# 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:** 2084
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/41665 "2019-07-31T13:45:39Z")
> [@digs](#): > > I have a friend who worked with Scott Adams. Said he was weird even before he got weird. Pinged this guy’s _Not Quite Right meter_ back in the 90s. He had a cameo as “Mr. Adams” on _Babylon Five_, the only time I’ve seen him, and he seemed a bit off kilter. I put it down to acting. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/41666 "2019-07-31T23:59:22Z")
Republicans to Michigan voters: Who cares what you think: > **[Michigan Republicans sue to block redistricting commission](https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2019/07/30/michigan-redistricting-commission/1868633001/)** > > The lawsuit, filed in federal court, says the provisions violate potential applicants' rights to free speech and equal protection under the law. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/41667 "2019-08-01T01:42:34Z")
Didn’t the Supreme Court recently rule that the courts had no place in matters of redistricting? ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/41668 "2019-08-01T01:46:05Z")
They said federal courts don’t. That leaves state courts as the only courts who can here these kinds of cases. Edit: After re-reading, yeah, the Republicans took it to federal court. If the court is unbiased, then they should immediately dismiss the suit as they have no jurisdiction. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/41669 "2019-08-01T02:27:29Z")
Who among us would bet that the court is unbiased and will immediately dismiss the suit, noting that they have no jurisdiction? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/41670 "2019-08-01T02:31:26Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Who among us would bet that the court is unbiased and will immediately dismiss the suit, noting that they have no jurisdiction? :dubious: That’s why I used the qualifier “ **IF** ” 🙂 Also, do you know which court they took it to and who appointed the judge? (Cause I don’t.) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/41671 "2019-08-01T02:47:04Z")
Detroit News says “U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids”; prolly hasn’t been assigned yet. Also: > [@](#): > > The high-powered legal team working the case includes Jason Torchinsky, a senior adviser and general counsel for the National Republican Redistricting Trust, and Eric Doster, former general counsel for the Michigan Republican Party. > **[Republicans sue to block Michigan redistricting commission](https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2019/07/30/republicans-sue-block-michigan-redistricting-commission/1860829001/)** > > Federal lawsuit alleges the voter-approved redistricting commission unconstitutionally discriminates against people who work in politics ETA: The AP has as story up now and it doesn’t have much new information: [Michigan Republicans sue to block redistricting commission | AP News](https://www.apnews.com/78a8c0bbf93f4f9db4512569cbee4351) > [@](#): > > One of the people suing is Tony Daunt, a lobbyist and executive director of the conservative Michigan Freedom Fund who also sits on the state GOP committee. His group said at least half a million residents would be “disenfranchised.” > > “Michigan residents’ constitutional rights do not end when their son or mother decides to take a new job or to represent their neighborhood at a local political party meeting,” Daunt said. I liked this tho: > [@](#): > > Michael Li, a redistricting lawyer with the Brennan Center for Justice — which opposes gerrymandering — said 13 states now have some form of a redistricting commission for congressional or legislative mapmaking, or both. Of those, 10 restrict who can serve while two others’ panels have elected officials. Just one state outside Michigan — Iowa — prohibits relatives of excluded individuals from participating, he said. > > Li said he was not aware of any similar challenge having been filed previously in other states. He called the legal theory “very novel.” > > “It varies from state to state, but almost every state has some form of restriction to make sure people aren’t too closely connected to the political process,” said Li, contending that Michigan’s qualification standards are not different from laws that say candidates for office have to be a minimum age to run. “There are always some people who are excluded from participating on government bodies. It doesn’t mean they can’t participate in other ways.” I’m pretty sure “very novel” translates out of Legalese to “not gonna happen” in plain American. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/41672 "2019-08-01T03:30:30Z")
Hater doesn’t hate enough, gets hate from other haters. [Republican congressman rebuked by county GOP for officiating same-sex wedding](https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/31/politics/county-gop-rebukes-virginia-congressman-officiating-same-sex-wedding/index.html) > [@](#): > > The Cumberland County Republican Committee on Monday unanimously passed a motion of no confidence in Riggleman, who was elected in 2018 and represents Virginia’s 5th Congressional District, because of his role in the wedding, the Post reports. The motion also said the congressman has not been “tough” enough on the border and immigration issues. > > Riggleman, though, has sided with his party in House votes on LGBTQ-related legislation. He opposed the Equality Act – legislation that would have banned discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity – which was ultimately passed by the chamber. He also voted against a resolution opposing President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender service members in the military. ---
**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:** [August 1, 2019, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/41673 "2019-08-01T11:24:35Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Dilbert creator/Trumpsucker Scott Adams has created an app where people can go to peddle their stories for money. And Scott takes a percentage off the top. He is actively soliciting Gilroy shooting witnesses to sign up with his app to sell their stories. So that he can profit. > [‘Dilbert’ Creator Scott Adams Tries to Sell Interviews With Gilroy Garlic Festival Shooting Survivors](https://www.thedailybeast.com/dilbert-creator-scott-adams-tries-to-sell-interviews-with-gilroy-garlic-festival-shooting-survivors) [_Cracked_ covered that also](https://www.cracked.com/article_26588_the-dilbert-guy-used-mass-shooting-to-shill-his-new-app.html). Wow, what is the world coming to when the humor sites provide the news? But of course I should not be surprised, what with a joke as our current president. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/41674 "2019-08-01T12:06:33Z")
Kinda like a whoopee cushion, but a hand grenade. ---
**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:** [August 1, 2019, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/41675 "2019-08-01T12:58:39Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > Hater doesn’t hate enough, gets hate from other haters. > > [Republican congressman rebuked by county GOP for officiating same-sex wedding](https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/31/politics/county-gop-rebukes-virginia-congressman-officiating-same-sex-wedding/index.html) My favorite item from the Washington Post comments thread on the story: > [@](#): > > I’m fine with Riggleman officiating a marriage between two men, but he should be censured for officiating a wedding that featured those sports coats. With brown slacks, no less. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/41676 "2019-08-01T16:52:45Z")
So, the official GOP logo for the Charlotte 2020 RNC has come out. It features… to _my_ eye, anyway… an angry elephant being enveloped by Cthulu. [Here](https://twitter.com/GOPChairwoman/status/1156949287185596416?s=20). ---
**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:** [August 1, 2019, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/41677 "2019-08-01T17:07:30Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > So, the official GOP logo for the Charlotte 2020 RNC has come out. > > It features… to _my_ eye, anyway… an angry elephant being enveloped by Cthulu. > > [Here](https://twitter.com/GOPChairwoman/status/1156949287185596416?s=20). To me, the image behind the elephant looks like a crown. Can you imagine the meltdown the 'pubbies would’ve had had Obama used such an image behind a donkey for his campaign? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/41678 "2019-08-01T17:11:13Z")
Naw, it’s a perfect metaphor for what Trump has done to the GOP. Let me have this. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/41679 "2019-08-01T18:12:41Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > To me, the image behind the elephant looks like a crown. Can you imagine the meltdown the 'pubbies would’ve had had Obama used such an image behind a donkey for his campaign? Actually, the elephant is superimposed on [one of the official flags of Charlotte](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte,_North_Carolina#/media/File:Two_official_flags_of_Charlotte,_North_Carolina.png). (They have two for some reason.) They altered the colours from white on a green field to navy on white, and plastered the elephant over the top. I think from a design perspective it’s not great, because if you don’t know about this Charlotte flag it looks like stick figures doing something best kept private behind the elephant, but bad design aside I’m afraid this doesn’t really register on the Stupid Republican scale. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/41680 "2019-08-01T18:42:00Z")
Bad Design on this level is always stupid. More than 1 person signed off on this, after all. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/41681 "2019-08-01T18:55:03Z")
They changed from the typical three stars on the elephant to five. Presumably to give it a more China feel. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/41682 "2019-08-01T19:01:42Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > To me, the image behind the elephant looks like a crown. Can you imagine the meltdown the 'pubbies would’ve had had Obama used such an image behind a donkey for his campaign? Actually, Charlotte is aka “The Queen City.” The crown is the city logo. I wanna know why the elephant has 5 stars on it. It’s got to have some kind of pseudo-occult significance. ---
**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:** [August 1, 2019, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/41683 "2019-08-01T20:47:08Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > I wanna know why the elephant has 5 stars on it. It’s got to have some kind of pseudo-occult significance. Obviously, it is an image of the well-known constellation [of](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassiopeia_%28Queen_of_Aethiopia%29)_a figure in Greek mythology, was queen of Aethiopia and wife of king Cepheus. She was arrogant and vain, characteristics that led to her downfall._ Seems fitting. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/41684 "2019-08-01T21:43:08Z")
“The Queen City”? OK. Not touching that one. Nope, not gonna do it. That would be wrong. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=2083) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=2085)