# 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:** 299
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5961 "2012-07-14T05:54:10Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Not sure if this is a stupid Republican idea, or just a stupid Fox News idea, but [one of today’s Cracked columns points](http://www.cracked.com/blog/10-baffling-romance-tips-from-sociopaths-at-fox-news/) out an editorial choice which is just mind-boggling in its stupidity; Seanbaby writes for Cracked? Cool! I think he may be overreacting. Sounds like Ms. Milt got an assignment she hated and decided to totally troll it. Or she’s really kooky. Hard to say. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5962 "2012-07-14T07:06:13Z")
> [@Spavined\_Gelding](#): > > I’m not sure that [this](http://thegazette.com/2012/07/13/state-senate-candidate-drops-out-says-she-will-be-part-of-alternate-government-2/) can be hung around the neck of the whole Republican party but it is stupid, and a bit strange. In short, the person selected in the primary to run for the seat in the state senate for suburban Cedar Rapids has withdrawn from the election. She says she is pulling out because she has joined an alternative government as the appointed US Senator for the Republic of Iowa – an outfit distinct from the State of Iowa and the United States. Apparently it is this bunch’s position that there has been no legitimate government at any level since 1871. And that’ll help how? I mean, yes, obviously all citizens of libertarian ideals should simply refuse to participate in the actual government, instead making up fantasy governments while still paying taxes to the real one! They can pay taxes to both! Or hate the one that actually does anything while loving the one that _makes no actual demands on them._ The totally totally fake one. Of course a home-schooler would think this brilliant. I mean, because yes, it is. It’s brilliant and subtile, and the whole corrupt Washington system will collapse because everyone is _playing pretend government in their game rooms._ :I don’t have a smiley that captures the expression I really want to give: ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5963 "2012-07-14T14:26:53Z")
Well, it does make sense for people for whom government is the problem to eschew government. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5964 "2012-07-14T19:14:48Z")
No, it doesn’t make sense\* for them.\* Yes, it’s (temporarily) great for the rest of us if they work out their libertarian obsessions in roleplay, but it’s just denial, and gets them what exactly? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5965 "2012-07-14T19:32:43Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > No, it doesn’t make sense\* for them.\* Yes, it’s (temporarily) great for the rest of us if they work out their libertarian obsessions in roleplay, but it’s just denial, and gets them what exactly? A boner? ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5966 "2012-07-15T19:33:09Z")
I think we have a winner. [http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/07/14/iowa-republican-says-government-illegitimate-declares-herself-u-s-senator/](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/07/14/iowa-republican-says-government-illegitimate-declares-herself-u-s-senator/) We can close the thread now. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5967 "2012-07-15T19:47:04Z")
Nah. That’s not a stupid Republican. That’s just your garden variety wackjob. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5968 "2012-07-15T19:53:38Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > Nah. That’s not a stupid Republican. That’s just your garden variety wackjob. Also it was mentioned less than 10 posts ago in #5958. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5969 "2012-07-15T20:47:31Z")
> [@BigAppleBucky](#): > > when Romney was running for governor of Massachusetts and trying to establish his residency, his sworn testimony was that he sat on the board of the LifeLike Co., a dollmaker that was a Bain investment during the period, remained on the board of the Staples Corporation and Marriott International, and also noted that he regularly traveled back to Massachusetts on business trips. It’s OK, though. Turns out he [retired retroactively.](http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/07/15/517751/romney-adviser-romney-not-responsible-for-bain-because-he-retired-retroactively/) ---
**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:** [July 15, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5970 "2012-07-15T21:30:52Z")
> [@Frostillicus](#): > > I think we have a winner. > > [http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/07/14/iowa-republican-says-government-illegitimate-declares-herself-u-s-senator/](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/07/14/iowa-republican-says-government-illegitimate-declares-herself-u-s-senator/) > > We can close the thread now. From the link: > [@](#): > > And, since she believes the government has been a false one for a century and a half, she considers all amendments to the Bill of Rights from the 14th on to be invalid. I wonder if she includes #19 in that list. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5971 "2012-07-15T21:58:38Z")
Can we just go ahead and add “Republican voters chose Mitt Romney to be their nominee” to this thread? I’m glad to see him getting hammered by Obama on his corporate sleeziness/possible felony. ---
**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:** [July 15, 2012, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5972 "2012-07-15T22:06:56Z")
> [@Frostillicus](#): > > I think we have a winner. > > [http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/07/14/iowa-republican-says-government-illegitimate-declares-herself-u-s-senator/](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/07/14/iowa-republican-says-government-illegitimate-declares-herself-u-s-senator/) My favorite bit: > [@](#): > > In a statement riddled with curious capitalization Ah, brings back memories… [QUOTE=Robert E. McElwaine] UN-altered REPRODUCTION and DISSEMINATION of this IMPORTANT Information is ENCOURAGED, ESPECIALLY to COMPUTER BULLETIN BOARDS. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5973 "2012-07-15T22:27:38Z")
Quick, someone tell her about the gold fringe rule. That oughta make for some good tv. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5974 "2012-07-15T23:46:19Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Quick, someone tell her about the gold fringe rule. That oughta make for some good tv. She knows. That’s one of the hallmarks of the Sovereign Citizen cult. ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5975 "2012-07-16T16:43:45Z")
Oh, by the way, I’m the king of sealand. We’re a _monarchical_ autonomous collective. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5976 "2012-07-16T21:19:45Z")
[Romney says that he’s not releasing his tax returns because the information in them will make him look bad.](http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2012/07/16/519241/romney-suggests-releasing-additional-tax-returns-could-be-politically-damaging/) I’m reminded of Jim Carrey in “Liar Liar” trying to win a divorce hearing while magically compelled to tell the truth. “Objection!” “On what grounds?” “It’s incredibly damaging to my case!” “Overruled.” “Good call!” ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5977 "2012-07-16T21:51:45Z")
> [@gamerunknown](#): > > Oh, by the way, I’m the king of sealand. We’re a _monarchical_ autonomous collective. Funny; I first read that as “_maniacal_ autonomous collective.” ---
**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:** [July 16, 2012, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5978 "2012-07-16T22:46:36Z")
> [@gamerunknown](#): > > Oh, by the way, I’m the king of sealand. We’re a _monarchical_ autonomous collective. King, eh. Well I didn’t vote for you. Look, supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony. ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5979 "2012-07-17T01:25:03Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > It’s OK, though. Turns out he [retired retroactively.](http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/07/15/517751/romney-adviser-romney-not-responsible-for-bain-because-he-retired-retroactively/) Retroactive retirement and self deportation. The man is brilliant! ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/5980 "2012-07-17T01:46:07Z")
If Romney loses the election, I wonder if he’ll retroactively suspend his campaign back to February. He could probably save a fortune; wouldn’t have to pay any staff, that sort of thing. He could channel all the contributions to RomneyPAC. And best of all, since he wasn’t a candidate, all these allegations about outsourcing would never have happened and he’d then be a viable candidate for 2016. He’d be a fool not to do it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=298) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=300)