# 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:** 308
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6141 "2012-07-31T02:17:06Z")
You know a Republican has really stuffed up when [he is getting slapped around on Fox](http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/blogs/altered-states/its-beyond-human-understanding-romney-gaffes-mount-up-20120731-23beu.html). > [@](#): > > Mitt Romney’s diplomatic foot-shooting spree in London last week provoked the trenchantly conservative Fox News contributor Charles Krauthammer to lament, “It’s unbelievable, it’s beyond human understanding, it’s incomprehensible. I’m out of adjectives.” > Fox viewers will be relieved to learn Krauthammer has recovered since then and secured some more adjectives. In a column since he has described Romney’s critique of Britain’s handling of the Olympics as “inexplicably dumb and gratuitous.” > [@](#): > > This morning Mr Romney’s Israel visit was drawing to a close when he again provoked an angry response, telling a crowd of supporters, “as I come here, and I look out over this city and consider the accomplishments of the people of this nation, I recognise the power of at least culture and a few other things.”

 > Among the “other things” was, he said, was “the hand of providence in selecting this place.” > Palestinian leaders responded with outrage. > “Oh my god, this man needs a lot of education,” said Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, reported the Los Angeles Times. > “What he said about the culture is racism.” The “Israeli occupation” is “the reason” for the income disparity, Erekat added. > > Romney’s failure to find a more diplomatic form of words while making public comments in one of the most fraught regions on earth is clearly more cause for concern than his accident-prone domestic campaigning. ---
**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 31, 2012, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6142 "2012-07-31T05:01:23Z")
After his multi-gaffe stopovers in Olde London town and Israel, one wonders what he’ll do for an encore in Poland. Maybe diss Lech Walesa or John Paul 2? Or maybe something more subtle like saying something about Polish complicity in the killing of their Jews. An embarrassment to America, for sure. Frankly, all the silly gaffes may be forgiven, but what about his meddling in Middle East politics by telling the Israelis he’d back an attack by them on Iran? > **[Mitt Romney backs Israeli military action against Iran](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/mitt-romney/9436624/Mitt-Romney-backs-Israeli-military-action-against-Iran.html)** > > Mitt Romney gave his backing to a unilateral Israeli military strike against Iran, insisting he would not stand-by while the "ayatollahs in Tehran" threatened to wipe the Jewish state "off the map". It’s not as if the region really needs more gasoline thrown into the fire. ---
**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 31, 2012, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6143 "2012-07-31T05:52:07Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Uh… really? Did you miss “U-becky-becky-stan-stan”, and “I believe these words came from the Pokémon movie”? Just so we don’t start calling septimus stupid, my “Cain seems less stupid than some Republican candidates” is what’s called a _left-handed compliment_. Perhaps I should have appended one of the smiling glyphs. Anyway, I stand by my remark. If faced with the choices of Bachman, Palin, Perry, Gingrich or Cain to take the oath of President, who would you pick? My instinct might be to go with Cain. ---
**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 31, 2012, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6144 "2012-07-31T07:18:39Z")
> [@BigAppleBucky](#): > > After his multi-gaffe stopovers in Olde London town and Israel, one wonders what he’ll do for an encore in Poland. Maybe diss Lech Walesa or John Paul 2? Or maybe something more subtle like saying something about Polish complicity in the killing of their Jews. Do you think a light bulb joke is completely out of the question? ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6145 "2012-07-31T08:06:57Z")
Don’t worry; he’ll tell it slowly. ---
**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 31, 2012, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6146 "2012-07-31T11:18:04Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Don’t worry; he’ll tell it slowly. And when it falls flat, laugh at his own joke and try to explain it. ---
**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 31, 2012, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6147 "2012-07-31T13:33:45Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Just so we don’t start calling septimus stupid, my “Cain seems less stupid than some Republican candidates” is what’s called a _left-handed compliment_. Perhaps I should have appended one of the smiling glyphs. Oops. Missed the “some”. Carry on. ---
**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 31, 2012, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6148 "2012-07-31T14:30:46Z")
The Poland swing of the Romney triumphant world tour: [Romney aide loses cool, curses at press](http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/31/romney-aide-loses-cool-curses-at-press-in-poland/?hpt=hp_t3) Way to go, Team Romney! Keep those gateways to publicity looking kindly on you at all times, oh yeh. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6149 "2012-07-31T14:44:28Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > The Poland swing of the Romney triumphant world tour: > > [Romney aide loses cool, curses at press](http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/31/romney-aide-loses-cool-curses-at-press-in-poland/?hpt=hp_t3) > > Way to go, Team Romney! Keep those gateways to publicity looking kindly on you at all times, oh yeh. From the article: > [@](#): > > Gorka: “Kiss my ass. This is a Holy site for the Polish people. Show some respect.” That really made me laugh. ---
**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 31, 2012, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6150 "2012-07-31T15:09:52Z")
Not to mention that it’s not a “holy site”, per se. It’s basically the WWI memorial (unknown soldier?), which is a solemn site, but not a sacred one. The only times that the press asking questions would be rude would be in the middle of something like the changing of the guard or a memorial ceremony of some kind. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6151 "2012-07-31T15:13:16Z")
> [@BigAppleBucky](#): > > Romney did not misspeak, he WAS misinterpreted or misrepresented. FTFY. What he said was: > [@](#): > > “You know, it’s hard to know just how well it will turn out,” Romney told NBC. “There are a few things that were disconcerting. The stories about the private security firm not having enough people, the supposed strike of the immigration and customs officials … that obviously is not something which is encouraging.” His statement is exactly correct. And of course, the liberals are howling like broke-dick dogs over it. ---
**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 31, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6152 "2012-07-31T15:17:42Z")
As Mike Barnacle pointed out on Morning Joe, when you are a guest in someone else’s home you don’t criticize the yellow naugahide couch. He wasn’t there to offer critique’s on security; he was there to make nice-nice. It doesn’t bother me that he said it, or that he’s correct, it just makes me laugh to see him go to England and then shit in their punch bowl. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6153 "2012-07-31T15:17:59Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > FTFY. > > His statement is exactly correct. And of course, the liberals are howling like broke-dick dogs over it. lol, you got stuck having to vote for Mitt Romney. That must suck. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6154 "2012-07-31T15:21:59Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > FTFY. > > His statement is exactly correct. And of course, the liberals are howling like broke-dick dogs over it. Yes it was - and entirely undiplomatic. “I love what you’ve done with your hair” vs “Are you going to sue?” “What a beautiful baby” vs “go ahead, I’ll hold your monkey for you” [spoiler]this was the top joke in the UK: ``` A woman gets on a bus with her baby. The bus driver says: "That's the ugliest baby that I've ever seen. Ugh!" The woman goes to the rear of the bus and sits down, fuming. She says to a man next to her: "The driver just insulted me!" The man says: "You go right up there and tell him off – go ahead, I'll hold your monkey for you."[/spoiler] ``` Or, as my mother said - if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6155 "2012-07-31T15:22:45Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > FTFY. > > What he said was: > > His statement is exactly correct. And of course, the liberals are howling like broke-dick dogs over it. First of all, you’ve been on this board for 12 year and don’t know you can’t edit people’s posts? Secondly, are you fucking full on retarded? You are, aren’t you. Nobody’s claiming Romney isn’t correct in his assessment. In fact, most of us agree he was correct. What we’re complaining about is his going over as a guest on a diplomatic trip and shitting all over his host’s country. Which is exactly what he did and rightly pissed the whole of Britain off when he did it. ---
**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 31, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6156 "2012-07-31T15:31:25Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > His statement is exactly correct. And of course, the liberals are howling like broke-dick dogs over it. Yes, even well-known liberal Charles Krauthammer is outraged. ---
**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 31, 2012, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6157 "2012-07-31T15:39:26Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Yes, even well-known liberal Charles Krauthammer is outraged. Well…it’s entirely possible (considering that we’re talking about Clothy here) that Krauthammer IS a liberal to him… ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6158 "2012-07-31T15:45:12Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > …Or, as my mother said - if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. Oh? Well, never mind, then. Gonna miss posting here. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6159 "2012-07-31T15:48:20Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Yes, even well-known liberal Charles Krauthammer is outraged. That’s my line of thought.. Lots of American conservatives have been upset about Mitt’s missteps and misstatements across the pond. And, all Brits are libs, now, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6160 "2012-07-31T15:59:04Z")
His Olympic comments show nothing about his preparedness or qualification for POTUS. They were small blunders/faux pas that even if elected would have no long-term bearing on the state of the nation. With a few exceptions (say, if Condi or Clinton decided to run), there is and should be an expected learning curve with regards to protocol. Consider a couple alternatives. Had Palin said something similar, people would rightfully call attention to it as a hallmark of her utter lack of qualification to act on an international stage. Not because the single comment would be so abhorrent, but because it would be one point in a profound constellation of stupidity and evidence of overall ineptness. Or compare his Olympics comments with his sabre rattling in the Mideast. Aside from basing his policies on ‘not Obama’, pushing and intimating a soundbite stance in a volatile region is downright dangerous. The Olympic comments have nothing on this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=307) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=309)