# 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:** 1429
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28562 "2016-04-15T17:41:42Z")
> [@keeganst94](#): > > You don’t have to have an advanced degree, or any degree, to be a scientist. You don’t have to be employed by academia to be a scientist. You don’t have to have a job in research to be a scientist. All that is required to be a scientists is to attempt to acquire information in a rigorous manner using the scientific method. Discoveries can and have been made by amateurs using the scientific method, and they are just as much scientists as someone holding a PhD. Whether or not Nye has done this, I don’t know. I came in here to say just this. Nye is if nothing else an excellent, respected advocate for science. Palin is nothing of the sort. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28563 "2016-04-15T17:51:55Z")
> [@keeganst94](#): > > You don’t have to have an advanced degree, or any degree, to be a scientist. You don’t have to be employed by academia to be a scientist. You don’t have to have a job in research to be a scientist. All that is required to be a scientists is to attempt to acquire information in a rigorous manner using the scientific method. Discoveries can and have been made by amateurs using the scientific method, and they are just as much scientists as someone holding a PhD. Whether or not Nye has done this, I don’t know. This is true. My uncle was a research scientist for a large company, with several patents. He did not have an advanced degree. In fact, after he died I was surprised to learn that he had no college degree at all. But if he wasn’t a Scientist, he was misemployed for many years by that company. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28564 "2016-04-15T18:08:46Z")
If he’s not a scientist, doesn’t that male him _more_ qualified to speak about climate change? 'Cause all them real scientists are in on the take, promoting a conspiracy and everything? ---
**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:** [April 15, 2016, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28565 "2016-04-15T18:12:48Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Texas is not Tennessee or California, and the legality of attorneys general refusing to defend legislation is not settled. Sure it is. AGs owe allegiance to the U.S. Constitution and U.S. law first. It is supreme to any state constitution or law. Cruz may have chosen to ignore that and defend the law anyway, or he may really believe what he wrote. Either way, he made a choice. ---
**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:** [April 15, 2016, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28566 "2016-04-15T18:23:35Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Texas is not Tennessee or California, and the legality of attorneys general refusing to defend legislation is not settled. You cannot assume anything about Cruz’ beliefs from the Texas Dildo Massacre any more than you can assume Hilary is pro-molestation because she defended a child molester. Saying that somebody has to defend the anti-dildo legislation does not mean that the attorney defending the law has to declare that there is no constitutional right to masturbate. That’s not part of an anti-dildo defense. ---
**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:** [April 15, 2016, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28567 "2016-04-15T18:26:56Z")
[The Republican-dominated state legislature of Kentucky has given $18 million dollars of state tax money in order to build the Answers in Genesis “Ark Encounter” amusement park](http://www.rawstory.com/2016/04/taxpayer-subsidized-noahs-ark-theme-park-will-only-hire-job-seekers-who-believe-earth-is-6000-years-old/). The park requires that all of its employees believe in a 6000 year old creation and in “One natural man, one natural woman” marriage. I hope somebody takes them to court over that. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28568 "2016-04-15T18:27:11Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > … does not mean that the attorney defending the law has to declare that there is no constitutional right to masturbate. That’s not part of an anti-dildo defense. I would suggest it would be better as a pro-dildo argument. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28569 "2016-04-15T18:44:28Z")
“The Bible says I gotta love my neighbor like myself! What, I gotta go next door and jerk him off too!” - Rodney Dangerfield, the late and lamented ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28570 "2016-04-15T19:12:20Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Texas is not Tennessee or California, and the legality of attorneys general refusing to defend legislation is not settled. You cannot assume anything about Cruz’ beliefs from the Texas Dildo Massacre any more than you can assume Hilary is pro-molestation because she defended a child molester. I think given what we know of Cruz, its safe to say that he was unwilling to pretend dildos are perfectly legal ---
**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:** [April 15, 2016, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28571 "2016-04-15T19:15:48Z")
You would think a jerk-off dildo like Cruz would stand up for himself. ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28572 "2016-04-15T20:01:25Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [The Republican-dominated state legislature of Kentucky has given $18 million dollars of state tax money in order to build the Answers in Genesis “Ark Encounter” amusement park](http://www.rawstory.com/2016/04/taxpayer-subsidized-noahs-ark-theme-park-will-only-hire-job-seekers-who-believe-earth-is-6000-years-old/). The park requires that all of its employees believe in a 6000 year old creation and in “One natural man, one natural woman” marriage. I hope somebody takes them to court over that. I hope that the damn thing gets hit by lightning right before it’s done and burns to cinders. Like with Touchdown Jesus. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28573 "2016-04-15T20:08:08Z")
> [@hotflungwok](#): > > I hope that the damn thing gets hit by lightning right before it’s done and burns to cinders. Like with Touchdown Jesus. Nah, the appropriate ‘Act of God’ would be for a flash flood to wash through the site. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28574 "2016-04-15T20:34:57Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > The difference between someone like Nye and someone like Palin is that the former is capable of critical thinking, which is pretty much what science is about. Oh, I agree; I was just (apparently badly) making the point that the proof of this particular pudding is in the primary research that went into it, regardless of what third parties may say about it. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28575 "2016-04-15T20:37:47Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Oh, I agree; I was just (apparently badly) making the point that the proof of this particular pudding is in the primary research that went into it, regardless of what third parties may say about it. Yeah, I was agreeing with you, so I’m glad to see that you’re agreeing with my agreeing and that we’re in agreement. Or something. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28576 "2016-04-15T20:54:36Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Texas is not Tennessee or California, and the legality of attorneys general refusing to defend legislation is not settled. Jim Mattox, who served as attorney general from 1983 to 1991, withdrew an appeal in the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals that his predecessor had filed after Texas’ anti-sodomy law was deemed unconstitutional. Mattox refused to continue with his office’s defense of the anti-sodomy law because Mattox also believed it was unconstitutional. > **[Texplainer: Is the AG Legally Required to Defend a State Law?](https://www.texastribune.org/2013/12/13/texplainer-does-ag-have-defend-state-law/)** > > Hey, Texplainer: Could Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott choose to not defend a law? What are the state attorney general’s responsibilities when it comes to lawsuits against Texas? Sent from my SPH-L720T using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28577 "2016-04-15T21:03:31Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Yeah, I was agreeing with you, so I’m glad to see that you’re agreeing with my agreeing and that we’re in agreement. Or something. Dude, it’s the Pit. Ixnay on the gree-aay. Reputations are at stake. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28578 "2016-04-15T21:49:14Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28579 "2016-04-15T22:02:15Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Dude, it’s the Pit. Ixnay on the gree-aay. Reputations are at stake. I disagree. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28580 "2016-04-15T22:12:14Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I disagree. No you don’t. ---
**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:** [April 15, 2016, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28581 "2016-04-15T22:32:05Z")
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