# 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:** 1618
**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 21, 2017, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32342 "2017-01-21T01:10:02Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [Newt Gingrich wants to fire federal employees who voted for Clinton.](http://www.salon.com/2017/01/20/newt-gingrich-wants-to-fire-federal-employees-who-voted-for-clinton/) So Trump reportedly wants to cut government budgets by 10% and reduce staff by 20%. Does that include military budget and staff? Little known fact: military personnel – excuse me, warfighters – no, excuse me again, our heroes! – are federal employees. Betcha didn’t know that. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2017, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32343 "2017-01-21T01:59:12Z")
Well, that’s a very Newt Gingrich idea. That story also says he wants rid of the Congressional Budget Office. Do people still believe him when he says this is about “conservatism” or “balanced budgets”? It’s pretty obvious that he’s about _something_ else. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2017, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32344 "2017-01-21T02:23:33Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > When is The Donald going to give himself a military title, and start wearing a uniform? Kelly Anne Conway beat him to it. > **[Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway turns heads with ‘Revolutionary Wear’ | CNN...](https://www.cnn.com/2017/01/20/politics/kelly-ann-conway-coat-trnd/)** > > Social media lit up over the colorful coat worn by Kelly Ann Conway. I can’t decide if she dressed up like a toy soldier for this very special day, or is participating in a high school marching band. ---
**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 21, 2017, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32345 "2017-01-21T02:37:27Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Kelly Anne Conway beat him to it. > > [http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/20/politics/kelly-ann-conway-coat-trnd/](http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/20/politics/kelly-ann-conway-coat-trnd/) > > I can’t decide if she dressed up like a toy soldier for this very special day, or is participating in a high school marching band. Inspired by the city of London. Nice all American wear. [https://www.net-a-porter.com/us/en/product/803124/Gucci/embellished-color-block-wool-coat?cm\_mmc=LinkshareUS-\_-TnL5HPStwNw-\_-Custom-\_-LinkBuilder&siteID=TnL5HPStwNw-yNeyjPVpcHSjr8PjFpR7Zw](https://www.net-a-porter.com/us/en/product/803124/Gucci/embellished-color-block-wool-coat?cm_mmc=LinkshareUS-_-TnL5HPStwNw-_-Custom-_-LinkBuilder&siteID=TnL5HPStwNw-yNeyjPVpcHSjr8PjFpR7Zw) ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2017, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32346 "2017-01-21T02:42:05Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > My friends and I have an inaugural predictions contest going on. One of mine is that Trump will tweet a picture of Obama’s 2009 inaugural crowd and claim that it’s his and that the lying media won’t admit he got more than 2 million people cheering for him. > [@Punoqllads](#): > > [Kind of](http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2017/01/20/donald_trump_s_new_twitter_background_is_a_photo_from_the_inauguration_of.html). No points for me since Trump didn’t do it. But I imagine tomorrow he’ll have plenty to say about the lying media and all the “fake” pictures of his huge record-breaking best crowd in the history of crowds. ---
**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 21, 2017, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32347 "2017-01-21T02:54:42Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > No points for me since Trump didn’t do it. But I imagine tomorrow he’ll have plenty to say about the lying media and all the “fake” pictures of his huge record-breaking best crowd in the history of crowds. You should get points. Even if he didn’t do it personally, his people knew what was wanted. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2017, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32348 "2017-01-21T03:04:24Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Inspired by the city of London. Nice all American wear. > > [https://www.net-a-porter.com/us/en/product/803124/Gucci/embellished-color-block-wool-coat?cm\_mmc=LinkshareUS-\_-TnL5HPStwNw-\_-Custom-\_-LinkBuilder&siteID=TnL5HPStwNw-yNeyjPVpcHSjr8PjFpR7Zw](https://www.net-a-porter.com/us/en/product/803124/Gucci/embellished-color-block-wool-coat?cm_mmc=LinkshareUS-_-TnL5HPStwNw-_-Custom-_-LinkBuilder&siteID=TnL5HPStwNw-yNeyjPVpcHSjr8PjFpR7Zw) And made in Italy, of course. $3600 for that? Well, at least it has cats on it. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2017, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32349 "2017-01-21T03:10:09Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > You should get points. Even if he didn’t do it personally, his people knew what was wanted. Well, he could still do it. He probably doesn’t know they’ve already been busted, or wouldn’t care. Hope springs eternal! ---
**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 21, 2017, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32350 "2017-01-21T04:03:58Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > And made in Italy, of course. $3600 for that? Well, at least it has cats on it. Remember when Obama was mocked as an elitist because he asked for dijon mustard on a burger? Good times. ---
**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 21, 2017, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32351 "2017-01-21T09:35:40Z")
[Loser Donald orders Park Service to shut down Twitter accounts after they showed his overrated inaugural not as yuuge as Obama’s. Nazi Germany! Sad!](http://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article127891009.html) ---
**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 21, 2017, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32352 "2017-01-21T10:43:57Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [Newt Gingrich wants to fire federal employees who voted for Clinton.](http://www.salon.com/2017/01/20/newt-gingrich-wants-to-fire-federal-employees-who-voted-for-clinton/) Crimethink ! Crimethink ! ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2017, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32353 "2017-01-21T12:17:47Z")
Actually, that’s not what he said at all. Federal employees who sabotage their own agencies in a fit of pique over funding cuts should be fired. ---
**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 21, 2017, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32354 "2017-01-21T12:36:49Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Actually, that’s not what he said at all. Federal employees who sabotage their own agencies in a fit of pique over funding cuts should be fired. [You forgot the actual quote.](http://www.salon.com/2017/01/20/newt-gingrich-wants-to-fire-federal-employees-who-voted-for-clinton/) Very dishonest asshole! > [@](#): > > The only risk, Gingrich later noted to the New York Times, is that entering the White House and instantly slashing a federal agency’s permanent staff will likely lead employees “to find ways to sabotage each new cabinet secretary as soon as they walk through the door.” > > Offering perhaps the most nakedly political argument for firing federal employees,\*\* Gingrich said, “all those bureaucrats overwhelmingly voted for Clinton. There won’t be any real cooperation until we change federal law so we can fire them.”\*\* ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2017, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32355 "2017-01-21T12:53:16Z")
The context is firing employees who sabotage their agencies. The quote is an observation that most of them are Clinton voters. ---
**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 21, 2017, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32356 "2017-01-21T13:01:35Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > The context is firing employees who sabotage their agencies. The quote is an observation that most of them are Clinton voters. I don’t believe federal law prevents firing for something like sabotage. Unless sabotage is not lining up to kiss the twin globes. Who they voted for is immaterial. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2017, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32357 "2017-01-21T13:08:58Z")
By adaher’s rationale, half of Trump’s cabinet nominees should be shit-canned right now. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2017, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32358 "2017-01-21T14:23:17Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > The context is firing employees who sabotage their agencies. The quote is an observation that most of them are Clinton voters. No, no it’s not. It’s not ‘who sabotage’ It’s who is ‘likely’ to sabotage. > [@](#): > > The only risk, Gingrich later noted to the New York Times, is that entering the White House and instantly slashing a federal agency’s permanent staff **will likely** lead employees “to find ways to sabotage each new cabinet secretary as soon as they walk through the door.” Bolding mine. Gingrich thinks it’s ‘likely’ that they will sabotage each new cabinet secretary. Probably because it’s something he would do. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2017, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32359 "2017-01-21T15:05:39Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > The context is firing employees who sabotage their agencies. The quote is an observation that most of them are Clinton voters. No, most of the people who want to sabotage their agencies are Trump’s own Cabinet nominees. What he wants to do is a Soviet-style purge. ---
**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 21, 2017, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32360 "2017-01-21T15:23:43Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > No, no it’s not. It’s not ‘who sabotage’ It’s who is ‘likely’ to sabotage. > > Bolding mine. > > Gingrich thinks it’s ‘likely’ that they will sabotage each new cabinet secretary. Probably because it’s something he would do. In this case, the “sabotage” is preventing the agency from being destroyed. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaptics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Sinaptics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaptics)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2017, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32361 "2017-01-21T16:05:38Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > The context is firing employees who sabotage their agencies. The quote is an observation that most of them are Clinton voters. The context is to fire people who voted for Clinton BEFORE they can sabotage anything. Or as someone up above said, “crimethink.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1617) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1619)