# 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:** 271
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5401 "2012-05-11T18:01:41Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > The thing is, you remember what you were like, and you now recognize that you were wrong to act like that around your friends: > You remember. > You acknowledge. > You have changed. > You’re now a better man. > > As opposed to Romeny who: > Says he does not remember. > Gave a half-assed apology if anyone was offended > Has not changed, or gained any empathy, based on his current stand on gay marriage, and his feelings towards people whose jobs were lost because of him. > Is the same man now as he was when he assaulted a fellow student. I tend to agree about this. My main problem with Romney in this case is not what he did as a teenager; it’s the way that he’s handling the issue now. ---
**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:** [May 11, 2012, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5402 "2012-05-11T18:38:42Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > I wasn’t a bully in the way we’re talking about here; i was a racist and a homophobe. > > My racism was the sort of generalized prejudice that was never actually directed at individuals. That is, i never used racist language against a member of a minority group, or physically assaulted anyone. The extent of my racism was my mates and i complaining to one another in derogatory terms about immigrants and Aborigines, and using racist epithets to describe them among ourselves. And that is a huuuuge difference. It takes a very different level of lack of empathy for someone else to take _action_ on someone you look upon as “lesser being” than it is to just look down on them inside. Whether it’s insulting them, pushing them around or holding them down and forcibly giving them a haircut, for one to go so far out of their own way to degrade another human being betrays a serious lack of understanding of how they might feel about it, or of course simply not giving a fuck. Actually, it’s worse than not giving a fuck: it’s giving a fuck that they are made to feel smaller. And not even remembering doing something that traumatic to someone else ? Not remembering you once inflicted that kind of harm ? That’s mondo fucked up, and it betrays the fact that he hadn’t realized what he’d done was a bad thing, not back then, and not in the long years since. We forget things about our lives, certainly. Names and places, things we’ve done, things we’ve said, good or bad - but never things that made us feel worse about ourselves. The shameful shit - that stays with you forever. That’s what floats back up to the surface, unbidden, on long nights when we’d rather remember how the first time we touched a tit felt like. The things you did that you knew were wrong and you knew you shouldn’t have done but did anyway and immediately regretted doing. Those leaves scars. Those should leave scars. And if they didn’t, then it must be that they never \*really \*wounded you, or bothered you. ---
**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:** [May 11, 2012, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5403 "2012-05-11T21:42:54Z")
Republican proposes[cutting funding for Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/10/john-lewis-paul-broun-voting-rights_n_1507300.html): > [@](#): > > Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) introduced an amendment to cut all funding for enforcement of [a part of the Voting Rights Act of 1965](http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/vot/sec_5/about.php) intended to prevent racial discrimination. The provision, Section 5, requires a number of states and counties, mostly in the South, to receive federal approval before changing their election laws. > > “I know firsthand how onerous this law is," Broun said. Broun was quickly taken to the woodshed by civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), who denounced he amendment from the floor of the House > [@](#): > > “It’s shameful that you would come here tonight and say to the Department of Justice that you must not use one penny, one cent, one dime, one dollar to carry out the mandate of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.” > > “People died for the right to vote – friends of mine, colleagues of mine,” Lewis said. “I speak out against this amendment.” Broun withdrew the amendment. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2012, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5404 "2012-05-11T21:45:36Z")
Police found a battered body in a local woodshed today. The victim is described as an utter asshole, approximately three inches tall… ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2012, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5405 "2012-05-11T21:50:58Z")
Well, so he wasn’t **totally** stupid. Just mainly. ---
**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:** [May 11, 2012, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5406 "2012-05-11T22:02:47Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > I tend to agree about this. > > My main problem with Romney in this case is not what he did as a teenager; it’s the way that he’s handling the issue now. Absolutely agree. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2012, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5407 "2012-05-11T22:09:00Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > I tend to agree about this. > > My main problem with Romney in this case is not what he did as a teenager; it’s the way that he’s handling the issue now. And I think there are a lot of\* far\* more compelling reasons to have problems with Romney for president than what he did as a teenager or even how he’s been handling it. ---
**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:** [May 11, 2012, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5408 "2012-05-11T22:10:16Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > And I think there are a lot of\* far\* more compelling reasons to have problems with Romney for president than what he did as a teenager or even how he’s been handling it. Sure there are. Fortunately, there is room for all of them in Mitt’s permanent record. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2012, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5409 "2012-05-12T20:25:12Z")
Republicans would like to have \*less \*data on which to make decisions. [They’re sponsoring a new bill to reduce the census](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/09/house-votes-cut-census-survey_n_1504748.html). No need for pesky facts! They just get in the way. ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2012, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5410 "2012-05-12T21:43:00Z")
Who wants to put money on [this woman](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nMANMIe0ZZI) being a Democrat? ---
**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:** [May 13, 2012, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5411 "2012-05-13T01:28:14Z")
[Sen. Rand Paul opines](http://news.yahoo.com/rand-paul-says-didnt-think-obamas-views-could-235037656--abc-news-politics.html)on the President’s views on same sex marriage: > [@](#): > > “The president recently weighed in on marriage and you know he said his views were evolving on marriage,” the Kentucky Republican said at Iowa’s Faith and Freedom Coalition meeting. > > “Call me cynical, but I wasn’t sure his views on marriage could get any gayer.” I thought libertarians supported same sex marriage? ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5412 "2012-05-13T01:32:08Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > [Sen. Rand Paul opines](http://news.yahoo.com/rand-paul-says-didnt-think-obamas-views-could-235037656--abc-news-politics.html)on the President’s views on same sex marriage:I thought libertarians supported same sex marriage? The Pauls are Christians, so the invisible hand is holding a rosary. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5413 "2012-05-13T02:43:19Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > The Pauls are Christians, so the invisible hand is holding a rosary. That’s **not** a rosary~ :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5414 "2012-05-13T02:47:36Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > That’s **not** a rosary~ :eek: [Easy mistake to make.](http://divine-interventions.com/religioustoys.php) \<–NSFW ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5415 "2012-05-13T16:19:51Z")
> [@gamerunknown](#): > > Who wants to put money on [this woman](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nMANMIe0ZZI) being a Democrat? I am a huge fan of that guy sitting behind her. ---
**Author:** ![Batfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Batfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batfish)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5416 "2012-05-13T23:42:18Z")
[Ronulans](http://newsok.com/oklahoma-republicans-elect-delegates-to-national-convention/article/3675104) stirring the shit. Maybe not a Republican stupid idea but it’s certainly fun to point and laugh. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5417 "2012-05-15T03:23:13Z")
I offer up this [one](http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/05/republican-navy-biofuel/)… The US Navy has had their “Green Fleet” initiative blocked by the Republicans. \* "In its report on next year’s Pentagon budget, the House Armed Services Committee banned the Defense Department from making or buying an alternative fuel that costs more than a “traditional fossil fuel.” It’s a standard that may be almost impossible to meet, energy experts believe; there’s almost no way the tiny, experimental biofuel industry can hope to compete on price with the massive, century-old fossil fuels business. Committee Republicans, like Rep. Randy Forbes, insist this isn’t an attempt to kill off military biofuels before they have a chance to start. “Now, look, I love green energy,” he said in February. “It’s a matter of priorities.” But if the measure becomes law, it would make it all-but-inconceivable for the Pentagon to buy the renewable fuels. It would likely scuttle one of the top priorities of Navy Secretary Ray Mabus. And it might very well suffocate the gasping biofuel industry, which was looking to the Pentagon to help it survive."\* ---
**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:** [May 15, 2012, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5418 "2012-05-15T05:26:04Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > _Committee Republicans, like Rep. Randy Forbes, insist this isn’t an attempt to kill off military biofuels before they have a chance to start. “Now, look, I love green energy,” he said in February._ _“My best friend is a green energy”_, he continued. _“Still, you have to admit, these energies are not like us, are they ?”_ ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5419 "2012-05-15T22:46:26Z")
This is a fun one: [Republican New Hampshire state legislator shouts “Sieg Heil” during session,](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/15/steve-vaillancourt-new-hampshire-lawmaker-voter-id_n_1518432.html) gets thrown out of the chamber, has to have a committee formed to “convince him” before he apologizes appropriately - and the kicker at the end of the article, the party chairman holds the incident up as an example of DEMOCRATS being “partisan.” ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5420 "2012-05-15T23:14:40Z")
> [@Jenaroph](#): > > This is a fun one: > > [Republican New Hampshire state legislator shouts “Sieg Heil” during session,](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/15/steve-vaillancourt-new-hampshire-lawmaker-voter-id_n_1518432.html) gets thrown out of the chamber, has to have a committee formed to “convince him” before he apologizes appropriately - and the kicker at the end of the article, the party chairman holds the incident up as an example of DEMOCRATS being “partisan.” So, a Republican House Speaker kicks out a Republican legislator…and somehow the Democrats were at fault? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=270) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=272)