# 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:** 2201
**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:** [April 14, 2020, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44009 "2020-04-14T16:44:23Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > If Trump boots Fauci, I thing Gov. Cuomo should immediately hire him. > > Or the sensible governors collectively (Cuomo, Newsom, DeWine, etc.) could hire him to work collaboratively with all of them. If/when the America-hating Fuckstick boots Fauci, Pence can no longer prevent CNN and MSNBC from booking him. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44010 "2020-04-14T19:06:55Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > Florida declares WWE wrestling an “[essential business](https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/14/834098998/florida-designates-pro-wrestling-essential-business?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=news).” > > Thank Og the brilliant and patriotic leaders of Florida have their priorities straight! [Follow the money.](https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/29/linda-mcmahon-to-resign-as-head-of-small-business-administration-1243495) ---
**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:** [April 15, 2020, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44011 "2020-04-15T20:49:54Z")
Trey Hollingsworth, one of the richest members of Congress, says the American way of life is more important than the people who might die if the shutdown ends. > **[GOP Congressman Argues American 'Way of Life' Is More Important Than Keeping...](https://time.com/5821166/gop-coronavirus-deaths-economy/)** > > Restarting the U.S. economy is more important than ensuring Americans stay home to prevent more deaths from coronavirus, says a GOP congressman from Indiana in... ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2020, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44012 "2020-04-15T20:54:17Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > Florida declares WWE wrestling an “[essential business](https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/14/834098998/florida-designates-pro-wrestling-essential-business?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=news).” > > Thank Og the brilliant and patriotic leaders of Florida have their priorities straight! Could it really be Idiocracy without it? ---
**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:** [April 15, 2020, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44013 "2020-04-15T21:41:14Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Trey Hollingsworth, one of the richest members of Congress, says the American way of life is more important than the people who might die if the shutdown ends. > [GOP Congressman: Amid Pandemic, Choose American ‘Way of Life’ Over American Lives | TIME](https://time.com/5821166/gop-coronavirus-deaths-economy/) The people of Indiana elected somebody called _Trey Hollingsworth???_ Jesus, that name is straight out of the funny pages. From the 1930s. In patent leather shoes, a monocle, and a top hat, and Moon Mullins knocks it off with a snowball. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2020, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44014 "2020-04-15T21:57:30Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > The people of Indiana elected somebody called _Trey Hollingsworth???_ > > Jesus, that name is straight out of the funny pages. From the 1930s. In patent leather shoes, a monocle, and a top hat, and Moon Mullins knocks it off with a snowball. Meet former California Insurance Commissioner and State Assemblyman [Chuck Quakenbush.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Quackenbush) ---
**Author:** ![Running\_with\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2020, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44015 "2020-04-15T22:12:05Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Meet former California Insurance Commissioner and State Assemblyman [Chuck Quakenbush.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Quackenbush) It’s actually _Quackenbush_, but I like Quakenbush better. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2020, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44016 "2020-04-15T22:27:57Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Trey Hollingsworth, one of the richest members of Congress, says the American way of life is more important than the people who might die if the shutdown ends. > [GOP Congressman: Amid Pandemic, Choose American ‘Way of Life’ Over American Lives | TIME](https://time.com/5821166/gop-coronavirus-deaths-economy/) The irony is that he claims to be “pro-life”. Honestly we should start e-mailing these hypocritical shitstains and calling them out on their hypocrisy. ---
**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2020, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44017 "2020-04-15T22:53:01Z")
Fear of COVID is not enough to get an absentee ballot in fucking Texas (what a surprise). [https://www.google.com/amp/s/thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/493016-texas-ag-fear-of-covid-19-not-a-qualifying-reason-to-receive-absentee%3Famp](https://www.google.com/amp/s/thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/493016-texas-ag-fear-of-covid-19-not-a-qualifying-reason-to-receive-absentee%3famp) > [@](#): > > Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said that fear of the COVID-19 pandemic is not a viable reason for Texas residents to apply for an absentee ballot for this year’s upcoming elections. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2020, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44018 "2020-04-16T00:08:48Z")
> [@Skypist](#): > > Fear of COVID is not enough to get an absentee ballot in fucking Texas (what a surprise). > > [https://www.google.com/amp/s/thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/493016-texas-ag-fear-of-covid-19-not-a-qualifying-reason-to-receive-absentee%3Famp](https://www.google.com/amp/s/thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/493016-texas-ag-fear-of-covid-19-not-a-qualifying-reason-to-receive-absentee%3famp) That’s 'cause only Democrats are afraid of the virus. If they’re afraid, they don’t deserve to vote, and they can just stay home. Republicans know it’s a hoax. All the dead people— MSM lies to discredit their Leader. Those coffins in the pictures from New York City? Empty boxes! ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44019 "2020-04-16T00:26:44Z")
> [@Skypist](#): > > Fear of COVID is not enough to get an absentee ballot in fucking Texas (what a surprise). > > [https://www.google.com/amp/s/thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/493016-texas-ag-fear-of-covid-19-not-a-qualifying-reason-to-receive-absentee%3Famp](https://www.google.com/amp/s/thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/493016-texas-ag-fear-of-covid-19-not-a-qualifying-reason-to-receive-absentee%3famp) This has the potential to seriously backfire on Texas Republicans, as it did in Wisconsin. It’s the older, more vulnerable-to-COVID-19 Republican voters who may choose to sit this one out. And Dems are a lot more fired up for 2020 than Republicans are, more willing to risk infection to exercise their right to vote. I’d love to see Texas turn blue this November because Republicans are so obviously cruel. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2020, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44020 "2020-04-16T01:09:37Z")
> [@Skypist](#): > > Fear of COVID is not enough to get an absentee ballot in fucking Texas (what a surprise). > > [https://www.google.com/amp/s/thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/493016-texas-ag-fear-of-covid-19-not-a-qualifying-reason-to-receive-absentee%3Famp](https://www.google.com/amp/s/thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/493016-texas-ag-fear-of-covid-19-not-a-qualifying-reason-to-receive-absentee%3famp) I am not entirely clear on why you should need to provide a reason to get an absentee ballot (I live in one o them nasty exclusively-vote-by-mail states), but how hard is it to say “I have travel plans”, and then if they ask about why you did not go somewhere, you can say that you had to cancel them because, reasons. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2020, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44021 "2020-04-16T03:22:18Z")
I’m still wondering why the orange clown doesn’t want the deployed military to vote. When I was stationed outside my voting district or was at sea around electin time, I always voted by mail. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2020, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44022 "2020-04-16T03:34:14Z")
Drat! Feel free to have some fun with my misspelling above. You can go with \*_election time_ as I intended or **electin’ time** as we sometimes called it when I was a wee one in the South. ---
**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44023 "2020-04-16T04:50:03Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > I am not entirely clear on why you should need to provide a reason to get an absentee ballot (I live in one o them nasty exclusively-vote-by-mail states), but how hard is it to say “I have travel plans”, and then if they ask about why you did not go somewhere, you can say that you had to cancel them because, reasons. You have to fill out an application. Not sure if anybody actually pores over each one to try to figure out the veracity of your excuse or not. You can apply for one if you are over 65, disabled, or have travel plans coinciding with the election. > [@Monty](#): > > Drat! Feel free to have some fun with my misspelling above. You can go with \*_election time_ as I intended or **electin’ time** as we sometimes called it when I was a wee one in the South. I think I like electin’ time. ---
**Author:** ![mcgato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mcgato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcgato)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44024 "2020-04-16T13:53:29Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > I am not entirely clear on why you should need to provide a reason to get an absentee ballot (I live in one o them nasty exclusively-vote-by-mail states), but how hard is it to say “I have travel plans”, and then if they ask about why you did not go somewhere, you can say that you had to cancel them because, reasons. “Vote by mail” or “absentee ballot” rules vary by state. I lived in New Jersey in 2016, and I requested to vote by mail. I received the ballot in the mail which I filled out and returned. There was no need to give a reason, just ask for one. I currently live in Pennsylvania, and they had a rule that you had to have a legitimate reason for getting an absentee ballot. I think that they have eased the rules recently. I don’t know how closely they can check on the reason, though. I’m guessing that the rules on vote by mail are much stricter in the red states than the blue states. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44025 "2020-04-16T14:05:24Z")
The ACLU tweeted last night that they had gotten an injunction against the state of Texas and won the right to “no excuses necessary” voting by mail. I’m hoping to find more on that later today. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2020, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44026 "2020-04-16T15:35:47Z")
> [@mcgato](#): > > “Vote by mail” or “absentee ballot” rules vary by state. I lived in New Jersey in 2016, and I requested to vote by mail. I received the ballot in the mail which I filled out and returned. There was no need to give a reason, just ask for one. I currently live in Pennsylvania, and they had a rule that you had to have a legitimate reason for getting an absentee ballot. I think that they have eased the rules recently. I don’t know how closely they can check on the reason, though. > > I’m guessing that the rules on vote by mail are much stricter in the red states than the blue states. Depends on the state, I think. Here in Arizona not only can you get on the permanent mail-in ballot list just because you want to be, it is actively being encouraged. It’s not mandatory yet but I think they’ve figured out it’s cheaper to run an election with mail-in ballots rather than open polls. Here in Maricopa county there was a big stimulus – accidental or not – to switch to mail-in when for the 2016 primary the county registrar reduced the number of polling places by about a third, resulting in waits of up to six hours to cast a vote at the polls that were left. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2020, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44027 "2020-04-16T16:12:13Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > …Here in Maricopa county there was a big stimulus – accidental or not – to switch to mail-in when for the 2016 primary the county registrar reduced the number of polling places by about a third, resulting in waits of up to six hours to cast a vote at the polls that were left. See, in Texas that’s a feature not a bug. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44028 "2020-04-16T17:13:38Z")
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