# 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:** 1657
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33122 "2017-03-18T23:00:24Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Wouldn’t it be great if nobody bids, if nobody builds the damn thing? “What if they gave a wall and nobody came?” ---
**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:** [March 18, 2017, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33123 "2017-03-18T23:01:45Z")
Maybe they can get Pink Floyd to play at the opening ceremony? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33124 "2017-03-18T23:04:45Z")
The odds of that are somewhat slim, and not because Pink Floyd is no more. ---
**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 18, 2017, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33125 "2017-03-18T23:19:18Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > There’s a measure before the El Paso City Council to forbid any company which works on The Wall from bidding on city contracts You have a curious ability to address large political questions by pointing to small specifics that don’t really address the issue in any substantive fashion. You’re right about El Paso, but your observation adds almost nothing substantive to the conversation. First, this is, right now, nothing but a measure introduced by a councilman. It hasn’t even been substantively debated by the El Paso council, let alone passed. And even if it is passed, it will be one city among thousands in the United States. If this wall gets built, it will be through some big federal contracts, and any company seeking such a contract will have to weigh the costs and benefits. I’d be willing to bet that, for many companies, getting the federal money would far outweigh any losses that might come from missing out on some contracts in El Paso, or some other town. Hell, there’s no guarantee that the company or companies that win the contract/s to build the wall would even be from border states, let alone from border cities. There is no rule in the bidding process that says the bidding companies have to be from Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, or California. I hope this wall never gets built. And i think there’s still a decent chance that it won’t get built. But if the wall ends up being a no-go, it won’t be because there aren’t any companies willing to build it. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33126 "2017-03-19T00:17:44Z")
I assume the contract will have guard towers, machine guns, minefields and the guards will have orders to shoot anyone in the kill zone. Putin can raid the Soviet archives for the plans and pass them to his buddy. Agent Orange won’t even need to design the structure - that’s a bigly savings right there. There has also been some carping about, “where’s the big infrastructure plan?” Here you go. Job creation out the wazoo during construction and privatization of the guard force coming up - greatest plan ever. Have they started to bid on the contract to tear down the wall. I hear RR is spinning in his grave - surprisingly, he’s not dead to current crop of pseudo-republicans who still chant his name. They would never get him through the party’s own primary with his radical ideas on gun control, immigration, and health care; much less his opposition to walls. Sorry, just random semi-coherent thoughts whenever this particular nerve gets struck. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33127 "2017-03-19T00:33:07Z")
Smithsb, I love your random comments. Indeed, it would make for a moving symbolic protest: one of the hundreds of owners of a piece of the Berlin Wall donates their bricks to the US government, to help “defray materials costs.” ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33128 "2017-03-19T00:37:09Z")
Terrific [op ed piece by Roger Cohen here](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/17/opinion/christo-wraps-donald-trump.html?_r=0), using the artist Christo as a contrast to Trump. A quote: “If a budget can be a portrait of a soul, then this president’s is arid and shriveled. It is filled with contempt for the needy. Here is a man dismissive of the arts, the environment, the humanities, diplomacy, peacekeeping, science, public education and civilian national service — in short, civilization itself.” ---
**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 19, 2017, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33129 "2017-03-19T01:09:35Z")
Whose view of science does Trump hold dear in light of his proposed[20% cut](http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-trump-budget-nih-20170316-story.html)to the NIH budget and [31% cut](http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-budget-epa-idUSKBN16N0E1)to the Environmental Protection Agency? Why [THEODORIC OF YORK](http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/theodoric-of-york/n8661?snl=1), of course. ---
**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 19, 2017, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33130 "2017-03-19T01:40:50Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Maybe they can get Pink Floyd to play at the opening ceremony? How does one “open” a wall? Seems like the ceremony would be for the opposite of “opening”. > [@mhendo](#): > > If this wall gets built, it will be through some big federal contracts, and any company seeking such a contract will have to weigh the costs and benefits. Most likely, the winner will be the newly-minted construction arm of Foxconn – who have failed to research how that guy is about paying contractors. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33131 "2017-03-19T02:41:24Z")
[Moron Trump supporters threaten to boycott Hawaii](https://uk.news.yahoo.com/trump-supporters-threat-boycotthawaii-travel-102913856.html) because a federal judge put Trump in his place. I didn’t notice the orangemen making such a threat against Maryland and Washington. Funny thing is those making the threat obviously misunderstand what a federal court is. I did enjoy the responses from Hawaii residents, though. The Stupid with a capital S just keeps on rolling with Trump and his crowd. Please make it stop. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33132 "2017-03-19T02:58:21Z")
p.s. to post 33124: It would make more sense if the orangemen would boycott travel to the entire country since the court decisions, after all, are from federal judges. I’m starting to wish they would up and leave. Trump might think he’s making America great, but he and his supporters are damaging the country something horrible. ---
**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 19, 2017, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33133 "2017-03-19T03:17:31Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > You have a curious ability to address large political questions by pointing to small specifics that don’t really address the issue in any substantive fashion. > > You’re right about El Paso, but your observation adds almost nothing substantive to the conversation. First, this is, right now, nothing but a measure introduced by a councilman. It hasn’t even been substantively debated by the El Paso council, let alone passed. And even if it is passed, it will be one city among thousands in the United States. > > If this wall gets built, it will be through some big federal contracts, and any company seeking such a contract will have to weigh the costs and benefits. I’d be willing to bet that, for many companies, getting the federal money would far outweigh any losses that might come from missing out on some contracts in El Paso, or some other town. Hell, there’s no guarantee that the company or companies that win the contract/s to build the wall would even be from border states, let alone from border cities. There is no rule in the bidding process that says the bidding companies have to be from Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, or California. > > I hope this wall never gets built. And i think there’s still a decent chance that it won’t get built. But if the wall ends up being a no-go, it won’t be because there aren’t any companies willing to build it. I just made an observation. Who pissed in your oatmeal? ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33134 "2017-03-19T03:29:36Z")
Awesome idea, Monty. Trump supporters don’t like federal judges" rulings? Please do us all a favor and _boycott America_ (apologies to the countries that they move to.) ---
**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 19, 2017, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33135 "2017-03-19T03:37:32Z")
Fox News and Trump’s favorite sheriff, David Clarke, of Milwaukee County, is in a feud with the mayor of Milwaukee. The mayor called Clarke out for spending all of his time on Fox news instead of attending to the business of the sheriff’s department. So Clarke mocked the mayor for having gotten beaten several years ago, and threatened to beat him again. > **['Trump Sheriff' Scorns Milwaukee Mayor For Getting His A\*\* Kicked Aiding Grandma](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/david-clarke-trump-milwaukee-mayor_n_58cc9ae5e4b00705db4fc53f?section=politics)** > > "You want some more?" taunts conservative Wisconsin lawman David Clarke. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33136 "2017-03-19T05:03:27Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Please do us all a favor and _boycott America_ (apologies to the countries that they move to.) I hear The Donald vouches for Saudi Arabia. ---
**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 19, 2017, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33137 "2017-03-19T05:47:58Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Fox News and Trump’s favorite sheriff, David Clarke, of Milwaukee County, is in a feud with the mayor of Milwaukee. The mayor called Clarke out for spending all of his time on Fox news instead of attending to the business of the sheriff’s department. So Clarke mocked the mayor for having gotten beaten several years ago, and threatened to beat him again. > ['Trump Sheriff' Threatens Mayor, Scorns Him For Getting His A\*\* Kicked Aiding Woman | HuffPost Latest News](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/david-clarke-trump-milwaukee-mayor_us_58cc9ae5e4b00705db4fc53f?section=politics) How that Sack-O-Shit still has a job as a sheriff is mystifying. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33138 "2017-03-19T05:56:37Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > How that Sack-O-Shit still has a job as a sheriff is mystifying. “Well, Trump got elected president” is the answer to any insane event anywhere. ---
**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 19, 2017, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33139 "2017-03-19T23:31:25Z")
**[White House installs political aides at Cabinet agencies to be Trump’s eyes and ears](https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/white-house-installs-political-aides-at-cabinet-agencies-to-be-trumps-eyes-and-ears/2017/03/19/68419f0e-08da-11e7-93dc-00f9bdd74ed1_story.html?utm_term=.b6b390cb506d)** > [@](#): > > The political appointee charged with keeping watch over Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt and his aides has offered unsolicited advice so often that after just four weeks on the job, Pruitt has shut him out of many staff meetings, according to two senior administration officials. > > At the Pentagon, they’re privately calling the former Marine officer and fighter pilot who’s supposed to keep his eye on Defense Secretary Jim Mattis “the commissar,” according to a high-ranking defense official with knowledge of the situation. It’s a reference to Soviet-era Communist Party officials who were assigned to military units to ensure their commanders remained loyal. Damn that’s creepy, though I guess maybe I can’t call it stupid. I wouldn’t trust those guys either. Of course, that’s why I wouldn’t have put them in power. ---
**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 20, 2017, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33140 "2017-03-20T00:47:03Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > **[White House installs political aides at Cabinet agencies to be Trump’s eyes and ears](https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/white-house-installs-political-aides-at-cabinet-agencies-to-be-trumps-eyes-and-ears/2017/03/19/68419f0e-08da-11e7-93dc-00f9bdd74ed1_story.html?utm_term=.b6b390cb506d)** > > Damn that’s creepy, though I guess maybe I can’t call it stupid. I wouldn’t trust those guys either. Of course, that’s why I wouldn’t have put them in power. Alles klar, [Herr Kommissar](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w4Xulsjo5I)? ---
**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 20, 2017, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33141 "2017-03-20T06:10:36Z")
Fuck. > [@"\[Denver](#): > > ([Trump White House sees “deep state” behind opposition, leaks – The Denver Post](http://www.denverpost.com/2017/03/14/trump-white-house-deep-state-behind-opposition-leaks/))"]The White House and its allies are stepping up their attacks on a foe typically associated with fragile democracies, military coups and spy thrillers. The “deep state,” an alleged shadowy network of powerful entrenched federal and military interests, has increasingly become the focus of Republicans who accuse such forces of trying to undermine the new president. Though senior White House staff members don’t use the exact label, the notion behind it has taken hold. We are down the rabbit hole. Not without comic relief, > [@](#): > > Gingrich, who says he has discussed the deep state with Bannon, likens its dangers to the plotline of the new season of “Homeland,” in which a conspiracy that includes career intelligence officers tries to subvert a president-elect. “They are fighting to keep hold of their power,” said the former House speaker, who asked a reporter not to spoil the two Homeland episodes of the season he has yet to see. but, also, some rather ugly language, > [@](#): > > Sean Hannity, a Fox News host who has close to ties to Trump, opened a show last week by claiming there are “deep state Obama holdover government bureaucrats who are hell-bent on destroying this president. It’s time for the Trump administration to begin to purge these saboteurs before it’s too late,” … “Purge”? Really? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1656) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1658)