# 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:** 1953
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39042 "2018-09-18T17:11:38Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > I’ll use it as much as I want. A bunch of alt right trolls don’t get to control me. Of course not, but likewise you don’t get to control the reactions and interpretations of people who see you use it. Like it or not, if a word or symbol has been given a new meaning in popular usage (even by a bunch of alt-right trolls), that’s the way many people will interpret its use. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39043 "2018-09-18T17:34:33Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > It’s a Nazi sign now, and so help you if you do it innocently: You’re now a Nazi beyond any doubt, and will be treated as such. Is it your opinion that the guy in the video flashed that sign innocently ? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39044 "2018-09-18T17:46:52Z")
Does this mean the stiff-arm salute is safe now? ---
**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:** [September 18, 2018, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39045 "2018-09-18T17:53:17Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Does this mean the stiff-arm salute is safe now? Or the swastika. After all, it’s really a Buddhist sun-symbol! ---
**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:** [September 18, 2018, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39046 "2018-09-18T17:54:26Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > [Ted Cruz says Beto O’Rourke will ban barbecue in Texas](https://www.rawstory.com/2018/09/ted-cruz-claims-beto-orourke-going-ban-barbecue-across-state-texas/): I don’t bother with words like “Republican,” “conservative” or “right wing” any more. The GOP’s philosophy is Stupidism. They pander with lies and stupid ideas to stupid voters. Some of the stupid voters are happy to vote for people they know are even stupider than themselves. But most of the Stupidists are too stupid to even know they’re stupid. ---
**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:** [September 18, 2018, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39047 "2018-09-18T18:31:34Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > I don’t bother with words like “Republican,” “conservative” or “right wing” any more. > > The GOP’s philosophy is Stupidism. They pander with lies and stupid ideas to stupid voters. Some of the stupid voters are happy to vote for people they know are even stupider than themselves. But most of the Stupidists are too stupid to even know they’re stupid. Yeah, when they fell out of the stupid tree, couldn’t some of 'em have TRIED to miss a branch or two? ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39048 "2018-09-18T18:47:30Z")
> [@wonky](#): > > Yeah, when they fell out of the stupid tree, couldn’t some of 'em have TRIED to miss a branch or two? Hell, they’ve effectively installed an escalator so they can get back up for another go. (don’t worry; Mexico will be paying for the escalator.) ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39049 "2018-09-18T19:34:36Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Is it your opinion that the guy in the video flashed that sign innocently ? I think he did it purposefully to troll people. Seems like it’s working. ---
**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:** [September 18, 2018, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39050 "2018-09-18T19:43:37Z")
Looks like it got him reassigned, potentially fired, so … joke’s on him? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39051 "2018-09-18T19:48:22Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I think he did it purposefully to troll people. Seems like it’s working. Ha ha! He wins! He’s SMRT like Homer Simpson. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39052 "2018-09-18T19:51:49Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I think he did it purposefully to troll people. Seems like it’s working. It’s been said before, but there is no meaningful nor practical distinction between behaving like a shithead and behaving like a shithead “ironically”. And yeah, it’s definitely working in a way that should be commended and encouraged. Lose your job to own the libs, /pol ! ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39053 "2018-09-18T20:26:24Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Is it your opinion that the guy in the video flashed that sign innocently ? It’s my opinion that letting /b/ or 8chan or other alt-right watering holes redefine the meanings of common and acceptable signals is utterly idiotic. Hell, we have precedent here: The alt-right on Twitter tried to make (((the parentheses))) mean “this person is Jewish”, and Twitter culture as a whole didn’t allow it. So many people began to use that symbol it lost all meaning. The assholes weren’t allowed to own it, _even though they invented it_. Just blindly ceding the OK hand sign isn’t allowable, either. It’s that simple. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39054 "2018-09-18T20:33:45Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > It’s been said before, but there is no meaningful nor practical distinction between behaving like a shithead and behaving like a shithead “ironically” Of course there is. Here’s one amusing anecdote: I worked at a bar part-time in Saudi Arabia when I was stationed there. My co-worker was a Mexican-American Air Force guy. Once in a while, when we were working together, I’d serve a drink to a white guy, say “White Power” and then offer my fist for a “fist-bump”. If the customer took the bait and fist-bumped me, which they did 99% of the time, my co-worker would just look at them shaking his head. And then my coworker and I had a good laugh. Was I REALLY advocating “white power”? Of course not. And nobody thought I was either. > [@](#): > > And yeah, it’s definitely working in a way that should be commended and encouraged. Lose your job to own the libs, /pol ! Hey, I didn’t say it was good for him to do. Just funny to ME to watch everyone freak out about it. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39055 "2018-09-18T20:36:43Z")
I have never seen an “okay” sign displayed in the manner that the individual did on camera. Perhaps the final part of his sign display was the “okay” but the entire thing was not. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39056 "2018-09-18T20:36:57Z")
**@Derleth** : Granted, but you seem to go 180 and tell people to ignore or dismiss the WP usage of the signal entirely. It’s just as idiotic, when the sign is really used for in-group signalling by the alt-tards. You’re essentially arguing that dogwhistles aren’t dogwhistles because they have other, legitimate usages. Yes, they do. And yet there are contexts in which the whole point is to pretend they’re innocuous when they’re really not. Such as this particular case. 14 and 88 are just numbers, too. And if your kid states “I’m 14 !” nobody will think he voted for Trump. On the other hand if his online handle is **14Derleth88** , he _might_ just deserve a good smack in the gob. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39057 "2018-09-18T20:53:47Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > It’s my opinion that letting /b/ or 8chan or other alt-right watering holes redefine the meanings of common and acceptable signals is utterly idiotic. It’s not about “letting” people do this. If nasty people choose to use a common signal to convey a nasty meaning, and the nasty usage becomes widely recognizable, then the nasty meaning is now associated with the signal. Not necessarily inevitably or definitively, but you can’t make the new nasty meaning disappear. Heck, I wish that some nasty mid-20thc fascists hadn’t redefined the meaning of the beautiful swastika symbol either, but you can’t erase the redefinition by just personally deciding to ignore it. > [@Derleth](#): > > Hell, we have precedent here: The alt-right on Twitter tried to make (((the parentheses))) mean “this person is Jewish”, and Twitter culture as a whole didn’t allow it. So many people began to use that symbol it lost all meaning. This is nonsense. The antisemitic triple-parenthesis absolutely **does** have the widely recognized meaning “this person is Jewish”. Even though some non-antisemites use it defiantly, it is still commonly associated with antisemitism. It hasn’t “lost all meaning” at all. > [@Derleth](#): > > Just blindly ceding the OK hand sign isn’t allowable, either. It’s that simple. Again, it’s not about “ceding”. Some non-racists may choose to go on using the “OK” sign defiantly in its original meaning, and more power to them if that’s how they feel, but that doesn’t mean that the white-power connotations will just vanish from the way people now interpret the sign. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39058 "2018-09-18T21:00:01Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > > [@Kobal2](#): > > > > It’s been said before, but there is no meaningful nor practical distinction between behaving like a shithead and behaving like a shithead “ironically” > > Of course there is. Here’s one amusing anecdote: I worked at a bar part-time in Saudi Arabia when I was stationed there. My co-worker was a Mexican-American Air Force guy. Once in a while, when we were working together, I’d serve a drink to a white guy, say “White Power” and then offer my fist for a “fist-bump”. If the customer took the bait and fist-bumped me, which they did 99% of the time, my co-worker would just look at them shaking his head. And then my coworker and I had a good laugh. Was I REALLY advocating “white power”? Of course not. And nobody thought I was either. Looks like fairly shithead behavior to me, tbh. _“Hey, I’ll fake being a vicious racist in order to shock my customers and/or fool them into thinking I share their vicious racism!”_ I’m perfectly willing to take your word for it that you are not and were not at the time a genuine “White Power” advocate. But I think you’re giving yourself a bit too much credit if you think that your “ironically” shithead behavior didn’t still make you look like a shithead. ---
**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:** [September 18, 2018, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39059 "2018-09-18T21:22:47Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Of course there is. Here’s one amusing anecdote: I worked at a bar part-time in Saudi Arabia when I was stationed there. My co-worker was a Mexican-American Air Force guy. Once in a while, when we were working together, I’d serve a drink to a white guy, say “White Power” and then offer my fist for a “fist-bump”. If the customer took the bait and fist-bumped me, which they did 99% of the time, my co-worker would just look at them shaking his head. And then my coworker and I had a good laugh. Was I REALLY advocating “white power”? Of course not. And nobody thought I was either. The difference is that target of your humor such as it was was white supremacists, while the target of these jokers is people who oppose white supremacy. The whole OK/whitepower thing somehow reminds me of the old “[I’m not touching you](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HVZ19mkbdo)” tactic for tormenting siblings. “I’m not flashing a white power symbol, I’m saying just OK. Look I’m saying OK again. Why are you getting mad, all I’m doing is saying OK, what do you have against my saying OK. etc.” So while its possible that less than 100% of the people who are white supremacists, it is guaranteed that 100% of them are assholes. ---
**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:** [September 18, 2018, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39060 "2018-09-18T21:32:14Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > So while its possible that less than 100% of the people who are white supremacists, it is guaranteed that 100% of them are assholes. missed edit window should be : So while its possible that less than 100% of the people who do this are white supremacists, it is guaranteed that 100% of them are assholes. ---
**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:** [September 18, 2018, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39061 "2018-09-18T21:36:26Z")
“Tee hee, people think the things I do and say have meaning. Tee hee.” _Later that day_ “How dare people think the things I do and say have meaning!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1952) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1954)