# Stupid Republican idea of the day
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897
**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:** 237
### Author:  [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4721 "2012-03-05T17:28:28Z")
In an election year, Newt apparently thinks that Obama thinks that higher gas prices are a good idea ([Newt Gingrich: Obama's Goal Is '$8 or $9 a Gallon' Gas - ABC News](http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/03/newt-gingrich-obamas-goal-is-8-or-9-a-gallon-gas/)):
> [@Newt](#):
>
> This president and his secretary of anti-energy, Dr. Chu, have as a goal getting us to pay European-level prices of $8 or $9.
Even if you accept the idea that the president has that sort of control over gas prices, you’d think he’d be looking to lower them during an election year, wouldn’t you? Unless Newt is expecting an October surprise, where Obama suddenly drops prices to a $1.00 or so just before the election.
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### Author:  [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4722 "2012-03-05T20:17:06Z")
Want to be a Republican? [No premarital sex or porn for you](http://www.clintonchronicle.com/latest_news/doc4f510610f0e05550131047.txt)!
I think it would be smarter for them to ease up on the criteria for being a Republican candidate - this kind of thing is what gets them in trouble when they get caught soliciting gay sex in the men’s room and posting naked pictures of themselves on Craigslist.
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### Author:  [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2012, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4723 "2012-03-06T15:37:07Z")
> [@C3](#):
>
> Want to be a Republican? [No premarital sex or porn for you](http://www.clintonchronicle.com/latest_news/doc4f510610f0e05550131047.txt)!
>
> I think it would be smarter for them to ease up on the criteria for being a Republican candidate - this kind of thing is what gets them in trouble when they get caught soliciting gay sex in the men’s room and posting naked pictures of themselves on Craigslist.
I came to this thread to post the exact same link. You know, I’m not sure if I’d put this as “stupid” per se. It’s pretty much non-binding and it only affects Republicans so I guess they can do whatever it is they want within the confines of their own party.
Maybe we can start another thread titled “Hilarious Republican idea of the day”
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### Author:  [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2012, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4724 "2012-03-06T15:39:10Z")
Now, videos of potential R candidates taking the test, that’s a video I’d watch!
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### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2012, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4725 "2012-03-06T15:52:01Z")
> [@Enderw24](#):
>
> I came to this thread to post the exact same link. You know, I’m not sure if I’d put this as “stupid” per se. It’s pretty much non-binding and it only affects Republicans so I guess they can do whatever it is they want within the confines of their own party.
It’s hardly non-binding if it’s the basis for the party executive committee to determine whether a candidate should be on the ballot. I suppose it’s non-binding in the sense that candidates can drink, smoke, fuck, watch porn and marry their same-sex partners all they want once they’re actually on the ballot.
For what it’s worth, I think the Republican Party should adopt this pledge for _all_ primaries.
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### Author:  [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4726 "2012-03-06T16:02:34Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#):
>
> It’s hardly non-binding if it’s the basis for the party executive committee to determine whether a candidate should be on the ballot. I suppose it’s non-binding in the sense that candidates can drink, smoke, fuck, watch porn and marry their same-sex partners all they want once they’re actually on the ballot.
>
> For what it’s worth, I think the Republican Party should adopt this pledge for _all_ primaries.
I think it’s binding in that the “official” Republican party will only support those who take the pledge; however, I don’t think there’s anything that can stop someone who is registered as a Republican but refuses to take the pledge from filing with the SOS and becoming a candidate in an election.
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### Author:  [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2012, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4727 "2012-03-06T16:04:19Z")
> [@Enderw24](#):
>
> I came to this thread to post the exact same link. You know, I’m not sure if I’d put this as “stupid” per se. It’s pretty much non-binding and it only affects Republicans so I guess they can do whatever it is they want within the confines of their own party.
>
> Maybe we can start another thread titled “Hilarious Republican idea of the day”
While the criteria they are using is unquestionably stupid, I actually like the idea of parties more carefully vetting candidates to weed out the wackjobs. Perhaps the Republicans could have avoided such candidates as Sharon Angle and Christone O’Donnell if something like this was in place.
OTOH, with the state of the party right now, they would probably use a vetting process like this county seem to – to weed out the sane and rational.
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### Author:  [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2012, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4728 "2012-03-06T16:09:11Z")
The Republicans seem to sign so many friggin’ pledges, I’m surprised they can keep them straight. What is with this pledge fetish they seem to have?
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### Author:  [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2012, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4729 "2012-03-06T16:24:48Z")
With all these pledges and the anti-government stance of the Republican party, can we get Republican candidates to sign a pledge to never become part of the government? I would support that.
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### Author:  [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2012, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4730 "2012-03-06T16:33:11Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#):
>
> The Republicans seem to sign so many friggin’ pledges, I’m surprised they can keep them straight. What is with this pledge fetish they seem to have?
I don’t know, but I guess it’s how their slope got so slippery.
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### Author:  [@legalsnugs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/legalsnugs)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2012, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4731 "2012-03-06T16:36:21Z")
Why would anyone expect republicans to keep a pledge when they can’t keep a wedding vow?
I have a better idea and it’s Biblical! Jesus Himself said it in Matthew 18:8-9:
> [@](#):
>
> Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
So if a body part (and you know which one I mean) causes them to sin, they should agree to cut it off. I’m not saying the republican party should cut it off, the passage does not say that. But that they should cut their own part off. And if they refuse, they’re obviously a member of the ol’ Pick-and-Choose Christian Church and not to be trusted. It’d definitely separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak.
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### Author:  [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4732 "2012-03-06T17:54:47Z")
Boyo Jim: While the criteria they are using is unquestionably stupid, I actually like the idea of parties more carefully vetting candidates to weed out the wackjobs. Perhaps the Republicans could have avoided such candidates as Sharon Angle and Christone O’Donnell if something like this was in place.
Yeah, except their criteria ‘weeds in’ the whackjobs:rolleyes:
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### Author:  [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2012, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4733 "2012-03-06T17:55:55Z")
rolleyes at the ®s, not Jim.
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### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4734 "2012-03-06T18:06:30Z")
> [@Enderw24](#):
>
> I think it’s binding in that the “official” Republican party will only support those who take the pledge; however, I don’t think there’s anything that can stop someone who is registered as a Republican but refuses to take the pledge from filing with the SOS and becoming a candidate in an election.
Yes, but they’d be running as independents.
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### Author:  [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2012, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4735 "2012-03-06T19:04:05Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#):
>
> The Republicans seem to sign so many friggin’ pledges, I’m surprised they can keep them straight. What is with this pledge fetish they seem to have?
Well, for years Republicans have been electing people who promised to reduce the deficit by cutting taxes, to ensure peace by sending in the troops, and to shrink government by controlling our private lives. Strangely though, not everyone is rich, safe, and pure, yet. How to explain this curious turn of events?
I know, we’re not promising hard enough! Pledges, everybody, we must sign pledges.
Can blood oaths be far behind?
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### Author:  [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2012, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4736 "2012-03-06T19:19:38Z")
Maybe they should grow topknots like Yul Brynner had in _Taras Bulba_, and then cut them off (as he did), pledging not to regrow then until their aims are achieved…
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### Author:  [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4737 "2012-03-06T19:20:35Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#):
>
> I know, we’re not promising hard enough! Pledges, everybody, we must sign pledges.
>
> Can blood oaths be far behind?
I think they should all get a tattoo of the dark mark on their forearms. It could be useful too - when it’s time for a vote on the chamber floor, the tattoos will all start glowing.
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### Author:  [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2012, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4738 "2012-03-06T20:14:07Z")
Something tattooed on the forehead, for visibility, something that is close to “sex sex sex”. Perhaps something easily remembered, like a number? Call it the number of the beast with two backs?
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### Author:  [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4739 "2012-03-06T21:14:50Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#):
>
> What is with this pledge fetish they seem to have?
Rule 34. No exceptions.
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### Author:  [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2012, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4740 "2012-03-06T22:25:15Z")
> [@legalsnugs](#):
>
> …So if a body part (and you know which one I mean) causes them to sin, they should agree to cut it off. I’m not saying the republican party should cut it off, the passage does not say that. But that they should cut their own part off. And if they refuse, they’re obviously a member of the ol’ Pick-and-Choose Christian Church and not to be trusted. It’d definitely separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak.
There is precedent. The guy who shot John Wilkes Booth, a sergeant in a New York cavalry outfit, is reputed to have castrated himself to atone for making whoopie with a D.C. prostitute.
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