# 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:** 132
**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:** [March 15, 2011, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2621 "2011-03-15T12:41:08Z")
The GOP is really winning them over up in Concord lately. [Didja hear the one about](http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110311/GJNEWS_01/703119927)the freshman (and that seems an odd term for a 91-year-old) NH state representative who…well, let’s hear him tell it: > [@](#): > > Omand told Foster’s that Harty told her he disagreed with her about the need for funds for mental health services and he believed in eugenics. > > “The world population has gotten too big and the world is being inherited by too many defective people,” he told her. > > Omand said she asked him to clarify if he meant mentally ill and developmentally disabled and he responded, “I mean all the defective people, the drug addicts, mentally ill, the retarded — all of them.” > > “I asked what we should do with them,” Omand said, and Harty said, “I believe if we had a Siberia we should send them to this and they would all freeze and die and we will be rid of them.” In other news, [Kansas State Representative compares immigrants to feral swine](http://www.kansas.com/2011/03/15/1762925/lawmakers-immigrant-remark-draws.html#): > [@](#): > > In a committee hearing, Rep. Virgil Peck, R-Tyro, introduced a question he was asking regarding the hunting of feral swine in Kansas with what he says he intended to be a joke: > > “Looks like to me, if shooting these immigrating feral hogs works, maybe we have found a (solution) to our illegal immigration problem.” Classy! To be fair, both were immediately smacked down by the other local Republicans. And at least they’re not racists, **Starving Artist** will be relieved to know. ---
**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:** [March 15, 2011, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2622 "2011-03-15T13:00:51Z")
No surprise, but Rick Santorum thinks [separation of church and state is a radical idea](http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/03/15/santorum_takes_stabs_at_romney_kennedy_in_massachusetts/): > [@](#): > > In remarks to about 50 members of the group Catholic Citizenship — which encourages parishioners to speak out on issues of public policy — Santorum decried what he called the growing secularization of American public life. > > He traced the problem to Kennedy’s 1960 speech to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association, in which Kennedy — then a candidate for president — sought to allay concerns about his Catholicism by declaring, “I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute.’’ > > Santorum, who is Catholic, said he is “frankly appalled’’ by Kennedy’s remark. > > “That was a radical statement,’’ Santorum said, and it did “great damage.’’ On the other hand, he says Sharia law is [contrary to the American form of government](http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/51166.html): > [@](#): > > Santorum added, “Sharia law is not just a religious code. It is also a governmental code. It happens to be both religious in nature an origin, but it is a civil code. And it is incompatible with the civil code of the United States.” ---
**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:** [March 15, 2011, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2623 "2011-03-15T13:27:30Z")
[More fun with unions and the GOP](http://michiganmessenger.com/47203/emergency-managers-bill-sweeps-toward-final-approval#), this time in Michigan: > [@](#): > > In a party line vote, and despite impassioned speeches of protest by the body’s Democratic minority, the Michigan Senate approved legislation that threatens to take over and even dissolve local governments that refuse to balance their budgets by breaking labor contracts. > 　 > According to the law, which has already been approved in the House, the governor will be able to declare “financial emergency” in towns or school districts and appoint someone to **fire local elected officials, break contracts, seize and sell assets, and eliminate services**. A proud day for freedom and democracy, when the Governor can “fire local elected officials” if they don’t do what he wants. ---
**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:** [March 15, 2011, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2624 "2011-03-15T23:28:47Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > The GOP is really winning them over up in Concord lately. [Didja hear the one about](http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110311/GJNEWS_01/703119927)the freshman (and that seems an odd term for a 91-year-old) NH state representative who…well, let’s hear him tell it: Harty resigned, so at least there’s that. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2625 "2011-03-15T23:42:33Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > No surprise, but Rick Santorum thinks [separation of church and state is a radical idea](http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/03/15/santorum_takes_stabs_at_romney_kennedy_in_massachusetts/): > > On the other hand, he says Sharia law is [contrary to the American form of government](http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/51166.html): What stood out to me was his comments about Head Start: > [@](#): > > “They fund it more,” he said of Democrats. “Why? Because it brings more children into their domain. It brings more children out of the household … Their agenda is to socialize your children with the thinking they want in those children’s minds.” He sounds like a paranoid schizophrenic. “For God’s sake, don’t ever let your kids out of the house! You wouldn’t want them to be … to be … SOCIALIZED, would you?” ---
**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:** [March 16, 2011, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2626 "2011-03-16T01:35:21Z")
'Course not. Socializing is what SOCIALISTS do! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2627 "2011-03-16T01:39:21Z")
They want a balanced view. Instead of hippy-dippy shit about “sharing”, they want Big Bird to knock a child down, take its toy and scream “Mine! Mine! Can’t have it!” ---
**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:** [March 16, 2011, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2628 "2011-03-16T01:45:48Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > 'Course not. Socializing is what SOCIALISTS do! I socialized once. _shuffles feet_ ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2629 "2011-03-16T05:05:53Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > They want a balanced view. Instead of hippy-dippy shit about “sharing”, they want Big Bird to knock a child down, take its toy and scream “Mine! Mine! Can’t have it!” [Our Daughter Isn’t a Selfish Brat; Your Son Just Hasn’t Read _Atlas Shrugged_](http://www.mcsweeneys.net/2010/8/12hague.html) ---
**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2630 "2011-03-16T17:28:44Z")
I didn’t think I’d ever have one of these for my very own, but here it is: Florida Senator Jim Norman (R, Batshit - er, actually Cowshit, I guess) introduces [S-1246](http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2011/1246/BillText/Filed/HTML) which > [@](#): > > Prohibits a person from entering onto a farm or photographing or video recording a farm And > [@](#): > > As used in this section, the term “farm” includes any tract of land cultivated for the purpose of agricultural production, the raising and breeding of domestic animals, or the storage of a commodity. That’s right, it will be illegal for birdwatchers to photograph birds in trees in farmers’ fields, even from an adjacent road or park. And it won’t be some middling little infraction, either, but a first degree felony. Welcome to Flori-duhh! Check your camera gear at the border. Nothin’ to see here. That’s for sure. ---
**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:** [March 16, 2011, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2631 "2011-03-16T17:39:59Z")
> [@CannyDan](#): > > That’s right, it will be illegal for birdwatchers to photograph birds in trees in farmers’ fields, even from an adjacent road or park. And it won’t be some middling little infraction, either, but a first degree felony. Welcome to Flori-duhh! Check your camera gear at the border. Nothin’ to see here. That’s for sure. What was the reason behind this? It wasn’t targeting bird watchers, was it? Is it to protect farms from PETA or something? ---
**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:** [March 16, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2632 "2011-03-16T17:43:37Z")
Dunno, but it’d be funny if the first person popped on it was James O’Keefe… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2633 "2011-03-16T17:51:05Z")
> [@waterj2](#): > > [Our Daughter Isn’t a Selfish Brat; Your Son Just Hasn’t Read _Atlas Shrugged_](http://www.mcsweeneys.net/2010/8/12hague.html) The author’s daughter is going to grow up to be a real winner. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2634 "2011-03-16T17:56:25Z")
> [@Lord\_Ashtar](#): > > The author’s daughter is going to grow up to be a real winner. :rolleyes: Which one of us did the author whoosh? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2635 "2011-03-16T17:58:07Z")
> [@Lord\_Ashtar](#): > > The author’s daughter is going to grow up to be a real winner. :rolleyes: I’m reasonably certain it wasn’t a serious column… ---
**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2636 "2011-03-16T18:17:42Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > What was the reason behind this? It wasn’t targeting bird watchers, was it? Is it to protect farms from PETA or something? [Apparently.](http://fltrib.com/photographing-cows-or-other-farm-scenery-could-land-you-jail-under-senate-bill) They’re the ones roundly condemning it. > [@](#): > > Wilton Simpson, a farmer who lives in Norman’s district, said the bill is needed to protect the property rights of farmers and the “intellectual property” involving farm operations. > > Simpson, president of Simpson Farms near Dade City, said the law would prevent people from posing as farmworkers so that they can secretly film agricultural operations. I have my own professional differences with PETA, but regardless, this bill is asinine. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2637 "2011-03-16T18:25:47Z")
That article suffered from the Louis C.K syndrome. Allow me to explain … The humor in the article is based on ascribing adult motivations to a toddler’s actions. See? A 4 year old Randian Objectivist … ha ha ha, oh, it is to laugh. It’s tough to chew through when it gets too long. You start to forget that there’s humor afoot and you’re just hearing about how a four year old is selfish douchebag. I was watching Louis C.K.'s \*Shameless \*last night and he does this bit on how, “my four year old daughter is such an asshole,” and then he goes on with things like, “what kind of a person holds up a whole other group of people because she doesn’t want to put on her fucking shoes? An asshole, that’s who!” But it goes on for like 10 minutes and by the end it was just sounding mean. And Louis C.K. is funny … that author … meh. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2638 "2011-03-16T18:26:27Z")
The [Salon](http://www.salon.com/news/agriculture/?story=/mwt/feature/2011/03/15/illegal_florida_farm_photography_open2011) article on this indicates that it’s an anti-whistleblower bill in general, designed to not only discourage animal welfare advocates from taking pictures, but also to discourage people from taking pictures of illegal immigrants working at factory farms, worker safety violations, and food safety violations. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2639 "2011-03-16T19:03:51Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I’m reasonably certain it wasn’t a serious column… If that’s the case, then I acknowledge my having been whooshed. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2640 "2011-03-16T19:46:35Z")
> [@Lord\_Ashtar](#): > > If that’s the case, then I acknowledge my having been whooshed. Don’t feel bad. Poe’s Law has taken on a much wider-than-intended caseload since Obama’s election. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=131) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=133)