# 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:** 169
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/3361 "2011-08-16T01:07:48Z")
This dickhead just marginalized himself out of the race. What an asinine thing to say. Does he have no advisors? ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/3362 "2011-08-16T01:12:38Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > This dickhead just marginalized himself out of the race. The worrying thing is that he probably hasn’t. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/3363 "2011-08-16T02:08:50Z")
> [@Raygun99](#): > > The worrying thing is that he probably hasn’t. This. A distressing number of voters seem to think regulations are by presidential fiat. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/3364 "2011-08-16T02:46:15Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > This. A distressing number of voters seem to think regulations are by presidential fiat. What, you’re saying the president can’t just instantly create new jobs? Unilaterally cut spending? Nationalize the banks? Convert all our energy needs immediately to come from “green” energy sources? The mind boggles. What is the problem? Is there some sort of legislative body of some kind that he was to work with? If so, wow, boy, does that ever suck. Clearly dictatorship is the only way to go. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/3365 "2011-08-16T02:49:47Z")
I accept. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/3366 "2011-08-16T05:06:11Z")
I know you, appreciate you, and usually agree with you, but I’d prefer you weren’t our Imperator. Nothing personal. ---
**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:** [August 16, 2011, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/3367 "2011-08-16T11:59:09Z")
Yeah - that’s my job. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/3368 "2011-08-16T12:08:28Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > I know you, appreciate you, and usually agree with you, but I’d prefer you weren’t our Imperator. Nothing personal. Yeah – who wants a crazy person from Minnesota running the country? ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/3369 "2011-08-16T13:06:40Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > [Rick Perry wants Obama to “put a moratorium on all regulations”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL_HRH8DyqE) in order to “create jobs”. > > I’m not sure what he thinks the word “regulation” means, but I don’t think it’s the same thing that the rest of the world thinks it means. > > Step 1: Anarchy in the streets. > Step 2: … > Step 3: JOBS! Why is it that when Shrubya was in power there was nothing he could do about anything - after all, only ignorant libruls think the President really has an effect on the economy. But now that Obama is in charge, well if the man skips his morning dump it’s because he wants to stick it to Real Americans™ by costing us jobs. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/3370 "2011-08-16T13:33:18Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > [Rick Perry wants Obama to “put a moratorium on all regulations”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL_HRH8DyqE) in order to “create jobs”. > > I’m not sure what he thinks the word “regulation” means, but I don’t think it’s the same thing that the rest of the world thinks it means. > > Step 1: Anarchy in the streets. > Step 2: … > Step 3: JOBS! I think Rick Perry knows exactly what it means and I, for one, wholeheartedly agree with him. It’s about time my freeloading 9 month old get out there and do something to support her family but until now I’ve had my hands tied with those pesky child labor regulations. Well no more, I say! Jobs for babies everywhere! ---
**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:** [August 16, 2011, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/3371 "2011-08-16T14:51:55Z")
Do you people not realize how much money companies could save if they didn’t have to clean their food preparation equipment? ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/3372 "2011-08-16T15:05:51Z")
Wasn’t sure whether to start a new thread for this, or post it here, but Republican’s who don’t want to face the difficult questions from the “riff raff” are now [outsourcing Town Hall](http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/61454.html) meetings and charging constituents to talk with them. I really don’t know whether to laugh or cry. I used to laugh at people who said the GOP was a serious threat to America and the democratic process, but I’m not so sure now. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/3373 "2011-08-16T15:29:39Z")
I’m not entirely sure what everyone thinks is inherently stupid about a moratorium on regulations. As long as Congress doesn’t pass any new legislation, there’s no particular reason we need any more, and it _is_ up to the President. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/3374 "2011-08-16T15:38:41Z")
That President Obama hasn’t figured out that he does, in fact, have dictatorial powers to unilaterally command the nation’s economy can only be described as a clear failure of leadership. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/3375 "2011-08-16T15:54:24Z")
> [@yanceylebeef](#): > > Wasn’t sure whether to start a new thread for this, or post it here, but Republican’s who don’t want to face the difficult questions from the “riff raff” are now [outsourcing Town Hall](http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/61454.html) meetings and charging constituents to talk with them. That read like an Onion article. Which is where I was hoping the story originated from, but alas… ---
**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:** [August 16, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/3376 "2011-08-16T19:32:27Z")
So, this is more a “Stupid Conservative Media Idea of the Day”, but since there is so little daylight between Fox and the GOP anyway, I figure this is as good a place as any for this. The Secret Service has unveiled new, and awesome-looking, buses for their protectees to use while traveling the country. Note, I said “protectees”, not “President Obama”. That’s an important distinction, because the USSS plans to use these two buses to protect presidential candidates and the sitting president for the next ten years. In the past, protectees would lease buses, and the USSS would have to retrofit them for security purposes, then reverse the retrofits when the buses were returned to the leasing company. Having their own buses–even at a milion bucks a pop—will save time and money over the life of the buses. Conservative media are, of course, attacking the President, calling the buses a waste of money and saying it is another example of Obama just going for the most luxurious things he can get his grubby little hands on. Read more at [Media Matters](http://mediamatters.org/research/201108160017) and [TPM](http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/04/obama-to-use-new-secret-service-bus-on-campaign-trail.php). It appears that the buses were built by Hemphill Brothers Coach Company in Tennesee. The brothers Hemphill leased buses to both Bush campaigns as well as the McCain campaign. In both cases, [“The Secret Service armored all of the vehicles.”](http://www.bastropenterprise.com/entertainment/x1373193349/From-Bastrop-to-Nashville) Presumably the campaigns paid for the leasing, but the USSS armored the vehicles out of its budget. Perhaps of some interest is that Hemphills were tight with Bush. They were invited to his inauguration and a private Christmas party. Toward the end of Bush’s administration, they got a personal letter of thanks from Bush. They have made campaign contributions exclusively to Republican candidates (found by searching [here](http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/qind/), although I couldn’t like directly to the search results). So, roll the tote board: committed Republican businessmen, favored by George W. Bush, are contracted to build vehicles which will protect future presidents, presidential candidates, and other VIPs, at a cost savings to the USSS, and the right wing media … attacks Obama for it. Well done, guys. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/3377 "2011-08-16T19:49:14Z")
At least they didn’t say anything like about how it was “pimped out”. Not yet, at any rate… ---
**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:** [August 16, 2011, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/3378 "2011-08-16T20:14:11Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > At least they didn’t say anything like about how it was “pimped out”. Not yet, at any rate… From _New York_ magazine: [“Of course, Obama’s bus will probably be a pimped-out Secret Service–designed behemoth”](http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/08/president_obama_will_ride_arou.html) And, this is just from the [comments on a CNN blog](http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/16/tuesdays-live-video-events-68/), so the sourcing is weak, but: > [@Monica](#): > > There was a comment made by CNN anchor Ali Velshi this morning that was hurtful and racist. He said quote " Did you guys see President Obama’s bus, it was pimped out with rims and everything" and he kept saying it over and over until the female anchor sitting beside him told him that it was not politically correct. Can anyone verify that report of the anchor’s comments? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/3379 "2011-08-16T20:31:34Z")
You can’t keep up. No matter how crazy you jump, they’re already there before you even land. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/3380 "2011-08-16T20:49:17Z")
You see, white people be buying buses like this, but black people be buying their buses like this. Tip your waitresses. -Joe [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=168) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=170)