# 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:** 1442
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2016, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28822 "2016-04-30T00:36:30Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > Can you run for VP? I mean, independently? Can I just say, “My name is Zakalwe and I don’t care who you vote for to be POTUS, I want the veep spot and that sweet-ass house.” Joe Walsh did, didn’t he? ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2016, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28823 "2016-04-30T02:46:31Z")
Well, I guess. In a way. What I mean is, can you run for VP in such a way as to force the GOP or Democratic nominee to put you on the ticket? If I announce a run for VP and get enough signatures in enough states, can I bind delegates to vote for me for VP at the Party Convention and take the decision out of the candidate’s hands? Can you even qualify for the ballot as a VP candidate in enough states? ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2016, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28824 "2016-04-30T05:27:19Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > Can you run for VP? I mean, independently? Can I just say, “My name is Zakalwe and I don’t care who you vote for to be POTUS, I want the veep spot and **that sweet-ass house**.” You mean that sweet ass-house? ([Obligatory xkcd](https://xkcd.com/37/)) ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2016, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28825 "2016-04-30T06:11:53Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > If I announce a run for VP and get enough signatures in enough states, can I bind delegates to vote for me for VP at the Party Convention and take the decision out of the candidate’s hands? Can you even qualify for the ballot as a VP candidate in enough states? I don’t think any state allows that now. New Hampshire had a vice presidential primary until 2008, but it wasn’t binding and nobody took it seriously. (In 2008, the Republican winner was John Barnes, Jr. and the Democratic winner was Raymond Stebbins, not exactly household names. The former appears to have been a legislator running on a platform of the VP primary being stupid.) ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2016, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28826 "2016-04-30T06:33:40Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [There’s a bill before the Oklahoma state legislature preventing District Attorneys from prosecuting state officials.](http://www.ifyouonlynews.com/politics/republicans-try-passing-bill-to-prevent-them-from-ever-being-arrested-for-corruption/) I for one can’t blame the Republican legislators of Oklahoma for assuming that they can legislate themselves into legal invulnerabillty. We’ve all seen the videos of cops committing murder and then read about them getting away with it scot-free. It just stands to reason that sooner or later, lawmakers would want to get in on some of that sweet, sweet legal invulnerability. ---
**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 30, 2016, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28827 "2016-04-30T22:00:36Z")
Kirk Cameron: > [@](#): > > [Wives are to honor and respect and follow their husband’s lead, not to tell their husband how he ought to be a better husband. When each person gets their part right, regardless of how their spouse is treating them, there is hope for real change in their marriage](http://bipartisanreport.com/2016/04/30/kirk-cameron-to-women-your-life-purpose-is-to-please-your-husband/). ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2016, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28828 "2016-04-30T22:37:10Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Joe Walsh did, didn’t he? Just to clarify, you meant [the guy who was dancing on the table at the end of _Blues Brothers_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz77XHvlYEs), not the [Republican asshole who got skunked in 2012 by the girl with no legs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Walsh_%28Illinois_politician%29). ---
**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:** [May 1, 2016, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28829 "2016-05-01T21:41:07Z")
[The House Ways and Means Committee passed a Koch-brothers backed bill which would keep the donors to tax-exempt groups secret](http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/house-committee-passes-controversial-bill-shield-donor-names-irs). ---
**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:** [May 2, 2016, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28830 "2016-05-02T01:16:46Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [The House Ways and Means Committee passed a Koch-brothers backed bill which would keep the donors to tax-exempt groups secret](http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/house-committee-passes-controversial-bill-shield-donor-names-irs). Jack Sheldon is still with us. Maybe he can explain why that will never become law. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28831 "2016-05-02T02:03:02Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Just to clarify, you meant [the guy who was dancing on the table at the end of _Blues Brothers_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz77XHvlYEs), not the [Republican asshole who got skunked in 2012 by the girl with no legs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Walsh_%28Illinois_politician%29). You mean the same girl with no legs who, despite her impediment, is gonna kick Mark Kirk’s ass in November? You do not fuck with Tammy Duckworth. 😃 As I recall, during that campaign the Real Joe Walsh[sub]TM[/sub] distanced himself from the one who tried to cash in on his name recognition, popularity, and general awesomeness. ---
**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:** [May 2, 2016, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28832 "2016-05-02T02:24:36Z")
[That piece of shit Keith Ablow, the alleged medical expert for Fox “News”, says that transgender children should be injected with their birth gender hormones to “fix” them.](http://mediamatters.org/blog/2016/04/25/fox-news-doctor-proposes-harmful-new-treatment-transgender-children/210068) ---
**Author:** ![Askthepizzaguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askthepizzaguy/32/9405_2.png) [@Askthepizzaguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askthepizzaguy)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28833 "2016-05-02T07:03:40Z")
Keith Ablow is someone I’ve already mentioned on this board as being one of the most notorious public blowhards in history. He’s truly a disgrace to mankind. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28834 "2016-05-02T08:07:06Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [Republicans in the House voted to block a new Department of Labor rule that would require financial planners to make sure that they put the interests of their clients above their own interests](http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2016/04/29/3773960/republicans-fiduciary-rule/). This after eight financial industry groups sent the House a letter begging them to oppose the new rule. I know I should read the actual bill for this question, but I’m not up on my legalese: how does this law define “interests” for purposes of enforcements? Does it just require planners to have a really really good excuse on why their moves weren’t only meant to pad their own bottom lines? ---
**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:** [May 2, 2016, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28835 "2016-05-02T14:55:55Z")
Generally, an insurance salesman or stock jock’s only legal duty to their customers is to deliver what they paid for and not commit fraud [/gross oversimplification] Doctors, lawyers and many professionals have the duty to work for the best interests of their client, a much higher standard. A doctor who simply chooses wrong can be sued. Some insurance folk (and I say this as an insurance folk) push insurance over all as the be-all end-all planning tool. Many stock jocks say securities should be pushed at all costs. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28836 "2016-05-02T15:10:35Z")
> [@Abe\_Babe](#): > > A doctor who simply chooses wrong can be sued. Well, while it’s true “anybody can be sued,” a doctor cannot be _successfully_ sued simply for being wrong. They must be so wrong that they breached the standard of care. The “medical standard of care” is typically defined as the level and type of care that a reasonably competent and skilled health care professional, with a similar background and in the same medical community, would have provided under the circumstances that led to the alleged malpractice. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28837 "2016-05-02T15:32:56Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [The House Ways and Means Committee passed a Koch-brothers backed bill which would keep the donors to tax-exempt groups secret](http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/house-committee-passes-controversial-bill-shield-donor-names-irs). I would classify this one as evil rather than stupid. It is just the sort of thing an evil super villain would do. ---
**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:** [May 2, 2016, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28838 "2016-05-02T19:15:14Z")
[American Family Association admits that it is planting men in the women’s rooms at Target.](http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/anti-lgbt-activists-testing-target-sending-men-womens-rooms) ---
**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:** [May 2, 2016, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28839 "2016-05-02T19:33:57Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Well, while it’s true “anybody can be sued,” a doctor cannot be _successfully_ sued simply for being wrong. They must be so wrong that they breached the standard of care. The “medical standard of care” is typically defined as the level and type of care that a reasonably competent and skilled health care professional, with a similar background and in the same medical community, would have provided under the circumstances that led to the alleged malpractice. I understand the standard of care required for professionals. Basically, before the DOL rules, an insurance agent could’t be held liable for selling a crappy policy, or selling something other than what the clients really needs. They could only be held liable if they committed fraud in selling something to the client. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28840 "2016-05-02T19:58:21Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > You mean the same girl with no legs who, despite her impediment, is gonna kick Mark Kirk’s ass in November? You do not fuck with Tammy Duckworth. 😃 > > As I recall, during that campaign the Real Joe Walsh[sub]TM[/sub] distanced himself from the one who tried to cash in on his name recognition, popularity, and general awesomeness. The only thing I know about Joe Walsh is that he’s an asshole, and that he is (was?) married to Jeri Ryan and tried to get her to have sex in public. ---
**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:** [May 2, 2016, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28841 "2016-05-02T20:08:09Z")
> [@YogSothoth](#): > > The only thing I know about Joe Walsh is that he’s an asshole, and that he is (was?) married to Jeri Ryan and **tried to get her to have sex in public.** You say that as if it were a bad thing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1441) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1443)