# 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:** 1103
**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:** [June 5, 2015, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22042 "2015-06-05T17:14:37Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [The Duggar endorsements of Mike Huckabee’s Presidential campaign have mysteriously disappeared from his campaign website.](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/duggar-endorsements-disappear-mike-huckabee) To be fair, distancing himself from the Duggars seems like a pretty smart Republican idea. ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22043 "2015-06-05T17:39:26Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Scott Walker is now [going after](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/05/us/politics/unions-subdued-scott-walker-turns-to-tenure-at-wisconsin-colleges.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=second-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news) the state university system of tenure. He wants the governor-appointed board to have say over firing of tenured professors and over curriculum. This will, of course, resonate with the morons on the far right who want to see the ‘Christian’ version of reality taught in our schools. While I agree that tenure should not guarantee the employment of a bad teacher, arbitrary firings should not be allowed. My father relates a story about a tenured professor in the 50’s who taught political science at a university in Arizona. One his lectures described the benefits of communism as opposed to a capitalist version in a hypothetical sense. This was too much for the local politicians who got him fired from the university. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22044 "2015-06-05T17:44:58Z")
Sentient pile of Longhorn dung, Rep. Louie Gohmert was on the house floor, [“just asking questions”](http://www.rawstory.com/2015/06/louie-gohmert-goes-crazy-on-the-house-floor-is-obama-a-terrorist-im-just-asking/) about whether The President of the United States is in fact a terrorist. This man is insane. Can a Representative be removed from office for mental health? I’m just asking questions. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22045 "2015-06-05T18:59:08Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Scott Walker is now [going after](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/05/us/politics/unions-subdued-scott-walker-turns-to-tenure-at-wisconsin-colleges.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=second-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news) the state university system of tenure. He wants the governor-appointed board to have say over firing of tenured professors and over curriculum. This will, of course, resonate with the morons on the far right who want to see the ‘Christian’ version of reality taught in our schools. While I agree that tenure should not guarantee the employment of a bad teacher, arbitrary firings should not be allowed. Here’s a quote from the article: > [@](#): > > A legislative committee voted on Friday to “keep several of the flexibilities Governor Walker originally proposed, including the specific proposal regarding tenure,” said Laurel Patrick, Mr. Walker’s spokeswoman, adding that Mr. Walker’s law limiting public-sector unions in 2011 had also eliminated tenure requirements in the school system. “Today, graduation rates are up, third-grade reading scores are up, and **A.C.T. scores are second-best in the country**.” (bolding mine) [No, they are 17th in the country, at least according to this ACT recap of scores by state for 2014](http://www.act.org/newsroom/data/2014/states.html). There are no posted scores by state for 2015, because 2015 isn’t over yet. Did Laurel Patrick just lie to the press, and by extension, to the American public at large? 😕 ETA: I just sent an email asking why this discrepancy wasn’t noted in the article. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22046 "2015-06-05T20:10:08Z")
> [@yanceylebeef](#): > > Sentient pile of Longhorn dung, Rep. Louie Gohmert “Sentient” is debatable, as I’d argue he has no self-awareness; perhaps describe him as “vocal” instead? The rest of the statement is just defamatory to bovine digestive systems. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22047 "2015-06-05T20:12:13Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > [Somebody just keeps shedding precious brain cells](http://www.rawstory.com/2015/06/sarah-palin-blows-her-top-over-duggars-coverage-pervert-liberals-spit-on-the-graves-of-every-american-soldier/) > … the “wrongdoing” that the media should be discussing was the leak of Josh Duggar’s records, and “_the media’s hell-bent mission to go after the entire Duggar family_.” > > _Such obvious double standards applied to equally relevant stories underestimate the wisdom of the public, discredit the press, and spit on the graves of every American who fought and died for the press’s freedom._ > > and we just keep enabling her (yeah, yeah, stop pointing that mirror at me) I’m surprised she didn’t throw a “911” atop that hot button word sundae: “Such obvious double standards applied to equally relevant stories underestimate the wisdom of the public, discredit the press, and spit on the graves of every American who fought and died for the press’s freedom… And 911!” ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22048 "2015-06-05T20:47:41Z")
OK, this falls under the heading of “incredibly evil and short-sighted” rather than stupid, but Representative Duncan of South Carolina (may his eyes be pecked out by piping plovers) introduced an amendment to [H.R. 2578 effectively ending enforcement of the migratory bird treaty act.](https://www.congress.gov/amendment/114th-congress/house-amendment/347) What the fuckity fuck? For the record, the migratory bird treaty act was enacted in 1918 after hunters in the US had effectively eliminated entire bird species from their breeding areas in the States in order to supply the fashion industry (among others) with feathers. So this fuckwit wants to kneecap these protections, no doubt to make it easier for industries to clear bothersome birds off develop-able beaches and forests. (Given that he’s from South Carolina, chances are he has buddies with beachfront properties they want to build hotels on.) ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22049 "2015-06-05T20:59:09Z")
It might be nice to thin out the Canada geese flocks a bit. They’re certainly not endangered anymore, and lots of 'em don’t seem to be migratory, either. They _are_ all over the place, though, and they’re dirty, dirty birds, as anyone who has had to pick their way through the minefield of goose-pooped sidewalks knows. I pity the people who want to play on the grass in the park. The poop is green, so it’s hard to see until you’ve stepped into it. But that’s an exception. I wouldn’t necessarily favour it for other bird species. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22050 "2015-06-05T21:17:54Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > It might be nice to thin out the Canada geese flocks a bit. They’re certainly not endangered anymore, and lots of 'em don’t seem to be migratory, either. They _are_ all over the place, though, That’s the thing. There is provision for hunting in the treaty act. There are hunting seasons for Canada geese and exemptions for various introduced invasive species. It’s possible to modify the act as necessary. But completely eliminating enforcement is just part of what seems to be the GOP’s desire to unwind all the environmental protections we’ve established over the past 50-100 years and let corporate America go back to turning vast areas of land and water into polluted nightmares. Do they really think Americans want this? ---
**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:** [June 5, 2015, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22051 "2015-06-05T21:21:11Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > Do they really think Americans want this? No, they know that Corporate-Americans want this. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22052 "2015-06-05T21:57:28Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > No, they know that Corporate-Americans want this. And they are people too, my friend. ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22053 "2015-06-05T22:07:10Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Hey, it worked for Nixon, didn’t it ? Damn. Someone beat me to that. Trump is channeling his inner tricky dick. ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22054 "2015-06-05T23:01:56Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Here’s a quote from the article: > (bolding mine) > [No, they are 17th in the country, at least according to this ACT recap of scores by state for 2014](http://www.act.org/newsroom/data/2014/states.html). There are no posted scores by state for 2015, because 2015 isn’t over yet. > > Did Laurel Patrick just lie to the press, and by extension, to the American public at large? 😕 > > ETA: I just sent an email asking why this discrepancy wasn’t noted in the article. FYI, I just checked and Wisconsin was 16th in 2011, the last year before the 2011-12 budget came into being. I think it can be safely said whatever changes the Fitzwalkers have made in the state’s education, they haven’t improved ACT performance. ---
**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:** [June 5, 2015, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22055 "2015-06-05T23:51:36Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > Prostitution? > Actually, this brings up an interesting point. Can I make the notarized marriage contract be for one night? There’s nothing wrong with signing a contract in exchange for a consideration. Does this effectively legalize prostitution in Alabama? Not to mention polygamy. ---
**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:** [June 6, 2015, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22056 "2015-06-06T00:40:29Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > It gets better in that Pope Francis actually has a Masters Degree in Chemistry. > > So, you know, scientist. It now appears that is a[bit of an over statement](http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/popechemistry.asp#hHLKltMS3O4bXZ7D.99): > [@](#): > > “For Bergoglio’s generation, a university education was still something pretty much beyond the reach of his social class,” explains Jesuit Fr. Arthur Liebscher, associate professor of Latin American church history at Santa Clara University. “Although Argentine education is completely free of charge, there was an elitist air to finishing a licentiate or doctorate. Bergoglio took advantage of what was available, and it wasn’t bad.” > > What he did do was graduate with a título in chemistry from the Escuela Técnica Industrial No. 12, which is a state-run technical secondary school. > > In the Argentine system, “the título (same word used for a secondary diploma or a university degree) was earned at about age 19 after an extended secondary program,” Liebscher said. “Not everyone who goes to secondary school gets one of those diplomas, and the título really represents something beyond our high-school diploma, something akin a certificate from a community college in the U.S.” ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22057 "2015-06-06T01:17:40Z")
So, he has an advanced GED? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22058 "2015-06-06T01:30:45Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > So, he has an advanced GED? In Quebec, it might be the analog of a [DEC](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_College_Diploma), which is typically earned after high school but before university. ---
**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:** [June 6, 2015, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22059 "2015-06-06T06:13:53Z")
> [@BigAppleBucky](#): > > Damn. Someone beat me to that. Trump is channeling his inner tricky dick. Only has to work on summoning up the tricky, really. The dick he’s already got extensive experience being. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22060 "2015-06-06T15:23:45Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Not to mention polygamy. No, polygamy was specifically covered in the proposed law (which I believe didn’t make it out of the Alabama House). Only one contract at a time. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22061 "2015-06-06T15:29:36Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > No, polygamy was specifically covered in the proposed law (which I believe didn’t make it out of the Alabama House). Only one contract at a time. Heck, write multiple contracts with non-overlapping terms: The terms of Contract 1 with Susan only apply on Monday. The terms of Contract 2 with Judy only apply on Tuesday. The terms of Contract 3 with Mary only apply on Wednesday. The terms of Contract 4 with Carol only apply on Thursday. Etc. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1102) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1104)