# 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:** 1635
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32682 "2017-02-23T14:02:08Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Drug smuggling is a cat and mouse game, with the full knowledge that we will only intercept some percentage of what comes into the US. They do it with the knowledge that they might get caught and my spend some time in jail. > > Nuclear weapons being smuggled in by terrorists is a whole different story. We very much do not want even a single incident, and if you get caught, you probably won’t get to spend all that much time in jail, but it certainly will be the rest of your life. > > I image we’d probably go so far as to give some drug lords free passage if they were highly complicit in catching this sort of activity, certainly be willing to give some levels of immunity in exchange for terrorists trying to smuggle in nukes. Please help me out here. Where are these nukes coming from? My understanding is that they are not exactly thick on the ground. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32683 "2017-02-23T14:44:22Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Please help me out here. Where are these nukes coming from? My understanding is that they are not exactly thick on the ground. Please note that I am not actually thinking that this sort of thing is likely, only trying to comfort the terrified conservatives, that even if the terrorists were to get a nuke, and get it to mexico, and get it to a drug smuggler, the drug smuggler is much more likely to just turn them in, rather than take a chance getting caught and facing terrorism charges, or not getting caught and instead blowing up his customer base, and likely becoming a fugitive for the rest of his life. If he turned in a terrorist trying to smuggle a nuke into the country, I imagine that would probably gain quite a bit of goodwill with our law enforcement, and incline them to turn a blind eye towards his less destructive drug smuggling. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32684 "2017-02-23T14:44:54Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Drug smuggling is a cat and mouse game, with the full knowledge that we will only intercept some percentage of what comes into the US. They do it with the knowledge that they might get caught and my spend some time in jail. > > Nuclear weapons being smuggled in by terrorists is a whole different story. We very much do not want even a single incident, and if you get caught, you probably won’t get to spend all that much time in jail, but it certainly will be the rest of your life. > > I image we’d probably go so far as to give some drug lords free passage if they were highly complicit in catching this sort of activity, certainly be willing to give some levels of immunity in exchange for terrorists trying to smuggle in nukes. If you’re smuggling something into the country, isn’t the idea that you hide it inside something _legal_? Something the DEA isn’t searching for? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32685 "2017-02-23T14:52:07Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > C’mon Republicans, stupid really should be avoided and not encouraged. Not from their point of view. Stupid is their entire platform, remember? ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32686 "2017-02-23T14:57:45Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Please note that I am not actually thinking that this sort of thing is likely, only trying to comfort the terrified conservatives, that even if the terrorists were to get a nuke, and get it to mexico, and get it to a drug smuggler, the drug smuggler is much more likely to just turn them in, rather than take a chance getting caught and facing terrorism charges, or not getting caught and instead blowing up his customer base, and likely becoming a fugitive for the rest of his life. If he turned in a terrorist trying to smuggle a nuke into the country, I imagine that would probably gain quite a bit of goodwill with our law enforcement, and incline them to turn a blind eye towards his less destructive drug smuggling. Oh, no worries; wasn’t picking on you, just pointing out that there just simply aren’t any live nukes sitting around waiting to be packed into a bale of weed and stuffed into a van headed for the border. ---
**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:** [February 23, 2017, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32687 "2017-02-23T15:18:06Z")
It’s hard to come up with an excuse for not showing up at a town hall that’s even lamer than the ones that have already been offered, but [today’s Profile in Cowardice](http://thehill.com/homenews/house/320778-gop-rep-invokes-giffords-shooting-as-reason-not-to-hold-town-hall) is up to the challenge: > [@](#): > > Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) on Thursday invoked the 2011 shooting of former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.) at a constituent event as a reason not to hold a public town hall… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32688 "2017-02-23T15:28:04Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Please help me out here. Where are these nukes coming from? My understanding is that they are not exactly thick on the ground. Maybe there’s just one, and the terrorists and the drug lords pass it around like holiday fruitcake. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32689 "2017-02-23T15:34:59Z")
[Republican Arizona Senate has voted to seize assets of people who organize or participate in demonstrations if they turn violent.](http://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2017/02/22/arizona-senate-crackdown-on-protests/) Yeah, no way that can be abused. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32690 "2017-02-23T15:45:39Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > It’s hard to come up with an excuse for not showing up at a town hall that’s even lamer than the ones that have already been offered, but [today’s Profile in Cowardice](http://thehill.com/homenews/house/320778-gop-rep-invokes-giffords-shooting-as-reason-not-to-hold-town-hall) is up to the challenge: I don’t understand the problem. Just make sure that everyone has a gun. That way, nothing bad could possibly happen. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32691 "2017-02-23T15:57:55Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > It’s hard to come up with an excuse for not showing up at a town hall that’s even lamer than the ones that have already been offered, but [today’s Profile in Cowardice](http://thehill.com/homenews/house/320778-gop-rep-invokes-giffords-shooting-as-reason-not-to-hold-town-hall) is up to the challenge: Did Democrats draw a crosshair over his district or something? ---
**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:** [February 23, 2017, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32692 "2017-02-23T16:39:09Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > [Republican Arizona Senate has voted to seize assets of people who organize or participate in demonstrations if they turn violent.](http://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2017/02/22/arizona-senate-crackdown-on-protests/) > > Yeah, no way that can be abused. But the US isn’t a police state, right ? ---
**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:** [February 23, 2017, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32693 "2017-02-23T21:21:10Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Friend who went over to the Conservative side now claims that the reason Republicans won was because Democrats spent the last 8 years badmouthing Republicans. > > Geez dude, do you even remember this guy named Obama and what you people did to him over that time? TBCF, we are about a month shy of the eighth anniversary of the OP to this here thread. In which not a few of us have called them there guys “stupid”. How stupid an idea is is a matter of opinion, the subjects being of the opinion that their various ideas are _not_ stupid. And there is no shortage of insultation in this thread (amongst others inhabiting The Pit). Nonetheless, the barbs are primarily directed at specific morons rather than the greater basket. ---
**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:** [February 23, 2017, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32694 "2017-02-23T22:04:18Z")
[CPAC thinks Nazis are leftist.](http://www.sfgate.com/news/politics/article/CPAC-organizer-denounces-alt-right-as-10954352.php) I guess it’s all circular. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32695 "2017-02-23T22:52:09Z")
To be fair, the Left-wing Fascists were a good party band. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32696 "2017-02-23T22:58:25Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [CPAC thinks Nazis are leftist.](http://www.sfgate.com/news/politics/article/CPAC-organizer-denounces-alt-right-as-10954352.php) > > I guess it’s all circular. It’s right there in the name - National SOCIALISTS. Obviously, Sanders was the next Hitler. Democratic socialism is merely a poor attempt at disguising their true agenda. Wake up sheeple! ---
**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:** [February 23, 2017, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32697 "2017-02-23T23:33:01Z")
The German Fascists only CALLED themselves Socialists. It was a marketing ploy because socialism was a POPULAR philosophy at the time. Kind of like today’s American Fascists call themselves CONSERVATIVES. Or as when East Germany or North Korea call themselves Democratic Republics. Like Rule of Acquisition 239 says: “Never be afraid to mislabel a product.” ---
**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:** [February 23, 2017, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32698 "2017-02-23T23:36:24Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > Wake up sheeple! _Mein Gott_, [why would you even think of doing that](https://www.xkcd.com/1013/)? ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32699 "2017-02-23T23:42:05Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > _Mein Gott_, [why would you even think of doing that](https://www.xkcd.com/1013/)? Better than Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2017, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32700 "2017-02-24T00:39:19Z")
Hey, I know, let’s call the FBI and ask them to publicly comment that there is nothing to these pesky “White House-Russia ties” stories! [http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/23/politics/fbi-refused-white-house-request-to-knock-down-recent-trump-russia-stories/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/23/politics/fbi-refused-white-house-request-to-knock-down-recent-trump-russia-stories/index.html) ---
**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:** [February 24, 2017, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32701 "2017-02-24T01:17:40Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [CPAC thinks Nazis are leftist.](http://www.sfgate.com/news/politics/article/CPAC-organizer-denounces-alt-right-as-10954352.php) > > I guess it’s all circular. Turnabout is fair play. Steve Bannon has called the _Weekly Standard_ “leftist.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1634) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1636)