# 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:** 1376
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/27502 "2016-02-19T00:26:02Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > This is hypothetical as he’s not a locker room type person, but I imagine he would use the men’s locker room but change his pants in a private booth or toilet stall. What if he didn’t want to do that? What if he thought it was undignified and that he had as much right as anyone else to undress in front of others? Hypothetical of course, since he’s not here to speak for himself and he might not feel that way. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/27503 "2016-02-19T00:30:49Z")
> [@YogSothoth](#): > > You could, but that will conflict with other things we should take into account, namely that of personal liberty and civil rights. But now we’re back to asking about the personal liberty and civil rights of those who share the locker room with the transgendered person! You can’t declare that only the transgendered have rights. You can’t declare that they are the only ones entitled to comfort in a restroom or locker room. And saying that doesn’t mean I, or anyone in the restroom or locker room, hates transgenders. Just as I don’t hate women but I don’t want to share a public restroom with women. All I’m saying is this is not such a cut-and-dried issue that neatly fits with other civil rights issues. I’m sorry I can’t answer all your responses now. Maybe later. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/27504 "2016-02-19T00:50:42Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Yes, of course. But is all he (she) needs to do is say “I identify as female” and you then have no problem with it? > > Even if he looks and “acts” male? > > Even if he might be lying? The entire issue is about self-identification. If he(she) identifies as female, then yes, it is entirely different. That’s the whole thing. It’s still possible he(she) would be lying, but that’s an entirely separate issue from a man demanding the right to undress in a woman’s bathroom. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/27505 "2016-02-19T00:55:36Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Loath as I am to interrupt this thread hijack, but can we really discuss a stupid Republican idea? > > [Donald Trump says he knows who really knocked down the World Trade Center, and he’s going to tell us as soon as he’s elected President.](http://www.addictinginfo.org/2016/02/18/trump-pledges-to-reveal-who-really-knocked-down-the-world-trade-center-video/) What are the odds he blames The Pope? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/27506 "2016-02-19T01:01:33Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > What are the odds he blames The Pope? They did find that [cross.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Trade_Center_cross) ---
**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:** [February 19, 2016, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/27507 "2016-02-19T01:04:28Z")
Trump confuses Barack Obama [for Ben Carson](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/donald-trump-confuses-barack-obama-ben-carson-gaffe-219352#ixzz40ZU2RhDB) > [@](#): > > “What Ted Cruz did to Obama, where he said that Obama had quit the race and take our votes,” Trump began to say before being corrected by his audience. > > In fact, he was referring to an incident in which members of Cruz’s campaign spread reports suggesting that Carson was dropping out of the race on the day of the Iowa caucuses. People in the crowd started yelling that it was Carson. > > “Right? Is that right?” asked Trump shrugging, before realizing his mistake. Easy mistake. They both wear coats and ties, right? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/27508 "2016-02-19T01:36:25Z")
Regarding the bathroom issue: Given what I’ve heard of what goes on in women’s rest rooms (discussions of female health issues, frank evaluations/grading of their male coworkers, etc.), I’d think that the women could certainly get him out of there pretty fast, via either intimidation or embarrassment. And most places I’ve worked, there are some strong-willed women who would have no trouble doing that. Just a loud remark in the company cafeteria like _“Well, I was in the ladies’ when he came in yesterday, and he might as well be using that – he’s certainly not carrying enough to be needing a mens room!”_ And, really, aren’t most European rest rooms common ones used by both sexes? Mostly you’re in a private cubicle for the undressed part, and washing your hands, combing hair, etc. could be done just fine with someone of another gender at the next sink. ---
**Author:** ![Trafalgar\_Laura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trafalgar_laura/32/2907_2.png) [@Trafalgar\_Laura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trafalgar_Laura)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/27509 "2016-02-19T03:14:58Z")
As a lurker who likes (masochistically) reading about dumb things republicans do… could perhaps a thread regarding bathrooms and genders be created instead? Just throwin’ it out there. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_Carlson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc79bd/32.png) [@Not\_Carlson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_Carlson)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/27510 "2016-02-19T12:38:07Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > > [@Not\_Carlson](#): > > > > So, he didn’t even have the balls to claim he identifies as a woman. > > Suppose he did though. > > “Are you a woman?” > > “Yes.” > > Is that all that this requires? > > ( …? …? …? …? …? > > …? …? …? …? …? …? > > … ) Golly. That’s a very long and heavy response to my juvenile attempt at genital-based humor. Also, that’s a heck of a lot of questions. I feel obliged to give some response, but I think it’s time to get the train back on track. It certainly is a delicate and tricky issue, and one worthy of discussion, but perhaps in a different forum. By all means, go ahead and start a new thread in GD or IMHO and I’ll stop by to throw my half-penny into it. Heck, I might even agree with you once I can see your opinions, and not just a bunch of questions. My opinion of the guy in question is that he’s a jerk and/or a creep. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/27511 "2016-02-19T14:15:55Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > I have the theory that besides authoritarians, Trump is going for the Discordianist vote. “Discordian\*ist”? \*fnord fnord! fnord fnord \*fnord \*fnord fnord If he really wants the Discordianistic votes from Discordianisticals, he should get up to a mic and say “fnord fnord fnord _fnord fnord_” in an appropriately mumbly voice. fnord fnord fnord \*fnord \* ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/27512 "2016-02-19T14:21:07Z")
[Bill creating 2 marriage licenses clears Kentucky Senate](http://news.yahoo.com/bill-creating-2-marriage-licenses-clears-kentucky-senate-214745991.html). With bonus idiocy! > [@](#): > > Kentucky’s state Senate approved a bill Thursday that creates different marriage license forms for gay and straight couples, **with one Republican senator saying any form that does not include the words “bride” and “groom” is disrespectful to traditional families.** ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/27513 "2016-02-19T15:06:17Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Your kids? The ones who aren’t torn apart as fetuses are going to be working for my kids. So in addition to being a right-wing dolt, you’re as nasty as an infected rectum. Got it. > [@octopus](#): > > … Mostly I teach them about the shared benefits to society of things like roads, fire departments, public schools etc. Wow, are we supposed to be impressed with this condescension? Even the Youtube-educated Hyperlibertarians know that much about real-world economics. > [@octopus](#): > > Unintended consequences of stupid leftist thinkers are what many on the right warn about. I don’t like the stupid consequences but with 1/2 the population at or below median IQ and 1/2 of the remainder voting for more and more central control stupid consequences are a foregone conclusion. It must really give you cognitive discord to view statistics about voting by education. (Pollsters don’t ask about IQ, so let’s use education as a proxy.) The only group far off the norm are post-graduates who vote overwhelmingly with the “libtards.” 😛 ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/27514 "2016-02-19T15:33:07Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > “Discordian\*ist”? \*fnord fnord! > fnord fnord \*fnord \*fnord fnord > If he really wants the Discordianistic votes from Discordianisticals, he should get up to a mic and say “fnord fnord fnord _fnord fnord_” in an appropriately mumbly voice. fnord fnord fnord \*fnord \* You jest, and I’m only half serious, but what should really fry your noddle is that there is more evidence that Discordians killed Kennedy rather than all the crazy conspiracy theories out there. > **[Kerry Wendell Thornley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerry_Wendell_Thornley)** > > Kerry Wendell Thornley (April 17, 1938 – November 28, 1998) was an American author. He is known as the co-founder (along with childhood friend Greg Hill) of Discordianism, in which context he is usually known as Omar Khayyam Ravenhurst or simply Lord Omar. He and Hill authored the religion's text Principia Discordia, Or, How I Found Goddess, and What I Did to Her When I Found Her. Thornley also was known for his 1962 manuscript The Idle Warriors, which was inspired by the activitie Thornley wa... But that connection is still IMHO only a factor, madness was more the issue with Oswald. Still that madness, I think, had some “guidance”. The point here (and not a very serious one, but one that does give me pause) is that besides ignorance among the American public a good number of Americans do look forward to see bad things happening or to see how people will react to the apple of discord tossed in a modern setting. When I look at the kind of voter that is giving their votes to Trump I notice many that are just looking forward to see shit happen if Trump becomes president. Or they do want to see how the Republicans go down in flames. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/27515 "2016-02-19T15:52:33Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > So in addition to being a right-wing dolt, you’re as nasty as an infected rectum. Got it. Who am I to doubt your expertise delving into rectums. Infected or otherwise. > [@septimus](#): > > It must really give you cognitive discord to view statistics about voting by education. (Pollsters don’t ask about IQ, so let’s use education as a proxy.) The only group far off the norm are post-graduates who vote overwhelmingly with the “libtards.” 😛 I wonder how that would break down by usefulness of major. A women’s studies major 200k in debt working at Burger World is not really any proxy for intellect. Not having the sense to manage one’s own life doesn’t lend any credibility that that piece of paper gives one a greater insight into running a nation. We have plenty of nuts over here in Republicanville. I just happen to like left wing nuts a little less. Primary factor though? I don’t like concentrated state power. You fools whine about police shooting someone in the back. Who does it? Agents of the state. Yet who is your deity? The government. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/27516 "2016-02-19T16:18:44Z")
> [@](#): > > You fools whine about police shooting someone in the back. Who does it? Agents of the state. Yet who is your deity? The government. I assume someone who was overly focused on the “usefulness” of their major wouldn’t be able to understand why people would mock him for sentences like this. I’m sorry your focus on pragmatics left you with underdeveloped critical thinking skills. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/27517 "2016-02-19T16:23:44Z")
Government is not an entity, it has no qualities inherent in its nature. Government is just or unjust, generous or forbidding, progressive or reactionary, according to the nature of its participants. There is no guarantee that government of the people, for the people and by the people is certain to be an improvement. We of the left, broadly speaking, would like to see that tried. What the heck, give it a shot, right? ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/27518 "2016-02-19T16:32:13Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > I assume someone who was overly focused on the “usefulness” of their major wouldn’t be able to understand why people would mock him for sentences like this. > > I’m sorry your focus on pragmatics left you with underdeveloped critical thinking skills. Oh no! A grammar nazi. If I only cared about your approval. That said, critical thinking and writing are two different skills. > [@elucidator](#): > > Government is not an entity, it has no qualities inherent in its nature. Government is just or unjust, generous or forbidding, progressive or reactionary, according to the nature of its participants. There is no guarantee that government of the people, for the people and by the people is certain to be an improvement. > > We of the left, broadly speaking, would like to see that tried. What the heck, give it a shot, right? And for 200+ years that has been the trend. But as pointed out centuries ago power corrupts so keeping in place constraints on power is wise to prevent the institution from being hijacked. Abuse of the regulating interstate commerce clause is an interesting example of interpreting words to get a seemingly desired outcome while generating a terrible precedent. On the subject of “we the people” would you prefer a pure democracy over a constitutional republic? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/27519 "2016-02-19T16:39:19Z")
What a fascinating offer to change the subject! With all due awe, I will pass. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/27520 "2016-02-19T16:42:47Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > What a fascinating offer to change the subject! With all due awe, I will pass. That’s no fun. ☹ If we had a pure democracy you could be compelled to participate. ---
**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:** [February 19, 2016, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/27521 "2016-02-19T17:09:22Z")
[Ted Cruz vows to give away Nevada’s public land to locals if elected.](http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2016/02/19/3751233/ted-cruz-public-lands-ad/) And they say it’s _Democrats_ who get elected by promising free stuff. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1375) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1377)