# 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:** 1528
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30542 "2016-08-09T22:43:00Z")
> [@Sterling\_Archer](#): > > The Trump campaign, as usual, swings and misses. Such an easy answer was available too: “he meant the 2nd amendment supporters will be able to defend themselves when the Hillary-govt tries to take their guns” So using guns to “defend” yourself against police officers doing their job is OK? ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30543 "2016-08-09T22:44:21Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > [This one’s up on CNN now.](http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/09/politics/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-second-amendment/index.html) > [@Elizabeth Warren](#): > > : Trump can’t handle the fact that he’s losing to a girl. God bless Elizabeth Warren. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2016, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30544 "2016-08-09T22:47:10Z")
I suppose it’s too much to hope that he’ll end up living in a van down by the river, eating government cheese? ---
**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:** [August 9, 2016, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30545 "2016-08-09T22:49:05Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > So using guns to “defend” yourself against police officers doing their job is OK? So much for “Blue Lives Matter”. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30546 "2016-08-09T23:04:43Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > So if Clinton gets elected, 2nd amendment people are going to stop her by… not voting for her? That doesn’t even make sense. No, silly, they won’t vote for her Supreme Court nominee. Duh. ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30547 "2016-08-10T00:51:27Z")
the symptoms certainly fit. Not much left of his brain. He has shrunken hands. Very little heart left, too. Oh, well, he made an off the cuff addition to his stump speech…further blemishing his reputation while at the same time, thank you, he made a convincing argument for the majority of Americans who want responsible and reasonable regulation of owning and using killing tools to get out in record numbers to be certain that Hilary gets the opportunity to appoint 2 or 3 outstanding large-brained people to the SC. Imagine the complete destruction of individual liberties in the US if Trump gets that job? To make it work, though, the same Americans who want to preserve the country for their children had better vote out any and all Republican nutcases from their state offices and Federal elective positions, senators and representatives alike. Couldn’t be more clear, that this is the election that will define America for the next century. ---
**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:** [August 10, 2016, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30548 "2016-08-10T01:42:21Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > It’s amazing how easy it is to read those lines and hear them in Brannigan’s voice. > > Someone get me Billy West’s phone number and see if we can’t make a deal. [Or, we _COULD_, you know…](https://memegenerator.net/instance/70706647) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30549 "2016-08-10T01:46:11Z")
He’s a lout. In his life, he never has to hedge his mouth, nobody is going to scold him. He signs their checks, \*all \*his jokes are funny. He craves a reputation for being brutally honest, we are expected to see that as refreshing candor, rather than nasty and mean. Comes from having Wilford Brimley as your _guru_. So, anyway, he was joking. He honestly does not think anyone has reason to be upset with him. Of course he’s joking, what do you think he is, crazy? ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30550 "2016-08-10T02:37:50Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > Well, that’s a relief. He’s gone back to saying stupid shit. Yesterday’s economic speech may not have seemed stupid at first blush, but it actually was. So he’s never really had a break from stupid. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30551 "2016-08-10T04:07:11Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > He is calling for the assassination of Hillary Clinton if she becomes President. > How the Holy Fuck can this be legal? Serious question then … What remedy is there that is seriously available? If any celebrity / public personality said such a thing, they would face some unpleasant time with the Secret Service right? So Trump is getting leniency, which in one way is correct - you don’t want the idea of carting political opponents off to the gulag to take root, On the other hand …at what point does he become too unhinged and dangerous to be allowed to continue what he is doing? ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30552 "2016-08-10T04:33:40Z")
I have September 26 in the pool, ben ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30553 "2016-08-10T05:10:18Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > . . . On the other hand …at what point does he become too unhinged and dangerous to be allowed to continue what he is doing? It’s self-correcting. When he becomes that deranged, he stops being a threat. When even his own people disown him, we don’t need to prevent him from continuing what he is doing. Let him talk! Let him talk all day long! The only one he’s harming is himself. ---
**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:** [August 10, 2016, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30554 "2016-08-10T05:38:14Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > It’s self-correcting. When he becomes that deranged, he stops being a threat. When even his own people disown him, we don’t need to prevent him from continuing what he is doing. Let him talk! Let him talk all day long! The only one he’s harming is himself. That’s disappointing. I was counting on him to do some serious harm to the Republican majority in the House, and to actually kill the one in the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30555 "2016-08-10T06:01:26Z")
Well…he ain’t helping, that’s for sure. We’ll never know, but I think he may end up costing the GOP ten to twenty seats in the House, and maybe two in the Senate. People are scrambling to distance themselves from him. Pants on fire? His coat-tails are on fire! ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30556 "2016-08-10T12:59:12Z")
The lame excuses offered by Republicans desperate to the avoid offending their Derping Millions of base voters could (and probably will) fill another page of this thread. For starters, Paul Ryan, a man so cowardly and unprincipled that he makes Harry Flashman look like Captain America, is trying to spin the call to assassination as [“a joke gone bad”](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/paul-ryan-donald-trump-226854). No, Paul, the only “joke gone bad” here is your attempt to pass yourself off as a statesman. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30557 "2016-08-10T13:45:41Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > For starters, Paul Ryan, a man so cowardly and unprincipled that he makes Harry Flashman look like Captain America, is trying to spin the call to assassination as [“a joke gone bad”](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/paul-ryan-donald-trump-226854). No, Paul, the only “joke gone bad” here is your attempt to pass yourself off as a statesman. I can actually see it as a ‘joke gone bad’ - but that doesn’t really help. A President or serious candidate shouldn’t be making jokes like that in public. The best spin is that it was a bad joke, and that still shows bad-to-terrible judgement, especially in the middle of one of his “see, I can be reasonable” cycles. ---
**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:** [August 10, 2016, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30558 "2016-08-10T13:57:22Z")
It’s another one of those “I’m joking unless you agree in which case I meant it” moments, like the comment about Russia hacking Hillary’s emails. And if it happens? Hey, he didn’t really mean it! As deniability goes it’s extremely implausible but any deniability will do in a pinch. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30559 "2016-08-10T15:32:46Z")
I like what former NSA director Michael Hayden said in a [CNN interview](http://mediamatters.org/video/2016/08/09/former-nsa-director-someone-else-making-trump-s-2nd-amendment-comment-would-be-back-police-wagon/212278)afterwards: “I used to tell my seniors at the CIA, you get to a certain point in this business, **you’re not just responsible for what you say, you are responsible for what people hear.** ” All the plausible deniability in the world doesn’t mean jack to that crazy guy with 50 guns sitting in his trailer in Mississippi. I hope Clinton pushes back strongly and gets Gabby Giffords to campaign with her to show people just exactly what happens when you “joke” like that. On the other hand, this is another lost week for Trump as this is all people are going to talk about for the next few days. In other news, a judge [orders](http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/judge-orders-glenn-beck-to-reveal-sources-for-story-linking-innocent-man-to-boston-marathon-bombing/ar-BBvt2gg?li=BBnbfcL)Glenn Beck to reveal his sources linking an innocent man to the Boston Bombings. The stupid part is Beck’s stooges pointed to an innocent man and now there’s a small possibility that if Beck doesn’t do as ordered, he may get jail! But my real reason for posting this was because I noticed that Beck’s “investigators” are named Joe Weasel and Joel Cheatwood. Nothing says “trustworthy” like a weasel and a cheater! 😃 😃 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30560 "2016-08-10T15:38:07Z")
> [@YogSothoth](#): > > But my real reason for posting this was because I noticed that Beck’s “investigators” are named Joe Weasel and Joel Cheatwood. I always wondered if those guys got another gig after Donald Trump sent them to Hawaii to get the straight dope on Obama’s birth certificate. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30561 "2016-08-10T16:41:30Z")
> [@YogSothoth](#): > > But my real reason for posting this was because I noticed that Beck’s “investigators” are named Joe Weasel and Joel Cheatwood. Nothing says “trustworthy” like a weasel and a cheater! 😃 😃 😃 Wow. First, MSN still exists and is putting out news coverage. :eek: Second, this is one of those times where reality is just a little bit unbelievably written. If you wrote fiction about Beck where his two closest associates in this story were named that, you’d be accused of writing a thin caricature. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1527) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1529)