# 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:** 206
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4101 "2012-01-01T23:11:16Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > There;s a much better one –[Santorum surges from behind in Iowa](http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/attytood/136347948.html). In order to make this a Stupid Republican Idea, some stupid Republican would have had to retweet that or something. But, come on, that will never happen. Oh, wait: ["Santorum surges from behind in Iowa" - retweeted by Rick Santorum - Democratic Underground Forums](http://www.democraticunderground.com/100284509) Retweeted by the frothy mixture himself! ---
**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:** [January 1, 2012, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4102 "2012-01-01T23:25:03Z")
If only Rick Perry would quit the race this week, we could have: “Perry Withdraws, Santorum Surges” ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4103 "2012-01-02T14:15:33Z")
At a town hall in Atlantic, Iowa, Saturday afternoon, Gingrich gave an unusual reason for his present denial of man-made global warming. “I’m an amateur paleontologist,” Gingrich said. “I spend a lot of time looking at the Earth’s temperature for a very long time. I’m a lot harder to convince than just looking at a computer model.” Paleontologists are global warming experts now? Good thing there were no T-Rexs in the audience to contradict (or eat) Newt. [http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/12/31/396180/gingrich-explains-why-hes-now-a-climate-denier-im-an-amateur-paleontologist/](http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/12/31/396180/gingrich-explains-why-hes-now-a-climate-denier-im-an-amateur-paleontologist/) ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Jocko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncle_jocko/32/2932_2.png) [@Uncle\_Jocko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Jocko)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4104 "2012-01-02T16:25:23Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > “I’m an amateur paleontologist,” Gingrich said. “I spend a lot of time looking at the Earth’s temperature for a very long time. I’m a lot harder to convince than just looking at a computer model.” _ **Today’s GOP ‘Science’ Minute:** _ How many computer models did Jesus need, anyway? Who needs this “scientific” mumbo-jumbo, cooked up by _"scientists_" and their weird algorithms and fact-based extrapolations and Jedi mind tricks? I know what I believe, dammit, and that’s all I need to know! As for another stupid idea, this one is not just stupid, but downright dangerous. [Santorum would bomb Iran if they don’t allow nuclear inspectors.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/01/rick-santorum-iran-iowa-caucuses-2012-_n_1178483.html?ref=rick-santorum-2012) Some of the comments on that story are hilarious, though. “Vote for Santorum, prove us right – the Mayans.” Comedy gold, Jerry! ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4105 "2012-01-02T16:31:51Z")
Gingrich is also an authority on [Jesus Horses](http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/12/global-warming-gingrich-cites-expertise-dinosaurs): > [@](#): > > In addition to keeping a T-Rex skull in his congressional office (loaned from the Smithsonian), he twice debated famed Montana State paleontologist Jack Horner on the feeding habits of the T-Rex, with Gingrich arguing that the king of dinosaurs could not have been a scavenger because “I saw Jurassic Park and he ate a lawyer and it wasn’t a dead lawyer.” ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4106 "2012-01-02T16:37:46Z")
Someone needs to explain to Newt that there’s more to paleontology than playing in the dirt. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4107 "2012-01-02T16:57:08Z")
So, if we can recreate T-Rex by genetic manipulation, we could feed them lawyers? ---
**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:** [January 2, 2012, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4108 "2012-01-02T17:02:36Z")
It’s what they are used to: _Homo ambulancis_, I think ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4109 "2012-01-02T19:44:17Z")
This past year, for the first time in 140 years, Republicans had a majority in both houses of the North Carolina General Assembly (state legislature). It was also the year for redistricting according to the results of the 2010 census. Herewith, for your delectation, are the [new Congressional districts](http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/images/NCCongressFinal.jpg). All that remains to be done is to erect a statue of former Massachusetts governor Elbridge Gerry in front of the Legislative Office Building.\* Though not quite as extreme, the [state House of Representatives](http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/images/NCHouseFullFinal.jpg) and [state Senate](http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/images/NCSenateFinal.jpg) maps are also intriguing. Senate district 47 takes little imagination to see it as a dragon poised to devour liberal Buncombe County (Asheville). - Yes, I’m aware that Gov. Gerry opposed the original Gerrymander – I’m thinking a statue with arm stretched out pointing, facing inwards towards the building, would be appropriate. That, or with his middle finger upraised and facing outwards would also make sense. ---
**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:** [January 2, 2012, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4110 "2012-01-02T23:53:04Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > So, if we can recreate T-Rex by genetic manipulation, we could feed them lawyers? Here, **Bricker**! Come on, boy. **Luci** ’s got a big surprise for you. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4111 "2012-01-03T02:32:15Z")
I will personally volunteer to guard **Spavined Gelding**. All I require is one of those .99 caliber Ruger BFG’s, with the laser guidance system and the 3,000 yard range. Hey, I’m a risk taker! Just not big ones. ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4112 "2012-01-03T03:31:00Z")
I do not require protection, thank you very much. I am surrounded for another eighteen hours by every ambitious Republican in the universe. Presumably they are all armed to the teeth. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4113 "2012-01-03T03:59:03Z")
I can have a car at the border in three hours. Just say the word. ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4114 "2012-01-03T04:15:54Z")
A friend who is also an elected county official has served as my personal mole in the GOP county convention. He provides me with a copy of the platform developed by that strange congregation of fools and true believers. I’ll provide juicy excerpts from the document once he slips me a copy. It is worth noting that under the GOP rules the caucus means little. No delegates to the county convention are bound by the outcome of the precinct caucus. Once the media leaves the State late tomarow night the delegates are all free lances and lone wolves. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4115 "2012-01-03T04:32:45Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > I will personally volunteer to guard **Spavined Gelding**. All I require is one of those .99 caliber Ruger BFG’s, with the laser guidance system and the 3,000 yard range. > > Hey, I’m a risk taker! Just not big ones. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4116 "2012-01-03T14:30:26Z")
Stupid x2: [ > [@](#): > > After suggesting that an expansion of Medicare is really just a plot to make voters more “dependent” on Washington, Santorum added: ”I don’t want to make black people’s lives better by giving them other people’s money.” > > “I want to give them the opportunity to go out and earn their money and provide for themselves and their families,” he added. ]([http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/01/02/santorum-tells-iowans-i-dont-want-to-make-black-peoples-lives-better/](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/01/02/santorum-tells-iowans-i-dont-want-to-make-black-peoples-lives-better/))OK, 1) OF COURSE the line that’s getting quoted in all the headlines is “I Don’t Want To Make Black People’s Lives Better.” You don’t hand the media a line like that and expect them not to use it. And 2) as the story points out, there are a lot more white people than black people on welfare. Sure, percentages of population and all that, but the fact is any changes to welfare are going to affect on the whole more white people than black people; if welfare is bad for everybody, why single out black people? Unless you’re pandering to racists with visions of “welfare queens driving Cadillacs”. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4117 "2012-01-03T15:52:05Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Now at least one Repub wants to make [singing the National Anthem badly a crime](http://www.thestarpress.com/article/20111230/NEWS06/111230002). I can sort of get behind executing anyone who adds more than a three second flourish to the final note. Shut up and let me watch this fucking football game! 😃 On the other hand, I’m much more strongly behind not playing the national anthem before two American teams play each other. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4118 "2012-01-03T17:47:49Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I can sort of get behind executing anyone who adds more than a three second flourish to the final note. Shut up and let me watch this fucking football game! 😃 On the other hand, I’m much more strongly behind not playing the national anthem before two American teams play each other. You make me wonder when and why the national anthem is always played before dang near every sporting event. I think the only time I haven’t seen this happen is at the Olympics or in local sports leagues. Do countries other than the USA do that, too, with their national anthems? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4119 "2012-01-03T17:55:03Z")
Not any of the dozen I’ve lived in. In most places, you play national anthems before matches in international competitions. As far as I recall, if it happens at all it’s only before really huge events, like the finals of top-level tournaments and things like that. The other difference is that when the anthems are played, it’s an orchestra (or orchestral recording) rather than some flavor-of-the-week singer performing it _a cappella._ ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4120 "2012-01-03T18:00:31Z")
I went to a minor league hockey game last week and they performed the American and Canadian anthems. I like O Canada, but having to wait through both of them made me sigh so hard that even antsy little kids sitting near me looked at me like “Be patient and quit fidgeting!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=205) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=207)