# 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:** 1166
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23302 "2015-07-27T13:26:40Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Not a SRIOTD – not even stupid, period – but this seems like a good place to note: Gov John Kasich interviewed on NPR this morning, and was asked about his faith. He came _this_ close to describing himself as spiritual-but-not-religious, and explicitly said that he doesn’t use the bible to decide on policy. Stunning. > [@jsgoddess](#): > > My impression of Kasich is someone who is really really religious. Not always in your face (though sometimes), and not always hypocritical about it (though sometimes), but really religious. [He is, and therefore will not be the nominee.](http://www.salon.com/2015/07/21/the_real_reason_john_kasich_wont_win_the_gop_nomination_hes_way_too_christian/) ---
**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 28, 2015, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23303 "2015-07-28T01:28:35Z")
I posted this in the Elections thread about Scott Walker’s canididacy, but I thought it deserved to be mentioned here as well: [Scott Walker’s latest “idea” is to make the EPA into something stupid > [@](#): > > While Walker said he would not eliminate the EPA if elected president, he would shift its powers and resources to state environmental agencies such as Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources. > > In an interview with the Washington Examiner, and later during a campaign stop in Chicago, Walker said the proper role for the EPA is to serve as a mediator to resolve disputes between such state agencies. > > The EPA, Walker said, should become “an umbrella organization that really is limited to mediating interstate conflicts over, say, where a body of water or a piece of land goes through multiple states.” ]([http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ec6edfe97fdb4b74bd18984eb31c34f9/walker-says-epa-should-be-limited-umbrella-organization](http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ec6edfe97fdb4b74bd18984eb31c34f9/walker-says-epa-should-be-limited-umbrella-organization)) That’s stupid for at least 50 reasons: [ > [@](#): > > Lisa Heinzerling, a law professor at Georgetown University and former EPA associate administrator, said Walker’s approach would instead result in 50 different air quality standards and 50 different states conducting basic scientific research to support environmental protection. > > “If Gov. Walker really does desire meaningful environmental protection in this country, taking power from EPA and giving it to all 50 states is a very silly way to achieve it,” she said. “His idea is a really inefficient, and almost certainly ineffective, way of protecting the environment.” ]([http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ec6edfe97fdb4b74bd18984eb31c34f9/walker-says-epa-should-be-limited-umbrella-organization](http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ec6edfe97fdb4b74bd18984eb31c34f9/walker-says-epa-should-be-limited-umbrella-organization)) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23304 "2015-07-28T01:30:50Z")
Long as Wisconsin keeps the cheese stench and the Packers on their side of the border, we won’t declare war. Minnesota nice. ---
**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 28, 2015, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23305 "2015-07-28T02:01:50Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > That’s stupid for at least 50 reasons: > > > [@](#): > > > > Lisa Heinzerling, a law professor at Georgetown University and former EPA associate administrator, said Walker’s approach would instead result in 50 different air quality standards and 50 different states conducting basic scientific research to support environmental protection. “If Gov. Walker really does desire meaningful environmental protection in this country, taking power from EPA and giving it to all 50 states is a very silly way to achieve it,” she said. “His idea is a really inefficient, and almost certainly ineffective, way of protecting the environment.” Lady, why do you talk like this isn’t a full-fledged feature of the plan !? It’s the whole elegance of it. Gaining a whole bunch of “state’s rights” cred AND gutting meaningful environmental regulations in one fell swoop, all the while looking like you give a shit ? Winning ! ---
**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 28, 2015, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23306 "2015-07-28T02:22:22Z")
[Sarah Palin claims that Planned Parenthood killed 90,000 black babies last year (and compares it to the Confederate flag unfavorably).](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/sarah-palin-planned-parenthood-facebook-post) ---
**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 28, 2015, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23307 "2015-07-28T02:48:54Z")
> [@](#): > > “If Gov. Walker really does desire meaningful environmental protection in this country,…” Well, there’s your problem. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23308 "2015-07-28T04:32:01Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Long as Wisconsin keeps the cheese stench and the Packers on their side of the border, we won’t declare war. Minnesota nice. Meh. What’s Minnesotan warfare anyway? Tuna hot dish as a bioweapon? ---
**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 28, 2015, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23309 "2015-07-28T04:36:15Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Meh. What’s Minnesotan warfare anyway? Tuna hot dish as a bioweapon? Pretty much. I believe the Geneva Conventions mention it specifically, right after mustard gas. ---
**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 28, 2015, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23310 "2015-07-28T04:42:28Z")
[Senate Republicans go into lockdown mode as a Senator Mike Lee aide threatens to use Republican votes on yet again another Obamacare repeal vote as a weapon against wavering Republicans.](http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/lee-aides-email-rankles-senate-gop-leaders-120698.html?cmpid=sf) ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23311 "2015-07-28T13:20:25Z")
[QUOTE=Lobohan] Is it engaging him if I call him a lying moron? [/QUOTE] > [@dropzone](#): > > Yeah. Think of it as feeding him, like a troll. Or beating him, if he were a masochist. Which he might be, since it would explain a lot. Then again, “lying moron” also explains quite a lot. ---
**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 28, 2015, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23312 "2015-07-28T13:29:51Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [Senate Republicans go into lockdown mode as a Senator Mike Lee aide threatens to use Republican votes on yet again another Obamacare repeal vote as a weapon against wavering Republicans.](http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/lee-aides-email-rankles-senate-gop-leaders-120698.html?cmpid=sf) These knuckleheads waste so much time (and taxpayer dollars) on un-passable nonsense like “repealing Obamacare”. Except for a few radicals, I don’t think that they even really want to repeal it. Doing so would create chaos. This is nothing but political theater, and meanwhile an important highway bill is being held up by it. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23313 "2015-07-28T14:28:39Z")
Obama went all in, they called. They were sure that they could paint Obamacare in such scary colors, it would be bound to fail. Kinda worked, too, all that “death panel” bullshit. Obama bet he could keep it long enough for people to get used to it, and then start to like it. The sensible Republicans know that they’ve been had, because he did the math, he did the monster math. They know that ripping it out now would be a fucking disaster, and they would get the blame. But the crazies have them by the balls, and they dare not act sensible. So, yeah, they might actually do it. Still, the job creators have plenty of money, so nobody important will die. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23314 "2015-07-28T18:46:41Z")
I guess the Washington Times isn’t Republican, exactly. But it sure ain’t left leaning. I happened to see [this piece of “commentary” about the discovery of Kepler 452b](http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jul/27/cal-thomas-kepler-452b-farway-planet-that-could-su/). This writer actually uses an interesting scientific discovery to rant about everything from climate change to gun control to basic human nature. I thought for a moment it was satire from the Onion. Someone please tell me this rag has a satire section designed to ensnare people like me. Because I’d hate to know that this mindless word salad is what passes for considered analysis in the world of the right-leaning. ---
**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 28, 2015, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23315 "2015-07-28T19:15:58Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > Someone please tell me this rag has a satire section designed to ensnare people like me. They do. It’s labeled “Cal Thomas”; you can’t miss it. ---
**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 28, 2015, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23316 "2015-07-28T19:53:20Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > I guess the Washington Times isn’t Republican, exactly. Republican? Not necessarily. Owned by the Moonies? [You bet your sweet bippy.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Washington_Times) ---
**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 28, 2015, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23317 "2015-07-28T20:24:03Z")
[Huckabee continues to defend his “oven door” comments](http://gawker.com/mike-huckabee-jews-loved-my-holocaust-tweet-1720591060) claiming Jewish people support what he said. The folks at the Anti-Defamation League would disagree: [QUOTE=Jonathan Greenblatt] …comments such as those by Mike Huckabee suggesting the president is leading Israel to another Holocaust are completely out of line and unacceptable. To hear Mr. Huckabee invoke the Holocaust when America is Israel’s greatest ally and when Israel is a strong nation capable of defending itself is disheartening. [/QUOTE] [Link](http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/mike-huckabee-2016-iran-deal-holocaust-120651.html) ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23318 "2015-07-28T20:52:53Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > I guess the Washington Times isn’t Republican, exactly. But it sure ain’t left leaning. I happened to see [this piece of “commentary” about the discovery of Kepler 452b](http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jul/27/cal-thomas-kepler-452b-farway-planet-that-could-su/). > > This writer actually uses an interesting scientific discovery to rant about everything from climate change to gun control to basic human nature. I thought for a moment it was satire from the Onion. Someone please tell me this rag has a satire section designed to ensnare people like me. Because I’d hate to know that this mindless word salad is what passes for considered analysis in the world of the right-leaning. If I’m understanding the nuance correctly it appears that his solution to the problems of human nature exemplified in the lord of the flies would be to give all the ship wrecked kids guns? I’m sure that that would have improved things immeasurably. ---
**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 28, 2015, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23319 "2015-07-28T20:52:54Z")
I’ve been trying to figure out whether or not Huckabee is sincere in his comments about the Iran deal (or other issues, for that matter) or if it’s just politics. If it’s just politics then his whole holier than thou Mr. Christian persona must be bullshit because a “real Christian” wouldn’t be so consistently and publicly dishonest. If it’s not politics than he’s a clueless idiot who shouldn’t have been able to reach his position in life (at least not if you believe the standard right-wing idea about how everyone’s position in life is a result of their own efforts and abilities or lack thereof). ---
**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 28, 2015, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23320 "2015-07-28T20:56:30Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > This writer actually uses an interesting scientific discovery to rant about everything from climate change to gun control to basic human nature. I thought for a moment it was satire from the Onion. Someone please tell me this rag has a satire section designed to ensnare people like me. Because I’d hate to know that this mindless word salad is what passes for considered analysis in the world of the right-leaning. Okay, I read the article. Yeah, I almost think it is satire. Almost. I think. As satire, I think either a liberal Democrat or a Republican conservative could have written it. (But coming from Cal Thomas, however, it’s more likely just more SRIOTD.) ---
**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 28, 2015, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/23321 "2015-07-28T21:00:09Z")
Cal Thomas could be the poster boy for this thread. How he became a prominent commentator is a mystery for the ages. Maybe he owns some incriminating photos or something. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1165) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1167)