# 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:** 1141
**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:** [July 9, 2015, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22802 "2015-07-09T01:57:03Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > I thought he was the smart brother. Scary Thought Of The Day:He _is_ the smart brother. ---
**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 9, 2015, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22803 "2015-07-09T01:59:47Z")
Not that it’s shocking news, but it has now been admitted that Wisconsin governor Scott Walker’s office was involved in the attempt to sneak through a provision in the state budget that would have gutted the state’s open record law. [Walker office admits role in attempt to gut open records law](http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/senate-takes-up-prevailing-wage-repeal-as-assembly-backing-grows-b99533427z1-312118741.html) The $250 million cut to the University’s budget will be crippling over the years and will have a negative ripple effect throughout the state’s economy for years to come. At least the Bucks haven’t received their $300 million yet. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22804 "2015-07-09T02:10:51Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > I really don’t understand that statement from Jeb. Isn’t it the republicans who put people on part time status to avoid health care costs? Not really. [Obamacare didn’t cause an influx of part-time jobs](http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/02/the-spectacular-myth-of-obamas-part-time-america-in-5-graphs/283674/) (I know, huge shock that another Republican doomsday Obamacare prediction turned out wrong). Which is what makes Jeb’s backpedal on how [he meant we needed full-time jobs](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/07/08/jeb-bush-longer-hours_n_7758294.html), not Obama’s part-time ones, maybe not as offensive but completely lacking in reality. > [@](#): > > Also, there aren’t enough jobs, full or part time. That’s the problem, not a lack of productivity. [There are lots of jobs available.](http://blogs.reuters.com/data-dive/2014/08/12/lots-of-available-jobs-still-no-higher-wages/)[And not all bad ones either.](http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/there-are-lots-of-jobs-available-but-are-they-good-jobs/) The problem is [not productivity (which is at an all-time high) but stagnant wages](http://retired.talkingpointsmemo.com/images/productivity.png). Meanwhile, Jeb is not just against raising the Federal minimum wage, but [he wants it done away with entirely](http://www.salon.com/2015/03/17/on_the_minimum_wage_jeb_bush_makes_mitt_romney_look_like_a_bleeding_heart_liberal/). So in summary, Jeb Bush doesn’t think we’re working hard enough (despite record productivity), long enough (despite no noticeable trend towards part-time jobs replacing full-time ones) and somehow thinks that this will cause people to make more money even though he wants the minimum wage abolished. > [@](#): > > I thought he was the smart brother. Gotta admit that’s pretty smart thinking… If you’re the 1% [who have been doing just fine all this time](http://www.motherjones.com/files/images/change-since-1979-300.gif). ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22805 "2015-07-09T03:14:48Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > [Jeb Bush:People need to work more hours.](http://news.yahoo.com/jeb-bush-people-longer-hours-235206730.html) Jeb has been making that statement about wanting to achieve 4% growth for over a month. A lot of Economists see a 4% sustained growth rate not as achievable, but as wildly improbable: > **[Jeb Bush Wants 4 Percent Growth. That Will Be Hard to Reach. (Published 2015)](https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/16/upshot/jeb-bush-wants-4-percent-growth-that-will-be-hard-to-reach.html?_r=0&abt=0002&abg=1)** > > The next president is unlikely to see sustained 4 percent G.D.P. growth absent a remarkable, rapid upward shift in the nation’s productive capacity. > **[Jeb Bush's 4% growth promise is 104% nonsense](https://www.vox.com/2015/6/18/8803655/jeb-bush-4-percent)** > > Vox is a general interest news site for the 21st century. Its mission: to help everyone understand our complicated world, so that we can all help shape it. In text, video and audio, our reporters explain politics, policy, world affairs, technology,... > [@](#): > > How unrealistic is this, historically speaking? > > It is pretty unrealistic. Since Ronald Reagan’s inauguration, the American economy has grown on average 2.7 percent per year. > > Jeb is promising to do not just a little better than average, but dramatically better than average. And he’s promising to do so even though the aging of the population puts a natural check on growth, since as people become too old to work the economy loses output. > > How would 4 percent growth stack up to previous administrations? > > It is better than Bill Clinton or Ronald Reagan achieved, that’s for sure. And it’s much better than what the country experienced under the previous two presidents from Jeb’s family, or what we’ve seen in the Obama years ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22806 "2015-07-09T03:49:30Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > I really don’t understand that statement from Jeb. Isn’t it the republicans who put people on part time status to avoid health care costs? Obviously it’s the Democrats who have shunted people into part time jobs by passing Obamacare, forcing the hardworking job creators to do more with less. > [@](#): > > Also, there aren’t enough jobs, full or part time. That’s the problem, not a lack of productivity. I know! We can create more jobs by lowering the minimum wage, that will work! Then those workers can find more jobs! > [@](#): > > I thought he was the smart brother. S … M … R … T ---
**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:** [July 9, 2015, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22807 "2015-07-09T03:50:39Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > [Jeb Bush:People need to work more hours.](http://news.yahoo.com/jeb-bush-people-longer-hours-235206730.html) This is like Scott Walker and the Republicans of Wisconsin who don’t think that people need days off. Work 7 days a week, what’s the big deal? ---
**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:** [July 9, 2015, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22808 "2015-07-09T03:58:57Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > This is like Scott Walker and the Republicans of Wisconsin who don’t think that people need days off. Work 7 days a week, what’s the big deal? We want someone willing to give 31/9/417! ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22809 "2015-07-09T03:59:52Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [Tea Party historian says that the concept of retirement is pagan](http://www.rawstory.com/2015/07/tea-party-historian-says-bible-commands-humans-to-work-until-death-god-did-not-design-us-for-retirement/#). Real Christians will work till they die. But. . . Butt. . . Buttttttt. . . . We’ve all been assured that Real Christians will live forever! And have to work forever? Never retire, even unto all eternity? Some Paradise that is. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22810 "2015-07-09T05:21:33Z")
Genius pundit [George Will “wonders” if Trump were a Democratic mole,](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2015/07/05/brit_hume_if_donald_trump_was_a_democratic_mole_would_his_behavior_be_any_different.html) would his behavior be any different? Hmmmm? Whaddaya think? Another maroon. ---
**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:** [July 9, 2015, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22811 "2015-07-09T05:52:16Z")
[G.W Bush charges vets $100,000 to speak at fundraiser.](http://news.yahoo.com/help-us-veterans-charity-george-w-bush-charged-225504539.html) Cause without him, there would have been no wounded vets to speak to. > [@](#): > > Former President George W. Bush charged $100,000 to speak at a charity fundraiser for U.S. military veterans severely wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, and former First Lady Laura Bush collected $50,000 to appear a year earlier, officials of the Texas-based Helping a Hero charity confirmed to ABC News. > > The former President was also provided with a private jet to travel to Houston at a cost of $20,000, the officials said. It was nice of him to reduce his fee from 250K to 100k. _rolleyes_ ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22812 "2015-07-09T09:12:30Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Isn’t that sort of like the opposite of a real university education? By that I mean that you end up more ignorant than you would be if you just stopped after high school. David Barton got a BA in Religious Education from Oral Roberts University. [The Texas Freedom Network has compiled a dossier on him](http://www.tfn.org/site/PageServer?pagename=issues_religious_right_watch_david_barton_profile)–he’s been an “adviser” to the State Board of Education. A bit from that wealth of information: > [@](#): > > Predictably, Barton’s ideas have made him a hero among social conservatives. He has his own WallBuilders Live! radio program and has been a frequent guest on conservative radio with hosts such as Focus on the Family founder James Dobson. In recent years Barton has also teamed up with far-right commentator Glenn Beck to promote a decidedly conservative, religious and revisionist version of American history and the Constitution. In addition, his self-published materials can be found in churches and religious schools across the country. > > Barton is also a prolific writer whose influence has extended deep into the halls of government and among religious-right groups. Just months before he became speaker of the U.S. House in 1995, Newt Gingrich called Barton’s book Myth of Separation (in which Barton argues that the constitutional separation of church and state in America is a “myth”) “most useful” and “wonderful.” Former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee has called Barton “maybe the greatest living historian on the spiritual nature of America’s early days.” We’ve managed to keep our science curricula free from Creationism/Intelligent Deisgn. The new social studies textbooks, alas, have some problematic bits–although they could have been worse. ---
**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:** [July 9, 2015, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22813 "2015-07-09T09:12:46Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > [Donald Trump: ‘I Will Win the Latino Vote’](http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/donald-trump-i-will-win-latino-vote-n388696) Well, I know Spanish language media like Univision are backing him all the way. Sorry, that should read “are backing away from him”. ---
**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:** [July 9, 2015, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22814 "2015-07-09T10:25:29Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Genius pundit [George Will “wonders” if Trump were a Democratic mole,](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2015/07/05/brit_hume_if_donald_trump_was_a_democratic_mole_would_his_behavior_be_any_different.html) would his behavior be any different? If he were a mole trying to damage the GOP, he’d be less obvious about it. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22815 "2015-07-09T11:39:41Z")
The Bush “work more hours” thing [could be a campaign killer](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/weve-met-the-doofus-and-he-is-jeb). What an incredibly stupid thing to say – in the manner of Romney’s 47%, it seems to be the distilled essence of patrician cluelessness about actual working people. ---
**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:** [July 9, 2015, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22816 "2015-07-09T12:31:29Z")
I particularly enjoyed Jeb!s attempt to clarify his statement, saying he meant underemployed and unemployed workers need to work more hours. Also, he blames Obama for workers getting assigned fewer hours … and for losing benefits when they do work more. So wait … is Jeb! saying welfare benefits need to be extended to more full-time workers? Or is the GOP answer to this conundrum to just get rid of those pesky benefits entirely? That way, there’s nothing to be cut when these unemployed workers get those magical $25/hour full time positions! Win-win! ---
**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:** [July 9, 2015, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22817 "2015-07-09T13:12:16Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Genius pundit [George Will “wonders” if Trump were a Democratic mole,](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2015/07/05/brit_hume_if_donald_trump_was_a_democratic_mole_would_his_behavior_be_any_different.html) would his behavior be any different? Hmmmm? Whaddaya think? > > Another maroon. I don’t see that as Will saying that Trump is actually a Democratic mole - he’s saying that Trump is an unmitigated disaster for the Republican party, and wondering what can be done about it. Let’s face it - Trump on stage for the debate has got to be one of the things that makes Democratic strategists smile as they drift off to sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22818 "2015-07-09T14:15:49Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > The Bush “work more hours” thing [could be a campaign killer](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/weve-met-the-doofus-and-he-is-jeb). What an incredibly stupid thing to say – in the manner of Romney’s 47%, it seems to be the distilled essence of patrician cluelessness about actual working people. I really like Josh Marshall’s closing line in that piece: > [@Josh Marshall](#): > > This again is something you say about work when it’s something other people do. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22819 "2015-07-09T14:26:25Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Genius pundit [George Will “wonders” if Trump were a Democratic mole,](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2015/07/05/brit_hume_if_donald_trump_was_a_democratic_mole_would_his_behavior_be_any_different.html) would his behavior be any different? Hmmmm? Whaddaya think? [One is tempted to wonder the same about George Will.](http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Deep_cover_liberal) ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22820 "2015-07-09T14:31:27Z")
Question. I’ve been seeing Jeb! a lot lately. More than JEB, even. I understand where JEB comes from but what’s Jeb!? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22821 "2015-07-09T14:37:44Z")
[His campaign logo.](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/06/15/jeb-is-fine-and-all-but-we-had-some-other-ideas-for-jeb-bushs-campaign-logo/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1140) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1142)