# 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:** 1699
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33962 "2017-05-25T06:48:43Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > OTOH, I’ve read that a lot of votes by mail have already been cast. On the other hand, this certainly doesn’t help him. This is ironic. Since this is an off-year, off-month, off-week, off-day election, it was almost guaranteed to have a tiny turnout, so many MT Republicans fought against voting by mail, thinking a low turnout would help them. But in the end, they allowed the vote-by-mail to go forward, since it saved millions of dollars. Now it looks like it will help them tremendously, because so many votes have been cast already. Whether it will help them enough remains to be seen. And of course, in a state that went for Trump by 20 points or so, there are probably lots of voters who would like a Congressman who beats up MSM reporters. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2017, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33963 "2017-05-25T08:49:36Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > This is ironic. Since this is an off-year, off-month, off-week, off-day election, it was almost guaranteed to have a tiny turnout, so many MT Republicans fought against voting by mail, thinking a low turnout would help them. But in the end, they allowed the vote-by-mail to go forward, since it saved millions of dollars. Now it looks like it will help them tremendously, because so many votes have been cast already. > > Whether it will help them enough remains to be seen. And of course, in a state that went for Trump by 20 points or so, there are probably lots of voters who would like a Congressman who beats up MSM reporters. **TonySinclair**. Agreed, but I am going to give **The Good People of Montana** the benefit of the doubt. Let’s wait for the election returns. If “ **The Hammer** ” wins, I think it will be less than by 20 points. Just say’in. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33964 "2017-05-25T09:54:45Z")
Ben Carson gets to say that. You don’t get to call it stupid unless you’ve lived a life like his. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33965 "2017-05-25T10:40:36Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Ben Carson gets to say that. You don’t get to call it stupid unless you’ve lived a life like his. Ben Carson gets to say anything at all without criticism. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33966 "2017-05-25T11:25:48Z")
So this [Greg Gianforte](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Gianforte) guy sounds like a real peach. For example, his position on retirement (and social security): _"There’s nothing in the Bible that talks about retirement. And yet it’s been an accepted concept in our culture today. Nowhere does it say, 'Well, he was a good and faithful servant, so he went to the beach… The example I think of is Noah. How old was Noah when he built the ark? 600. He wasn’t like, cashing Social Security checks, he wasn’t hanging out, he was working. So, I think we have an obligation to work. The role we have in work may change over time, but the concept of retirement is not biblical._ Never heard of him before he assaulted the reporter. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33967 "2017-05-25T11:42:58Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Ben Carson gets to say anything at all without criticism. On this subject, yes, at least from the nattering elites who think they know what the poor need. When he says ignorant shit about gays and foreign policy, by all means pile on. That’s why he’s not President today. Him talking about poverty was part of what sold him originally. He had as much authority on that subject as John Kerry did about riverboat warfare. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33968 "2017-05-25T11:55:19Z")
Kerry had some experience therein, more than me, certainly. I’d even hazard a guess its more than you, as well. (Did you _really_ think you were gonna get away with that?) ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33969 "2017-05-25T12:01:12Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > On this subject, yes, at least from the nattering elites who think they know what the poor need. > > When he says ignorant shit about gays and foreign policy, by all means pile on. That’s why he’s not President today. Him talking about poverty was part of what sold him originally. He had as much authority on that subject as John Kerry did about riverboat warfare. I think it’s reasonable to criticize wingnuts for their wingnuttery, even if it’s on subjects they might have personal experience with. General Flynn is a wingnut, and it’s reasonable to criticize his foreign policy and anti-terrorism wingnuttery despite his military experience. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33970 "2017-05-25T12:08:40Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > So this [Greg Gianforte](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Gianforte) guy sounds like a real peach. For example, his position on retirement (and social security): > > _"There’s nothing in the Bible that talks about retirement. And yet it’s been an accepted concept in our culture today. Nowhere does it say, 'Well, he was a good and faithful servant, so he went to the beach… The example I think of is Noah. How old was Noah when he built the ark? 600. He wasn’t like, cashing Social Security checks, he wasn’t hanging out, he was working. So, I think we have an obligation to work. The role we have in work may change over time, but the concept of retirement is not biblical._ > > Never heard of him before he assaulted the reporter. Can’t distinguish fantasy from reality and uses that confusion to hurt people, commits assault on people who piss him off… This guy fits _right_ in with the republican party. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33971 "2017-05-25T13:04:32Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > GOP Candidate body slams Journalist. > [Ryan Calls On Gianforte to Apologize for Assault, Says Election up to Montana Voters](http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/montana-congressional-candidate-allegedly-assaults-newspaper-reporter-n764421) > > The audio is pretty damning. What an asshole! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33972 "2017-05-25T13:33:27Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Ben Carson gets to say that. You don’t get to call it stupid unless you’ve lived a life like his. WHAT?? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33973 "2017-05-25T13:52:03Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Ben Carson thinks you’re only poor because you have a bad state of mind.[ Ben Carson, paraphrased: [URL=“[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HaveYouTriedNotBeingAMonster](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HaveYouTriedNotBeingAMonster)”]Have you tried _not_ being a monster]([Rich Politician Ben Carson Says Poverty Is Just A 'State Of Mind' | HuffPost Latest News](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ben-carson-poverty-state-of-mind_us_5925f901e4b0265790f4d0c8?))? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33974 "2017-05-25T14:08:38Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > GOP Candidate body slams Journalist. > [Ryan Calls On Gianforte to Apologize for Assault, Says Election up to Montana Voters](http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/montana-congressional-candidate-allegedly-assaults-newspaper-reporter-n764421) > > The audio is pretty damning. > [@gytalf2000](#): > > What an asshole! Eh, it could have been worse. He could have knocked him out. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2017, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33975 "2017-05-25T14:23:44Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Ben Carson gets to say that. You don’t get to call it stupid unless you’ve lived a life like his. > [@adaher](#): > > On this subject, yes, at least from the nattering elites who think they know what the poor need. > > When he says ignorant shit about gays and foreign policy, by all means pile on. That’s why he’s not President today. Him talking about poverty was part of what sold him originally. He had as much authority on that subject as John Kerry did about riverboat warfare. He grew up low-income, and with some serious difficulties, so his story can serve as an inspiration, but he was hardly typical. He not only graduated first in his class, he got the highest SAT of his high school for 20 years. So, he has a bit of survivor’s bias going on. He found it possible to make it out of the cycle of poverty, and all it took was the greatest intellect his community had seen in a generation to make it, why can’t everyone be like that? He does bring up a good point, though, in that poverty is in fact a mind set. I have had years where I did not make much money, and would have been considered impoverished by any standards. But, I still had a middle class mindset, and knew that I could work my way out of this set back. I never applied for or accepted any sort of govt aid, as I really felt that I could make it on my own. It is hard for those with fiscal literacy to understand that there are others who do not posses that skill, just as most of us would be surprised to meet and adult without reading literacy. But it should not be too surprising, it is something that needs to be learned, just like anything else. Where is someone supposed to learn fiscal literacy and responsibility? Not school, other than the maths that are relevant, school had nothing to do with learning about personal economics. I learned most of that from my parents. If your parents are not responsible with money, then it is very unlikely that you will pick up a new skill spontaneously. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33976 "2017-05-25T14:36:27Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Ben Carson gets to say that. You don’t get to call it stupid unless you’ve lived a life like his. Growing up in poverty? Ok, did that. Fuck him anyway. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2017, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33977 "2017-05-25T16:15:21Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33978 "2017-05-25T16:23:34Z")
I’m paying more attention to [Jeff Flake](https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/republicans-in-congress-struggle-with-this-question-do-you-trust-trumps-judgment/2017/05/24/d9a7cdd0-402a-11e7-9869-bac8b446820a_story.html?tid=a_inl&utm_term=.a3b29ce812a7)lately: > [@](#): > > It’s a simple question, but for Republicans in Congress, it’s not an easy one. > > Do you trust President Trump’s judgment on major decisions? > > “I’m not answering questions like that,” said Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) after hopping off an underground tram shuttling him from the Capitol to his Senate office building. “That’s ah … ” he trailed off as he walked toward an elevator. > > Four seconds later, the easygoing Arizonan picked back up: “The president is overseas. I don’t think we’re allowed to ask any questions while the president’s overseas.” ---
**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:** [May 25, 2017, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33979 "2017-05-25T16:41:34Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I’m paying more attention to [Jeff Flake](https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/republicans-in-congress-struggle-with-this-question-do-you-trust-trumps-judgment/2017/05/24/d9a7cdd0-402a-11e7-9869-bac8b446820a_story.html?tid=a_inl&utm_term=.a3b29ce812a7)lately: > [@](#): > > _I don’t think we’re allowed to ask any questions while the president’s overseas._ What the everloving fuck?? Can we ask him where his testicles are? ---
**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:** [May 25, 2017, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33980 "2017-05-25T16:49:59Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > What the everloving fuck?? Can we ask him where his testicles are? They’re overseas. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2017, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/33981 "2017-05-25T16:52:09Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > When he says ignorant shit about gays and foreign policy, by all means pile on. That’s why he’s not President today. umm … bwahahaha [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1698) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1700)