# 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:** 1252
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/25022 "2015-10-22T04:27:08Z")
Only until their lips get tired. (I’m sitting here just trying to imagine what a big hairy ass deal this would be if it were some sort of Muslim organization…) ---
**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:** [October 22, 2015, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/25023 "2015-10-22T09:17:24Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > The full story may not be out on this. I saw one headline that suggested it was a mistake by the CIA not to redact someone’s name. That could be true, or it could be Gowdy covering his ass (“I caught a security lapse the CIA missed!”), or it might have been referring to something else entirely. It’s still an improvement over Darrell “oops, did I just reveal classified information in a televised committee hearing AGAIN?” Issa. ISTR the CIA were trying to figure out how they could withhold information from him even though he was committee chair. ---
**Author:** ![CGav8r](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@CGav8r](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CGav8r)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/25024 "2015-10-22T14:02:20Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > The full story may not be out on this. I saw one headline that suggested it was a mistake by the CIA not to redact someone’s name. That could be true, or it could be Gowdy covering his ass (“I caught a security lapse the CIA missed!”), or it might have been referring to something else entirely. But the letter from Rep Cummings specifically quoted the CIA as saying that they checked and, nope, it did not need to be classified. ---
**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:** [October 22, 2015, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/25025 "2015-10-22T19:41:42Z")
The Benghazi! hearing is not political, oh, no. [Even though Marco Rubio is trying to use it to raise funds.](http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2015/10/marco-rubio-uses-benghazi-committee-boost-campaign) ---
**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:** [October 23, 2015, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/25026 "2015-10-23T00:19:12Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > [GOP Congressman already floating impeachment proceedings against Hillary.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/mo-brooks-hillary-clinton_5625053de4b0bce3470156eb) > > Seriously Crazy Town. It as a while ago when I wondered when this would happen. Post 16097. 8-11-2014 "Have the “Impeach Hillary” websites and petitions started yet? just askin’ questions. I’ve already seen over at Snopes the recycled Clinton Facebook acusations popping up on a regular basis.’ ---
**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:** [October 23, 2015, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/25027 "2015-10-23T04:46:22Z")
[Dr. Ben Carson debates creationism vs. evolution with himself.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPqq6fr2CF4) There is so much proud, unadulterated ignant packed into those 30 odd minutes it hurts transatlantically. How does a (former) brain surgeon, who presumably had to sit through at least a couple biology classes in a row at some point, say shit like : " … according to evolutionary model, you know we really came from an amoeba. And amoebas, they just like split and then there’s two amoebas. So it seems to me like according to evolutionary model you do things that are efficient. So rather than going out and looking for a mate you would just divide, and then there would be two of you. …" with a straight face ? ---
**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:** [October 23, 2015, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/25028 "2015-10-23T10:25:07Z")
Matt Drudge, having eagerly watched the Benghazi hearings for ammunition with which to attack Hillary, has unleashed this mighty salvo on Twitter: > [@Matt Drudge](#): > > Hillary health was biggest relevation at hearing. Coughing fit. Slow-speaking, obviously induced by meds. Choose not to believe if you must Well, that’s mighty white of you, Matt, to allow us to believe that a coughing fit coming after several hours of spoken testimony might not be indicative of a major medical condition. But wait! There’s another tweet! > [@Drudge again](#): > > Last time she showed up with prism glasses from blod [sic] clot, vertigo. Today obviously anti-anxiety meds, hypothyroid issues. #BenghaziCommittee Roll up, roll up, and see the amazing Dr. Udge diagnose complex medical conditions and pharmacological histories while never once being in the same room as the patient or indeed having any medical training whatsoever! Results guaranteed! Never admittedly wrong! ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/25029 "2015-10-23T11:18:30Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Matt Drudge, having eagerly watched the Benghazi hearings for ammunition with which to attack Hillary, has unleashed this mighty salvo on Twitter: > Well, that’s mighty white of you, Matt, to allow us to believe that a coughing fit coming after several hours of spoken testimony might not be indicative of a major medical condition. > > But wait! There’s another tweet! > > Roll up, roll up, and see the amazing Dr. Udge diagnose complex medical conditions and pharmacological histories while never once being in the same room as the patient or indeed having any medical training whatsoever! Results guaranteed! Never admittedly wrong! Personally, I think it’s the best remote diagnosis since Bill Frist told us how Terri Schiavo was responding to visual stimuli. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/25030 "2015-10-23T11:25:29Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > [Dr. Ben Carson debates creationism vs. evolution with himself.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPqq6fr2CF4) There is so much proud, unadulterated ignant packed into those 30 odd minutes it hurts transatlantically. > > How does a (former) brain surgeon, who presumably had to sit through at least a couple biology classes in a row at some point, say shit like : " … according to evolutionary model, you know we really came from an amoeba. And amoebas, they just like split and then there’s two amoebas. So it seems to me like according to evolutionary model you do things that are efficient. So rather than going out and looking for a mate you would just divide, and then there would be two of you. …" with a straight face ? To be fair, he also talked about how he pwned Richard Dawkins by saying, “I came from God, and you came from a monkey,” bringing his arguments up to currency with the Scopes trial, at least. ETA: and to be even more fair, I admit that “pwned” was my term, not his. His term in his victories over atheists is “refruted.” ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/25031 "2015-10-23T12:27:05Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Roll up, roll up, and see the amazing Dr. Udge diagnose complex medical conditions and pharmacological histories while never once being in the same room as the patient or indeed having any medical training whatsoever! Results guaranteed! Never admittedly wrong! I assume he trained under Bill “Terri Schiavo’s totally not in a persistent vegetative state” Frist. [QUOTE=Kobal2] To be fair, he also talked about how he pwned Richard Dawkins by saying, “I came from God, and you came from a monkey,” bringing his arguments up to currency with the Scopes trial, at least. [/QUOTE] More like the Huxley-Wilberforce debates than Scopes. [QUOTE=Kobal2] ETA: and to be even more fair, I admit that “pwned” was my term, not his. His term in his victories over atheists is “refruted.” [/QUOTE] I thought it was Kirk Cameron who had refruited the atheists with his banana argument. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/25032 "2015-10-23T12:27:30Z")
Someone should tell the Republicans that political theater is supposed to make your side look good and the other side look bad. Maybe Sidney Blumenthal could send them an e-mail about it. > [@Kobal2](#): > > How does a (former) brain surgeon, who presumably had to sit through at least a couple biology classes in a row at some point, say shit like : " … according to evolutionary model, you know we really came from an amoeba. And amoebas, they just like split and then there’s two amoebas. So it seems to me like according to evolutionary model you do things that are efficient. So rather than going out and looking for a mate you would just divide, and then there would be two of you. …" with a straight face ? There’s nothing too bad in that quote, compared to most creationist musings anyway. He basically outlined the two-fold cost of sex. There are many ideas explaining how and why sex evolved, but the thing about fundies going into biology is they can learn it perfectly well but don’t have to actually believe it. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/25033 "2015-10-23T16:01:19Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > There’s nothing too bad in that quote, compared to most creationist musings anyway. He basically outlined the two-fold cost of sex. There are many ideas explaining how and why sex evolved, but the thing about fundies going into biology is they can learn it perfectly well but don’t have to actually believe it. It’s a fair question for a high school kid to ask, but there are good answers to it! Sex creates genetic diversity _efficiently_! ---
**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:** [October 23, 2015, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/25034 "2015-10-23T16:36:32Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Sex creates genetic diversity _efficiently_! And enthusiastically! ---
**Author:** ![Abe\_Babe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@Abe\_Babe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abe_Babe)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/25035 "2015-10-23T16:42:04Z")
> [@bup](#): > > It’s a fair question for a high school kid to ask, but there are good answers to it! Sex creates genetic diversity _efficiently_! Even sex with oneself? ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/25036 "2015-10-23T16:43:06Z")
> [@Abe\_Babe](#): > > Even sex with oneself? Maybe, maybe not. But why take chances? ---
**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:** [October 23, 2015, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/25037 "2015-10-23T17:02:40Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > [del] **25,000** [/del] **25,001** Stupid Republican Ideas since March 26, 2009! Of course many of these are actually just snarky responses to stupid Republican ideas rather than Stupid ideas themselves. In honor of the 25,000th post (and because I’m a major stats nerd). I took it upon myself to try to actually estimate the number of stupid ideas that were recorded. To do this I looked at every tenth page and did my best to count the number of unique links to stupid Republican ideas. From this I estimate that there were approximately 3,260 stupid ideas, with a 95% confidence interval of between 2,884 and 3,635, making for about 1.38 stupid ideas posted each day, with a fairly constant rate of about 1 stupid idea for every 6.7 snark posts. Looking across time it seems that the number of stupid ideas was only about one every other day until the start of 2012. In 2012 through 2013 this number became more variable but increased to about 1.5 per day. Then finally settled down to a steady rate of 2.5 stupid ideas per day starting in 2014 through today. This may be a slight over estimation as sometimes there may be multiple reports of the same stupid idea, and there may be some poe’s law items that I didn’t catch but I think its safe to say that the thread is living up to its name. ---
**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:** [October 23, 2015, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/25038 "2015-10-23T17:35:08Z")
> [@bup](#): > > It’s a fair question for a high school kid to ask, but there are good answers to it! Sex creates genetic diversity _efficiently_! Well, there’s also the simple logistics hurdle. So your brain suddenly foomphs itself into two. Now you have two brains inside a single skull. And die of intracranial pressure (YOU MUST KNOW THAT ONE, DOC !). Or somehow every single cell in the human body must split\* at the exact same time ? \*And the exact same speed ?How does that perfect synch and coordination even work, when I sit on my own balls every other week ? Where does all this sudden extra mass of matter come from ? Etc… Tab A into slut B seems a \*lot \*more practical, past a very early complexity level. And yes, it’s a typo, but it was so good I left it in just to make Freud smile. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/25039 "2015-10-23T17:39:06Z")
Whoever thought it was a good idea to drag Hillary in front of the Keystone Kops for 11 hours of mind-numbingly stupid questions has to win this thread, right? ---
**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:** [October 23, 2015, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/25040 "2015-10-23T17:57:55Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Tab A into slut B seems a \*lot \*more practical, past a very early complexity level. > > And yes, it’s a typo, but it was so good I left it in just to make Freud smile. It made **me** smile, too. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/25041 "2015-10-23T19:04:52Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [Ben Carson wants the Education Department to control speech at colleges.](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/21/1436858/-Ben-Carson-hates-political-correctness-so-much-he-wants-the-government-to-police-campus-speech?detail=facebook) Even better, [Carson will only police LIBERAL speech](http://www.rawstory.com/2015/10/ben-carson-comforts-conservatives-i-will-only-police-liberal-speech-on-college-campuses/). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1251) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1253)