# 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:** 1539
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30762 "2016-08-20T19:36:40Z")
Bayesian probability. If he’s able to get elected in 2016, enough shenanigans will go on in the intervening time to ensure that 95% of the current black electorate will evaporate. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30763 "2016-08-20T19:52:10Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > How stupid is this? Trump believes he will get 95% of the black vote in 2020. > > ["You’re living in poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs. Fifty-eight percent of your youth is unemployed. What the hell do you have to lose?”](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/donald-trump-african-american-vote-227218) And he said this nonsense in a town that is 93% white. :smack: Wow, Mr. Trump. You sure do have some balls on you to speak so frankly to an overwhelmingly white crowd. A less brave candidate would have drove that message home to a predominantly black crowd. Where I’m sure that message would have been much more well received. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30764 "2016-08-20T19:54:39Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Holy cow; he’s the smartest man on the planet! Oh, no, not really, but thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30765 "2016-08-20T20:37:57Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Oh, no, not really, but thanks! Okay, if you’re Not Sure then you might be the smartest person the planet in 500 years or so. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30766 "2016-08-20T20:53:05Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > And he said this nonsense in a town that is 93% white. :smack: > > Wow, Mr. Trump. You sure do have some balls on you to speak so frankly to an overwhelmingly white crowd. A less brave candidate would have drove that message home to a predominantly black crowd. Where I’m sure that message would have been much more well received. :rolleyes: It’s OK. He’s [got a token black guy in the crowd.](http://edition.cnn.com/videos/politics/2016/06/03/donald-trump-rally-african-american-kkk-sot.cnn) He’s sitting there behaving, OK ? So he’s Trump’s African-American, and you can’t have him. Period. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30767 "2016-08-20T20:53:59Z")
In 2010, 72 women died from pregnancy-related complications in Texas. In 2011, Texas sharply reduced the budget for family planning, resulting in the closure or reduction of services of many Planned Parenthood and other women’s health clinics. In 2012, 148 women died from pregnancy-related complications in Texas. Beats the hell out of me. > **[Pregnancy-related deaths nearly double in the state of Texas](https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/pregnancy-related-deaths-nearly-double-in-the-state-of-texas)** > > Texas has seen a dramatic increase in the number of women who died from pregnancy-related causes in the past five years, according to a new study.The Texas Tribune reports the state's rate of maternal mortality nearly doubled between 2010 and... ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30768 "2016-08-20T21:21:21Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > In 2010, 72 women died from pregnancy-related complications in Texas. > > In 2011, Texas sharply reduced the budget for family planning, resulting in the closure or reduction of services of many Planned Parenthood and other women’s health clinics. > > In 2012, 148 women died from pregnancy-related complications in Texas. > > Beats the hell out of me. > > [Pregnancy-related deaths nearly double in the state of Texas](http://kfoxtv.com/news/local/pregnancy-related-deaths-nearly-double-in-the-state-of-texas) Here’s a much better article than the Fox source; go figure: > **[Texas has highest maternal mortality rate in developed world, study finds](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/20/texas-maternal-mortality-rate-health-clinics-funding)** > > As the Republican-led state legislature has slashed funding to reproductive healthcare clinics, the maternal mortality rate doubled over just a two-year period ---
**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:** [August 21, 2016, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30769 "2016-08-21T18:58:55Z")
[Breitbart can’t be racist, one of its top writers is “incredibly gay”.](http://www.rawstory.com/2016/08/trump-supporter-tells-joy-reid-breitbart-com-isnt-racist-because-top-writer-is-incredibly-gay/) And by “top writer”, he means Milo Yiannopoulos. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30770 "2016-08-21T20:41:24Z")
“Openly gay”? Sure, makes sense. “Incredibly gay”? Not at all sure what that means unless it means _stereotypically_ gay. This guy, I don’t know about, only connect second hand, by noting that people who’s opinion I respect loathe him more than licorice flavored liver. So, anyway, these people admire his vile and loathsome opinions so much they can tolerate his being gay? Gee, that’s swell. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30771 "2016-08-21T21:01:24Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > And by “top writer”, he means Milo Yiannopoulos. As if Milo has ever been a top… ---
**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:** [August 21, 2016, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30772 "2016-08-21T21:02:58Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > As if Milo has ever been a top… +1 ---
**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:** [August 21, 2016, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30773 "2016-08-21T21:19:49Z")
Here’s the latest (and strangest) conspiracy theory the right is in love with; [Obama is sending “lesbian farmers” and “transgender hillbillies” to infiltrate and conquer red states.](http://www.rawstory.com/2016/08/conservatives-panic-lesbian-and-transgender-hillbillies-are-coming-to-take-over-red-states/) ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30774 "2016-08-21T21:43:14Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Here’s the latest (and strangest) conspiracy theory the right is in love with; [Obama is sending “lesbian farmers” and “transgender hillbillies” to infiltrate and conquer red states.](http://www.rawstory.com/2016/08/conservatives-panic-lesbian-and-transgender-hillbillies-are-coming-to-take-over-red-states/) Rush has bitter memories of when they made him squeal like a pig back in '72. Couldn’t have been easy on his deferment excuse… ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30775 "2016-08-21T23:52:06Z")
You mean like this? [http://0.tqn.com/d/politicalhumor/1/S/d/f/2/iowa-gay-marriage.jpg](http://0.tqn.com/d/politicalhumor/1/S/d/f/2/iowa-gay-marriage.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30776 "2016-08-22T03:37:01Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > You mean like this? > > [http://0.tqn.com/d/politicalhumor/1/S/d/f/2/iowa-gay-marriage.jpg](http://0.tqn.com/d/politicalhumor/1/S/d/f/2/iowa-gay-marriage.jpg) I don’t care when most people mistake a father/daughter portrait for a couple, but a journalist/political cartoonist (who should have some grounding in art) should know better. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30777 "2016-08-22T04:42:16Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > I don’t care when most people mistake a father/daughter portrait for a couple, but a journalist/political cartoonist (who should have some grounding in art) should know better. (a) Cite? Wikipedia is certainly not the ultimate authority here, but it says that it’s disputed (b) As long as the majority of the audience believes, mistakenly or not, that the two subjects are a married couple, then the cartoon is still effective. ---
**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:** [August 22, 2016, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30778 "2016-08-22T04:51:09Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > (a) Cite? Wikipedia is certainly not the ultimate authority here, but it says that it’s disputed > > (b) As long as the majority of the audience believes, mistakenly or not, that the two subjects are a married couple, then the cartoon is still effective. [Art Institute of Chicago.](http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artwork/6565) > [@](#): > > This familiar image was exhibited publicly for the first time at the Art Institute of Chicago, winning a three-hundred-dollar prize and instant fame for Grant Wood. The impetus for the painting came while Wood was visiting the small town of Eldon in his native Iowa. There he spotted a little wood farmhouse, with a single oversized window, made in a style called Carpenter Gothic. “I imagined American Gothic people with their faces stretched out long to go with this American Gothic house,” he said. He used his sister and his dentist as models for a farmer and his daughter, dressing them as if they were “tintypes from my old family album.” ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30779 "2016-08-22T05:01:57Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > . . . As long as the majority of the audience believes, mistakenly or not, that the two subjects are a married couple, then the cartoon is still effective. “When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.” The image has been used as a man-and-wife icon for decades and decades. The cartoonist in this instance is only about the thousandth – maybe the ten-thousandth – to have used it in this way. (Cute cartoon! Hurrah for human rights!) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30780 "2016-08-22T05:30:58Z")
[ > [@](#): > > Wood decided to paint the house along with “the kind of people I fancied should live in that house.”[1] He recruited his sister Nan (1899–1990) to model the woman, dressing her in a colonial print apron mimicking 19th-century Americana. The man is modeled on Wood’s dentist,[7] Dr. Byron McKeeby (1867–1950) from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.[8][9] Nan, perhaps embarrassed about being depicted as the wife of a man twice her age, told people that her brother had envisioned the couple as father and daughter, rather than husband and wife, which Grant seems to confirm in his letter to a Mrs. Nellie Sudduth in 1941.[1][10] ]([American Gothic - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Gothic)) So 11 years after the painting was made public, and after his sister had already spun it, he wrote a [this in a letter: > [@Grant Wood](#): > > The persons in the painting, as I imagined them, are small town folks, rather than farmers. Papa runs the local bank or perhaps the lumber yard. He is prominent in the church and possibly preaches occasionally. In the evening, he comes home from work, takes off his collar, slips on his overalls and an old coat, and goes out to the barn to hay the cow. The prim lady with him is his grown-up daughter. Needless to say, she is very self-righteous like her father. I let the look of her hair escape to show that she was, after all, human. ]([http://www.lettersofnote.com/2009/10/they-are-basically-solid-and-good.html](http://www.lettersofnote.com/2009/10/they-are-basically-solid-and-good.html))which was followed immediately by: > [@Grant Wood](#): > > These particulars, of course, don’t really matter. What does matter is whether or not these faces are true to American life and reveal something about it. IMO he took up his sister’s rationale because it pleased him to please her regarding the painting and, after all, the exact relationship of the people to each other was not germaine at all to what was depicted, in Mr. Wood’s opinion. ---
**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 22, 2016, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30781 "2016-08-22T11:04:39Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > Here’s a much better article than the Fox source; go figure: > [Texas has highest maternal mortality rate in developed world, study finds | Texas | The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/20/texas-maternal-mortality-rate-health-clinics-funding) But in Texas they have [$1.6 million to give away to an anti-abortion group](http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/16-million-texas-womens-health-care-grant-raises-q/nsDSz/) whose leader has [twice said](http://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2016/aug/17/joaquin-castro/joaquin-castro-says-conservative-activist-believes/) AIDS can be spread via fetal tissue flushed down a sewer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1538) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1540)