# 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:** 2109
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/42169 "2019-09-20T01:27:08Z")
A joint UNC - Duke program [is having too many nice things to say about Islam,](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/462202-trump-admin-say-unc-duke-programs-portray-islam-too-positively) so the program will lose its federal grant money unless it’s properly “amended” (apparently to say more nice things about Israel and Christianity). WTF??? ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/42170 "2019-09-20T01:38:35Z")
> [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > A joint UNC - Duke program [is having too many nice things to say about Islam,](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/462202-trump-admin-say-unc-duke-programs-portray-islam-too-positively) so the program will lose its federal grant money unless it’s properly “amended” (apparently to say more nice things about Israel and Christianity). > > WTF??? Holy shit. If they’re pulling this at DUKE, Harvard is the next to go down. The top U.S. universities have enough cash on hand to give the finger to the Orange Lump, but what about everyone else? ---
**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:** [September 20, 2019, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/42171 "2019-09-20T13:41:53Z")
**[Why Republicans Play Dirty](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/20/opinion/republicans-democracy-play-dirty.html?emc=rss&partner=rss)** This is not rocket surgery. In a nutshell: _“They fear that if they stick to the rules, they will lose everything. Their behavior is a threat to democratic stability.”_ They are desperate. Excellent article that sums up the perils we currently face. I’ve tried to convey the sense while not quoting the whole thing. > [@](#): > > The greatest threat to our democracy today is a Republican Party that plays dirty to win. > > The party’s abandonment of fair play was showcased spectacularly in 2016, when the United States Senate refused to allow President Barack Obama to fill the Supreme Court vacancy created by Justice Antonin Scalia’s death in February. While technically constitutional, the act — in effect, stealing a Court seat — hadn’t been tried since the 19th century. It would be bad enough on its own, but the Merrick Garland affair is part of a broader pattern. > > Republicans across the country seem to have embraced an “any means necessary” strategy to preserve their power. > … > > _[Many examples follow - TL]_ > > …Democracy requires that parties know how to lose. Politicians who fail to win elections must be willing to accept defeat, go home, and get ready to play again the next day. This norm of gracious losing is essential to a healthy democracy. > > But for parties to accept losing, two conditions must hold. First, they must feel secure that losing today will not bring ruinous consequences; and second, they must believe they have a reasonable chance of winning again in the future. When party leaders fear they cannot win future elections, or that defeat poses an existential threat to themselves or their constituents, the stakes rise. Their time horizons shorten. They throw tomorrow to the wind and seek to win at any cost today. In short, desperation leads politicians to play dirty. > … > > _[Historical examples - TL]_ > > …Republicans have won the popular vote in presidential elections just once in the last 30 years. Donald Trump captured this Republican pessimism well when he told the Christian Broadcasting Network in 2016, “I think this is the last election the Republicans have a chance of winning because you are going to have people flowing across the border.”. > > “If we don’t win this election,” Mr. Trump added. “you’ll never see another Republican.” > … > > Half a century ago, white Protestant men occupied nearly all our country’s high-status positions: They made up nearly all the elected officials, business leaders and media figures. Those days are over, but the loss of a group’s social status can feel deeply threatening. Many rank-and-file Republicans believe that the country they grew up in is being taken away from them. Slogans like “take our country back” and “make America great again” reflect this sense of peril. > > _[Examples follow of current and planned attempts to restrict voting by minorities - TL]_ > > …American democracy faces a Catch-22: Republicans won’t abandon their white identity bunker strategy until they lose, but at the same time that strategy has made them so averse to losing they are willing to bend the rules to avoid this fate. There is no easy exit. Republican leaders must either stand up to their base and broaden their appeal or they must suffer an electoral thrashing so severe that they are compelled to do so. > … Like Mitch said, if we allow everyone who has a right to vote to do so, Republicans will be toast. (Or words to that effect.) ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/42172 "2019-09-20T15:25:26Z")
The relevant part of that quote: "Republicans across the country seem to have embraced an “any means necessary” strategy to preserve their power. " Not to fight for what they think is right, or on some moral ground however misguided, but to preserve their power. ---
**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:** [September 20, 2019, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/42173 "2019-09-20T22:56:18Z")
“If conservatives become convinced they cannot win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism. They will reject democracy.” --David Frum ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2019, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/42174 "2019-09-21T01:20:03Z")
> [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > A joint UNC - Duke program [is having too many nice things to say about Islam,](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/462202-trump-admin-say-unc-duke-programs-portray-islam-too-positively) so the program will lose its federal grant money unless it’s properly “amended” (apparently to say more nice things about Israel and Christianity). > > WTF??? > [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Holy shit. If they’re pulling this at DUKE, Harvard is the next to go down. The top U.S. universities have enough cash on hand to give the finger to the Orange Lump, but what about everyone else? They will ultimately have to submit to Betsy DeVos’ Minitrue. ---
**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:** [September 21, 2019, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/42175 "2019-09-21T12:40:49Z")
> [@](#): > > (Arizona) House Speaker Rusty Bowers last week told a group of parents during an event in Gilbert that comprehensive sex education would lead to more Planned Parenthood customers, sexually transmitted diseases, abortions and promote unnecessary desires, according to video captured at the event. [Link.](https://ktar.com/story/2749220/arizona-schools-chief-calls-house-leaders-sex-ed-comments-abhorrent/) Basically, the current Superintendent of Public Instruction is wanting to change the current guidelines, which are forty years old. “Speaker Bowers’ comments today are just as abhorrent and reprehensible as his comments made over the weekend, and they have no basis in reality,” [Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy] Hoffman said in a statement. Any guesses what letter is after her name? She was elected last year, replacing Diane Douglas who made DeVos look like an educational genius. Let’s put it this way: Despite being the incumbent, Douglas came in third in the Republican primary. ---
**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:** [September 21, 2019, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/42176 "2019-09-21T18:34:42Z")
Candace Owens, the Republican Party’s favorite crazy black person, says white supremacy and white nationalism are not problems. > **[Candace Owens to Congress: ‘White Supremacy and White Nationalism Are Not a...](https://www.thedailybeast.com/candace-owens-to-congress-white-supremacy-and-white-nationalism-is-not-a-problem)** > > “Based on the hierarchy of what’s impacting minority Americans, if I had to make a list of 100 things, white nationalism would not make the list,” Owens declared on Friday. ---
**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:** [September 21, 2019, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/42177 "2019-09-21T18:42:55Z")
Let me know when she moves to Whitefish, MT. ---
**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:** [September 21, 2019, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/42178 "2019-09-21T22:34:56Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Let me know when she moves to Whitefish, MT. Kalispell might be even better: it’s the home of David Burgert and [Project 7](https://www.opposingviews.com/category/manhunt-who-is-david-burgert-and-what-is-project-7). ---
**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 21, 2019, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/42179 "2019-09-21T23:26:06Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > [Secretary of State Pompeo comments](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/09/19/mike-pompeos-helpful-media-advice-covering-frequently-lying/) on (specifically) the Houthi rebels claiming responsibility for the Saudi refinery attack and (generally) on how reporters ought to contextualize public assertions: Lefty news agencies have got to start referring to individual 1 this way. If it catches on enough maybe we can get the toddler in chief to fire Pompeo for starting the whole thing. ---
**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 22, 2019, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/42180 "2019-09-22T13:12:16Z")
[High school cheerleaders pull stupid political stunt, resulting in game being canceled because of Trumpeter flag wavers planning on protesting at game](https://www.yahoo.com/gma/north-carolina-school-officials-cancel-football-game-cheerleaders-100200431--abc-news-topstories.html). I think I parsed that right. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2019, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/42181 "2019-09-22T14:25:05Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > [High school cheerleaders pull stupid political stunt, resulting in game being canceled because of Trumpeter flag wavers planning on protesting at game](https://www.yahoo.com/gma/north-carolina-school-officials-cancel-football-game-cheerleaders-100200431--abc-news-topstories.html). > I think I parsed that right. Trump has opened the door for the bigoted and racists to come through. I had no idea how many of them still lurked about. I feel sorry for these kids. Instead of being idealistic and looking to make the world a better place, they are supporting a man that wants to drag us back in time. We have lost 4 very important years. Probably more like a decade or two. It will take a while to get things back on track. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2019, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/42182 "2019-09-22T14:29:55Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > I feel sorry for these kids. Instead of being idealistic and looking to make the world a better place, they are supporting a man that wants to drag us back in time. > > We have lost 4 very important years. Probably more like a decade or two. It will take a while to get things back on track. It’s kind of odd that you describe both of those with “back”. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2019, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/42183 "2019-09-22T15:08:21Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > It’s kind of odd that you describe both of those with “back”. Trump and his supporters seem to think that back in the 50’s everything was wonderful. Or back when there was no EPA or rights for those that may need help. Back when certain people knew their place. Make no mistake, many if not most of his supporters only know that time from reruns of Leave it to Beaver, but that’s where they want to go (provided they still have Twitter) We had since been on a track to improve things. Race relations, the environment, women’s rights. LGBT rights. He is derailing that train. It will take a while to get it back on track. We where moving forward. With Trump at the controls that train has not just stopped but is gathering steam going backwards. I hope that’s clearer. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2019, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/42184 "2019-09-22T15:49:50Z")
Back before the Income Tax. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2019, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/42185 "2019-09-22T16:19:29Z")
Back before that terrible Emancipation Act. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2019, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/42186 "2019-09-22T16:55:52Z")
[The Denver brown cloud.](https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=Denver+brown+cloud+pictures&fr=yfp-t&imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Ffall2012eng122.files.wordpress.com%2F2012%2F12%2F20120911 __browncloudp1.jpg%3Fw%3D560#id=1&iurl=https%3A%2F%2Ffall2012eng122.files.wordpress.com%2F2012%2F12%2F20120911__ browncloudp1.jpg%3Fw%3D560&action=click) Lived there. Remember it well. Trump supporters don’t remember. Or just don’t care. I’m sure there are other pics of other cities. Trump is rolling back emission standards for cars. We now have the most efficient, safest and reliable cars that have ever been made. And he want’s to punish car companies for making them. I don’t think that Trump is necessarily evil. He’s to much of a moron to be evil. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2019, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/42187 "2019-09-22T16:57:19Z")
“I hereby order all car companies to start making coal burning cars, using our wonderful clean American Coal. MAGA!” ---
**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:** [September 22, 2019, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/42188 "2019-09-22T18:26:37Z")
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