# 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:** 1846
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2018, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36902 "2018-03-04T04:06:58Z")
> [@anomalous1](#): > > Being so elitist about citations, they always resort to [Salon.com](http://Salon.com) or HuffPo. (Okay not all with the last bit, but most). They do not understand any element of utilitarianism, nor do they even try to attempt to respect laws, not because of thought out reasoning, but because it doesn’t “feel” right. [King Arthur in MP and the Holy Grail] What do you mean? Classical utilitarianism or the modern one? [/KAMPHG] [https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/utilitarianism-history/](https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/utilitarianism-history/) > [@](#): > > Classical Utilitarians, Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, identified the good with pleasure, so, like Epicurus, were hedonists about value. They also held that we ought to maximize the good, that is, bring about ‘the greatest amount of good for the greatest number’. Well, there can be not a better representative than the Hedionist [del]Bot[/del] Trump that conservatives put in the White House. In modern times Pluralistic Consequentialism is more looked at. Well then, you make me sad. There is very little modern utilitarianism coming from an incompetent in the White House and it is made worse when the Current Republicans in congress have no spine to control him. There is no way to see how getting the most good for most people is coming from the efforts of the Trump administration. > [@](#): > > Judy Woodruf: > “I barely know where to begin at the White House, Mark. The president’s closest aide announced she’s leaving, he has a son-in-law who’s under a lot of scrutiny over alleged conflicts of interest, he has a chief of staff who has raising questions again about how he handled the firing of an aide over domestic abuse; and on and on. the leaks seemed to just be flowing a gusher every day, what matters in all of this?” > > Mark Shields: > "What matters is chaos in the White House. It’s is bad for the United States and bad for > the world. > > There’s no rational order. For example: what you’ve described: the morale at the White House from every report is just incredibly low. To work on any White House Judy is is an act of both self-sacrifice and self-interest. You missed birthdays you missed anniversaries, you missed your children’s recitals; but you have a sense of mission a sense of history a sense also that it’s special. You got to be part of something special, you got status and recognition… all of that is missing here. > > **This is a civil war in a leper colony.** > > There is no sense of direction, the Steel quote is being a perfect example: there was no preparation of tariffs and rather, there was no preparation politically, there was no preparation for making a case, there was no preparation for the press, there was no preparation within the White House, there’s no organization, it’s all acted on impulse and chaos and sort of the whim of the President himself. > > Judy: > "it’s all there almost a temptation David to look at all of this as some kind of sideshow, but there are real consequences. > > David Brooks: > "Yeah. I’m trying to think of of historical parallels when we’ve had this much chaos in the American presidency. > > You know Richard Nixon had some bad days at the end there, but he had a very high quality staff around him. Woodrow Wilson had a stroke, I’m going through the list. I can’t think of anything quite like this _where we have the combination of a semi-competent or missing staff and an emotionally and intellectually unstable president._ > > Reince Priebus, the former chief of staff, said interview not long ago that and when you look from the outside it’s actually 50 times worse from the inside. > > And we’re getting a glimpse of that and one thing that left out at me and I think this is the key thing, the most important thing that it has real-world consequences is he we’re not just fighting over whether it is a military parade or not. > > The steel tariff thing is real consequences and the word that let out at me one of one of his staffers said one of his allies said, he made the decision because he became unglued. And so even when a president makes a decision becomes because he comes unglued a decision totally in avoidance of the entire process and then to compound the chaos of it he issues a tweet this morning which to me was a topper, even by Trump standards, that a trade war is good and easily won. _A concept that no economist of any stripe and no historian of any stripe could possibly think as other anything other than crazy._" [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/7NcJvvLBD6w/maxresdefault.jpg "PBS NewsHour full episode March 2, 2018") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NcJvvLBD6w&t=30m55s) ---
**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:** [March 4, 2018, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36903 "2018-03-04T07:29:07Z")
Look, a bunch of us told Congress to impeach him a year ago. Think they’ll listen now? Does anyone think he’s _not_ going to escalate to a nuclear exchange within the year? ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2018, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36904 "2018-03-04T07:36:28Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > {…} Does anyone think he’s _not_ going to escalate to a nuclear exchange within the year? “Hey, you gotta fight the trade war with the army you got . . . and our trade war army has nuclear weapons, so why shouldn’t use them in our trade war? I mean a trade war is a real war after all!” A future Trump Tweet. CMC fnord! ---
**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 4, 2018, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36905 "2018-03-04T10:20:41Z")
Agent Orange thinks the China president is doing great things - abolishing term limits. “He’s now president for life. President for life. And he’s great,” Trump told Republican donors during a closed-door even in Florida. A recording of Trump’s remarks was obtained by CNN. “And look, he was able to do that,” he added. “I think it’s great. Maybe we’ll give that a shot some day.” > **[Trump on Chinese president abolishing term limits: ‘Maybe we’ll give that a...](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/376604-trump-on-chinese-president-abolishing-term-limits-maybe-well-give/)** > > President Trump on Saturday praised a move by China’s Communist Party to abolish presidential term limits, and suggested that maybe the United States would “give that a shot s… Our so-called-president hasn’t/can’t read our own constitution, let alone understand it. Just another one of those pesky rules and regulations that’s keeping 'merica down. Probably Clinton slipped term limits into law or maybe it’s one of Obama executive orders he hasn’t undone yet. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2018, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36906 "2018-03-04T14:10:43Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > [King Arthur in MP and the Holy Grail] > What do you mean? Classical utilitarianism or the modern one? > [/KAMPHG] > > [The History of Utilitarianism (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)](https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/utilitarianism-history/) > Well, there can be not a better representative than the Hedionist [del]Bot[/del] Trump that conservatives put in the White House. In modern times Pluralistic Consequentialism is more looked at. > > Well then, you make me sad. There is very little modern utilitarianism coming from an incompetent in the White House and it is made worse when the Current Republicans in congress have no spine to control him. > > There is no way to see how getting the most good for most people is coming from the efforts of the Trump administration. > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NcJvvLBD6w&t=30m55s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NcJvvLBD6w&t=30m55s) I like that David Brooks says that thump is a worse president than Wilson, \*who had a stroke while in office. \* ---
**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 4, 2018, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36907 "2018-03-04T23:15:45Z")
Jesus God, they’re still making disgusting Hillary jokes. > **[Rudy Giuliani's tasteless Hillary joke](https://www.axios.com/2018/03/04/rudy-giulianis-tasteless-hillary-joke-1520203032)** > > The crowd gasped and Trump added, "I'm just glad I didn't say it" ---
**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:** [March 5, 2018, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36908 "2018-03-05T02:51:11Z")
A fat joke? Well, that could have been worse. It’s not like people don’t make fun of DJT’s big butt. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36909 "2018-03-05T03:57:22Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > …“And look, he was able to do that,” he added. “I think it’s great. Maybe we’ll give that a shot some day.”… Bet every dime I got and one of my son’s kidneys that, if you asked him, he would tell you he has an excellent sense of humor. This squamous lump of verbiage is an example thereof. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36910 "2018-03-05T04:06:25Z")
Florida Senator Kelli Stargel (R) takes offense at many of us being offended by thoughts and prayers offered up as the most effective means of stopping mass shootings. > **[Florida state senator: Only ‘thoughts and prayers’ will stop evil behind...](https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/376674-florida-state-senator-only-thoughts-and-prayers-will-stop-evil-behind/)** > > A Florida state senator said the only thing that is going to stop “the evil” behind mass shootings is to send “thoughts and prayers.”During a debate on a proposed assault weapons ban in the F… ---
**Author:** ![anomalous1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@anomalous1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anomalous1)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36911 "2018-03-05T04:07:01Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > As opposed to what? The T&A on Fox news? > > As to whether or not it’s “frightening”… Interesting observation. Never once occurred to me. Says a lot about you that you find it so, much more than I’m sure you’ll dare to admit. > > You’ve already been back, and **you’ll be back** again, and again. When you’re right, you are right. Well, by popular demand, I am back here even though I said I wouldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![anomalous1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@anomalous1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anomalous1)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36912 "2018-03-05T04:11:21Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > **anomalous1** - Your screed above is not worth quoting since it is a complete disconnect from reality. It does give insight to people that are supporting trump though. > > [ul] > [li]Complete lack of knowledge of what is going on[/li][li]Party first, elect a moron that will enrich his buddies[/li][li]Are so stupid, that they are for policies that will hurt them[/li][li]Anyone that would like to help the people of this country and the world is an elitist.[/li][li]Anyone that follows FACTS and has a bit of scientific knowledge is an elitist.[/li][li]Enjoys having a stupid bully for a President[/li][/ul] > > I could go on, but doubt you understand the above. I doubt you understood my post. It was to call attention to the hypocrisy in the stereotyping of conservatives. Both sides do it, I just had to point out the other side of the coin . Both sides have all of the checklist you’ve provided above, more or less. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36913 "2018-03-05T05:15:40Z")
> [@anomalous1](#): > > I doubt you understood my post. It was to call attention to the hypocrisy in the stereotyping of conservatives. Both sides do it, I just had to point out the other side of the coin . Both sides have all of the checklist you’ve provided above, more or less. Meh, clearly you only showed that you deftly avoided dealing with post #36895, it is really hard to point at modern administrations of the “left” that not only had an incompetent staff, but also an incompetent president. But, the more you tell us that there is no difference, the more you show that it is indeed you and a lot of conservatives that are proud to live in La La Land. Like David Brooks said, we do have a worse administration than Wilson, \*who had a stroke while in office. \* ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36914 "2018-03-05T05:34:05Z")
> [@anomalous1](#): > > I doubt you understood my post. It was to call attention to the hypocrisy in the stereotyping of conservatives. Both sides do it, I just had to point out the other side of the coin . Both sides have all of the checklist you’ve provided above, more or less. You realize you’re dumb as a post, right? Both side definitely DO NOT do it. ---
**Author:** ![anomalous1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@anomalous1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anomalous1)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36915 "2018-03-05T05:56:14Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Meh, clearly you only showed that you deftly avoided dealing with post #36895, it is really hard to point at modern administrations of the “left” that not only had an incompetent staff, but also an incompetent president. > > But, the more you tell us that there is no difference, the more you show that it is indeed you and a lot of conservatives that are proud to live in La La Land. > > Like David Brooks said, we do have a worse administration than Wilson, \*who had a stroke while in office. > \* Calm down, I skimmed past it at first, had to address the accounts of calling me a troll first. I really do enjoy your contributions, you always give a great argument I’ll leave this here until tomorrow, gotta get some sleep. Anyhow, despite showing the disparity between the practices of it throughout history I believe the point of your post and the supplemental material is to illustrate how my claim of utilitarianism isn’t practiced today and in the Trump white house. More so Hedonism (individualism) than anything. My counter point is, practicing a little bit of hedonism and individualism to promote individual financial security is better for everyone, self-reliance etc. Sure assistance is great, but if focused primarily on the disenfranchised who may be through no fault of their own are in the position that they are, you leave those who feel they work the hardest and provide the most to society through taxation and economic stimulus feeling cheated. Utilitarianism is absolutely pandering to the Middle Class, but the left has not done this in a long time. Only more punishment for those who feel they work the hardest. The left (clarification; not “classical liberals”, but the bastard children **progressives** dominating the party) seems to only want to cater to the disenfranchised to secure their vote and don’t realize if you leave the movers and shakers behind(Middle Class), everybody loses. If you secure the middle class and those who provide the most fluid economic stimulus, you are practicing Utilitarianism. The administration is office is absolutely pandering to this idea, I think it’s great. If that makes me exist is La La land, thats fine. It is in essence the Left only care about the poor-lower middle class and the conservatives care most about the middle and upper middle classes (I don’t mention rich here because there are just as many rich liberals as their are conservatives) The middle class moves the economy more, focus on them, you help everybody. Assistance is great, but pandering the those without as much financial influence only helps them temporarily and does not have as big of an impact on society as a whole. Break a few eggs to make an omelette ideals, sure. Individualism and Hedonism can pick up the slack if people want to break free. But it has worked before. Other ideas have not (as well). Just my opinion on it of course. Sorry if a little hodgepodge and convoluted, very tired. Thanks **GIGOBuster**. Cheers! ---
**Author:** ![anomalous1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@anomalous1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anomalous1)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36916 "2018-03-05T06:10:55Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > You realize you’re dumb as a post, right? Both side definitely DO NOT do it. Yes, they absolutely do. The whole checklist screams “moral superiority” and elitism. “We know better than everyone else!” ---
**Author:** ![Not\_Carlson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc79bd/32.png) [@Not\_Carlson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_Carlson)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36917 "2018-03-05T09:42:41Z")
> [@anomalous1](#): > > Both sides have all of the checklist you’ve provided above, **more or less**. So, if you agree that there is indeed some disparity, would you care to elaborate? ---
**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:** [March 5, 2018, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36918 "2018-03-05T11:44:00Z")
> [@anomalous1](#): > > I doubt you understood my post. It was to call attention to the hypocrisy in the stereotyping of conservatives. Fair enough - it’s true that hypocrisy is intrinsic to the stereotype of conservatives, but then it’s based on a lot of evidence. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36919 "2018-03-05T14:02:27Z")
It is useful when we get a “conservative” here willing to answer questions and help us understand the “conservative” mentality. (I put “conservative” in quotes because there is a vast gulf between traditional right-wing intellectuals and the sort of right-winger on display today.) > [@anomalous1](#): > > I doubt you understood my post. It was to call attention to the hypocrisy in the stereotyping of conservatives. Both sides do it, I just had to point out the other side of the coin . Both sides have all of the checklist you’ve provided above, more or less. Oh good! Are you going to help us understand the “conservative” mind-set? If so, you can start with specific examples: “Both sides do it” just doesn’t cut the mustard when the examples on display are of a _single_ side doing it. I tried to scan back and see which “my post” you’re referring to. Could it be the following (which was a response to my own post)? > [@anomalous1](#): > > I’ll just leave this here since we are talking about character/stereotypes of political parties. > > Liberals love to preach pseudo-intellectual utopian ideals and do not have a firm grip on reality or learning through experience, nor any understanding of merit. They seem to want everyone to be equally poor and an equal shade of brown. They preach collectivism and working together only if it works in favor of their argument. If you refute any of their ideals or say something they don’t like, they either willingly interpret it as being racist, or denounce it as something equally universally despised as racism. Liberals preach about the scientific method, yet cry conspiracy whenever statistics or valid evidence to the contrary are presented. Being so elitist about citations, they always resort to [Salon.com](http://Salon.com) or HuffPo. (Okay not all with the last bit, but most). They do not understand any element of utilitarianism, nor do they even try to attempt to respect laws, not because of thought out reasoning, but because it doesn’t “feel” right. > The hypocrisy is mind numbing. You keep telling the Middle class who are the spine of the economy that they are no good and have inherent evils, and you get The Donald. Then all of the successes of the [oh so horrible] administration in question are attributed to _their_ latest incumbent(s) doing a “splendid job” during their term. > > Anyhow, on a serious note?, why does the BDU (Battle-Dress-Uniform) of Liberals seem to have to be on par with looking like Rachel Maddow on a daily basis? Is it supposed to be somehow frightening or do they have no sense of style? > > In my opinion, of course. 🆒 > > (No need to reply, I’m not coming back to this post so save your strength for the anti-firearm fad) Almost every single sentence in this post strikes me as unsubstantiated bull-shit — and none of it is responsive to the **septimus** post that preceded it. I thought of going through the quote and coloring lies red, inflammatory comments blue, etc., but the post would end up as rainbow! @ **anomalous1** — If you want to help, start with “They do not understand any element of utilitarianism” and explain how this is true and/or a GOP plus. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36920 "2018-03-05T14:19:28Z")
“Whatever his final decision is, is what will happen. What he has said he has said. If he says something different, it’ll be something different.” - Wilbur Ross. Great policy making plans these guys have. ---
**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 5, 2018, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36921 "2018-03-05T15:10:51Z")
Devin Nunes (whose fee-fees were hurt by Stephen Colbert making jokes about him on th’ teevee): “The left controls the universities in this country, they control Hollywood, they control the media…” Am I being overly sensitive? This IS a dog whistle aimed at Da Jooz, is it not? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1845) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1847)