# 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:** 210
**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:** [January 16, 2012, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4181 "2012-01-16T05:41:22Z")
Shoddy Rainbows would be an excellent band name. ---
**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 16, 2012, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4182 "2012-01-16T06:22:47Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Shoddy Rainbows would be an excellent band name. That is SO 2004! šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4183 "2012-01-16T17:33:24Z")
From our good friends at _Daily Kos_ā€¦ > **[Accusations of voter fraud fly among Christian conservatives after Rick...](https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2012/01/16/1055202/-Accusations-of-voter-fraud-fly-among-Christian-conservatives-after-Rick-Santorum-endorsement?via=blog_1)** > > Did Catholic activists take a "... As many of you know, Christian conservatives got together in Texas (Must it always be Texas? Thereā€™s plenty of assholes in Florida! But I digressā€¦) to firm up behind an Anti-Mitt, and they chose Rick Santorum. Now, it appears that there are some rumors/charges of voter fraud! It appears that some God-fearing, knuckle walking Protestant Troglodytes are way upset that they are seen as endorsing a mackerel-snapping Catlicker! Mother of Mercy, is this the end of Rick? No. But soon. Soon. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4184 "2012-01-16T17:37:36Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > As many of you know, Christian conservatives got together in Texas (Must it always be Texas? Thereā€™s plenty of assholes in Florida! But I digressā€¦) to firm up behind an Anti-Mitt, and they chose Rick Santorum. Now, it appears that there are some rumors/charges of voter fraud! It appears that some God-fearing, knuckle walking Protestant Troglodytes are way upset that they are seen as endorsing a mackerel-snapping Catlicker! Iā€™m pretty sure I recognized most of the words in that post, but ā€¦ ā€œmackerel-snapping Catlickerā€? Knuckle _walking_? Is this one of those fun anagram posts where thereā€™s a pithy saying if we rearrange things in just the right order? Not that I disagree with the bits I do understand. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4185 "2012-01-16T17:44:26Z")
Yeah, mackerel-snapping? Why mackerel? ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4186 "2012-01-16T17:49:51Z")
Lutefisk-lapping has a much nicer ring. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4187 "2012-01-16T17:52:03Z")
Heā€™s a \*catlicker \*because heā€™s _Catholic_, Santorum that is. [Mackerel Snapper](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackerel_snapper). ---
**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:** [January 16, 2012, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4188 "2012-01-16T17:53:12Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Iā€™m pretty sure I recognized most of the words in that post, but ā€¦ ā€œmackerel-snapping Catlickerā€? Knuckle _walking_? Is this one of those fun anagram posts where thereā€™s a pithy saying if we rearrange things in just the right order? > > Not that I disagree with the bits I do understand. Oh, I feel old. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4189 "2012-01-16T18:01:40Z")
Heavens to Murgatroyd, this thread is the first result of Googling _mackerel-snapping Catlicker_. I think Iā€™ll go put on a Rush album now. Maybe live one, preferably from the early 80s. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4190 "2012-01-16T18:17:50Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Iā€™m pretty sure I recognized most of the words in that post, but ā€¦ ā€œmackerel-snapping Catlickerā€? Knuckle _walking_? Is this one of those fun anagram posts where thereā€™s a pithy saying if we rearrange things in just the right order?.. Yes. Let us know if you get it, thereā€™s a prize! Cake. Delicious, tasty cakeā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4191 "2012-01-16T18:19:40Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Heavens to Murgatroyd, this thread is the first result of Googling _mackerel-snapping Catlicker_ā€¦ Iā€™m making a note here, huge successā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4192 "2012-01-16T18:26:55Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > Yeah, mackerel-snapping? Why mackerel? Itā€™s my understanding that mackerel is (or perhaps _was_, at the time the idiom arose) a cheap fish for Catholics to eat on Fridays. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4193 "2012-01-16T18:40:04Z")
Cake you say? _Honestly?_ ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4194 "2012-01-17T00:14:33Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Heavens to Murgatroyd, this thread is the first result of Googling _mackerel-snapping Catlicker_. Iā€™m familiar with the term from James Whitmore one-man show [Give 'em Hell Harry](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4WnpgAzvpY). There is a scene when Truman berates his WWI company during a panicked retreat. ā€œCome back here you goddam mackerel snappers!!!ā€ ---
**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:** [January 17, 2012, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4195 "2012-01-17T00:27:30Z")
Sounds like something else to me. Like ā€¦ - Say, check out that chick at the end of the bar. Sheā€™s hot. - You mean the one with the mullet and the sleeveless plaid flannel shirt? Dude, I think sheā€™s a mackerel-snapper. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4196 "2012-01-17T01:04:04Z")
Wouldnā€™t that be a mackerel-snacker? If I had to guess Iā€™d say Mr. Mackerel-Snapper was that muppet who chucked the fish around. ---
**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 17, 2012, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4197 "2012-01-17T02:18:42Z")
Having been one, I always thought it was ā€œmackerel **slapper**.ā€ I couldnā€™t even figure out how I was being insulted. ā˜¹ ---
**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:** [January 17, 2012, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4198 "2012-01-17T02:21:19Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > If I had to guess Iā€™d say Mr. Mackerel-Snapper was that muppet who chucked the fish around. That would be Lew Zealand, and his boomerang fish act. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4199 "2012-01-17T02:33:00Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > That would be Lew Zealand, and his boomerang fish act. Awesome, [thanks](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wArQTetzqgA)! ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4200 "2012-01-17T04:50:59Z")
I first learned of the term when reading ā€œM_A_S\*H,ā€ in a scene where the author thought it would be helpful for us to know the religious backgrounds of the surgeons in the Swamp. Trapper John was described as ā€œa former mackerel snapper who had turned in his knee pads.ā€ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=209) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=211)