# 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:** 1150
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22982 "2015-07-15T05:06:47Z")
> [@CannyDan](#): > > We could deputize all the soldiers! As cops, if they feel even the slightest hint of fear for their own or someone else’s safety, they can immediately shoot to kill! At least according to **Smapti**. Take that, Texas ‘counter-insurgency’! 😃 We can joke about it rather a lot…and it is derisory… But in all seriousness, (and I am being serious here) a group of armed civilians following around soldiers, reporting their position, and somehow trying to “contain” them while they’re on a training mission sounds…foolhardy, or to be more accurate - it’s asking for trouble ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22983 "2015-07-15T05:25:01Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > We can joke about it rather a lot…and it is derisory… > > But in all seriousness, (and I am being serious here) a group of armed civilians following around soldiers, reporting their position, and somehow trying to “contain” them while they’re on a training mission sounds…foolhardy, or to be more accurate - it’s asking for trouble So long as they don’t trespass…shrug. Let 'em have their fun. (“Containing” someone could get you charged with various kinds of traffic offenses, just as if I tried to prevent a city bus from making a left turn, or just stopped ordinary commuter traffic from a freeway exit. But if they want to play dopey games like driving slowly down the same country road where the soldiers are driving – huh. Whatever. Doesn’t break anybody’s arm. Hell, in a real war, the soldiers would have to cope with that and a lot worse. Good practice for 'em!) ---
**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 15, 2015, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22984 "2015-07-15T05:27:13Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > It’s an old line, I remember seeing it before. > > It’s also, surprise surprise, a big old lie on top of being highly offensive. Namely, the reason NPS don’t want people to give food to wild animals is not that it would “make them dependant on handouts” (like a bear is going to cross paths with enough food-giving tourists to survive on nothing but that, c’mon son) but that it would let them associate humans with tasty treats. Which in turn would increase the risk of them wantonly attacking humans to get at the tasty treats. > > So fuck you in the ear twice, Oklahoma GOP. Once for being sociopathic cunts and another for deliberately perpetuating ignorance. B-but what if we gave bears EBT cards? Would that be OK? ---
**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:** [July 15, 2015, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22985 "2015-07-15T06:13:33Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Hell, in a real war, the soldiers would have to cope with that and a lot worse. Good practice for 'em!) In a real war, they could shoot people. ---
**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 15, 2015, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22986 "2015-07-15T07:34:02Z")
Jade Helm 15 about to start - Texas about to be subverted. Uh - what happened during the previous 14 exercises? This just in; the secret plan for the exercise. Shhhh! The special forces guys will have a bunch of regular Army soldiers in uniform show up and drive around to attract the “monitors”. Then the special forces will pretend to be part of the group surveilling the soldiers. The “Counter Jade Helm” volunteers will be cover for the Spec Ops guys. Shhhh! 😃 This accomplishes a number of the exercise objectives: (from the official briefing slides) Adapting to unfamiliar terrain, social and economic conditions. Operating in and around communities where anything out of the ordinary will be spotted and reported (locals are the first to notice something out of place). The opportunity to work with civilians to gain their trust and an understanding of the issues. ---
**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 15, 2015, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22987 "2015-07-15T07:36:46Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > In a real war, they could shoot people. In a real war, they could carpet-bomb Texas. ---
**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 15, 2015, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22988 "2015-07-15T08:17:26Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > This accomplishes a number of the exercise objectives: (from the official briefing slides) > Adapting to unfamiliar terrain, social and economic conditions. > Operating in and around communities where anything out of the ordinary will be spotted and reported (locals are the first to notice something out of place). > The opportunity to work with civilians to gain their trust and an understanding of the issues. I suppose learning to deal with an irrationally uncooperative and aggressive populace that simply cannot be engaged with without quickly finding oneself repeatedly boinking one’s forehead on the nearest wall with great force and conviction is valuable training for the next go around in Iraq, too ;). ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22989 "2015-07-15T11:32:04Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > In a real war, they could carpet-bomb Texas. Then shouldn’t we practice that too? ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22990 "2015-07-15T13:03:42Z")
[Youthful trendsetters give their views on whether Math should be taught in schools.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QBv2CFTSWU) Enjoy. With comments like “Math is a theory, it’s not at all what the Bible tells us” I’m sure most of these gals are Republidiots, but some might be Democrats. Still, most stupid white people are Republicans so this thread seemed as good a place to post this as any. ---
**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:** [July 15, 2015, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22991 "2015-07-15T13:29:21Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Jade Helm 15 about to start - Texas about to be subverted. Uh - what happened during the previous 14 exercises? After we invade Texas, can we keep the oil? I mean, this thing could pay for itself. ---
**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:** [July 15, 2015, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22992 "2015-07-15T13:47:08Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > [Youthful trendsetters give their views on whether Math should be taught in schools.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QBv2CFTSWU) Enjoy. > > With comments like “Math is a theory, it’s not at all what the Bible tells us” I’m sure most of these gals are Republidiots, but some might be Democrats. Still, most stupid white people are Republicans so this thread seemed as good a place to post this as any. [It’s a parody.](http://www.snopes.com/photos/people/missusa.asp) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22993 "2015-07-15T14:24:56Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > In a real war, they could carpet-bomb Texas. Seems kinda pointless . . . it’s all so flat already . . . ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22994 "2015-07-15T14:55:37Z")
Y’know, all these problems the local yokels are having with _Jade Helm_ could have been avoided with one simple name change: _Jesse Helm_. They would have supported it without question. ---
**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 15, 2015, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22995 "2015-07-15T15:13:39Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > B-but what if we gave bears EBT cards? Would that be OK? Absolutely not ! They’d use their EBTs to buy dispendious luxury items like salmon or honey instead of stale, mouldy bread ; decade old beans and stagnant water as the Fathers intended. ---
**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 15, 2015, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22996 "2015-07-15T15:22:32Z")
Can’t have commemorative coins supporting breast cancer research because [abortion](http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/culture-war-derails-vote-commemorative-coins)! ---
**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 15, 2015, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22997 "2015-07-15T16:42:46Z")
According to a [lawsuit in Texas](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/texas-immigrants-birth-certificates), some State Health officials are refusing to issue birth certificates to the children of undocumented immigrants who are born in the US (and therefore US citizens). ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22998 "2015-07-15T17:27:47Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Obduran of Antioch (often confused with St. Abduran the Obtuse) references an obscure First Century C.E. cult known as the Bryanites, who insisted on wearing but a single shoe in obedience to religious principle… Was it a giant shoe that covered both their feet? ---
**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:** [July 15, 2015, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/22999 "2015-07-15T17:30:20Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Was it a giant shoe that covered both their feet? Maybe they are dufflepuds. ---
**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 15, 2015, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23000 "2015-07-15T18:36:42Z")
Back to Michelle, who started all this: [Washington State mayor compares Michelle and family to “gorillas, monkeys.”](http://www.rawstory.com/2015/07/mayor-wont-resign-over-gorilla-face-michelle-obama-rant-because-thats-admitting-im-racist/) But refuses to resign because that “would admit I’m racist.” ---
**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:** [July 15, 2015, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23001 "2015-07-15T19:09:33Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > They deleted the post after the ODHS came along and gave them a beatdown, have a look: > > [http://imgur.com/gallery/C3gSI](http://imgur.com/gallery/C3gSI) I can’t help thinking the (awesome) person running ODHS’ Facebook feed will now be fired. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1149) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1151)