# 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:** 1135
**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:** [July 4, 2015, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22682 "2015-07-04T09:49:42Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [Cliven Bundy says that Rand Paul assured him that he will make Nevada a “sovereign state” if he’s elected President.](http://www.rawstory.com/2015/07/cliven-bundy-says-rand-paul-promised-to-make-nevada-a-sovereign-state-if-hes-elected-president/) What does that even _mean?_ ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22683 "2015-07-04T10:13:17Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > I believe you’re thinking of Gretchen Carlson, a Stanford grad who told her _Fox and Friends_ viewers that she had to look up the word “czar” to see what it meant. Ah, yes, thank you, that rings a bell now. Although I wouldn’t be surprised if it were true for a good many Fox News anchors. ---
**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:** [July 4, 2015, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22684 "2015-07-04T15:00:53Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > What does that even _mean?_ The South’s gon’ do it agin, boy ! ---
**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:** [July 4, 2015, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22685 "2015-07-04T15:38:23Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > I believe you’re thinking of Gretchen Carlson, a Stanford grad who told her _Fox and Friends_ viewers that she had to look up the word “czar” to see what it meant. > [@Kobal2](#): > > Ignoramus, not czar. Although she possibly did both. It was both. [And Jon Stewart hilariously eviscerated her for it (way back in 2009)](http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/ahba3f/gretchen-carlson-dumbs-down). ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22686 "2015-07-04T17:08:07Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > What does that even _mean?_ Well, I think Rand’s idea is that you give back all the Federal land to the state and let them make all the decisions about resource management, ecology, and environmental protection. Which would probably end up with several resource-rich states making Mordor look like a garden spot in comparison. According to Wikipedia, Cliven Bundy’s view of sovereign state is [considerably nuttier](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundy_standoff). > [@](#): > > J. J. MacNab, who writes for Forbes about anti-government extremism, has described Bundy’s views as inspired by the sovereign citizen movement, whose adherents believe that the county sheriff is the most powerful law-enforcement officer in the country, with authority superior to that of any federal agent, local law-enforcement agency or any other elected official.[37] On April 12, 2014, Bundy “ordered” Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie to confront the federal agents, disarm them and deliver their arms to Bundy within an hour of his demand. He later expressed disappointment that Gillespie did not comply, and he said that the demand had applied to all sheriffs in the country.[37][38] Given that, I’m going to give Rand the benefit of the doubt and make the assumption that Bundy’s interpretation of their little chat owes a certain amount to wishful thinking. ---
**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:** [July 4, 2015, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22687 "2015-07-04T17:49:59Z")
So he believes that county sheriffs are the most powerful law-enforcement in the country, and he believes that he personally can make demands of all sheriffs in the country. I guess that makes him supreme dictator. Why do we bother with elections? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22688 "2015-07-04T18:02:19Z")
The latest in conservatives eating each other; a Mormon contributor to the Federalist wrote an editorial about the suicide of Josh/Leelah Alcorn referring to the deceased as a female. [The paper changed the gender references to male without her approval or knowledge.](http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2015/07/03/3676934/federalist-transgender-erasure/) ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22689 "2015-07-04T18:05:55Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > I guess that makes him supreme dictator. Why do we bother with elections? Much of the GOPer base would be quite happy with that, and throw in Joe The Plunger, oops - Samuel Not A Plumber - as Vice Dictator. Teabagger heaven… ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22690 "2015-07-04T19:28:48Z")
Just when you thought Republican ideas COULDN’T get any stupider …[two Republican Congresscritters (Ron de Santis and Mike Lee) introduce a bill to DEFUND the federal highway system](http://www.bobcesca.com/blog-archives/2015/06/the-gops-latest-brain-buster-defund-the-highway-system.html)and give control over it to the states. You know, states like Kansas, Wisconsin and Louisiana. Ron de Santis and Mike Lee: lowering the bar on stupidity with every breath they take. ---
**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:** [July 4, 2015, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22691 "2015-07-04T22:12:27Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Tucker Carlson’s _Daily Caller_ website ran a headline: > > Those funny, funny people over at the Caller. The article [goes on to say](http://www.ifyouonlynews.com/politics/disgusting-daily-caller-headline-implies-that-president-obama-beats-his-wife-videophoto/), if you bother to read it, that he’s wearing a sleeveless T shirt under his white shirt. The kind of T shirt called a wife beater. But did Obama deny it? His silence is telling. Just sayin’. :smack: ---
**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:** [July 4, 2015, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22692 "2015-07-04T22:18:21Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > This is just the break the Romney campaign is looking for! In the year 2023, this particular thread will be up over 62,000 posts and that line will appear on at least every other page. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22693 "2015-07-04T23:19:44Z")
[Republican law-maker wants to reward teachers with extra pay for high test scores–their old ones, not their students’.](http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article26421424.html) That guy has a Ken doll face. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22694 "2015-07-04T23:22:09Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > This is just the break the Romney campaign is looking for! I bet Mitt doesn’t wear wife beaters! He has people to do that for him. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22695 "2015-07-04T23:24:45Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > But did Obama deny it? His silence is telling. Just sayin’. > :smack: Pretty sure Michelle could whup his ass if he tried. ---
**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:** [July 5, 2015, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22696 "2015-07-05T00:23:42Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > [Republican law-maker wants to reward teachers with extra pay for high test scores–their old ones, not their students’.](http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article26421424.html) Wish they’d do that out here. I could buy a new house! Especially if they toss in my various Praxis scores! I test very well for someone so stupid. ---
**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:** [July 5, 2015, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22697 "2015-07-05T01:55:14Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > [Republican law-maker wants to reward teachers with extra pay for high test scores–their old ones, not their students’.](http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article26421424.html) > > That guy has a Ken doll face. … That’s pretty weird. I guess I could understand a pay scale based on one’s score on an actual teacher’s exam or finishing college _sum laude_ something, but SATs ? That’s a high school test, isn’t it ? So bizarre and disconnected with anything. How much you wanna bet Republican law-maker and/or his friends have kids in high school who did particularly well on their SATs and are planning on becoming teachers ? Because that’s just about the only sane (if, yanno, utterly corrupt) reason I can think of for this bill. ---
**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:** [July 5, 2015, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22698 "2015-07-05T02:20:00Z")
In a pre-holiday, last second session, [Republicans in Wisconsin gut their open records law](http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/state-panel-hopes-to-finish-budget-deliberations-thursday-b99531113z1-311454801.html)and none of them will go on record as supporting it. It’s like the language just appeared there by itself. > [@](#): > > Madison _(July 3, 2015)_ — In one of their final votes on the state budget Thursday, GOP lawmakers approved sweeping limits on public access to records that would shed light on future actions of legislators, Gov. Scott Walker’s administration, state agencies and local governments. > > The proposals were tucked into an expansive measure that passed the Joint Finance Committee 12-4, with all Republicans in favor and all Democrats against. Hours later, with another party-line vote, the committee early Friday sent the overall budget to the Senate and Assembly. > > The GOP plan would limit public records requests for lawmakers’ communications with their staff and for drafting records of legislation after it’s been introduced. It would also exempt a host of records created by the Walker administration, state agencies and local governments and put new limits on public access to information about dismissed criminal charges in some instances. > [@](#): > > Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette), co-chairman of the budget committee, said “multiple” people sought the changes to the records law, but declined to identify them. He said he thought they would do the state good over the long term. and [Bipartisan spectrum blasts proposed changes to open records law](http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/republicans-mum-on-who-wanted-open-records-changes-b99531607z1-311570811.html) ---
**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:** [July 5, 2015, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22699 "2015-07-05T02:25:54Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > [The Kansas Supreme Court Challenged Republicans’ Agenda. Their Solution: Replace the Judges. – Mother Jones](http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/05/final-front-sam-brownbacks-battle-control-kansas) > The Kansas Constitution requires adequate school funding. Apparently the legislators would rather extort the courts and cause a constitutional crisis than obey the state’s constitution. From the Declaration of Independence: **He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.** “He” being George III, but it would seem Brownback wants to fill that role now. ---
**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:** [July 5, 2015, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22700 "2015-07-05T02:54:55Z")
[quote=“[AP – Madison WI] ([http://news.yahoo.com/walker-wants-open-records-restrictions-removed-budget-181003592--politics.html](http://news.yahoo.com/walker-wants-open-records-restrictions-removed-budget-181003592--politics.html))”]“After substantive discussion over the last day, we have agreed that the provisions relating to any changes in the state’s open records law will be removed from the budget in its entirety,” the (joint statement from Walker and the legislative leaders) said. “… The intended policy goal of these changes was to provide a reasonable solution to protect constituents’ privacy and to encourage a deliberative process between elected officials and their staff in developing policy. It was never intended to inhibit transparent government in any way.” … The sudden furor had become a serious distraction for Walker as he prepares to formally announce his candidacy for the GOP presidential nomination on July 13. He told reporters before an Independence Day parade in the Milwaukee suburb of Wauwatosa on Saturday morning that he planned to discuss the matter with legislative leaders after the weekend, the Journal Sentinel reported. “My hope is, that after talking with them on Monday, we get to the point where it’s either out completely or there’s significant changes to it,” he said. [/quote] “My hope is”? So he cannot actually accomplish stuff. What a grand presidential prospect. ---
**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:** [July 5, 2015, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22701 "2015-07-05T11:35:23Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > “My hope is”? So he cannot actually accomplish stuff. What a grand presidential prospect. More like caught with his hand in the cookie jar - again. (Remember the flap about the role of the University?) If left unchanged, the provision would also have exempted local governments in the same way. Even conservative papers in the state were howling. The Lakeland Times: [Our View: The Wisconsin Republican Party: Corruption, cronyism, and sleaze](http://www.lakelandtimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=10&SubSectionID=68&ArticleID=25113) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1134) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1136)