# 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:** 1450
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28982 "2016-05-07T15:39:21Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I think you have that somewhat backwards. You say Trump would want his presidency to be a success, but by what measure? There are all sorts of standards that people use to judge such things; the economy, unemployment, Dow Jones, signature legislation, the deficit, standard of living, safety, security, trade, treaties, what have you. I just don’t see Trump putting those things at the top of the list. But whatever metrics you use, what’s good for the country should be good for the president. I just get the sense that Trump’s ego is such that (if he becomes president) he thinks whatever is good for him is good for the country. If people buy his books, read news articles about him, and eventually contribute to his library, his presidency is a success, therefore the country is better off. Huh. I think exactly the opposite. I think a president trump would wake up every morning and look at a few key easy-to-compare economic numbers like stock markets and unemployment rates. If they were going well, he would think to himself “I’m a genius”, and spend the day tweeting about what a great job he was doing, and if they weren’t, he would spend the day trying to solve the symptoms. Above all else, he wants to win, and to have everyone see him winning; and there is no room in that for the more subtle long-term issues facing our nation. (Actually I guess the number he might look at above all others is his popularity. But my point is, much as I hate Trump, I fairly strongly disagree with the initial statement of “He would sell this country for a penny if he could.” I think Trump loves the USA, albeit not as much as he loves himself, and is at some level genuinely patriotic. And if elected, I think he would definitely want the USA to do well. And by “well” I mean “great! so much quality! the must fantastic country ever! hyuuuge!”. Of course, if he were elected and his presidency was a four year catastrophe, I’m sure he’d leave office still CLAIMING that it was an enormous success, and that he did everything right, and that anything that went wrong was other people’s fault, yada yada yada. But he’d much much rather leave office to universal accolades. ---
**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:** [May 7, 2016, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28983 "2016-05-07T15:58:36Z")
Roy Moore has been suspended from the Alabama Supreme Court (again) for [ordering state judges to disobey federal law.](http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2016/05/07/3776354/roy-moore-suspended/) > [@](#): > > For example, after a federal district court ordered Alabama probate judges to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in January, 2015 Moore issued his own order telling the probate judges to ignore the federal courts. These conflicting orders led to confusion throughout the state as the feud played out. > > Eventually, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell that same-sex marriage is legal in all 50 states. That, however, did not deter Moore. This past January — six months after Obergefell — he issued another order directing Alabama’s probate judges not to issue any marriages licenses to same-sex couples. His reasoning was that it was unclear if Obergefell applied to all 50 states or just the four states in the specific cases the Supreme Court heard. This was despite the fact it clearly stated that “same-sex couples may now exercise the fundamental right to marry in all States.” > > It was this order that served as the foundation for the Commission’s charges against Moore. He “flagrantly disregarded and abused his authority” by violating the orders of the U.S. Supreme Court, the charges read, and by ordering others to do the same. His order was “contrary to clear and determined law about which there is no confusion or unsettled question.” He also “abandoned his role as a neutral and detached chief administrator of the judicial system.” ---
**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 7, 2016, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28984 "2016-05-07T17:47:01Z")
One wonders why it took **seventeen months** before anybody did anything about Moore. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28985 "2016-05-07T18:06:38Z")
Had to wait until he embarrassed enough Republicans badly enough that they didn’t want to put him with him any longer. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28986 "2016-05-07T18:37:16Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Had to wait until he embarrassed enough Republicans badly enough that they didn’t want to put him with him any longer. Perhaps also because he’s obsolete - nobody cares about gay marriage any more, having it around as an issue is likely to hurt the Republicans in November. Controlling transgenders is where it’s at, now. ---
**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 7, 2016, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28987 "2016-05-07T18:40:15Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Perhaps also because he’s obsolete - nobody cares about gay marriage any more, having it around as an issue is likely to hurt the Republicans in November. Controlling transgenders is where it’s at, now. Yes, that HUGE problem of transgenders invading bathrooms for sexual reasons. Much like the Republicans have fought that HUGE problem of voter fraud. Meanwhile middle-aged, lower class and lower middle class white males are dying young … and nobody else is … and the Republicans, for whom this is a major demographic … don’t give a shit. ---
**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:** [May 8, 2016, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28988 "2016-05-08T16:54:20Z")
Speaking of voter fraud, and its inverse, Ohio state senator Bill Seitz (of the evil used car salesman grin) has introduced legislation [that will require a cash bond to cover expenses when a petition is made to a judge to extend polling-place hours](http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/04/15/gop-require-cash-longer-vote-hours/83080026/). The bond would be forfeit if it is determined that the action was frivolous. Indigent voters may obtain a waiver of bond, but extended voting hours would _only apply to the individual voter(s) asking for the extension_ (no one else would be allowed to vote after hours but those specific petitioners). His cost would include the wages of the poll workers “up to $22.50/hr”. Not quite sure what “up to” means, but $22.50/hr for poll workers? That just sounds improbable in republican-run Ohio. ---
**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 8, 2016, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28989 "2016-05-08T17:52:36Z")
[Sarah Palin says she’s ready to be Trump’s VP.](http://www.rawstory.com/2016/05/choose-me-sarah-palin-says-shes-as-vetted-as-anybody-in-the-country-for-trumps-vp/) ---
**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 8, 2016, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28990 "2016-05-08T17:59:20Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [Sarah Palin says she’s ready to be Trump’s VP.](http://www.rawstory.com/2016/05/choose-me-sarah-palin-says-shes-as-vetted-as-anybody-in-the-country-for-trumps-vp/) [Jan Brewer calls for fewer female candidates](http://www.rawstory.com/2016/05/jan-brewer-calls-for-fewer-female-candidates-this-woman-thing-has-gotten-way-out-of-control/): ‘This woman thing has gotten way out of control’. > [@](#): > > “I don’t necessarily think you need to pick a woman,” Brewer insisted. “You know, this woman thing has gotten way out of control I believe. > > “And I think it’s been driven by the left,” she remarked. “Because they think that it’s going to bring them over the end. But I think people, when they sit down to vote, they vote for the very best candidate. They want somebody that’s going to represent them.” Odd. It’s Trump who keeps screaming about “the woman’s card” and Fiorina said she was the best candidate to go against Hilary because she’s a woman. ---
**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 8, 2016, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28991 "2016-05-08T18:15:08Z")
Jan Brewer was the third consecutive female governor of Arizona, having succeeded Janet Napolitano when she resigned to join Obama’s cabinet. I guess she thinks that her tenure was so unsuccessful because, woman? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28992 "2016-05-08T18:54:57Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > His cost would include the wages of the poll workers “up to $22.50/hr”. Not quite sure what “up to” means, but $22.50/hr for poll workers? That just sounds improbable in republican-run Ohio. It varies among the counties, but in my county poll workers get $105 for the ~14 hour day. There don’t seem to be provisions for overtime. Workers also get $25 for the training session, and one who is chosen as the manager (in charge of preparing records and returns at the end of voting and of returning supplies and materials) gets an extra $15. ---
**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:** [May 8, 2016, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28993 "2016-05-08T20:14:18Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > It varies among the counties, but in my county poll workers get $105 for the ~14 hour day. There don’t seem to be provisions for overtime. Workers also get $25 for the training session, and one who is chosen as the manager (in charge of preparing records and returns at the end of voting and of returning supplies and materials) gets an extra $15. So, I guess “up to $22.50/hr” would be total for 3 people making $7.50/hr. ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28994 "2016-05-09T17:27:05Z")
Well, North Carolina is stupider. [I’m sure suing the Justice Department over this transgender issue will help the state’s reputation here!](http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/09/politics/north-carolina-hb2-justice-department-deadline/index.html) Can we get a new governor yet? ---
**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:** [May 9, 2016, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28995 "2016-05-09T17:36:15Z")
> [@Gedd](#): > > Well, North Carolina is stupider. [I’m sure suing the Justice Department over this transgender issue will help the state’s reputation here!](http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/09/politics/north-carolina-hb2-justice-department-deadline/index.html) > > Can we get a new governor yet? The suit is going to be epic. This is such a weird issue because the fundamental thing they’re all arguing about is a system of segregation. We have segregated restrooms and locker rooms for the different genders. Fitting a civil rights issue on top of that is torturous for both sides. It’s a bit like arguing over whether biracial people can have their choice of whites-only or blacks-only restrooms. It’s bizarre, no matter which side you’re on. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28996 "2016-05-09T17:55:09Z")
The 'Pub-controlled Alabama House of Representatives doesn’t want any of its five remaining family planning clinics to be less than 2,000 feet away from public schools, because the protestors outside bear signs that scare the kiddos. Or maybe because these clinics, you know, go around stalking kids or infiltrating their bathrooms. Or something. [http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/lauretta-brown/alabama-house-passes-bill-keep-abortion-clinics-away-schools-clinic](http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/lauretta-brown/alabama-house-passes-bill-keep-abortion-clinics-away-schools-clinic) ---
**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:** [May 9, 2016, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28997 "2016-05-09T17:56:39Z")
Donald proves once again that he doesn’t understand how macroeconomics works; > [@](#): > > “People said I want to go and buy debt and default on debt, and I mean, these people are crazy. This is the United States government,” Trump told CNN’s Chris Cuomo on “New Day.” “First of all, you never have to default because you print the money, I hate to tell you, OK?” Apparently, on whatever parallel Earth Trump comes from, Zimbabwe has the yuuuugest economy in the world. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28998 "2016-05-09T17:59:35Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > A new portmanteau will have to be coined to describe the man. Something like “bombastard”. Dilettaunt. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/28999 "2016-05-09T18:01:15Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Donald proves once again that he doesn’t understand how macroeconomics works; > > Apparently, on whatever parallel Earth Trump comes from, Zimbabwe has the yuuuugest economy in the world. We can have the best banknotes ever! The best! All we need to do is put a wind-blown big hair guy with an angled guitar on top of [this pile of rocks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperinflation_in_Zimbabwe#/media/File:Zimbabwe_$100_trillion_2009_Obverse.jpg) to have the METALEST BANKNOTES EVER! ---
**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:** [May 9, 2016, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/29000 "2016-05-09T18:01:33Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > The suit is going to be epic. No shit. I can’t wait to get the governor of North Carolina on the stand, line up ten cis and trans men with beards and biceps, and make him determine which bathroom each must use. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/29001 "2016-05-09T18:28:33Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > The suit is going to be epic. This is such a weird issue because the fundamental thing they’re all arguing about is a system of segregation. We have segregated restrooms and locker rooms for the different genders. Fitting a civil rights issue on top of that is torturous for both sides. It’s a bit like arguing over whether biracial people can have their choice of whites-only or blacks-only restrooms. It’s bizarre, no matter which side you’re on. While it’s been nicknamed the Bathroom Bill, the bill did more than regulate bathrooms. It also makes it illegal for NC cities to have anti-discrimination regulations, other than for employment by the city government. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1449) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1451)