# 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:** 2181
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2020, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/43609 "2020-03-06T00:04:43Z")
Some guy named Rick Santelli is apparently a commentator on CNBC. He’s not a Republican politician, but I guess he’s a conservative and often credited with helping to spark the Team Party movement. So, he probably doesn’t belong in this thread, but it’s a near a fit as I can come up with. Anyway, on CNBC today he casually suggested that it would be better for the stock market if we gave coronavirus to “everyone” all at once to “get it over with”. See, the uncertainty of this crisis is causing havoc in the markets, and the death rate is going to be the same no matter what, so just infect everyone and be done with it. It’s like ripping the bandaid off all at once instead of a little at a time, I guess. Maybe there’s some context before the clip that makes it clear he’s using an absurd counter argument or something, because if not he just thinks a few hundred million deaths is no big deal when there are profits to be made. > ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2020, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/43610 "2020-03-06T00:02:57Z")
Some guy named Rick Santelli is apparently a commentator on CNBC. He’s not a Republican politician, but I guess he’s a conservative and often credited with helping to spark the Team Party movement. So, he probably doesn’t belong in this thread, but it’s a near a fit as I can come up with. Anyway, on CNBC today he casually suggested that it would be better for the stock market if we gave coronavirus to “everyone” all at once to “get it over with”. See, the uncertainty of this crisis is causing havoc in the markets, and the death rate is going to be the same no matter what, so just infect everyone and be done with it. It’s like ripping the bandaid off all at once instead of a little at a time, I guess. Maybe there’s some context before the clip that makes it clear he’s using an absurd counter argument or something, because if not he just thinks a few hundred million deaths is no big deal when there are profits to be made. > ---
**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:** [March 6, 2020, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/43611 "2020-03-06T00:13:55Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > When all you have is weak sauce, Fox News will lap it up and say “yum yum, rich thick gravy!” > [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Even the weakest sauce turns to sludge if you boil it long enough. > [/deepity] Indeed. But apparently there may be one discordant voice, spoiling the FoxNews/GOP soup at least a bit: > [@](#): > > Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) isn’t sold on his fellow Senate Republicans’ renewed interest in a probe of former Vice President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden, who sat on the board of a Ukrainian energy company. > While speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill Thursday, Romney aired his concerns about Sen. Ron Johnson’s (R-WI) request to begin issuing subpoenas as part of his probe into Hunter Biden’s tenure on the board of Burisma. > “There’s no question that the appearance of looking into Burisma and Hunter Biden appears political,” Romney said. “And I think people are tired of these kind of political investigations.” [https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/romney-burima-hunter-biden-probe-political](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/romney-burima-hunter-biden-probe-political) Shhh, Mitt! You’re not supposed to point that out! ---
**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:** [March 6, 2020, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/43612 "2020-03-06T00:17:19Z")
> [@Defensive\_Indifference](#): > > … > Anyway, on CNBC today he casually suggested that it would be better for the stock market if we gave coronavirus to “everyone” all at once to “get it over with”. … Kind of like, “Let’s all just drink the Kool-Aid and get it over with,” amirite? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![jshore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@jshore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jshore)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2020, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/43613 "2020-03-06T00:35:16Z")
McConnell had the nerve to tweet today: > [@](#): > > Every time Democrats try to threaten sitting justices, we are reminded exactly why the Framers gave them life tenure and salary protection. Republicans are absolutely and unshakably committed to the core constitutional principle of an independent federal judiciary. My reply: > [@](#): > > Senator McConnell: You are so full of shit! Where have you and the rest of the Republicans been while Trump has attacked judges and even jurors? > > At least Schumer expressed regret about his inappropriate remarks. Trump never has and you have been complicit by keeping silent. ---
**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:** [March 6, 2020, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/43614 "2020-03-06T00:39:09Z")
Ah, I love it when [irony strikes](https://www.yahoo.com/huffpost/aaron-schock-comes-out-as-gay-184303607.html): > [@](#): > > Former Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.) opened up about his sexuality on Instagram Thursday, confirming in a lengthy post that he is gay. > > Schock, who resigned from Congress in 2015 amid claims he misused taxpayer funds, said the news would “come as no surprise” to his family, friends and associates. Still, he said he felt compelled to make a public announcement “to remove any doubt and to finally validate who I am as a person.” > > “I can live openly now as a gay man because of the extraordinary, brave people who had the courage to fight for our rights when I did not: community activists, leaders, and ordinary LGBT folks,” the 38-year-old wrote in the post, which also touched on his Christian upbringing and ascent into the political sphere. “I recognize this even in the face of the intense and sometimes vicious criticism that I’ve received from these same people.” That’s a bit of soft-pedaling of what you actually did in the fight for LGBT rights, isn’t it? ---
**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:** [March 6, 2020, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/43615 "2020-03-06T04:50:10Z")
Two days before the 2018 election, then-Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp announced that he was investigating election fraud by the state’s Democratic Party. The state Attorney General’s office has closed the investigation, claiming they found no evidence to substantiate the now-Governor’s claims. > **[Investigators find no evidence for Georgia Gov. Kemp’s hacking claim](https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/case-closed-evidence-hacking-alleged-georgia-gov-kemp/JeTYlcx3I3Ssb4CiVtdgaO/)** > > The Georgia attorney general's office has closed its investigation into Gov. Brian Kemp's allegation that Democrats tried to hack election info. ---
**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:** [March 6, 2020, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/43616 "2020-03-06T13:38:26Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Two days before the 2018 election, then-Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp announced that he was investigating election fraud by the state’s Democratic Party. The state Attorney General’s office has closed the investigation, claiming they found no evidence to substantiate the now-Governor’s claims. > [Georgia investigators find no evidence to Kemp's hacking claim](https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/case-closed-evidence-hacking-alleged-georgia-gov-kemp/JeTYlcx3I3Ssb4CiVtdgaO/) Well, harrumph! I call that just plain not trying hard enough! :rolleyes: ---
**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:** [March 6, 2020, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/43617 "2020-03-06T15:17:00Z")
Harrumph! Harrumph! ---
**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:** [March 6, 2020, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/43618 "2020-03-06T15:22:20Z")
> [@Defensive\_Indifference](#): > > Some guy named Rick Santelli is apparently a commentator on CNBC. He’s not a Republican politician, but I guess he’s a conservative and often credited with helping to spark the Team Party movement. So, he probably doesn’t belong in this thread, but it’s a near a fit as I can come up with. > > Anyway, on CNBC today he casually suggested that it would be better for the stock market if we gave coronavirus to “everyone” all at once to “get it over with”. See, the uncertainty of this crisis is causing havoc in the markets, and the death rate is going to be the same no matter what, so just infect everyone and be done with it. It’s like ripping the bandaid off all at once instead of a little at a time, I guess. Maybe there’s some context before the clip that makes it clear he’s using an absurd counter argument or something, because if not he just thinks a few hundred million deaths is no big deal when there are profits to be made. > > [https://twitter.com/rationalsquad/status/1235636443369873415](https://twitter.com/rationalsquad/status/1235636443369873415) Like, a Coronavirus Party, the way some antivax parents do with measles? _HEY EVERYBODY! SLEEPOVER AT SANTELLI’S HOUSE!_ ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2020, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/43619 "2020-03-07T23:35:32Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Two days before the 2018 election, then-Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp announced that he was investigating election fraud by the state’s Democratic Party. The state Attorney General’s office has closed the investigation, claiming they found no evidence to substantiate the now-Governor’s claims. > [Georgia investigators find no evidence to Kemp's hacking claim](https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/case-closed-evidence-hacking-alleged-georgia-gov-kemp/JeTYlcx3I3Ssb4CiVtdgaO/) Fucking Georgia Dems slacking off. That’s not how elections are won, losers ! ---
**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:** [March 8, 2020, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/43620 "2020-03-08T03:49:57Z")
Woman working for a pro-Individual 1 voter registration group changed voters’ registrations from Democratic and independent to Republican. > **[Florida Woman Changed Voters’ Party Affiliations, Officials Say (Published 2020)](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/07/us/Cheryl-hall-voter-registration-fraud.html)** > > Cheryl A. Hall falsified 10 registration forms, at least six of which enrolled Democratic and independent voters as Republicans, said the authorities, who are eyeing an additional 109 forms. ---
**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:** [March 8, 2020, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/43621 "2020-03-08T04:53:57Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Woman working for a pro-Individual 1 voter registration group changed voters’ registrations from Democratic and independent to Republican. > [https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/07/us/Cheryl-hall-voter-registration-fraud.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/07/us/Cheryl-hall-voter-registration-fraud.html) From your link: > [@](#): > > Submitting false voter information is a third-degree felony, punishable by a $5,000 fine or up to five years in prison So, that’s $50,000 and 50 years for her, right? After all, it’s only the Democrats that support this namby-pamby concurrent sentences, isn’t it? Surely a “tough on criminals” Republican would want her to get the max and serve the sentences consecutively. ---
**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:** [March 8, 2020, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/43622 "2020-03-08T05:02:44Z")
Trump will just pardon her and give her a Medal of Freedom. ---
**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:** [March 8, 2020, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/43623 "2020-03-08T18:27:48Z")
One of the people whom Individual 1 pardoned is running for Congress against civil rights icon John Lewis. Her name is Angela Stanton, and she decided to add -King to her name because she’s running in Atlanta and she claims Martin Luther King’s niece informally adopted her. She’s virulently anti-gay even though she has a gay son. She claims that Lewis might have been a civil rights activist, but he’s pro choice and she’s campaigning on an anti-choice platform. She runs a vanity publishing company and was convicted of being involved in a car theft ring. [https://www.ajc.com/news/after-getting-trump-pardon-angela-stanton-king-sets-sights-lewis/FEhk2wJ9KBIBr6Vj48cnWJ/](https://www.ajc.com/news/after-getting-trump-pardon-angela-stanton-king-sets-sights-lewis/FEhk2wJ9KBIBr6Vj48cnWJ/) ---
**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:** [March 9, 2020, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/43624 "2020-03-09T22:43:31Z")
Matt Gaetz, who showed up last week on the floor of the House wearnig a gas mask to mock the coronavirus fears, has announced that he is self-quarantining. ---
**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:** [March 9, 2020, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/43625 "2020-03-09T23:37:42Z")
The National Association of Immigration Judges reports on Twitter that the Executive Office for Immigration Review has ordered immigration court staff to remove CDC posters designed to slow spread of coronavirus. So far, [the tweet is the only cite I have found](https://twitter.com/Imm_Judges_NAIJ/status/1237151516395536384). I would be entirely unsurprised to find this true (hell, CBP-ICE doesn’t even want to supply toothpaste to the kids!), but so far I can’t verify it anywhere else. ---
**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:** [March 9, 2020, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/43626 "2020-03-09T23:56:21Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Matt Gaetz, who showed up last week on the floor of the House wearnig a gas mask to mock the coronavirus fears, has announced that he is self-quarantining. And turns out he flew on Air Force One with Individual 1 just hours before self-quarantining. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/43627 "2020-03-10T00:02:05Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > The National Association of Immigration Judges reports on Twitter that the Executive Office for Immigration Review has ordered immigration court staff to remove CDC posters designed to slow spread of coronavirus. > > So far, [the tweet is the only cite I have found](https://twitter.com/Imm_Judges_NAIJ/status/1237151516395536384). I would be entirely unsurprised to find this true (hell, CBP-ICE doesn’t even want to supply toothpaste to the kids!), but so far I can’t verify it anywhere else. Paging Dr. Swift, ‎Dr. Jonathan Swift… ---
**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:** [March 10, 2020, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/43628 "2020-03-10T00:44:27Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Matt Gaetz, who showed up last week on the floor of the House wearnig a gas mask to mock the coronavirus fears, has announced that he is self-quarantining. Gaetz was potentially exposed at the CPAC conference last week. Louie Gohmert also had contact with the same person who tested positive, but he has decided to return to work at Congress, so as not to appear to submit to a hoax. > **[Rep. Louie Gohmert cleared to work after possible exposure to...](https://www.ketk.com/news/top-stories/rep-louie-gohmert-refuses-self-quarantine-after-possible-exposure-to-coronavirus-positive-person/)** > > TEXAS (News Release) – On Monday, Rep. Louie Gohmert released the following statement saying he would be returning to work in Washington, D.C. after possibly being exposed to a coronavirus-po… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=2180) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=2182)