# 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:** 1031
**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, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20602 "2015-03-29T23:41:39Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > Would have been a lot more effective at winning over the kids if they had added a Pat Boone soundtrack. Available on Amazon: > **[Pat Boone - No More Mr. Nice Guy - Amazon.com Music](https://www.amazon.com/No-More-Mr-Nice-Guy/dp/B000005KOE)** > > Product Description Pat Boone spent much of the '80s and '90s out of the secular media spotlight, but in 1997 he made a splash - charting at #125 on the Billboard Top 200 chart - with In A Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy, a tongue-in-cheek... **PAt Boone: In a Metal Mood: No More Mr Nice Guy** Funny. They misspelled “mental”. ---
**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 30, 2015, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20603 "2015-03-30T00:11:23Z")
I remember when that album came out. I also remember the insane costume Pat wore when he plugged it on a few talk shows. I remember thinking that a better title would have been _Pat Boone: Casting Aside What Remains Of My Dignity And Credibility In An Insane Attempt To Remain Relevant,_ but I guess that wouldn’t have all fit on the album cover… Although now that I think about it, that would also have been a pretty good title for the press release in question! ---
**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:** [March 30, 2015, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20604 "2015-03-30T00:56:39Z")
> [@Master\_Wang-Ka](#): > > But… to issue a press release… to address an issue … with a bunch of idiotic eyerolling GIFs pasted in? Not to mention violating a slew of copyrights. He will getting a letter from the House of Mouse, among others. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2015, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20605 "2015-03-30T01:32:07Z")
> [@Master\_Wang-Ka](#): > > I remember when that album came out. I also remember the insane costume Pat wore when he plugged it on a few talk shows. > > I remember thinking that a better title would have been _Pat Boone: Casting Aside What Remains Of My Dignity And Credibility In An Insane Attempt To Remain Relevant,_ but I guess that wouldn’t have all fit on the album cover… > > Although now that I think about it, that would also have been a pretty good title for the press release in question! [It couldn’t have been _ **that** _ bad.](http://media.cmgdigital.com/shared/img/photos/2014/01/27/c8/d5/Boone.jpg) [Could it?](http://www.billboard.com/photos/stylus/2631039-AMAs-40th-Anniversary-Pat-Boone-617-409.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2015, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20606 "2015-03-30T01:42:10Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > Would have been a lot more effective at winning over the kids if they had added a Pat Boone soundtrack. Hahahaha! Hide those Little Richard LPs! I think all the girls they gif’d weren’t repubs anyway, except Brittany Spears. ---
**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 30, 2015, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20607 "2015-03-30T02:52:23Z")
> [@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… Holy crap! I know it’s become almost a cliche to invoke Poe’s Law but damn. The more I see the more convinced I am that Poe’s Law should be considered almost a natural law. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2015, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20608 "2015-03-30T03:00:37Z")
> [@Master\_Wang-Ka](#): > > 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!” To be fair to the staffers, they just threw some shit together in a hurry so they could get back to the porn. ---
**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 30, 2015, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20609 "2015-03-30T04:32:59Z")
This doesn’t really qualify as a stupid Republican idea, but it is relevant to this thread’s ongoing discussion regarding Indiana’s religious freedom act and it does show how such laws can backfire, at least from the probable viewpoint of those who championed it. According to this article, the First Church of Cannabis will be arguing for their rights under the new law. [http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/03/whoops-indianas-anti-gay-religious-freedom-act-opens-the-door-for-the-first-church-of-cannabis/](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/03/whoops-indianas-anti-gay-religious-freedom-act-opens-the-door-for-the-first-church-of-cannabis/) > [@](#): > > Church founder Bill Levin announced on his Facebook page that the church’s registration has been approved, writing, “Status: Approved by Secretary of State of Indiana – “Congratulations your registration has been approved!” Now we begin to accomplish our goals of Love, Understanding, and Good Health.” > … > According to Indiana attorney and political commentator Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, Indiana legislators, in their haste to protect the religious values and practices of their constituents, may have unwittingly put the state in an awkward position with those who profess to smoke pot as a religious sacrament. > … > “So, with that said, what ‘compelling interest’ would the state of Indiana have to prohibit me from using marijuana as part of my religious practice?” he asked. ” I would argue marijuana is less dangerous than alcohol and wine used in religious ceremonies. Marijuana isn’t anymore ‘addictive’ than alcohol and wine is used in some religious ceremonies. And marijuana isn’t any more of a ‘gateway’ drug than the wine used in a religious ceremony will make you go out any buy hard liquor. (At least not on Sunday.)” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2015, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20610 "2015-03-30T04:55:21Z")
It also lets adherents follow Paul’s dictum to the Thessalonians: _Pray ceaselessly…_ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2015, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20611 "2015-03-30T05:12:04Z")
All freedoms result in activities many or even most of us, wouldn’t approve of. ---
**Author:** ![buddy431](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@buddy431](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddy431)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2015, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20612 "2015-03-30T05:25:00Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > This doesn’t really qualify as a stupid Republican idea, but it is relevant to this thread’s ongoing discussion regarding Indiana’s religious freedom act and it does show how such laws can backfire, at least from the probable viewpoint of those who championed it. > > According to this article, the First Church of Cannabis will be arguing for their rights under the new law. > [http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/03/whoops-indianas-anti-gay-religious-freedom-act-opens-the-door-for-the-first-church-of-cannabis/](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/03/whoops-indianas-anti-gay-religious-freedom-act-opens-the-door-for-the-first-church-of-cannabis/) That’s actually pretty much exactly what the federal RFRA was passed for too: A couple members of the Native American Church lost their jobs for doing peyote (which the supreme court upheld). Congress said “that ain’t right” and passed the RFRA with wide bipartisan support. The federal law has also been used to uphold the right of the UDV church to drink hoasca tea. I think Indiana will have a fun time explaining why it’s OK for the Native American Church to do peyote but not OK for the Church of Cannabis to do pot. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2015, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20613 "2015-03-30T05:41:37Z")
If you are willing to chew a handful of peyote to talk to God, you tucking deserve to go to Heaven! ---
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2015, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20614 "2015-03-30T12:34:25Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > …also lets adherents follow… Apropos of nothing, and it’ll never happen, but if **adaher** ever attracts followers, we’ll have to call them **adaherents**. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2015, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20615 "2015-03-30T13:47:35Z")
> [@Randolph](#): > > Apropos of nothing, and it’ll never happen, but if **adaher** ever attracts followers, we’ll have to call them **adaherents**. Well, “adahesions” is already taken, though I don’t recall seeing any bidet manufacturers actually using it in their advertising. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2015, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20616 "2015-03-30T13:48:54Z")
> [@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/) Given conservatives’ tendency to engage in blatant projection, I guess we now know why she did such a miserable job running HP. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2015, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20617 "2015-03-30T14:18:50Z")
> [@Randolph](#): > > if **adaher** ever attracts followers He \*is \*a follower, but doesn’t even realize it. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2015, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20618 "2015-03-30T16:17:53Z")
I’m sorry if I’ve missed the discussion, but how is the Indiana law different from 1994’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act that was signed by Bill Clinton? This is not any kind of “gotcha” question, I’m honestly curious how the two compare/contrast? ---
**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:** [March 30, 2015, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20619 "2015-03-30T16:29:59Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > I’m sorry if I’ve missed the discussion, but how is the Indiana law different from 1994’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act that was signed by Bill Clinton? This is not any kind of “gotcha” question, I’m honestly curious how the two compare/contrast? I can’t tell you details, but what immediately comes to mind is 20+ years of social progress on attitudes toward gay men and women. ---
**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 30, 2015, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20620 "2015-03-30T16:40:16Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > I’m sorry if I’ve missed the discussion, but how is the Indiana law different from 1994’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act that was signed by Bill Clinton? This is not any kind of “gotcha” question, I’m honestly curious how the two compare/contrast? There’s a GQ thread about this if you want to check it out, but the main point seems to be that the new laws expressly protect the rights of corporations to hold and exercise religious beliefs where the 1994 law only protected the rights of individuals and churches. I am somewhat oversimplifying this, recent “corporations are people” court rulings have played into this. In addition the intent behind the Indiana law is suspect because of the anti-gay agendas of the groups that pushed for it. ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2015, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20621 "2015-03-30T16:49:21Z")
**Rhombus** , [http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2015\_03/pence\_looks\_for\_cover054854.php](http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2015_03/pence_looks_for_cover054854.php) might answer your question. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1030) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1032)