# 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:** 307
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6121 "2012-07-26T20:13:45Z")
I wish both parties would leave dumb shit like that alone. A chuckle, perhaps, if it’s really warranted–GW giving Merkel a backrub, for example–but making hay over protocol gaffes, implied slights, or general brain fartitude can be really tedious. Not that anyone here went over the line or even close. I’m thinking more along the lines of [TPM](http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/07/romney-london-olympics-gaffes.php?ref=fpa)’s front page. Just a general observation that I’m sick of playing “spot the misstep” with politicians. Yeah, a Palin or a Bachman probably have an abysmal actual stupid thing-to-minor gaffe ratio, and yeah, some things can be revealing, but stupid shit said isn’t an accurate barometer of political leadership. (People looking to advance in the diplomatic corps excepted) ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6122 "2012-07-26T20:41:20Z")
> [@BigAppleBucky](#): > > With his very first two forays (the Australian foreign minister was #1) into the international arena, Mitt has allowed his inner Ugly American to show. > > He’ll do better covering it up in the future. What happened with the Aussies? > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Tory. Unless I’m being whooshed. Me gud speler. ---
**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 26, 2012, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6123 "2012-07-26T20:42:15Z")
Yeah, the criticisms makes Romney look like someone who actually managed the games, and was slipping into managerial thinking. Not such a major gaffe in itself. But he could have softened it with a save, like, “Excuse me, I should say, I’m sure they’ll do fine.” As it is, we have one more reason not to vote for Romney; he’d make Cameron look good by comparison. Now, forgetting Ed Miliband’s name is interesting. Is Romney good with names? That can be kind of a big deal. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6124 "2012-07-26T20:49:51Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > Yeah, the criticisms makes Romney look like someone who actually managed the games, and was slipping into managerial thinking. Exactly what I was thinking. He’s approaching the question from a purely business perspective. The problem is that it plays right into the perception many people already have of Romney – that he thinks of the world in terms of business assessments, rather than the concerns of individuals, and that he can’t seem to adjust this point of view even when he’s speaking in a political context. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6125 "2012-07-27T00:30:44Z")
> [@Invisible\_Chimp](#): > > Jon Kyl wants Obama to shut up about the [middle class](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhPxmviD80s). It’s dangerous! He goes on to compare the rich to [Michael Jordan](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2012/07/23/jon-kyl-middle-class-obama_n_1696826.html). This was my favorite part: > [@Jon Kyl](#): > > In America, we believe that everyone can achieve the American dream regardless of background. That’s true. I believe that anyone can do this. It doesn’t matter that some people come from wealthy families, or from families with political connections that go back generations; even they can achieve the American dream! Look at Paris Hilton, or one of the Kennedy clan, or Kelly Osbourne! They managed to get past the wealth and fame and privilege and carve themselves a piece of the American pie! If they can do it, anyone can! ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6126 "2012-07-27T00:38:47Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > What happened with the Aussies? [http://news.yahoo.com/australian-official-clarifies-remark-romney-185027031.html](http://news.yahoo.com/australian-official-clarifies-remark-romney-185027031.html) > [@](#): > > SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Australia’s foreign minister says he wasn’t criticizing America when he spoke of a nation “in decline” during a private conversation with Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. > > Foreign Minister Bob Carr and other Australian officials said Monday that Carr was praising American economic strengths during Sunday’s meeting. The meeting was kept secret until Romney shared Carr’s comments with donors later in the day. Romney did not misspeak, he misinterpreted or misrepresented. ---
**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:** [July 27, 2012, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6127 "2012-07-27T01:22:26Z")
> [@BigAppleBucky](#): > > [Yahoo News: Latest and Breaking News, Headlines, Live Updates, and More](http://news.yahoo.com/australian-official-clarifies-remark-romney-185027031.html) > > Romney did not misspeak, he misinterpreted or misrepresented. If I was a politician from another country, I would not want to get within 5 miles of Romney, for fear that he’d take our conversation, twist it around and spread a bunch of crap to the world’s media. Crap that would get me in some trouble back home. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6128 "2012-07-27T01:29:27Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > I wish both parties would leave dumb shit like that alone. A chuckle, perhaps, if it’s really warranted–GW giving Merkel a backrub, for example–but making hay over protocol gaffes, implied slights, or general brain fartitude can be really tedious. Not that anyone here went over the line or even close. I’m thinking more along the lines of [TPM](http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/07/romney-london-olympics-gaffes.php?ref=fpa)’s front page. > > Just a general observation that I’m sick of playing “spot the misstep” with politicians. Yeah, a Palin or a Bachman probably have an abysmal actual stupid thing-to-minor gaffe ratio, and yeah, some things can be revealing, but stupid shit said isn’t an accurate barometer of political leadership. Generally, I agree with you. But why would officials like the Prime Minister of England and the Foreign Minister of Australia be meeting with a private citizen like Romney? Right now, he has no actual power or position. I assume they want to feel him out in case they have to spend the next four years dealing with him. For them, it’s a chance to vet the candidate. For the US public, it’s essentially a job interview. We get to see how he handles diplomacy and foreign policy. So, if you think of this as a job interview, how’s Romney doing? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6129 "2012-07-27T01:30:44Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > ``` > So, if you think of this as a job interview, how's Romney doing? > > ``` He flunks, badly. Sorry, see you later, then shred his application and resume. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6130 "2012-07-27T09:07:32Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > If I was a politician from another country, I would not want to get within 5 miles of Romney, for fear that he’d take our conversation, twist it around and spread a bunch of crap to the world’s media. Well, it’s a good thing he hasn’t been discussing anything with anyone in a manner requiring discretion and secrecy… […like, say, the head of MI6.](http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0712/79036.html) Romney also received a verbal smackdown from London Mayor Boris Johnson, but given that Boris was mostly elected for his entertainment value Mitt shouldn’t worry too much about that one. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6131 "2012-07-30T17:21:46Z")
[Stay classy, libertarians.](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dark-knight-rises-shooting-barack-obama-billboard-355636?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thr%2Fnews+%28The+Hollywood+Reporter+-+Top+Stories%29) ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6132 "2012-07-30T17:27:31Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > [Stay classy, libertarians.](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dark-knight-rises-shooting-barack-obama-billboard-355636?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thr%2Fnews+%28The+Hollywood+Reporter+-+Top+Stories%29) \Didn’t the foreign policy controversies come AFTER the Nobel?\ ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6133 "2012-07-30T17:32:36Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > [Stay classy, libertarians.](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dark-knight-rises-shooting-barack-obama-billboard-355636?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thr%2Fnews+%28The+Hollywood+Reporter+-+Top+Stories%29) Wow. When GWB was treated with disrespect, one heard shrieks of “Respect the office if not the man.” I’m curious if any Republicans (stupid or otherwise) have commented on this billboard. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6134 "2012-07-30T17:36:32Z")
Honest, decent Republicans are disgusted, of course. They are both quite upset. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6135 "2012-07-30T17:37:20Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > [Stay classy, libertarians.](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dark-knight-rises-shooting-barack-obama-billboard-355636?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thr%2Fnews+%28The+Hollywood+Reporter+-+Top+Stories%29) Are they actually Republicans? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6136 "2012-07-30T17:37:34Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > \Didn’t the foreign policy controversies come AFTER the Nobel?\ That, plus Obama promised during the campaign to INCREASE the number of troops in Afghanistan, not pull them out as Mr. Clements seems to claim. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6137 "2012-07-30T18:37:09Z")
The 2nd segment of [a recent Daily Show](http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/wed-july-25-2012-joseph-stiglitz) contains an interview with President Herman Cain. I’m not sure this is appropriate for this thread: Cain seems less stupid than some Republican candidates. Anyway, I’m really not sure if Cain is serious, or is opting for a 2nd career in self-parody. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6138 "2012-07-30T18:46:55Z")
Uh… really? Did you miss “U-becky-becky-stan-stan”, and “I believe these words came from the Pokémon movie”? ---
**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 30, 2012, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6139 "2012-07-30T21:42:18Z")
Romney had some kind words for Israel today. [QUOTE=Mitt Romney] Do you realize what health care spending is as a percentage of the G.D.P. in Israel? Eight percent. You spend eight percent of G.D.P. on health care. You’re a pretty healthy nation. We spend 18 percent of our G.D.P. on health care, 10 percentage points more. That gap, that 10 percent cost, compare that with the size of our military — our military which is 4 percent, 4 percent. Our gap with Israel is 10 points of G.D.P. We have to find ways — not just to provide health care to more people, but to find ways to fund and manage our health care costs. [/QUOTE] Presumably Romney either didn’t plan on anyone in America hearing this speech or looking up how the Israeli healthcare system works, but the reason their healthcare spending is so low, as it just so happens, is that [Israel has a universal healthcare system where all citizens are obligated to buy insurance or pay a penalty.](http://forward.com/articles/158550/israels-health-care-outpaces-us/?p=all#ixzz226wrKDeE) You know, just like the system that he’s vowed to _abolish_. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6140 "2012-07-30T21:44:35Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Romney had some kind words for Israel today. > > Presumably Romney either didn’t plan on anyone in America hearing this speech or looking up how the Israeli healthcare system works, but the reason their healthcare spending is so low, as it just so happens, is that [Israel has a universal healthcare system where all citizens are obligated to buy insurance or pay a penalty.](http://forward.com/articles/158550/israels-health-care-outpaces-us/?p=all#ixzz226wrKDeE) > > You know, just like the system that he’s vowed to _abolish_. If I had any faith in the American electorate, I would be heartened by these events. But that would require that they pay attention to speeches and draw conclusions; instead of just listening to attack ads and doing what Fox News tells them to do. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=306) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=308)