# 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:** 1043
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20842 "2015-04-06T20:51:19Z")
I, for one, strongly support Ted Cruz in his efforts: > **[Cruz’s Constant References to Jesus Drive Millions to Atheism](https://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/cruzs-constant-references-to-jesus-drive-millions-to-atheism)** > > Ted Cruz’s constant references to Jesus Christ in his speeches and campaign ads are sparking a strong interest in atheism among millions of Americans. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20843 "2015-04-06T20:52:53Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Don’t forget to measure their facial features.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesare_Lombroso) Phrenology raises its ugly, uh, spectre. ---
**Author:** ![slumtrimpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@slumtrimpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slumtrimpet)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20844 "2015-04-06T20:52:57Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > For a change of pace: [“Why I Left the GOP,”](http://www.salon.com/2012/09/10/why_i_left_the_gop/) by Jeremiah Goulka; a fascinating account of a recovering conservative’s journey of political education and discovery. Every once in a while I think that maybe I live in an echo chamber since I mostly get my news and opinions from the BBC, and The Guardian and I read the Dope as well as Tom Dispatch and other recognized dirty librul sources. Then I read something like this and I realize that no, I actually do live in the reality based world. ☹ Sadly, it’s not a happy place. ---
**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:** [April 6, 2015, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20845 "2015-04-06T22:12:37Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > For a change of pace: [“Why I Left the GOP,”](http://www.salon.com/2012/09/10/why_i_left_the_gop/) by Jeremiah Goulka; a fascinating account of a recovering conservative’s journey of political education and discovery. > [@a35362](#): > > Wow. Thanks for sharing that, **BG**. Agreed. I hope it’s not considered poor form for me to point out that the article dates from September, 2012. ---
**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:** [April 6, 2015, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20846 "2015-04-06T22:15:37Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > [Alaska state senator thinks we can determine by middle school who will become criminals, so we should collect and archive DNA samples from those kids because law enforcement will need that down the line](http://www.adn.com/article/20150403/senator-proposes-dna-sampling-some-middle-school-kids). And THAT’s not Big Government??? ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20847 "2015-04-06T22:42:52Z")
Why no, of course not. That’s Big Police, which can be privatized in due time. ---
**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:** [April 7, 2015, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20848 "2015-04-07T00:32:30Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > [Alaska state senator thinks we can determine by middle school who will become criminals, so we should collect and archive DNA samples from those kids because law enforcement will need that down the line](http://www.adn.com/article/20150403/senator-proposes-dna-sampling-some-middle-school-kids). After deciphering the code language (which doesn’t exactly require a consult with the NSA or anything), my conclusion is that the senator needs to consult his optometrist – most of us can distinguish blacks and Hispanics from whites at a much earlier age. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20849 "2015-04-07T01:38:17Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > For a change of pace: [“Why I Left the GOP,”](http://www.salon.com/2012/09/10/why_i_left_the_gop/) by Jeremiah Goulka; a fascinating account of a recovering conservative’s journey of political education and discovery. Good article, **BG**. Thanks for linking to it. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20850 "2015-04-07T13:21:32Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Agreed. I hope it’s not considered poor form for me to point out that the article dates from September, 2012. Got it off the “Most Read” column of Salon’s welcome page . . . but, it ain’t stale yet, is it? I mean, it isn’t about the 2012 election or something. ---
**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:** [April 7, 2015, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20851 "2015-04-07T13:49:47Z")
_We’ve_ known it for years, but now they’ve proven it: [Republicans are delusional](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/04/ted-cruz-isnt-an-idiot-hes-delusional-and-thats-far-more-dangerous/). - Nyhan and Reifler found that when conservatives who thought there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq were exposed to news stories correcting that view, “the correction backfired.” That is, “conservatives who received a correction telling them that Iraq did not have WMDs were more likely to believe that Iraq had WMD than those in the control condition.” This means that exposure to the truth not only failed to adjust their views to reality, it actually made them believe in their false ideas even more strongly.\* So engagement will always fail, and **adaher** , **Clothy** and the rest will never be convinced. Happy Tuesday. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20852 "2015-04-07T14:23:15Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > _This means that exposure to the truth not only failed to adjust their views to reality, it actually made them believe in their false ideas even more strongly._ Hm. [That is exactly how conspiracy theorists think.](http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Conspiracy_theorist#Denial) > [@](#): > > Denial is strongly linked with conspiracies in two senses. In one, the conspiracy theorist is in denial of the “official story,” which is more often than not the one supported by facts. However, in the second sense, anyone denying the existence of a conspiracy inadvertently proves that it must exist. Denial of on-going conspiracies can be taken as proof that said employees are “in on” whatever conspiracy they are busily denying. Usually, the more they deny, the more conspiracy theorists will take it as proof — because, well, “they would say that, wouldn’t they!” Furthermore, if people do not deny the theory, this can also be taken as proof on the grounds that “it has never been denied.” This applies equally to anyone involved in a large, perhaps mysterious, enterprise, such as “scientists,” “the Army,” “automobile manufacturers,” “Big Science/Petroleum/Tobacco/Florists” etc. That this entire line of reasoning is circular hardly needs pointing out. > > A conspiracy theory becomes a total _crackpot_ conspiracy theory when all evidence that might disprove the theory instead becomes co-opted as proof of the “cover-up” of said theory; requiring loyalty, resources, and competence on the part of the conspirators far in excess of what any actual conspiracy can muster. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20853 "2015-04-07T14:27:17Z")
As the saying goes, you can’t reason someone out of a position he didn’t reason himself into. ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20854 "2015-04-07T14:47:09Z")
[Carly Fiorina: Environmentalists To Blame For ‘Man-Made’ Drought In California](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/06/carly-fiorina-california-drought_n_7014468.html?utm_hp_ref=politics&ir=Politics) > [@](#): > > “For a science denier to opine that Democrats caused the drought in California is about as irrational as believing someone who failed at running a business in California and then failed as a candidate for office in California has any cause to be running for the highest office in the land,” Bobby Whithorne, the group’s spokesman, said in a statement. ---
**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:** [April 7, 2015, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20855 "2015-04-07T15:13:34Z")
OK, remind me again – [is this guy](http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/rand-paul-2016-merchandise-116727.html) the son of Ron Paul or Ron Popeil? > [@](#): > > Rand Paul is set to announce his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination later Tuesday in Louisville, and for just $20.16, you can own a Paul-themed eye chart featuring his campaign slogan: “Defeat the Washington machine. Unleash the American Dream.”… > > For $15, supporters can pick up the “NSA Spy Cam Blocker,” a plastic shield that goes over webcams on electronic devices. > > “That little front facing camera on your laptop or tablet can be a window for the world to see you – whether you know it or not!” the description reads. “Stop hackers and the NSA with this simple camera blocker. Safe and practical.”… ---
**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:** [April 7, 2015, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20856 "2015-04-07T15:30:31Z")
Or people could do what the rest of us do and stick a post-it note or piece of tape over the webcam, for a fraction of a cent. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20857 "2015-04-07T15:31:52Z")
Gyrate hates technology, America, and puppies. ---
**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:** [April 7, 2015, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20858 "2015-04-07T15:35:10Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Or people could do what the rest of us do and stick a post-it note or piece of tape over the webcam, for a fraction of a cent. Where’s the profit in that? ---
**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:** [April 7, 2015, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20859 "2015-04-07T15:40:34Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Or people could do what the rest of us do and stick a post-it note or piece of tape over the webcam, for a fraction of a cent. So, you want a Post-It Note to run for president? Hmm, would probably do less damage than Rand Paul. I’m in! Vote Post-It in '16! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20860 "2015-04-07T15:43:41Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > OK, remind me again – [is this guy](http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/rand-paul-2016-merchandise-116727.html) the son of Ron Paul or Ron Popeil? > [@Gyrate](#): > > Or people could do what the rest of us do and stick a post-it note or piece of tape over the webcam, for a fraction of a cent. 😕 Anyone who attaches a webcam to his computer intends to use it sometimes, right? So this makes sense only if you think the NSA can see you through your webcam even when you are not using it, perhaps even when the computer is turned off. Does anybody really think that?! ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/20861 "2015-04-07T15:44:46Z")
This thread is proof people think & believe all sorts of stupid shit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1042) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1044)