# 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:** 1154
**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 18, 2015, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23062 "2015-07-18T00:22:04Z")
[Trump Refuses To Release His College Transcript Despite Once Demanding Obama Release His](http://dailycaller.com/2015/07/16/trump-refuses-to-release-his-college-transcript-despite-once-demanding-obama-release-his/) Hoist on his own petard. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2015, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23063 "2015-07-18T00:36:19Z")
> [@BigAppleBucky](#): > > [Trump Refuses To Release His College Transcript Despite Once Demanding Obama Release His](http://dailycaller.com/2015/07/16/trump-refuses-to-release-his-college-transcript-despite-once-demanding-obama-release-his/) > > Hoist on his own petard. Actually, The Donald was a straight-A student – but he can’t have that known, it would ruin his Teacred. ---
**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 18, 2015, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23064 "2015-07-18T01:56:33Z")
[Koch Brothers Astroturf Director Fails Again With “Millions Of Montanans” Tweet](http://www.politicususa.com/2015/04/11/koch-brothers-astroturf-director-fails-millions-montanans-tweet.html) > [@](#): > > Of course, in his haste to tweet his outrage about Montana lawmakers supporting healthcare for the working poor, Mr. Lahn got carried away since the entire Montana population is just over one million people. So there cannot be millions of Montanans who oppose Obamacare, simply because there are not millions of Montanans. Furthermore, of the tens of thousands of Montanans (not millions) that actually exist, a significant percentage support Obamacare. The Kochs are also upset by the decision to expand Medicaid in Alaska. ---
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2015, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23065 "2015-07-18T03:09:10Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I don’t think so. If you click on the photo, you can get a bigger image of it, and it looks like a seal of some sort. Not the fish-eating kind. I can’t quite make out what it’s of, but it looks like someone waving a Confederate flag. > > So, he’s actually got a second Confederate flag centered on his Confederate flag. I think your nomination stands. I saw it up close on TV. I don’t recall what was in the center, but surrounding the center emblem it says “The South Will Rise Again”. ETA: [Here are some images](https://www.google.com/search?q=rebel+flag+the+south+will+rise+again&espv=2&biw=1348&bih=879&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CB0QsARqFQoTCPuno5ba48YCFRBakgodtUMG0Q&dpr=1). ---
**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:** [July 18, 2015, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23066 "2015-07-18T03:35:36Z")
> [@rsa](#): > > I saw it up close on TV. I don’t recall what was in the center, but surrounding the center emblem it says “The South Will Rise Again”. > > ETA: [Here are some images](https://www.google.com/search?q=rebel+flag+the+south+will+rise+again&espv=2&biw=1348&bih=879&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CB0QsARqFQoTCPuno5ba48YCFRBakgodtUMG0Q&dpr=1). So, when did Zombies become racist? ---
**Author:** ![keeganst94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a6a055/32.png) [@keeganst94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keeganst94)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2015, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23067 "2015-07-18T03:45:17Z")
Is that supposed to be the trooper? ---
**Author:** ![Peanut\_Gallery](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/838e76/32.png) [@Peanut\_Gallery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanut_Gallery)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2015, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23068 "2015-07-18T05:25:16Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > A lot of them _claimed_ that God told them to run, but they were either lying, or deceived by Satan. The only one God _really_ told to run was Michelle Bachmann. God say, “You can do what you want Michelle, but The next time you see me comin’ you better run” ---
**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 18, 2015, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23069 "2015-07-18T06:57:42Z")
Former NY Rep. Michael Grimm (R-Staten Island) is going to jail for 8 months. Y’all may remember Mr. Grimm for threatening to throw a reporter off a balcony… while the camera was still running. [ > [@](#): > > Michael Grimm, a former Republican congressman from Staten Island, was sentenced to eight months in prison for tax evasion Friday. Though he was initially arrested for fraud and perjury after a probe into his campaign finances in April 2014, Grimm’s actual conviction was for underreporting receipts at a restaurant he owned to the tune of about $900,000. > > Grimm pleaded guilty in December of last year, and at the time, prosecutors were hoping for a sentence of up to 30 months. ]([http://www.vice.com/read/deranged-former-congressman-michael-grimm-is-going-to-prison-for-eight-months-vgtrn-717](http://www.vice.com/read/deranged-former-congressman-michael-grimm-is-going-to-prison-for-eight-months-vgtrn-717)) The 2014 threat video is embedded on that page, btw. ---
**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 18, 2015, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23070 "2015-07-18T06:58:36Z")
[Texas Governor vetoes bill that would have given mental health professionals more power to deal with dangerous individuals – because Scientologists hate psychiatrists (Xenu used them for evil)](http://www.rawstory.com/2015/07/dont-mess-with-xenu-scientologists-convince-texas-governor-to-veto-mental-health-bill/). ---
**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 18, 2015, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23071 "2015-07-18T16:48:32Z")
Trump says that McCain is not a real hero because he was captured. [http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2015/07/18/trump-mccain-not-a-real-war-hero.html](http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2015/07/18/trump-mccain-not-a-real-war-hero.html) > [@](#): > > While making a campaign stop in Iowa on Saturday, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump took another shot at John McCain, this time questioning his status as a war hero. “He’s not a war hero. He’s a war hero because he was captured,” Trump said. “I like people that weren’t captured.” I’m not a fan of John McCain, but credit where credit is due. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2015, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23072 "2015-07-18T17:02:49Z")
> [@](#): > > “He’s not a war hero. He’s a war hero because he was captured,” Trump said. “I like people that weren’t captured.” Yeah. McCain should have flown his plane better. Or something. > [@Wikipedia](#): > > John McCain’s capture and subsequent imprisonment began on October 26, 1967. He was flying his 23rd bombing mission over North Vietnam when his A-4E Skyhawk was shot down by a missile over Hanoi.[34][35] McCain fractured both arms and a leg ejecting from the aircraft,[36] and nearly drowned when he parachuted into Trúc Bạch Lake.[34] Some North Vietnamese pulled him ashore, then others crushed his shoulder with a rifle butt and bayoneted him. And that was before the five years in the Hanoi Hilton. What an odious piece of shit (Trump). ---
**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 18, 2015, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23073 "2015-07-18T17:28:21Z")
Hey, now, Trump never got himself captured by the Vietnamese! Gotta give him credit for that! Of course, the five draft deferments he got might have had **something** to do with it. ---
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2015, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23074 "2015-07-18T17:46:59Z")
[Politifact (NJ) says](http://www.politifact.com/new-jersey/statements/2013/mar/24/liberals-are-cool/liberal-group-claims-mitt-romney-dick-cheney-donal/) > [@](#): > > A Liberals Are Cool meme claims “Q: What do these ‘Patriotic Americans’ have in common? A: They are all Draft Dodgers,” referring to Romney, Trump, Cheney, Limbaugh, Nugent and O’Reilly. > > Liberals Are Cool doesn’t acknowledge that the six registered properly for the draft, then applied for and received legal deferments so they could complete their education – an opportunity given more than half the men eligible for the U.S. draft during the Vietnam era. > > Liberals Are Cool may not like that these men didn’t face combat, but calling them ‘draft dodgers’ is wrong – and ridiculous. As a result, we’re cranking up the heat for this ruling: Pants on Fire! So while it’s true that Trump received deferments that’s one thing we can’t criticize him for. ---
**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 18, 2015, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23075 "2015-07-18T17:57:17Z")
> [@rsa](#): > > [Politifact (NJ) says](http://www.politifact.com/new-jersey/statements/2013/mar/24/liberals-are-cool/liberal-group-claims-mitt-romney-dick-cheney-donal/) > > So while it’s true that Trump received deferments that’s one thing we can’t criticize him for. Of course he can be criticized for it, especially if he’s criticizing someone else’s military service. ---
**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 18, 2015, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23076 "2015-07-18T18:00:17Z")
Oh, puh-leeze; that’s a classic example of why “PolitiFarce” is a more truth-in-advertising name. To take just the most egregious bit: > [@](#): > > Limbaugh and Nugent were ultimately disqualified from service for medical reasons Yeah, a little boil on the butt and pants full of shit are _perfectly legitimate_ grounds for medical exemptions… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2015, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23077 "2015-07-18T18:03:03Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Of course he can be criticized for it, especially if he’s criticizing someone else’s military service. But hey, he denied having said that thing about Mccain. Apparently the tape was doctored. :rolleyes: > [@](#): > > At a press availability following his remarks, Trump denied saying that McCain isn’t a war hero and said, “If somebody’s a prisoner, I consider them a war hero.” > > Read more: [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/trump-attacks-mccain-i-like-people-who-werent-captured-120317.html#ixzz3gGcK26Xk](http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/trump-attacks-mccain-i-like-people-who-werent-captured-120317.html#ixzz3gGcK26Xk) ---
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2015, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23078 "2015-07-18T18:40:31Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Oh, puh-leeze; that’s a classic example of why “PolitiFarce” is a more truth-in-advertising name. To take just the most egregious bit: > > Quote: > Limbaugh and Nugent were ultimately disqualified from service for medical reasons > > Yeah, a little boil on the butt and pants full of shit are _perfectly legitimate_ grounds for medical exemptions… :rolleyes: What do Limbaugh and Nugent have to do with Trump? There’s plenty to criticize him for without relying on shaky accusations. I will note that the two times he was A-1 he wasted no time getting his educational deferment back. As for the final 4-F medical classification, perhaps his family paid off the doctor, but there’s no “proof” of that that I know of. [Trump’s classifications](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/626968-military-classifications.html#text/p5). > [@](#): > > CLASSIFICATION HISTORY > Donaid J. Trump > Selective Service No. 50–63-46-58O > > Ciassification Questionnaire > > Registrant deferred because of activity in study > Registrant deferred because of activity in study > Avaiiabie for service > > Registrant deferred because of activity in study > Underwent an Armed Forces Physicai Examination > Registrant deferred because of activity in study > Avaiiabie for service > > Underwent an Armed Forces Physicai Examination – > Disquaiified > > Registrant quaiified for service only in time of war or > nationai emergency > > Registrant not quaiified for service > > “yxx” – these symbois indicate the registrants physicai, > > mental and administrative qualifications, in that sequence. A symboi with the > letter appearing in one of the three eiements indicates that the registrant may > be acceptabie for service in the Armed Forces oniy in time of war or nationai > emergency deciared by Congress. Vietnam was not a declared war or nationai > emergency by Congress. We have no record which provides the specific reason > the registrant was found conditionaiiy acceptable for service. The [detail with dates is here](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/626968-military-classifications.html#document/p5) (I can’t quote because it’s an image, not text.) ---
**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 18, 2015, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23079 "2015-07-18T19:40:21Z")
Has anyone noticed Trump’s habits of making the most outrageous statements, and then _immediately_ walking them back in, literally, the next breath? That shit-talking about Mexicans: He said Mexico sends rapists, drug dealers, etc., and then _in the next breath_ says “And some of them, I assume, are good people.” Now with this attack on McCain. This one _really_ seems to have turned even more Republicans against him. Attack Mexicans, ¡Sí! – but attack veterans, ¡¡¡NO!!! Anyway, [what Trump said](http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/18/politics/donald-trump-john-mccain-war-hero/): > [@The Donald as quoted in CNN article](#): > > “He is not a war hero. He is a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren’t captured, OK? I hate to tell you,” Trump said. “I believe perhaps he is a war hero.” Come on, Donald. Make up your mind. You can’t be President if you’re going to waffle like that about everything. Are you going to turn to mush likewise, when that important phone call comes in at 3:00 a.m.? ---
**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 18, 2015, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23080 "2015-07-18T19:50:10Z")
> [@rsa](#): > > There’s plenty to criticize him for without relying on shaky accusations. If you lump all forms of draft avoidance together, and there’s no reason you can’t, and call it draft dodging, and there’s no reason you can’t, then you can call Trump a draft dodger. I’m not going to call him a draft dodger because I don’t care about the issue. But there’s no official definition of the word, and there’s no reason it has to hinge on illegal draft avoidance or anything. ---
**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 18, 2015, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23081 "2015-07-18T19:52:40Z")
But it’s certainly okay to attack veterans in the vilest ways if it’s an incumbent Democrat you’re trying to defeat. Let’s remember the various attacks against [Max Cleland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Cleland) (D-Ga, formerly) – a Viet Vet who lost three limbs there – at various times over the years. Saxby Chambliss defeated him with an attack ad in 2002 that questioned his patriotism. Later, [Ann Coulter attacked his patriotism](http://observer.com/2004/02/vile-ann-coulter-smears-a-war-hero/) for criticizing George W. Bush. So Trump is actually following in well-established Republican tradition. Except that he’s now trash-talking even REPUBLICANS. Oops. Definitely off-script there, dude. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1153) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1155)