# 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:** 1643
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2017, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32842 "2017-03-07T17:12:25Z")
Tiny, tiny electrodes. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2017, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32843 "2017-03-07T17:14:05Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Tiny, tiny electrodes. No-They will be _YUGE_ electrodes! The yugest!! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2017, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32844 "2017-03-07T17:21:21Z")
ElectroLites! It’s what he craves! ---
**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:** [March 7, 2017, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32845 "2017-03-07T18:38:33Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > _ **“Why, if Ben Carson wants to operate on Donald Trump to stick electrodes in his brain, I say we let him!”** _ > > 😛 Fuck it, throw jumper cables in there. More and bigger is always better in Trump’s opinion, right ? Whether it’s buildings, hair, lies… ---
**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:** [March 7, 2017, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32846 "2017-03-07T18:55:11Z")
Jason Chaffetz has the solution for people who can’t afford health care under the new Republican program. “[rather than getting that new iPhone that they just love and want to go spend hundreds of dollars on that, maybe they should invest in their own health care](http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/07/politics/jason-chaffetz-health-care-iphones/)”. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2017, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32847 "2017-03-07T19:01:30Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Jason Chaffetz has the solution for people who can’t afford health care under the new Republican program. “[rather than getting that new iPhone that they just love and want to go spend hundreds of dollars on that, maybe they should invest in their own health care](http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/07/politics/jason-chaffetz-health-care-iphones/)”. “Let them eat iPhones!” ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2017, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32848 "2017-03-07T19:04:23Z")
- Liberals think they know how to spend your money better than you do. - People could have health insurance but waste their money on luxury goods and entertainment. Pick one. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2017, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32849 "2017-03-07T19:12:01Z")
Representative Chaffetz! Buying an iPhone is investing in your health! With an iPhone you can: …match up your current symptoms with a new disease to be terrified of! …find a legitimate website selling pharmaceuticals for pennies on the dollar! …watch multiple videos to get the latest tips on perfecting your surgical skills! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2017, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32850 "2017-03-07T19:17:02Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > - Liberals think they know how to spend your money better than you do. > - People could have health insurance but waste their money on luxury goods and entertainment. > > Pick one. [QUOTE=George Orwell] In the end the Party would announce that two and two made five, and you would have to believe it. It was inevitable that they should make that claim sooner or later: the logic of their position demanded it. Not merely the validity of experience, but the very existence of external reality was tacitly denied by their philosophy. [/QUOTE] Same party, just under a different name. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2017, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32851 "2017-03-07T19:23:44Z")
Ben Carson’s brain remembers everything- except [where his luggage is](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRuZ_LimXxU). ---
**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:** [March 7, 2017, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32852 "2017-03-07T19:24:23Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > - Liberals think they know how to spend your money better than you do. > - People could have health insurance but waste their money on luxury goods and entertainment. > > Pick one. The cost of an iPhone is nowhere near the cost of monthly health coverage. Not to mention that under the Republican plan, you have to wait till tax season to get refunded on what you spent over the year, and then, only if you paid enough taxes to file for a refund. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2017, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32853 "2017-03-07T20:10:04Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Jason Chaffetz has the solution for people who can’t afford health care under the new Republican program. “[rather than getting that new iPhone that they just love and want to go spend hundreds of dollars on that, maybe they should invest in their own health care](http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/07/politics/jason-chaffetz-health-care-iphones/)”. God Chaffetz is a fucking idiot. I am a state employee, and i get pretty good health insurance provided for me through my work. A few months ago, i needed to make an ER visit. It turned out to be nothing serious, but it required a few hours and some tests, including an x-ray and two EKGs, for the doctors to reach that conclusion. Even with my pretty good health insurance, my OUT OF POCKET expenses for that little adventure would have bought me two new iPhones. Luckily, we’re financially stable enough that the bill did not cause any dramatic upheaval in our lives, but it was also not trivial, and i would have preferred to have the money for something else. ---
**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:** [March 7, 2017, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32854 "2017-03-07T20:14:10Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Jason Chaffetz has the solution for people who can’t afford health care under the new Republican program. “[rather than getting that new iPhone that they just love and want to go spend hundreds of dollars on that, maybe they should invest in their own health care](http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/07/politics/jason-chaffetz-health-care-iphones/)”. And maybe instead of the tax breaks that all the rich people are going to get, they back off on that new yacht and suck it up so poor people don’t die in the street. I mean, as long as we’re hyperbolizing/generalizing. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2017, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32855 "2017-03-07T20:58:10Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The cost of an iPhone is nowhere near the cost of monthly health coverage. Not to mention that under the Republican plan, you have to wait till tax season to get refunded on what you spent over the year, and then, only if you paid enough taxes to file for a refund. My wife’s hip replacement cost nearly 100K. How many iPhones would I have to not buy in order to afford that? ---
**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:** [March 7, 2017, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32856 "2017-03-07T21:01:29Z")
I went to a forum with Avik Roy where he said (closely paraphrased), “Would we need Big Government to ensure everyone had a widescreen TV or a smart phone? Of course not.” The urge to punch was there, but I refrained. ---
**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:** [March 7, 2017, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32857 "2017-03-07T21:10:11Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > And maybe instead of the tax breaks that all the rich people are going to get, they back off on that new yacht and suck it up so poor people don’t die in the street. I mean, as long as we’re hyperbolizing/generalizing. Whoa, whoa, whoa, there, you _do **not** _ fuck with rich people. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2017, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32858 "2017-03-07T21:36:01Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The cost of an iPhone is nowhere near the cost of monthly health coverage. Not to mention that under the Republican plan, you have to wait till tax season to get refunded on what you spent over the year, and then, only if you paid enough taxes to file for a refund. Yes, I was criticizing Republican healthcare rhetoric. A different example might be: - Immigrants are lazy moochers on welfare. - Immigrants take all the jobs. Pick one. Both are simplified excluded middles, but there’s a kernel of double think in there. Conflicting rhetoric like that is interesting to me. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32859 "2017-03-08T22:09:00Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32860 "2017-03-09T00:57:44Z")
First lady Melania “I’m an immigrant too” Trump [touts equality at International Women’s Day luncheon](http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/08/politics/melania-trump-international-womens-day-luncheon/). “The first lady, wore a black, sleeveless Ralph Lauren dress. Her next major White House event will be the annual East Egg Roll on the South Lawn”. Excuse me while I turn away from my computer screen and projectile vomit across the room. ---
**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:** [March 9, 2017, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/32861 "2017-03-09T02:46:18Z")
Marshmallow wrote: “Both are simplified excluded middles, but there’s a kernel of double think in there. Conflicting rhetoric like that is interesting to me.” Kind of like Obama being an evil genius and a raging incompetent all at the same time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1642) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1644)