# 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:** 2216
**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:** [May 7, 2020, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44309 "2020-05-07T19:07:51Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > **Trump Campaign Manager calls their effort “The Death Star”** > Really. > > [Trump Campaign Calls Itself The Death Star Because Of Course It Does | HuffPost Entertainment](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-campaign-death-star-brad-parscale_n_5eb43509c5b646b73d294c4a) Hey, the damn dirty lying sack of dung is calling himself a wartime president, isn’t he? He can paint the White House’s outside wall like pilots did with their planes back in World War II (which, of course, he would call “World War Eleven”). The WWII pilots used little swastika flags or rising sun flags for each enemy dispatched. Tan the Conman could use little stick people. Right about now, he’d need 76,206 of them to be up-to-date. He’d probably go with using coronavirus stickers instead because that would make the wall “beautiful, the best wall in the country” and he still doesn’t have a clue that cause and effect are connected. ---
**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:** [May 7, 2020, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44310 "2020-05-07T19:11:07Z")
The Arizona Department of Health Services has disbanded their team of Covid-19 experts because the experts’ models predicted a rise in cases if the Governor were to reopen the state, > **[Arizona responds to projected rise in COVID-19 cases by ordering experts to...](https://www.salon.com/2020/05/07/arizona-responds-to-projected-rise-in-covid-19-cases-by-ordering-experts-to-stop-making-models/)** > > GOP Gov. Doug Ducey isn’t letting data get in the way as he plows toward an aggressive reopening despite warnings ---
**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:** [May 7, 2020, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44311 "2020-05-07T19:39:16Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > **Trump Campaign Manager calls their effort “The Death Star”** > Really. > > [Trump Campaign Calls Itself The Death Star Because Of Course It Does | HuffPost Entertainment](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-campaign-death-star-brad-parscale_n_5eb43509c5b646b73d294c4a) > [@](#): > > “For nearly three years we have been building a juggernaut campaign (Death Star). It is firing on all cylinders." Firing on all cylinders? The Death Star doesn’t have ion propulsion, rockets or even jet engines, it’s piston powered! Not sure where they’ll find that much av-gas in this day and age. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44312 "2020-05-07T23:22:54Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > Yes, laws are just words, but some words are easier to ignore than others, and some can even be ignored in a perfectly legal way. > > The use of regulations enables a flexibility that allows a government department to adjust to new realities without needing to go through the whole process of re-writing a law, and getting it passed again. When the department in question is acting in good faith, this is usually a good thing. > > But here’s the thing: anything that is currently in a regulation, can be put into the law, if the people writing the laws decide that the department isn’t acting in good faith. That makes it far harder for them to just ignore the words, and puts them in the position of actually having to break the laws, rather than just rewrite or reinterpret the regulations. > > Consider a law about pollution. You could write a general law that prohibits dumping pollutants into public waterways, and then refer to regulations for the definition of “pollutant”. This way, if I come up with some new kind of pollutant never before known (see nuclear waste for a historically recent example), you can just amend the regulation to include this new waste. > > But if I manage to lobby (bribe, flatter, coerce) the President into pushing to deregulate my new pollutant, the legislature could, in theory, amend the law to explicitly include my pollutant, without needing reference to a regulation. > > It would be hard to pass that, but it would also be just as hard to then toss it out later. > > And now that they’re in violation of an actual law, they can be actually sued for that, when they might not have been in the case of merely re-writing a regulation. Exactly this. Most federal regulations assume good faith on the part of the enforcers. That is so patently untrue under Trump that we need to discard that philosophy. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44313 "2020-05-07T23:44:27Z")
Weren’t both Death Stars destroyed by relatively small-scale attacks? Just hit the right spot and the whole thing explodes. ---
**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:** [May 7, 2020, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44314 "2020-05-07T23:51:07Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Just hit the right spot and the whole thing explodes. Kind of like sex. ---
**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:** [May 8, 2020, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44315 "2020-05-08T00:45:41Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > Christie must have his eyes on some appointed position in the Trump mis-administration. Sucking up to Cheeto in Chief is a well- proven way to get hired. > [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Yeah, but not when you’ve put his son-in-law’s father in jail. It’s obvious to anyone with half a brain that no matter how loyal Christie shows himself to be, Kushner will never let him get anywhere. Well, there _is_ an opening for a valet. I could see Kushner approving Christie for that. ---
**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:** [May 8, 2020, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44316 "2020-05-08T00:59:39Z")
Christie’s taste in haberdashery is nearly as awful as Trump’s. Let him stick to fetching the hamberders from the nearest fast food joint. ---
**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:** [May 8, 2020, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44317 "2020-05-08T15:06:44Z")
Such [a perfect metaphor](https://www.indystar.com/story/news/health/2020/05/08/mike-pence-empty-boxes-masks-ppe-mic-live/3095258001/)… > [@](#): > > …In a C-Span clip that is quickly going viral on social media, Pence is seen wheeling what looks to be a heavy load of supplies on a cart to the front door of the Woodbine Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center. > After dropping off the boxes, he returns to a vehicle with additional boxes in the trunk. He is told by another individual, “Those are empty, sir.” > Pence’s response? “Well can I carry the empty ones? Just for the camera?” It is unclear whether the first boxes were empty… A big bunch of nothing delivering a big bunch of nothing. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44318 "2020-05-08T16:22:11Z")
Just for the photo oops. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44319 "2020-05-08T17:21:56Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Such [a perfect metaphor](https://www.indystar.com/story/news/health/2020/05/08/mike-pence-empty-boxes-masks-ppe-mic-live/3095258001/)… > > A big bunch of nothing delivering a big bunch of nothing. Did you even read your own cite? > [@](#): > > But the short clip, which ends with Pence making the remark about the empty boxes, is just a small version of a more than 29 minute long video that is still available on C-Span’s website. > > In the longer video, Pence’s aide responds to his question about the empty boxes by saying: “Absolutely. They’re a lot easier.” > > The door to the vehicle shuts and it doesn’t appear that Pence delivers any of the empty boxes. . . > > IndyStar initially published a story about the viral, 40-second clip, but then noticed the discrepancy between the narrated, Kimmel segment version on Twitter and the longer C-Span video. > > Neither Pence’s office, nor Kimmel have responded to our requests for comment. However, Kimmel has since deleted the tweet in which he repeated the words “a big box of nothing, sharing a big box of nothing.” > > . . . > > In addition, McDermott posted a new Tweet, acknowledging that Pence may have been joking. ---
**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:** [May 8, 2020, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44320 "2020-05-08T17:37:36Z")
Individual-ONE never complained about the Derp State. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44321 "2020-05-08T18:08:20Z")
Wow! An example of Republican idiocy turns out not to be true! Now, that’s a rare bit of sunshine! (Always look on the blight side of life!) ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44322 "2020-05-09T23:42:01Z")
> [@mikecurtis](#): > > Did you even read your own cite? While I can give Captain Cootie-pants a pass on making a joke, don’t lose sight of the fact that it’s still deceptive messaging at work here. Q: Why would you load empty boxes into the van in the first fucking place? A: Because you don’t have any more full ones and you want to disguise that fact. ---
**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:** [May 10, 2020, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44323 "2020-05-10T01:02:51Z")
Of course [this was going to happen](https://www.businessinsider.com/out-of-state-visitors-georgia-re-opened-risking-coronavirus-uptick-2020-5): > [@](#): > > **60,000 people headed to Georgia after it allowed some businesses to open — and it led to the exact scenario researchers warned could make matters worse** > > As Georgia began to re-open non-essential businesses like movie theaters and hair salons, tens of thousands of people from neighboring states poured in, potentially risking a further spread of the coronavirus just as researchers had warned. > > According to research by University of Maryland scientists, 62,441 out of state visitors poured into Georgia after April 24 when many businesses re-opened. The biggest proportion of those visitors, 17%, came from Florida, which has been the most cautious in allowing businesses to re-open. > > The uptick in travel — 13% over the average from previous weeks —is worrying, and yet totally unsurprising, to scientists studying the outbreak. > > “It’s exactly the kind of effect we’ve been worried about,” Maegan Fitzpatrick, who studies infectious diseases at the University, told the Washington Post. “This is not an unpredictable outcome with businesses opening in one location and people going to seek services there.” _More at the link._ And, yes, Georgia’s governor and the majority of its legislature is Republican. ---
**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:** [May 10, 2020, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44324 "2020-05-10T01:05:01Z")
Double Post. ---
**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:** [May 10, 2020, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44325 "2020-05-10T04:07:44Z")
Well, [this is interesting](https://www.denverpost.com/2020/05/06/colorado-ken-buck-gop-primary/). The Republican “Central Comittee” (a term that sounds oddly evocative) in Colorado is recorded as trying to pressure an election official into signing an affidavit that records a candidate as receiving more votes than he actually did. The candidate in question complained that the vote was “unfair”. The official (a volunteer) replied that he would seek legal counsel before signing a false affidavit. ---
**Author:** ![Toxgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Toxgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxgoddess)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44326 "2020-05-10T14:46:51Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Well, [this is interesting](https://www.denverpost.com/2020/05/06/colorado-ken-buck-gop-primary/). The Republican “Central Comittee” (a term that sounds oddly evocative) in Colorado is recorded as trying to pressure an election official into signing an affidavit that records a candidate as receiving more votes than he actually did. The candidate in question complained that the vote was “unfair”. The official (a volunteer) replied that he would seek legal counsel before signing a false affidavit. Good for the official, standing his ground, and the courts backing him up. And a double FU to the Republican party declaring the election wasn’t fair because the virus caused people to have to stay home and not be able to vote. This from the party trying to suppress mail-in voting and purging suspected Democrat voters as fast as they can. I wish hypocrisy was an actual physical object so they could choke on it. ---
**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:** [May 10, 2020, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44327 "2020-05-10T14:58:04Z")
I can’t think of a rationale — other than CYA — for “seek[ing] legal counsel before signing a false affidavit.” Despite what the Trumpistas have been telling us, facts are facts and a count is a count. “If your supporters are too afraid to exercise their franchise, that’s not my problem; I’m not putting myself in legal jeopardy because you don’t like the results.” OTOH, this could be something on the order of a trial balloon for November. If it works in this instance, then swing counties in swing states could be targeted: a county here, a county there … it all adds up. ---
**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:** [May 10, 2020, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44328 "2020-05-10T15:26:30Z")
Anything that makes the Democratic vote count higher than the Republican vote count, whether actually or potentially, must be stamped out! For example, in California: > [@](#): > > …Because of the coronavirus, voters were encouraged to mail in ballots, with every voter receiving a prestamped ballot to fill out and return. But a limited number of in-person polling places were long planned to be open, and one was added recently in Lancaster. > > “Governor @GavinNewsom of California won’t let restaurants, beaches and stores open, but he installs a voting both system in a highly Democrat area (supposed to be mail in ballots only) because our great candidate, @MikeGarcia2020, is winning by a lot. CA25 Rigged Election!” Trump tweeted Saturday. > > He also tweeted: “So in California, the Democrats, who fought like crazy to get all mail in only ballots, and succeeded, have just opened a voting booth in the most Democrat area in the State. They are trying to steal another election. It’s all rigged out there. These votes must not count. SCAM!” > … > > [Cite](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-attacks-decision-to-add-in-person-voting-center-in-california-house-race/2020/05/09/6c1d1f92-922d-11ea-9e23-6914ee410a5f_story.html) McConnell and trump have both said that anything that enables MORE people to vote is bad for Republicans. Once again trump demonstrated his facility with talking out of both sides of this mouth-- sometimes simultaneously. > [@](#): > > …During the coronavirus outbreak, most election officials of both parties across the country have recommended keeping in-person polling places open in addition to expanded mail balloting to accommodate those unable or unaccustomed to voting by mail. > > Trump has previously criticized the expansion of mailing ballots. > > “I think that mail-in voting is a terrible thing,” Trump said in early April. “I think if you vote, you should go. …There’s a lot of dishonesty going on with mail-in voting, mail-in ballots.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=2215) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=2217)