# 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:** 1870
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/37382 "2018-04-17T15:14:02Z")
Can we put in a little plug in for Hannity and his “the lady doth protest too much” carefully worded tweets. > [@Hannity](#): > > Michael Cohen has never represented me in any matter. I never retained him, received an invoice, or paid legal fees. I have occasionally had brief discussions with him about legal questions about which I wanted his input and perspective. > > I assumed those conversations were confidential, but to be absolutely clear they never involved any matter between me and a third-party. > > In response to some wild speculation, let me make clear that I did not ask Michael Cohen to bring this proceeding on my behalf, I have no personal interest in this proceeding, and, in fact, asked that my de minimis discussions with Michael Cohen, > > which dealt almost exclusively about real estate, not be made a part of this proceeding. Which indicates : A) In spite of what he has been saying on his show, he knows that Cohen is a giant sleazeball who is going down and going to drag down anyone associated with him, and B) He probably knows what a sleazeball Cohen is because of some shady real estate scam Cohen set up for him, which like our pres he is going to deny all knowledge of. ---
**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:** [April 17, 2018, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/37383 "2018-04-17T15:20:48Z")
Not really a SRIOTD, but features Sean Hannity, so I thought I would this here. [The gaping hole in Sean Hannity’s story about being Michael Cohen’s client](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/the-gaping-hole-in-sean-hannity%E2%80%99s-story-about-being-michael-cohen%E2%80%99s-client/ar-AAvXmtq) Now, I think that Hannity is a stain on our nation, but my first thought was ‘why am I hearing about who his lawyer is???’ If he doesn’t want anyone to know… Why should anyone be hearing about Cohen’s client list? I mean, unless he is appearing on his client’s behalf in court, or making statements on his behalf, wouldn’t privilege apply? edit: Guess I took to long to post it… ---
**Author:** ![Abe\_Babe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@Abe\_Babe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abe_Babe)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/37384 "2018-04-17T15:35:09Z")
I love Hannity’s line from the article: > [@](#): > > “I might have handed him 10 bucks [and said,] ‘I definitely want your attorney-client privilege on this,’ ” Isn’t paying an attorney for his advice, and expecting those discussion to be priviledged pretty much the definition of being his client? ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/37385 "2018-04-17T15:40:48Z")
> [@Abe\_Babe](#): > > I love Hannity’s line from the article: > > > [@](#): > > > > “I might have handed him 10 bucks [and said,] ‘I definitely want your attorney-client privilege on this,’ ” > > Isn’t paying an attorney for his advice, and expecting those discussion to be priviledged pretty much the definition of being his client? It figures Hannity would be stupid enough to think it works like that. In reality, discussions within the scope of legal representation are privileged even if the attorney is working _pro bono_ or doing a personal favor, and discussions outside that scope are not privileged no matter how much money changes hands. ---
**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:** [April 17, 2018, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/37386 "2018-04-17T15:41:35Z")
> [@Abe\_Babe](#): > > I love Hannity’s line from the article: > > Isn’t paying an attorney for his advice, and expecting those discussion to be priviledged pretty much the definition of being his client? The better question is “what kind of competent attorney would only charge $10?” ---
**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:** [April 17, 2018, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/37387 "2018-04-17T15:54:53Z")
> [@Abe\_Babe](#): > > I love Hannity’s line from the article: > > Isn’t paying an attorney for his advice, and expecting those discussion to be priviledged pretty much the definition of being his client? It feels like Hannity thinks Cohen has the option to hand over a privilege. “For this $10, I would like one (1) privilege, please!” ---
**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:** [April 17, 2018, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/37388 "2018-04-17T15:57:12Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > The better question is “what kind of competent attorney would only charge $10?” One that’s only worth $5. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/37389 "2018-04-17T16:00:04Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > The better question is “what kind of competent attorney would only charge $10?” It’s using the form to achieve the result. I was given a horse once, and drew up a contract of “sale” from the previous owner to me “for one dollar in hand and other valuable consideration” (and handed him the dollar, much to his amusement) so as to formalize the transfer of ownership. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/37390 "2018-04-17T16:27:14Z")
Alex Jones gets a chance to [explain his theories about how the Sandy Hook shootings were faked](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sandy-hook-parents-hit-alex-jones-with-defamation-lawsuits_us_5acf6a6de4b0ac383d74bfe1) in court. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/37391 "2018-04-17T19:00:38Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > The better question is “what kind of competent attorney would only charge $10?” We know what kind of attorney he is, we’re haggling over the price, now. ---
**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:** [April 17, 2018, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/37392 "2018-04-17T19:34:06Z")
[Ajit fucking Pai](https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/04/ajit-pais-ex-broadband-advisor-arrested-on-charge-of-forging-fiber-contracts/) _Elizabeth Pierce is accused of “forg[ing] guaranteed revenue contracts to fraudulently induce investors to invest more than $250 million in a fiber optic cable network in Alaska,” …_ put this woman in charge of the Broadband Development Advisory Committee. _To realize her plan to build a fiber optic system that would service Alaska and connect it to the lower 48 states, Elizabeth Ann Pierce allegedly convinced two investment companies that she had secured signed contracts that would supposedly generate hundreds of millions of dollars in guaranteed future revenue from the system. As it turned out, those sales agreements were worthless because the customers had not signed them. Instead, as alleged, Pierce had forged counter-party signatures on contract after contract._ Naturally, Pai was impressed, “_She did an excellent job leading the BDAC through its first two public meetings. I am sorry to see her go and wish her all the best in her future endeavors._” Future endeavors which will probably involve doing the stripey laundry. ---
**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:** [April 17, 2018, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/37393 "2018-04-17T19:39:50Z")
Another Republican Congressman is resigning. Charlie Dent of PA. The weird part is that he’s resigning before the November election, meaning that the election to replace him will occur in the gerrymandered 15th District, whereas the November election for his seat will be in the non-gerrymandered 7th District. > **[Rep. Charlie Dent Resigning ‘In the Coming Weeks’ - Roll Call](https://rollcall.com/2018/04/17/rep-charlie-dent-resigning-in-the-coming-weeks/)** > > Updated 12:41 p.m. | Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Charlie Dent announced Tuesday that he would resign from Congress “in the coming weeks,” adding later that his last day would come sometime in May. Dent, a moderate who was first... ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/37394 "2018-04-17T19:51:06Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Alex Jones gets a chance to [explain his theories about how the Sandy Hook shootings were faked](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sandy-hook-parents-hit-alex-jones-with-defamation-lawsuits_us_5acf6a6de4b0ac383d74bfe1) in court. If he’s smart, he’ll just say [he’s a performance artist playing a fictional character](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/04/20/alex-jones-is-a-narcissist-a-witness-says-and-possibly-the-worst-client-ever/?utm_term=.56331d52128c), like his lawyers did during his divorce. But he’s a narcissistic asshole, and not a very smart one, so he’ll probably fuck that up… like he did during his divorce: > [@](#): > > A “deep need for admiration” could explain why Jones has spent the week undermining his lawyers’ best efforts to convince a jury that he is not as wacky in real life as he appears on his syndicated radio show. > > “He’s playing a character,” attorney Randall Wilhite said at a pretrial hearing. “He is a performance artist.” > > In court on Tuesday, another attorney, David Minton, described Jones’s work as “satire” and “sarcasm.” > > The “performance artist” argument seems like a smart one, since outbursts like this probably don’t help the good dad image. But the idea that Jones is just “playing a character” could cost him the admiration of an audience that thinks he is the real deal. > > That is a price Jones seems unwilling to pay, so he is basically arguing against his own legal team. > > After news outlets picked up on Wilhite’s remarks, Jones filmed a video on his way to court Monday, in which he said this: “They’ve got articles out today that I say I’m a fake, all of this other crap. Total bull! … I 110 percent believe what I stand for. We’re changing the world with you.” > > In another video, posted Tuesday, Jones said his show is “the most bona fide, hard-core, real McCoy thing there is, and everybody knows it.” It doesn’t look good for Alex Jones: In the best case for him, the court rules the plaintiffs are public figures, which means their claim has to pass [the _Sullivan_ test](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Times_Co._v._Sullivan), which means they have to show [actual malice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actual_malice) on Alex’s part, which is tough, but it’s a bar they seem to have a good shot at clearing: > [@](#): > > Malice may be proved through any competent evidence, either direct or circumstantial. All of the relevant circumstances surrounding the transaction may be shown, provided they are not too remote, including threats, other defamatory statements, subsequent statements made by the defendant, any circumstances that indicate the existence of rivalry, ill will, or hostility between the parties, and **facts that tend to show a reckless disregard of the plaintiff’s rights on the part of the defendant.** [7] Bolding mine. I think that’s where Alex is in trouble: He said _some serious shit_, and he _knows_ (or ought to have known) that his audience takes it very seriously indeed, up to the point of harassment campaigns and death threats, which would definitely infringe on the rights of the defendants to, like, live and not have their homes vandalized. ---
**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:** [April 17, 2018, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/37395 "2018-04-17T22:15:48Z")
Michigan Republicans tried to pass a law to mark \*\*\*legal \*\*\*immigrants’ drivers licenses with a yellow star. You know, like the one the Nazis used to identify Jews? > **[Michigan immigrant driver's license bill changed after complaints](https://www.freep.com/story/news/2018/04/10/michigan-drivers-license-immigrants/503450002/)** > > After complaints from immigrant groups, state legislators changed bills on driver's licenses for immigrants, dropping "visually marked" requirement ---
**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:** [April 17, 2018, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/37396 "2018-04-17T22:20:28Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > The better question is “what kind of competent attorney would only charge $10?” > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > We know what kind of attorney he is, we’re haggling over the price, now. This is today’s thread winner - though it’s early.😃 Bravo, bravo, bravo \ [https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/678f274e-be31-4a48-8e10-edc380af2599](https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/678f274e-be31-4a48-8e10-edc380af2599)😃 ---
**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:** [April 17, 2018, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/37397 "2018-04-17T22:44:25Z")
Despite only supplying the set-up for that punchline, I’m honored. I’ve always thought that being the straight man is the harder job, as compared to the actual joke. ---
**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:** [April 18, 2018, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/37398 "2018-04-18T00:20:20Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Michigan Republicans tried to pass a law to mark \*\*\*legal \*\*\*immigrants’ drivers licenses with a yellow star. You know, like the one the Nazis used to identify Jews? > [Immigrant driver's license bill moves ahead — with changes](https://www.freep.com/story/news/2018/04/10/michigan-drivers-license-immigrants/503450002/) Do’t be silly. That’s a pentacle, not a magen david, and it’s handy to remind us that all immigrants are Satanists. > [@Superdude](#): > > Despite only supplying the set-up for that punchline, I’m honored. I’ve always thought that being the straight man is the harder job, as compared to the actual joke. That’s why Abbott got paid more than Costello, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/37399 "2018-04-18T00:30:16Z")
[Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) told Anderson Cooper last night he has never heard Donald Trump tell a lie.](https://www.mediaite.com/tv/rep-jim-jordan-tells-an-astounded-anderson-cooper-that-he-has-never-heard-trump-lie/) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/37400 "2018-04-18T00:39:51Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > [Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) told Anderson Cooper last night he has never heard Donald Trump tell a lie.](https://www.mediaite.com/tv/rep-jim-jordan-tells-an-astounded-anderson-cooper-that-he-has-never-heard-trump-lie/) See, even people afflicted with deafness can still be elected to Congress. Isn’t America wonderful! ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/37401 "2018-04-18T01:09:45Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > [Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) told Anderson Cooper last night he has never heard Donald Trump tell a lie.](https://www.mediaite.com/tv/rep-jim-jordan-tells-an-astounded-anderson-cooper-that-he-has-never-heard-trump-lie/) I wonder what combination of drugs, insanity, torture and psychoses causes this sort of outcome. He should be preserved and studied by science. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1869) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1871)