# 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:** 1607
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32122 "2017-01-05T19:09:52Z")
Searching on 200 trillion unfunded liabilities comes up with [this](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/05/13/ben-carsons-claim-that-the-u-s-owes-211-trillion-beyond-the-reported-federal-debt/?utm_term=.5730251b6afe). TLDR: an economist extended current revenue and spending patterns into the indefinite future. Fact checker rates it two Pinocchios, “significant omissions or exagerations”. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32123 "2017-01-05T19:14:27Z")
Two Pinocchios up his ass? Republican’s sure are into their kink. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32124 "2017-01-05T19:21:56Z")
> [@Punoqllads](#): > > Searching on 200 trillion unfunded liabilities comes up with [this](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/05/13/ben-carsons-claim-that-the-u-s-owes-211-trillion-beyond-the-reported-federal-debt/?utm_term=.5730251b6afe). TLDR: an economist extended current revenue and spending patterns into the indefinite future. Fact checker rates it two Pinocchios, “significant omissions or exagerations”. I think it was in _The Truth (With Jokes)_ where Al Franken mocked a different guy for producing an analysis of unfunded mandates that was projected over infinity. Franken made jokes something like, “But I project that we’ll see an increase in GDP in the year 13,985, so we should be good.” ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32125 "2017-01-05T19:23:54Z")
> [@Punoqllads](#): > > … 200 trillion . Wow. That sounds like a lot! > [@Punoqllads](#): > > …into the indefinite future. … Wow. That sounds like a long time. Thanks, Obama! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32126 "2017-01-05T19:44:44Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > I think it was in _The Truth (With Jokes)_ where Al Franken mocked a different guy for producing an analysis of unfunded mandates that was projected over infinity. Franken made jokes something like, “But I project that we’ll see an increase in GDP in the year 13,985, so we should be good.” But I think that whole red giant sun thing will put a damper on growth around year 7 billion ---
**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:** [January 5, 2017, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32127 "2017-01-05T20:00:14Z")
[The Sheriff of Bristol County, Massachusetts is offering to rent out county inmates to Trump to help build his wall.](https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/01/04/bristol-sheriff-offers-trump-inmates-help-build-wall/IcRa1ELU9IotLlyjXFxvwK/story.html) ---
**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:** [January 5, 2017, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32128 "2017-01-05T20:53:53Z")
[Republican Senators introduce a bill to halve embassy security worldwide if the State Department doesn’t recognize Jerusalem as the sole capital of Israel and move its facilities there.](http://www.heller.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/e6f046db-fd29-462e-86fe-3433921c44b0/Heller%20Cruz%20Rubio%20Jerusalem%20Bill.pdf) So, Benghazi all over again, once again the Republicans’ fault for cutting security funding. ---
**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:** [January 5, 2017, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32129 "2017-01-05T20:58:35Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [Republican Senators introduce a bill to halve embassy security worldwide if the State Department doesn’t recognize Jerusalem as the sole capital of Israel and move its facilities there.](http://www.heller.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/e6f046db-fd29-462e-86fe-3433921c44b0/Heller%20Cruz%20Rubio%20Jerusalem%20Bill.pdf) > > So, Benghazi all over again, once again the Republicans’ fault for cutting security funding. But this time they won’t have Hillary Clinton to kick around. ---
**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:** [January 5, 2017, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32130 "2017-01-05T21:00:02Z")
[Congress wants to be able to cut the salary of federal employees to $1 at whim.](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/01/05/1617368/-GOP-goes-nuclear-on-federal-workers-instating-the-ability-to-slash-annual-salaries-to-1?detail=facebook) ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32131 "2017-01-05T21:27:19Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [The Sheriff of Bristol County, Massachusetts is offering to rent out county inmates to Trump to help build his wall.](https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/01/04/bristol-sheriff-offers-trump-inmates-help-build-wall/IcRa1ELU9IotLlyjXFxvwK/story.html) He’s offering 8-10 inmates and a guard. Its going to take those guys a bit of time to build 1,989 miles of wall. Maybe someone throw in a wheel barrow and some sledge hammers to get things started? ---
**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:** [January 6, 2017, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32132 "2017-01-06T12:53:46Z")
[Loser Donald says failing wall will be fence instead, paid for by US taxpayers, not Mexico.](http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/01/05/trump_s_build_a_wall_plan_shockingly_to_be_funded_by_u_s_taxpayers_not_mexico.html) Broken promise! Sad! ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32133 "2017-01-06T13:31:11Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > [Loser Donald says failing wall will be fence instead, paid for by US taxpayers, not Mexico.](http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/01/05/trump_s_build_a_wall_plan_shockingly_to_be_funded_by_u_s_taxpayers_not_mexico.html) Broken promise! Sad! But do his voters still get their bridges? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32134 "2017-01-06T13:38:02Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > But do his voters still get their bridges? They definitely getting their tiger repelling rocks. ---
**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:** [January 6, 2017, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32135 "2017-01-06T14:54:24Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > [Loser Donald says failing wall will be fence instead, paid for by US taxpayers, not Mexico.](http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/01/05/trump_s_build_a_wall_plan_shockingly_to_be_funded_by_u_s_taxpayers_not_mexico.html) Broken promise! Sad! He then uncorked [another butthurt tweet](http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/06/us/politics/donald-trump-transition.html) complaining about the dishonest media for not reporting that Mexico will gladly pay him Tuesday for the American taxpayers coughing up the money today. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32136 "2017-01-06T15:16:03Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > He then uncorked [another butthurt tweet](http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/06/us/politics/donald-trump-transition.html) complaining about the dishonest media for not reporting that Mexico will gladly pay him Tuesday for the American taxpayers coughing up the money today. And he called it the “Great Wall”, caps and all. Is that new for him, or has he called it the Great Wall before? Naturally I’d assumed Trump would build the wall with undocumented immigrants from Mexico, as any good real estate developer would. But if he’s going full “Great Wall”, maybe he’ll be getting the labor from China instead. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32137 "2017-01-06T17:33:00Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > But this time they won’t have Hillary Clinton to kick around. They’s just pick some other Dem to blame their own bad decisions on. That’s the tried and true GOP way. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32138 "2017-01-06T17:38:34Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > Naturally I’d assumed Trump would build the wall with undocumented immigrants from Mexico, as any good real estate developer would. Maybe he meant that he’d build it “with” undocumented immigrants - like, using them as building material. Stack them like blocks and cement them in place. That would solve both problems! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32139 "2017-01-06T18:11:13Z")
You know what? if we promised to let their kids stay and be accepted citizens, they would likely volunteer. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32140 "2017-01-06T18:33:59Z")
This is not a stupid Republican idea, but it kinda sorta fits here for shining light on stupid Republicans. The December job numbers are out, and it looks like the economy added a seasonally-adjusted 156,000 jobs ([cite](https://www.brookings.edu/blog/jobs/2017/01/06/colder-than-normal-december-suppresses-jobs-growth/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=es)). Maybe not a barn-burning pace in isolation, but: > [@Brookings Institution](#): > > The final employment report of the Obama presidency released this morning shows that 156,000 new jobs were added in December 2016. **He will leave office after 75 straight months of positive jobs growth dating back to October 2010, which is the longest such streak in American history.** (my bold) Obama leaves after 75 straight months of job growth, and the economy is a disaster. Trump takes credit for Carrier deciding not to move quite so many jobs to Mexico, and he’s making America great again. ---
**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:** [January 6, 2017, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32141 "2017-01-06T20:12:53Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [Congress wants to be able to cut the salary of federal employees to $1 at whim.](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/01/05/1617368/-GOP-goes-nuclear-on-federal-workers-instating-the-ability-to-slash-annual-salaries-to-1?detail=facebook) I support that measure, with a caveat : it should only apply to congresscritters, and implemented by referendum. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1606) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1608)