# 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:** 1818
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2018, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36342 "2018-01-22T21:27:15Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Another set of Republican-created gerrymandered Congressional districts has been shot down, this time in Pennsylvania. > [https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/22/us/pennsylvania-maps-congress.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/22/us/pennsylvania-maps-congress.html) As long as there are still state Justices not (directly or indirectly) beholden to the GOP, there is hope that the partisan tomfoolery of gerrymandering can be stopped. Charlie Pierce, at Esquire, stated today that he does have such hope. And, a significant point: > [@](#): > > … because the state supreme court based its ruling on the state constitution, any attempt by Pennsylvania Republicans to appeal this ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court for the kind of stay that SCOTUS imposed on the North Carolina gerrymandering case last week is probably foreclosed. [http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a15843336/pennsylvania-congressional-map/](http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a15843336/pennsylvania-congressional-map/) …As for public financing of elections: quite true that American oligarchs will never permit it. But, worth noting: current members of Congress _also_ have a strong incentive to prevent such a change. As things stand, election to Congress is a virtual guarantee of lifelong wealth (including full medical coverage, no small consideration), and status. A Congress of citizen-legislators? Most of all the goodies of the current system would disappear. They will fight tooth and nail to prevent such an outcome—no matter what lip service they (the Democrats, I mean) might pay it while campaigning. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2018, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36343 "2018-01-22T21:41:20Z")
“Prophet” Mark Taylor says that there will be military tribunals to deal with those who oppose Trump, and that includes all of the former Presidents. > **['Prophet' Mark Taylor: Former Presidents May Be Executed By Military...](https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/prophet-mark-taylor-former-presidents-may-be-executed-by-military-tribunals-for-treason/)** > > Last Thursday, self-proclaimed “firefighter prophet” and right-wing conspiracy theorist Mark Taylor made yet another appearance on Sheila Zilinsky’s ---
**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:** [January 22, 2018, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36344 "2018-01-22T21:58:32Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > “Prophet” Mark Taylor says that there will be military tribunals to deal with those who oppose Trump, and that includes all of the former Presidents. > ['Prophet' Mark Taylor: Former Presidents May Be Executed By Military Tribunals For Treason | Right Wing Watch](http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/prophet-mark-taylor-former-presidents-may-be-executed-by-military-tribunals-for-treason/) Frankly, as insane as Trump has been, that’s just going into lunatic conspiracy theory by a large margin. If he tried something like that, I think even Ryan and McConnell would express strong disapproval. ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2018, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36345 "2018-01-22T23:24:49Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > If he tried something like that, I think even Ryan and McConnell would express strong disapproval. Strongly worded letters, along with detailed lists of Trump opponents. ---
**Author:** ![AI\_Proofreader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@AI\_Proofreader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AI_Proofreader)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36346 "2018-01-23T05:21:55Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > “Prophet” Mark Taylor says that there will be military tribunals to deal with those who oppose Trump, and that includes all of the former Presidents. > ['Prophet' Mark Taylor: Former Presidents May Be Executed By Military Tribunals For Treason | Right Wing Watch](http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/prophet-mark-taylor-former-presidents-may-be-executed-by-military-tribunals-for-treason/) Ah, political purges, eh? I for one welcome rooting out these disloyal citizens and draining the swamp! MAGA! _rifles through a drawer looking for passport_ Jesus. I’m only half-joking - both parties seem to be Seeking Kyle in their own messed up ways right now - the right with their literal reviving of Nazis and totalitarianism, the left with their Red-hunting McCarthyism. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36347 "2018-01-23T07:08:12Z")
> [@AI\_Proofreader](#): > > … the left with their Red-hunting McCarthyism. The wha? The huh? ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36348 "2018-01-23T07:36:36Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > “Prophet” Mark Taylor says that there will be military tribunals to deal with those who oppose Trump, and that includes all of the former Presidents. > ['Prophet' Mark Taylor: Former Presidents May Be Executed By Military Tribunals For Treason | Right Wing Watch](http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/prophet-mark-taylor-former-presidents-may-be-executed-by-military-tribunals-for-treason/) As I said on Facebook, it’d be dangerously hilarious to give this guy and Alex Jones some bath salts, and let them talk to each other about the conspiracy theories. ---
**Author:** ![AI\_Proofreader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@AI\_Proofreader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AI_Proofreader)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36349 "2018-01-23T08:14:34Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > The wha? The huh? it’s strange I know, but I can think of no better term than McCarthyism to describe the phenomenon of accusing media outlets, Black Lives Matter, Jill Stein, and disaffected anti-government protestors on Twitter and Facebook as “Russian agents.” I suppose I should qualify that as “centrist liberals” or “neoliberals” although a fair number of social democrats and assorted leftists seem to be drinking the same kool-aid on the Russia issue. ---
**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:** [January 23, 2018, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36350 "2018-01-23T19:07:43Z")
> [@AI\_Proofreader](#): > > it’s strange I know, but I can think of no better term than McCarthyism to describe the phenomenon of accusing media outlets, Black Lives Matter, Jill Stein, and disaffected anti-government protestors on Twitter and Facebook as “Russian agents.” > > I suppose I should qualify that as “centrist liberals” or “neoliberals” although a fair number of social democrats and assorted leftists seem to be drinking the same kool-aid on the Russia issue. Wait. Jill Stein is a target of the right? I thought she was a tool of the Russians in the plot to get Trump elected? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36351 "2018-01-23T19:07:46Z")
I…simply don’t know what to call that kind of denialism, AI. I’m stunned. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36352 "2018-01-23T22:06:24Z")
Well, it seems like a fairly easy way to say “both sides are the same”. Just accuse them of doing the same stuff, whether it makes sense or not. ---
**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:** [January 24, 2018, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36353 "2018-01-24T02:39:35Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Wait. Jill Stein is a target of the right? I thought she was a tool of the Russians in the plot to get Trump elected? No, she’s a target of the anti-Russian ‘mainstream.’ Because only the divine Hillary never took any direct support from Putin. :rolleyes: Other Russian oligarchs, sure. It’s hilarious how our political system is so overcome by influence peddling that Russian oligarchs are finding people across the political spectrum to pay off. The RT crowd and folks like Jimmy Dore pretend it’s not even going on, but then they start defending Russian actions in Ukraine. Democrats pretend they’re clean, but they’re not, really; or at least Hillary wasn’t. And it’s not about Reds. Russia is run by oligarchs now. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36354 "2018-01-24T02:51:59Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > And it’s not about Reds. Russia is run by oligarchs now. “Communism is evil. These Russians aren’t Communists at all; they’re just differently monied than Americans.” ---
**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:** [January 24, 2018, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36355 "2018-01-24T04:15:14Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > No, she’s a target of the anti-Russian ‘mainstream.’ Because only the divine Hillary never took any direct support from Putin. :rolleyes: Other Russian oligarchs, sure. > > It’s hilarious how our political system is so overcome by influence peddling that Russian oligarchs are finding people across the political spectrum to pay off. The RT crowd and folks like Jimmy Dore pretend it’s not even going on, but then they start defending Russian actions in Ukraine. Democrats pretend they’re clean, but they’re not, really; or at least Hillary wasn’t. > > And it’s not about Reds. Russia is run by oligarchs now. Have you seen the photos of Stein eating dinner with Putin? ---
**Author:** ![AI\_Proofreader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@AI\_Proofreader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AI_Proofreader)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36356 "2018-01-24T05:26:31Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I…simply don’t know what to call that kind of denialism, AI. I’m stunned. There’s an element of truth to it - Trump has ties to Russian mobsters and almost certainly is guilty of laundering money for them. But the common consensus we seem to have reached is that Trump is some sort of Manchurian Candidate doing the will of Putin, which is just patently absurd. Trump is awful enough without having to resort to crappy plot-lines from a John Grisham novel. And the Democrats are defying all logic and attacking everyone _on the left_ who mildly disagrees with them by accusing them of being Russian agents. It’s ridiculous. ---
**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:** [January 24, 2018, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36357 "2018-01-24T05:59:14Z")
> [@AI\_Proofreader](#): > > There’s an element of truth to it - Trump has ties to Russian mobsters and almost certainly is guilty of laundering money for them. > > But the common consensus we seem to have reached is that Trump is some sort of Manchurian Candidate doing the will of Putin, which is just patently absurd. Trump is awful enough without having to resort to crappy plot-lines from a John Grisham novel. > > And the Democrats are defying all logic and attacking everyone _on the left_ who mildly disagrees with them by accusing them of being Russian agents. It’s ridiculous. Is that how you’re spinning it? “Don’t listen to what the Democrats are saying-Listen to our wild interpretations of what they are saying!” ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36358 "2018-01-24T12:36:34Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Republican = Nazi = KKK Sadly, that’s close to the truth. Trump and the Vichy GOPers are sliding down that alt-right slope. The Bob Dole and John McCain - upright, conservative, but sane, wing of the party is disappearing. The alt-right is now the right wing of the party and the center and left are crazy evangelicals, Trump and his sycophants. ---
**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:** [January 24, 2018, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36359 "2018-01-24T13:35:55Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Have you seen the photos of Stein eating dinner with Putin? I’ve seen a photo, yes. That informs what I’m saying. Hillary had a lot of money coming from other Russians that weren’t Putin. This isn’t being acknowledged in the present climate; partly because she isn’t in office, and partly because it allows the self-proclaimed defenders of liberalism to pretend that they are the true patriots beset on all sides by that evil foreign interference. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36360 "2018-01-24T13:54:11Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > Hillary had a lot of money coming from other Russians that weren’t Putin. This isn’t being acknowledged in the present climate; partly because she isn’t in office, and partly because it allows the self-proclaimed defenders of liberalism to pretend that they are the true patriots beset on all sides by that evil foreign interference. Are they claiming that? And is all involvement with Russians equal? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36361 "2018-01-24T14:16:19Z")
The problem with publicly-financed elections is, how do you decide who gets the public funding? If five hundred crazy lunatic-fringe nuts declare their candidacy, do all five hundred of them get equal funding? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1817) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1819)