# 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:** 1976
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2018, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39502 "2018-11-02T17:51:22Z")
Fix News host claims Beto O’Rourke will ban plastic straws in Texas [if elected to the Senate - which, of course, does not set the laws of the state of Texas.](https://www.rawstory.com/2018/11/guest-embarrassingly-corrects-foxs-ainsley-earhardt-says-beto-orourke-ban-plastic-straws-texas/) ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2018, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39503 "2018-11-02T17:51:53Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Representative Fortenberry has taken a strong stand against the MAGA serial bombing compaign by pointing out that he, too, is a victim of googly eyes. > > [https://twitter.com/JeffFortenberry/status/1055138784319361026](https://twitter.com/JeffFortenberry/status/1055138784319361026) From the Twitter comments: > [@](#): > > You can pry these googly eyes from my warm, supple hands, if you ask real nicely. ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2018, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39504 "2018-11-02T18:25:07Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Fix News host claims Beto O’Rourke will ban plastic straws in Texas [if elected to the Senate - which, of course, does not set the laws of the state of Texas.](https://www.rawstory.com/2018/11/guest-embarrassingly-corrects-foxs-ainsley-earhardt-says-beto-orourke-ban-plastic-straws-texas/) Here in Washington we’re getting heavy rotation of ads highlighting Kim Schrier’s views about state and local taxes, when she’s running for the national Congress, which has no power over those things. Not to mention she says she does not support the things they link her to. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2018, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39505 "2018-11-02T18:51:03Z")
Washington state representative wrote a pamphlet outlining the Biblical support for war against gays and abortion supporters. > **[“Biblical Basis for War": Washington politician's manifesto suggests...](https://www.vice.com/en/article/pa97wy/biblical-basis-for-war-washington-politicians-manifesto-suggests-supporters-of-abortion-and-gay-marriage-be-killed?fbclid=IwAR0ERWgjAsFGhTRbf4XKy4bCETZZutQEmhsVZzrpOuJLfk_RGzStx144xhg)** > > The four-page document, called the “Biblical Basis for War,” which includes 14 sections on how Biblical war can and would unfold. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2018, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39506 "2018-11-02T19:32:19Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Washington state representative wrote a pamphlet outlining the Biblical support for war against gays and abortion supporters. > [“Biblical Basis for War": Washington politician's manifesto suggests supporters of abortion and gay marriage be killed](https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/pa97wy/biblical-basis-for-war-washington-politicians-manifesto-suggests-supporters-of-abortion-and-gay-marriage-be-killed?fbclid=IwAR0ERWgjAsFGhTRbf4XKy4bCETZZutQEmhsVZzrpOuJLfk_RGzStx144xhg) And now [some of his campaign donors are asking for their money back](http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/nov/01/att-washington-realtors-seek-shea-campaign-refunds/). Here’s Shea’s [“Biblical Basis for War” manifesto](https://media.spokesman.com/documents/2018/10/Biblical_Basis_for_War.pdf), btw. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2018, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39507 "2018-11-02T19:56:45Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > And now [some of his campaign donors are asking for their money back](http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/nov/01/att-washington-realtors-seek-shea-campaign-refunds/). > > Here’s Shea’s [“Biblical Basis for War” manifesto](https://media.spokesman.com/documents/2018/10/Biblical_Basis_for_War.pdf), btw. As awful as Trump is, I don’t see him of the worst of what would come if the Republicans succeed in transforming America into an authoritarian political culture. I see Trump as a largely apolitical, non-ideological whose common threads with other conservatives is his love of money and himself. Other than that, he’s not religious or ideological; he’s an asshole but not a murderer by nature. But the Christian warriors are lying in wait, and they scare the ever-living shit out of me. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2018, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39508 "2018-11-02T21:11:12Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > As awful as Trump is, I don’t see him of the worst of what would come if the Republicans succeed in transforming America into an authoritarian political culture. I see Trump as a largely apolitical, non-ideological whose common threads with other conservatives is his love of money and himself. Other than that, he’s not religious or ideological; he’s an asshole but not a murderer by nature. > > But the Christian warriors are lying in wait, and they scare the ever-living shit out of me. I agree. Thump is a puppet of the ideologues. He has no cohesive, unifying personal philosophy except to appear to “win,” whatever contest he perceives himself to be in, whether it’s an election or a handshake. And you’re right, the Pences of the world are the really scary ones. ---
**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:** [November 3, 2018, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39509 "2018-11-03T21:22:48Z")
In the “Least Surprising Revelation” department: [Leaked Audio: Dave Brat Admits That He, Paul Ryan, and the Republicans “Lie All the Time”](http://bluevirginia.us/2018/11/leaked-audio-dave-brat-admits-that-he-paul-ryan-and-the-republicans-lie-all-the-time) ---
**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:** [November 4, 2018, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39510 "2018-11-04T01:38:06Z")
This should go really well. :smack: [**U.S. militia groups head to border, stirred by Trump’s call to arms**](https://a.msn.com/r/2/BBPiGxA?m=en-us&referrerID=InAppShare) > [@](#): > > FALFURRIAS, Tex. —Gun-carrying civilian groups and border vigilantes have heard a call to arms in President Trump’s warnings about threats to American security posed by caravans of Central American migrants moving through Mexico. They’re packing coolers and tents, oiling rifles and tuning up aerial drones, with plans to form caravans of their own and trail American troops to the border. > > “We’ll observe and report, and offer aid in any way we can,” said Shannon McGauley, a bail bondsman in the Dallas suburbs who is the president of the Texas Minutemen. McGauley said he was preparing to head for the Rio Grande in coming days. > > “We’ve proved ourselves before, and we’ll prove ourselves again,” he said. > > McGauley and others have been roused by the president’s call to restore order and defend the country against what Trump has called “an invasion,” as thousands of Central American migrants advance slowly through southern Mexico toward the U.S. border. Trump has insisted that “unknown Middle Easterners,” “very tough fighters,” and large numbers of violent criminals are traveling among the women, children and families heading north on foot. > > The Texas Minutemen, according to McGauley, have 100 volunteers en route to the Rio Grande who want to help stop the migrants, with more likely on the way. > > “I can’t put a number on it,” McGauley said. “My phone’s been ringing nonstop for the last seven days. You got other militias, and husbands and wives, people coming from Oregon, Indiana. We’ve even got two from Canada.” > > Asked whether his group planned to deploy with weapons, McGauley laughed. “This is Texas, man,” he said. > … ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2018, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39511 "2018-11-04T01:40:09Z")
The latest rounds of desperate moves include: sending thousands of soldiers to protect us from the ragged and hungry, stirring up shit about the “Troika of Tyranny”, and rattling the swords at Iran. Doesn’t seem like any of these has worked. Still got a couple three days, what’s going to pop into his head, dramatic enough to seize the moment? One of those bold and brilliant moves Great Leaders are known for! Or maybe he figures this is enough, maybe another Hindenburg maneuver isn’t called for, he’ll just set that idea aside. Yeah! So, there’s that… Me? Tequila and bongwater, why do you ask? ---
**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:** [November 4, 2018, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39512 "2018-11-04T02:09:08Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > In the “Least Surprising Revelation” department: > > [Leaked Audio: Dave Brat Admits That He, Paul Ryan, and the Republicans “Lie All the Time”](http://bluevirginia.us/2018/11/leaked-audio-dave-brat-admits-that-he-paul-ryan-and-the-republicans-lie-all-the-time) I just reposted this link on Facebook and they deleted it for violating their community standards. wtf? :mad: ---
**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:** [November 4, 2018, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39513 "2018-11-04T19:44:07Z")
Two days before the election, amidst accusations and lawsuits claiming that Georgia Secretary of State/candidate for Governor Brian Kemp is trying to prevent black people from voting, he has announced that he is investigating the state Democratic Party for cybercrimes. > **[Kemp's office launches probe of Georgia Democratic Party ahead of historic...](https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/04/politics/georgia-voter-registration-hacking-attempt-investigation/index.html)** > > Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp set off a political firestorm when his office, two days before an election in which he is a candidate, announced on Sunday morning that it had opened an investigation into the Georgia Democratic Party in... ---
**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:** [November 4, 2018, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39514 "2018-11-04T21:27:57Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > I just reposted this link on Facebook and they deleted it for violating their community standards. wtf? > :mad: I get a message that says the site is unsafe/malicious. It accepts [this link](https://politicalwire.com/2018/11/03/we-lie-all-the-time/), though, which includes _(Dave Brat) added: “Everybody wants to go back to like the 50s when people were sane. But I don’t think so. It’s a war right now.”_ ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2018, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39515 "2018-11-04T22:56:35Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Two days before the election, amidst accusations and lawsuits claiming that Georgia Secretary of State/candidate for Governor Brian Kemp is trying to prevent black people from voting, he has announced that he is investigating the state Democratic Party for cybercrimes. > [https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/04/politics/georgia-voter-registration-hacking-attempt-investigation/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/04/politics/georgia-voter-registration-hacking-attempt-investigation/index.html) This is Kemp’s way of saying before the election that there’s a good chance he might try to refuse to certify the election results if Abrams wins (and he loses). He’s potentially leading Georgia into a state-level political crisis, but it wouldn’t take much to drag the rest of the country into it. He’s already done a lot to make the outcome difficult for voters to accept. But because Democrats generally do believe in the rule of law and the outcomes of elections, they’ll probably live with whatever results are announced. Not sure the same can be said if Abrams wins. Don’t think that this is limited to Georgia and that other Republicans haven’t thought of something similar, including Trump himself. ---
**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:** [November 5, 2018, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39516 "2018-11-05T00:08:17Z")
I think [this billboard](https://twitter.com/dianabutlerbass/status/1058950301271486465) needs some heavy-duty lightning rods. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2018, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39517 "2018-11-05T00:51:48Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > This should go really well. :smack: > > [**U.S. militia groups head to border, stirred by Trump’s call to arms**](https://a.msn.com/r/2/BBPiGxA?m=en-us&referrerID=InAppShare) I wonder how many of these ‘patriots’ will die of thirst or friendly fire. Ya ever seen a person hopped up on adrenaline on a 4 wheeler? It never ends well. They should take along some adults for supervision. ---
**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:** [November 5, 2018, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39518 "2018-11-05T02:44:01Z")
It will be a delight to see the caravan take a left and head toward the crossing at Mexicali. Or perhaps Puerto Palomas. Leaving the tough guys in Texas milling about with nothing to do. ---
**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:** [November 5, 2018, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39519 "2018-11-05T03:03:04Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > It will be a delight to see the caravan take a left and head toward the crossing at Mexicali. Or perhaps Puerto Palomas. Leaving the tough guys in Texas milling about with nothing to do. Well, it appears they already have nothing to do, if they can just hang out at the border for some indeterminate time. Me, I’ve got an actual job that requires my attention. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2018, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39520 "2018-11-05T06:35:01Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > > > This should go really well. :smack: > > > > [**U.S. militia groups head to border, stirred by Trump’s call to arms**](https://a.msn.com/r/2/BBPiGxA?m=en-us&referrerID=InAppShare) > > I wonder how many of these ‘patriots’ will die of thirst or friendly fire. > > Ya ever seen a person hopped up on adrenaline on a 4 wheeler? It never ends well. > > They should take along some adults for supervision. I can’t seem to locate the article, but I recall reading that one concern of the real military is that apart from the fake military’s general yahooishness, every time the two groups occupy the same area the real military ends up missing equipment. So in addition to wasting $100M+, the taxpayers are arming the “patriots.” ---
**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:** [November 5, 2018, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/39521 "2018-11-05T09:46:49Z")
More on the Fartenberry story: Nebraska State Senator Adam Morfeld (Democrat, naturally) [brings his trolling A-game into play](https://twitter.com/Adam_Morfeld/status/1058035267901276160). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1975) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1977)