing allocation of electoral votes (to gain an Electoral College advantage over and above the popular vote), it shouldn’t be a surprise that “half plus one” are dirty words to the Heritage Foundation. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/976 "2013-01-25T13:42:48Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > It’s bad enough that Obama thinks of himself as the god-emperor of the USA. It’s easy to see where they get this idea, here is what the inauguration sounded like to conservatives: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/fpwhA-LdOHo/hqdefault.jpg ""Inauguration 2013: A Bad Lip Reading: — A Bad Lip Reading of Barack Obama's Inauguration") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpwhA-LdOHo) ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/977 "2013-01-25T16:43:26Z")
> [@Heritage Foundation](#): > > Make it easier for one party to pass legislation, even if half the Senate disagrees: To stop debate on a contentious issue, 60 votes are now required. But the proposal being floated would create a way for the Majority Leader to pass any proposal with only 51 votes. Yeah, it makes it easier to get stuff in the Senate to a vote. Bills still have to get 51 senators, or 50 senators and the VP, to vote for them, _and get the House of Representatives to vote on them and get a majority to vote for it,_ and get the president’s signature to become law. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/978 "2013-01-25T16:52:51Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Really, Harry? Really? > > It’s bad enough that Obama thinks of himself as the god-emperor of the USA. Now you are trying to set yourself up in the same role in the Senate? What you think is happening, isn’t actually so. Because of your intense gullibility and vapid acceptance of anything RW radio tells you, you’re seething in rage at nonsense. > [@](#): > > JezzusFrickinChrist, no wonder our government is as fucked up as it is. It’s fucked up because gullible twats like you vote against your self-interests to fight a foe that doesn’t exist. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/979 "2013-01-25T17:10:58Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > It’s bad enough that Obama thinks of himself as the god-emperor of the USA. This is more stupid by far than anything else in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/980 "2013-01-25T17:36:08Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > It’s bad enough that Obama thinks of himself as the god-emperor of the USA. You are become Parody, destroyer of thoughts. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086.md?page=48) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086.md?page=50)