# Stupid Republican idea of the day **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 26, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897 "2009-03-26T18:48:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1030
**Author:** ![buddy431](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@buddy431](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddy431)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20582 "2015-03-29T16:37:10Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Fair enough. But that also applies to black individuals, which is why cabbies can get away with driving right on by without risk of punishment. Cab drivers in many jurisdictions are required to pick up the first person who flags them (not only because of racial issues, but also, for example, to prevent them from passing over someone who is going to a less lucrative place). It’s hard to enforce, obviously (the driver can usually just say he didn’t see someone), but it’s not strictly unenforceable. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20583 "2015-03-29T16:46:00Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > So basically we can call it the “Making liberals keep their promises” Act. Surely you have a cite to a set of posts a while back in which a representative majority of liberals made the claim that gay marriage would have literally ZERO impact in any way on anyone ever? Because (a) I’m sure you can’t, and (b) if you can, well, those people were wrong, they should have amended “this will have literally ZERO impact in any way on anyone… with some exceptions that are so obvious that we hardly think it worth mentioning, such as that you will have to have married gay neighbors, plus a few corner cases for people who actually direct work in wedding-oriented fields, such as county clerks and event planners”. So far you’re even worse than Bricker at finding liberal hypocrisy, and that’s saying something. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20584 "2015-03-29T16:55:47Z")
> [@Uncle\_Jocko](#): > > Reminds me of something else I saw online this week. Jesus says, “Love one another as I have loved you.” The crowd responds, “What if they’re gay? Or worship different gods?” > > Jesus responds, “Did I fucking stutter?” [One more for your collection.](http://thevisualcommunicationguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/JesusHadTwoDads.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20585 "2015-03-29T18:09:00Z")
I still can’t wrap my head around the idea of straight wedding planners. Male ones, at least. It’s like one of those hypotheticals conservatives throw around that have no place in a reality-based universe. What are they called? You know, the ones that are easy to toss because they are lightweight, as if they were filled with straw. ---
**Author:** ![Ionizer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5daacb/32.png) [@Ionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ionizer)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20586 "2015-03-29T18:17:15Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > [One more for your collection.](http://thevisualcommunicationguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/JesusHadTwoDads.jpg) Thx, **Miller**! It helps my teenaged-daughter deal with her being gay here in Central Oklahoma,a huge bastion of hatred towards non-religious folk and LGBT’s. Made her smile seeing such a ‘policy’ from a church despite us being agnostic. Fight that ignorance, 'eh?! ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20587 "2015-03-29T19:12:27Z")
[http://www.conservativereason.org/are-conservatives-anti-science](http://www.conservativereason.org/are-conservatives-anti-science) > [@](#): > > **Are Conservatives Anti-Science?** > Scientists tell us that carbon dioxide is warming the planet. But basic common sense tells many people that plants breathe carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. They claim that the more carbon dioxide we produce, the more plants thrive, and the more oxygen they make for us. > > Scientists tell us that humans are responsible for global warming. But common sense tells many people that there’s nothing that humans could do to have a measurable effect on the climate. > > Scientists tell us about evolutionary theory. But common sense tells many people that the Bible is correct. In fact, over 40% of Americans believe the bible. Compare that to the 5% of Americans who are scientists and engineers. Which group should politicians serve? The larger one, of course. Not as a cynical attempt to win votes, but because larger groups more closely represent the American people. > > Scientists tell us that vaccines are safe. But a growing number of Americans are beginning to think otherwise. The article basically tries to make two points. One, that scientists represent only 5% of the population (I’m not sure if that number is correct, but they are a minority) and that politicians need to represent the majority, not some small minority. Their example of 40% bible believers versus 5% scientists and engineers fails badly. If 40% are bible believers then 60% aren’t, so by the article’s own reasoning the 60% are the ones that they should be representing. Either the author is being disingenuous, he didn’t bother to do the math, or he is unable to do the math correctly. It’s hard to say. The second point it tries to make is that common sense should win out over science. I don’t think I have to explain the problems with this on the SDMB. I think nearly everyone on here, regardless of political persuasion, will see the problems with that contention. ---
**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:** [March 29, 2015, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20588 "2015-03-29T19:26:37Z")
Along those same lines, today’s Cedar Rapids Gazette had an article about the Iowa state Board of Education’s process for developing new standards for science education. Apparently (what a shock), some (Republican) legislators and some members of the state board have concerns with the inclusion of evolution and climate change in these proposed standards. One official said that not only are they considering the input of educators and scientists in putting together these standards, but they are also taking input and comments from the general public. Umm, does science really go by popular opinion? Does it advance the intelligence and knowledge of our state’s students if their science curriculum is adjusted based on what Joe Churchgoer down the block thinks is “true,” and damn those atheist librul lefty scientists and all they stand for? It is indeed a sad time when leaders responsible for determining what’s being taught in our schools have problems with _evolution_, for crying out loud, because it doesn’t agree with faith. You don’t teach faith in science class, dimwit. Science is where you posit a theory and then test it. If the results don’t go along with your theory, there’s something wrong with your theory, but the key is YOU TEST IT. Teaching faith, that’s what church is for. ---
**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:** [March 29, 2015, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20589 "2015-03-29T19:32:57Z")
> [@Uncle\_Jocko](#): > > Once again **adaher** takes umbrage with something being called a stupid Republican idea and blows up this thread with shoddily defended rantings … dude, you’ve been shown multiple times the definition of “public accommodation” is NOT limited to a physical place. Give it up. > > This whole RFRA thing reminds me of a tweet I saw the other day. “I’m getting married for the fifth time, to the wife of a neighbor that I got pregnant and ruined their marriage. Can you bake me a wedding cake?” > > “Are you gay?” > > “Nope.” > > “Coming right up!” > > Seriously, you never hear of bakers or florists or wedding planners turning down weddings that violate all kinds of religious principles, but make the wedding between a same-sex couple and suddenly their scruples are offended. I say use the RFRA to make these folks walk the talk they’re spouting - I doubt any of them would stay in business very long if they were truly following the religious strictures they " Adaher, gleeful odious bigot that he is, is either being extraordinarily stupid or deliberately disingenuous in his cites on public accommodation by selecting cites that are specific to the Americans with Disabilites Act (ADA) . Of course, if you perform all your work at the client’s premises its not your responsibility to make their premises ADA compliable. So, troll boy, yes, if some guy in a wheelchair asks you to come to his house to fix his computer that does not obligate you to install a wheelchair ramp > **[Public accommodations in the United States](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_accommodations)** > > In United States law, public accommodations are generally defined as facilities, whether publicly or privately owned, that are used by the public at large. Examples include retail stores, rental establishments, and service establishments as well as educational institutions, recreational facilities, and service centers. > Under U.S. federal law, public accommodations must be accessible to the disabled and may not discriminate on the basis of "race, color, religion, or national origin." Private club... You will see the definition includes service establishments, which would include wedding planners. The definition also includes rental establishments and I mention this because many rental places do not have a physical storefront - orders are taken online or over the phone and delivered. You could probably get away with running your wedding planning business as a private club - getting all business strictly through word of mouth referrals- but that would mean no advertising to the public, no soliciting or promoting via a publicly accessible website and no promoting your business at trade shows and bridal fairs. Nice work if you can get it. But, even then, if you contracted for a wedding and only realized later that it was a gay wedding you’d be on the hook anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20590 "2015-03-29T19:34:16Z")
[Carly Fiorina, who says that she’s more than 90% likely to declare her candidacy for President, says the problem with civil service is government employees spend all day watching porn on the Internet.](http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/03/29/gop-nut-carly-fiorina-blames-economic-struggles-on-workers-watching-prn-all-day-long-video/) And here I thought it was cat videos. ---
**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:** [March 29, 2015, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20591 "2015-03-29T20:02:04Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [Carly Fiorina, who says that she’s more than 90% likely to declare her candidacy for President, says the problem with civil service is government employees spend all day watching porn on the Internet.](http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/03/29/gop-nut-carly-fiorina-blames-economic-struggles-on-workers-watching-prn-all-day-long-video/) > > And here I thought it was cat videos. An idiot, a hopeless panderer, a strawman erecting loser. The good news; other mouth-breathers will piss away money on her that might have been spent on an equally odious competitor who hides their stupidity better. Between porn, I actually work to save lives and preserve property in case things blow up. Actually, you are monitored and get fired if you do watch on govt. computers. Hell, even anything that smells or rhymes with anything suspicious is blocked. What a useless piece of shit. And a crappy business exec. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20592 "2015-03-29T20:39:19Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [Carly Fiorina, who says that she’s more than 90% likely to declare her candidacy for President, says the problem with civil service is government employees spend all day watching porn on the Internet.](http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/03/29/gop-nut-carly-fiorina-blames-economic-struggles-on-workers-watching-prn-all-day-long-video/) > > And here I thought it was cat videos. Cat porn is becoming very popular. At least, that’s what I hear. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20593 "2015-03-29T20:44:05Z")
SRIOTD, Turd Polishing Division > **[Swarens: Gov. Mike Pence to push for clarification of 'religious freedom' law](https://www.indystar.com/story/opinion/columnists/tim-swarens/2015/03/28/swarens-gov-mike-pence-push-clarification-religious-freedom-law/70611906/)** > > Gov. Mike Pence, scorched by a fast-spreading political firestorm, told The Star on Saturday that he will support the introduction of legislation that will attempt to "clarify" that Indiana's controversial "religious freedom" law does not promote... **Gov. Mike Pence to push for clarification of ‘religious freedom’ law** > [@](#): > > Gov. Mike Pence, scorched by a fast-spreading political firestorm, told The Star on Saturday that he will support the introduction of legislation to “clarify” that Indiana’s controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act does not promote discrimination against gays and lesbians… Right. Sure. Hugh Betcha. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20594 "2015-03-29T20:46:18Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > [http://www.conservativereason.org/are-conservatives-anti-science](http://www.conservativereason.org/are-conservatives-anti-science) > The article basically tries to make two points. One, that scientists represent only 5% of the population (I’m not sure if that number is correct, but they are a minority) and that politicians need to represent the majority, not some small minority. Their example of 40% bible believers versus 5% scientists and engineers fails badly. If 40% are bible believers then 60% aren’t, so by the article’s own reasoning the 60% are the ones that they should be representing. Either the author is being disingenuous, he didn’t bother to do the math, or he is unable to do the math correctly. It’s hard to say. > > The second point it tries to make is that common sense should win out over science. I don’t think I have to explain the problems with this on the SDMB. I think nearly everyone on here, regardless of political persuasion, will see the problems with that contention. To be fair, the article doesn’t just complain about scientists, it proposes a solution: “And once more scientists adopt a common sense approach to science, they’ll find that they have the support of conservative politicians.” ---
**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:** [March 29, 2015, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20595 "2015-03-29T22:37:37Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > SRIOTD, Turd Polishing Division > > [Swarens: Gov. Mike Pence to push for clarification of 'religious freedom' law](http://www.indystar.com/story/opinion/columnists/tim-swarens/2015/03/28/swarens-gov-mike-pence-push-clarification-religious-freedom-law/70611906/) > > **Gov. Mike Pence to push for clarification of ‘religious freedom’ law** > > Right. Sure. Hugh Betcha. He certainly clarified that he’s a fearful bigot, and that the law was there to serve discriminatory purposes… > **[Indiana Gov. Mike Pence Says Controversial 'Religious Freedom' Law Won't Change](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/indiana-gov-mike-pence-controversial-religious-freedom-law/story?id=29985752)** > > Mike Pence said that the issue had been turned into "shameless rhetoric." ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20596 "2015-03-29T22:45:25Z")
THIS thing terrifies me. I don’t want it to be real. And yet, here it is. [http://judiciary.house.gov/index.cfm/2015/3/at-the-flick-of-a-switch](http://judiciary.house.gov/index.cfm/2015/3/at-the-flick-of-a-switch) Really? I mean, I EXPECT politicians to LIE to me. I expect them to spin things however they want me to see it, to convince me, to garner my votes and support. That’s what politicians DO. But… to issue a press release… to address an issue … with a bunch of idiotic eyerolling GIFs pasted in? Did some hoary old bewhiskered wardheeler address his staff and say, “All right now, you young whippersnappers with your viral youtubes and series of pipes, I want you to rearrange this press release to look like something you’d find on your Faces Book Thing, with those little moom pitcher things, so it’ll convince the young people of the rightness of our crusade against the evil Muslim Kenyan. Now hop to it!” Please, ghod, let it be a joke from the Onion or something… ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20597 "2015-03-29T22:59:14Z")
The 90’s called and want their gif infested web page back > **[90s Gifs](https://ilove90sgifs.tumblr.com/)** ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20598 "2015-03-29T23:13:45Z")
“For real?.. Not cool!” Like, OMG. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20599 "2015-03-29T23:17:25Z")
> [@Master\_Wang-Ka](#): > > THIS thing terrifies me. I don’t want it to be real. And yet, here it is. > > [http://judiciary.house.gov/index.cfm/2015/3/at-the-flick-of-a-switch](http://judiciary.house.gov/index.cfm/2015/3/at-the-flick-of-a-switch) > > Really? I mean, I EXPECT politicians to LIE to me. I expect them to spin things however they want me to see it, to convince me, to garner my votes and support. That’s what politicians DO. > > But… to issue a press release… to address an issue … with a bunch of idiotic eyerolling GIFs pasted in? Did some hoary old bewhiskered wardheeler address his staff and say, “All right now, you young whippersnappers with your viral youtubes and series of pipes, I want you to rearrange this press release to look like something you’d find on your Faces Book Thing, with those little moom pitcher things, so it’ll convince the young people of the rightness of our crusade against the evil Muslim Kenyan. Now hop to it!” > > Please, ghod, let it be a joke from the Onion or something… Would have been a lot more effective at winning over the kids if they had added a Pat Boone soundtrack. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20600 "2015-03-29T23:22:56Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > Would have been a lot more effective at winning over the kids if they had added a Pat Boone soundtrack. Today, **Tony Sinclair** is officially funnier than I am. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20601 "2015-03-29T23:34:31Z")
> [@](#): > > “And once more scientists adopt a common sense approach to science, they’ll find that they have the support of conservative politicians.” Damn Jiffy! Since when does string need a theory? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1029) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1031)