# 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:** 122
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2421 "2010-12-31T04:16:35Z")
They can do it. it’s just fucking retarded. It’s not like it’s going to be hard to do unless they take the dumbass stance that every potential law has to be explicitly allowed by the Constitution. It’s just another stalling tactic. More “party of no” bullshit. I doubt they’ll actually go through with it, but if they do, it will bite them in the ass. ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2422 "2010-12-31T04:36:09Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I doubt they’ll actually go through with it, but if they do, it will bite them in the ass. Well, we can hope. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2423 "2011-01-01T17:28:40Z")
Yah, but what happens when defense spending, or say tax cuts, begin to disrupt the general welfare of the people (and especially that of our posterity)? Sweep it under the rug and just focus like a laser on the part about providing ‘common defense’, and downplay the word ‘common’? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2424 "2011-01-01T17:42:47Z")
Taxcuts _cannot_ harm the people. If you think they can, it’s because you have used the wrong definition of ‘the people’. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2425 "2011-01-01T17:58:39Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Taxcuts _cannot_ harm the people. > If you think they can, it’s because you have used the wrong definition of ‘the people’. The working definition of “the people” being: “Those who are wealthy just like me, and not those who have had any misfortune happen to them in life” If someone should lose their job because of offshoring of industry: Then fuck em. It’s their own fault. Don’t help them. Give me more. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2426 "2011-01-01T23:30:01Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Taxcuts _cannot_ harm the people. > If you think they can, it’s because you have used the wrong definition of ‘the people’. One could, with sufficient semantic “English,”\* make the same statement about tax increases… \*“English” in the billiards sense. ---
**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:** [January 2, 2011, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2427 "2011-01-02T00:39:18Z")
For a change of pace, a refreshingly UNstupid Republican idea, from outgoing [Congressman Bob Inglis](http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/outgoing-gop-congressman-denounces-obama-hatred-in-the-gop/): > [@](#): > > The congressman said he was wounded in his campaign by not joining “in the real bitterness toward the president.” > > “I don’t call him a socialist because he’s not,” he said. “I don’t doubt that he was born in Hawaii because he was. I don’t call him a Muslim because he says he’s a Christian. And I didn’t say anything about death panels because there weren’t any in that health care bill.” > > Inglis said he disagreed with Obama on a number of policy issues, “but I don’t need to join in this hatred of the man.” > > “I believe if you’re going to lead a credible conservative movement, you got to start with credible information,” he said. “…I’m a conservative with better ideas, and I can serve the country by presenting those ideas and being credible not attacking him.” Naturally the voters responded to this message of constructive engagement and real substance over fear and rhetoric by dumping him in favor of a Tea Party candidate. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2428 "2011-01-03T05:11:51Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Naturally the voters responded to this message of constructive engagement and real substance over fear and rhetoric by dumping him in favor of a Tea Party candidate. Of course. People vote with their fear, not with facts. Especially Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2429 "2011-01-03T06:21:02Z")
From a couple days ago: A Georgia state legislator [proposed a bill to require](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/30/georgia-bill-gold-and-silver_n_802618.html) the state to conduct all its financial transactions in gold and silver coins. ---
**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:** [January 3, 2011, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2430 "2011-01-03T14:16:08Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > For a change of pace, a refreshingly UNstupid Republican idea, from outgoing [Congressman Bob Inglis](http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/outgoing-gop-congressman-denounces-obama-hatred-in-the-gop/):Naturally the voters responded to this message of constructive engagement and real substance over fear and rhetoric by dumping him in favor of a Tea Party candidate. Well, that really was kind of stupid. Thinking you can win a Republican primary by being all reasonable and shit. [QUOTE=waterj2] From a couple days ago: A Georgia state legislator proposed a bill to require the state to conduct all its financial transactions in gold and silver coins. [/QUOTE] No word on whether he is personally willing to carry $1.3 billion a month in coinage, since GA treasury officials have bad backs. ---
**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:** [January 3, 2011, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2431 "2011-01-03T16:54:32Z")
Lindsay Graham, who is supposed to be one of the sane Republicans, [proposes permament bases in Afghanistan](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110102/ap_on_re_us/us_us_afghanistan). ---
**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:** [January 3, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2432 "2011-01-03T17:02:06Z")
Not sure why that’s a stupid idea. ---
**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:** [January 4, 2011, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2433 "2011-01-04T20:18:17Z")
It looks like a quagmire to me - I don’t see any way to win, and permament bases seem to mostly be a permament shooting gallery for the Taliban (or Afghans in general, who historically are not friendly to occupiers). But I can see where YMMV. Joe ---
**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:** [January 4, 2011, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2434 "2011-01-04T20:24:27Z")
He’s talking specifically about air bases, not ground troops. Sure, it’s a quagmire, but that doesn’t mean pulling everyone out is necessarily better than leaving a few thousand men behind. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2011, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2435 "2011-01-05T04:34:42Z")
Here’s a [good one](http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/04/business/04labor.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper): > [@](#): > > For example, Republican lawmakers in Indiana, Maine, Missouri and seven other states plan to introduce legislation that would bar private sector unions from forcing workers they represent to pay dues or fees, reducing the flow of funds into union treasuries. > [@](#): > > Some new governors, most notably Scott Walker of Wisconsin, are even threatening to take away government workers’ right to form unions and bargain contracts. > > “We can no longer live in a society where the public employees are the haves and taxpayers who foot the bills are the have-nots,” Mr. Walker, a Republican, said in a speech. Yah, taxpayers are have-nots because of the teacher’s union :rolleyes: You know, I can see the sense in government agencies limiting what unions can demand, seeing how what public employees do is pretty much everyone’s business. But prohibiting dues at private unions? WTF?!? How about you get a job at McDonald’s if you are so opposed to benefits and a living wage. This smacks of the pubbies’ moronic sense of freedom: we want to help people be free of the burden of decent pay if they so choose!! Hooray, America! Seriously, how can I opt out of paying ‘dues and fees’ to the Pentagon instead? I’m getting tired of paying $700 billion a year in protection money to the defense department so it can go kill mostly innocent brown people. It has ballooned beyond all perspective. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_Stimulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Digital\_Stimulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_Stimulus)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2011, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2436 "2011-01-05T17:59:18Z")
> [@Digital\_Stimulus](#): > > Republican-controlled House rules will [require a supporting cite of Constitutional authority for every bill](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/29/AR2010122904666.html). Of course some Republicans, like Scott Garrett (R-NJ), [think that only _some_ of The Constitution should qualify](http://garrett.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=217020): > [@](#): > > Invoking the “general welfare clause” or the “necessary and proper clause” would not be adequate constitutional citations. I.e., “Your argument is only acceptable if it agrees with _my_ ideology. Why do you hate America?” ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2011, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2437 "2011-01-05T21:29:40Z")
> [@](#): > > DARRELL ISSA: I think people misunderstand the meaning of the word corrupt, and obviously CNN does. Corrupt, or corrupted, or failure. It’s no different than a disk drive thats giving you some bits that are wrong. I’ve never said it’s illegal, I’ve never made any of the statements that are often said on CNN, uh, that imply wrongdoing of the President at a criminal level. > **[A multi-tasking Issa lies and redefines 'corrupt' on CNN](https://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/1/5/933593/-A-multi-tasking-Issa-lies-and-redefines-corrupt-on-CNN)** > > Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), the newly-minted Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform was on CNN earlier today, redefining the word "corrupt" while lying about his past ... I guess it’s now completely fair and accurate to call mr Issa a dickhead, because he has a penis, and also a head! Heck, it is self evident that all male Republicans are dickheads by mr Issa’s parsing of such things. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2438 "2011-01-06T00:34:31Z")
Perhaps you could say it was a stupid idea for them to have a “debate” for RNC chairman, and to allow it to be filmed, so that Jon Stewart could mock them mercilessly. [The Daily Show with Trevor Noah - TV Series | Comedy Central US](http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-january-4-2011/top-of-the-gops) Kudos to Michael Steele for coming up with _War and Peace_ as his favorite book, a much more inspired choice than the _Reagan Diaries_, or trying to answer what his favorite bar is. And even quoting its memorable opening“It was the best of times and the worst of times” ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2439 "2011-01-06T01:20:05Z")
> [@waterj2](#): > > Kudos to Michael Steele for coming up with _War and Peace_ as his favorite book, a much more inspired choice than the _Reagan Diaries_, or trying to answer what his favorite bar is. And even quoting its memorable opening“It was the best of times and the worst of times” Swift Quote Veterans for Truth will be on his ass like James Joyce on a single malt. ---
**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:** [January 6, 2011, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2440 "2011-01-06T01:41:30Z")
> [@waterj2](#): > > Perhaps you could say it was a stupid idea for them to have a “debate” for RNC chairman, and to allow it to be filmed, so that Jon Stewart could mock them mercilessly. [Comedy Central The Daily Show Fan Page](http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-january-4-2011/top-of-the-gops) > > Kudos to Michael Steele for coming up with _War and Peace_ as his favorite book, a much more inspired choice than the _Reagan Diaries_, or trying to answer what his favorite bar is. And even quoting its memorable opening“It was the best of times and the worst of times” That was priceless, especially when Tucker Carlson did a double take. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=121) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=123)