# 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:** 31
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/601 "2009-08-27T23:41:17Z")
> [@5-4-Fighting](#): > > something should have told her it would be quite impolitic to suggest the antidote to the Democrat [del]socialist[/del] progressive actions had to be _any_ particular race – and stopped herself. Sure, but Bobby Jindal’s gotta be disqualified _somehow_, doesn’t he? ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/602 "2009-08-27T23:50:43Z")
No no no… yer all ignorant and failed tenth grade English. It was _clearly_ a reference to Moby Dick. She was _clearly_ saying that the party needs is a strong, dedicated leader in pure pursuit of an ideal–who has hope–in capturing and subjugating the behemoth-like evil that exists in the world (the whale). That leader should stick to his or her principles, heedless of the waves and storms of tumultuous dissent that would lead the leader astray. She is Ishmael. Bacchman is her Queequeg. They are in search of an Ahab. Will Palin answer the call? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/603 "2009-08-27T23:58:32Z")
I didn’t have to read Moby Dick sophomore year. Since we were doing world literature then, that’s not surprising. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/604 "2009-08-28T00:15:36Z")
Your lack of refutation (three cite minimum with lines and circles and a paragraph on each of the Web pages) proves that I am correct. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/605 "2009-08-28T01:41:39Z")
Michael Steele was on NPR and gave his interviewer, Steve Inskeep a hard time because Inskeep called his answers “nuanced”. [Steele is a real idiot.](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112281170) ---
**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:** [August 28, 2009, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/606 "2009-08-28T01:47:42Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Sure, but Bobby Jindal’s gotta be disqualified _somehow_, doesn’t he? Jindal’s family is North Indian. In all probability he’s Aryan. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/607 "2009-08-28T04:34:19Z")
My god. He doesn’t know what nuanced means. Oh, Poochie… you make me sad. ---
**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:** [August 28, 2009, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/608 "2009-08-28T11:50:30Z")
> [@Punoqllads](#): > > Representative Lynn Jenkins (R - Kansas) said that the GOP is searching for a [great white hope](http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iTHvyXMSeuAHmv8eJyl7v2pmkgkgD9ABCLUO0). But she didn’t mean that in racial terms. I think I’ll have to give her a pass, too. It wasn’t until I had read the linked article that I knew where the phrase came from. I knew it had to do with boxing, and that was it. ---
**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:** [August 28, 2009, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/609 "2009-08-28T11:59:49Z")
[QUOTE=NPR Interview] INSKEEP: You said that’s something [“issues in the insurance market that we can regulate a little bit better”] that should be looked into. Who is it that should look into that? Mr. STEELE: I’m talking about those who - well, who regulates the insurance markets? INSKEEP: That would be the government, I believe. [/QUOTE] I think Steve Inskeep was getting frustrated at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/610 "2009-08-28T12:42:54Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > I think Steve Inskeep was getting frustrated at this point. I posted in one of the other threads that Inskeep has always annoyed me, but I have to hand it to him for not letting Steele get away too easy. Inskeep also gave a minor working-over to a guy this morning (on the topic of energy conservation). If he’s going to keep asking tough questions, I might have to start liking Inskeep after all. ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/611 "2009-08-28T12:55:46Z")
I think I’d give Rep. Jenkins a pass too. [Rex Rammell?](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/27/rex-rammell-idaho-goper-j_n_270751.html) Not so much. It may have been a joke, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a stupid thing to say. ---
**Author:** ![Batfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Batfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batfish)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/612 "2009-08-29T20:57:08Z")
> [@Trion](#): > > [Rex Rammell?](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/27/rex-rammell-idaho-goper-j_n_270751.html) Not so much. It may have been a joke, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a stupid thing to say. I predict a long-shot win, or a talk show on FOX. ---
**Author:** ![legalsnugs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@legalsnugs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/legalsnugs)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/613 "2009-09-01T13:22:46Z")
> [@Punoqllads](#): > > Representative Lynn Jenkins (R - Kansas) said that the GOP is searching for a [great white hope](http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iTHvyXMSeuAHmv8eJyl7v2pmkgkgD9ABCLUO0). But she didn’t mean that in racial terms. > [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > > [@Punoqllads](#): > > > > I’m willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. But it was a really, really dumb idea. > > I think I’ll have to give her a pass, too. It wasn’t until I had read the linked article that I knew where the phrase came from. I knew it had to do with boxing, and that was it. Apparently we were too quick to ascribe simple naivety to Ms. Jenkins. A month before she made this statement, she “supported a resolution that included the very phrase ‘great white hope’ in a historical context that made clear its origin.” [Link](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/31/gop-rep-behind-great-whit_n_272589.html). The resolution stated in pertinent part: “Whereas the victory by Jack Johnson over Tommy Burns prompted a search for a White boxer who could beat Jack Johnson, a recruitment effort that was dubbed the search for the ‘great white hope.’” She later explains this away by saying she did not read the resolution she was supporting. So she’s either dishonest or incompetent. Or both. Definitely stupid. ---
**Author:** ![legalsnugs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@legalsnugs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/legalsnugs)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/614 "2009-09-01T13:45:07Z")
Oh, and here’s another Republican talking out of his butt about healthcare: [Link](http://beltwayblips.dailyradar.com/video/youtube_republican_congressman_olson_uses_child_s/). At a Texas townhall meeting, Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX) uses the story of Britney and her unborn child to say that the baby would not have been born under the proposed public option. When attenders point out that the\* insurance company\* made her search for a doctor more difficult, Mr. Olson abruptly ends the meeting. I lolled! They can dish it out, but they sure can’t take it! ---
**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:** [September 1, 2009, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/615 "2009-09-01T13:45:53Z")
> [@legalsnugs](#): > > Apparently we were too quick to ascribe simple naivety to Ms. Jenkins. A month before she made this statement, she “supported a resolution that included the very phrase ‘great white hope’ in a historical context that made clear its origin.” > Link. The resolution stated in pertinent part: “Whereas the victory by Jack Johnson over Tommy Burns prompted a search for a White boxer who could beat Jack Johnson, a recruitment effort that was dubbed the search for the ‘great white hope.’” > > She later explains this away by saying she did not read the resolution she was supporting. So she’s either dishonest or incompetent. Or both. Definitely stupid. It doesn’t count - we all know no one in Congress reads the bills it passes. ---
**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:** [September 1, 2009, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/616 "2009-09-01T13:50:30Z")
> [@legalsnugs](#): > > Apparently we were too quick to ascribe simple naivety to Ms. Jenkins. A month before she made this statement, she “supported a resolution that included the very phrase ‘great white hope’ in a historical context that made clear its origin.” > [Link](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/31/gop-rep-behind-great-whit_n_272589.html). The resolution stated in pertinent part: “Whereas the victory by Jack Johnson over Tommy Burns prompted a search for a White boxer who could beat Jack Johnson, a recruitment effort that was dubbed the search for the ‘great white hope.’” > > She later explains this away by saying she did not read the resolution she was supporting. So she’s either dishonest or incompetent. Or both. Definitely stupid. Pass revoked. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/617 "2009-09-01T15:50:23Z")
> [@legalsnugs](#): > > Oh, and here’s another Republican talking out of his butt about healthcare: > > [Link](http://beltwayblips.dailyradar.com/video/youtube_republican_congressman_olson_uses_child_s/). > > At a Texas townhall meeting, Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX) uses the story of Britney and her unborn child to say that the baby would not have been born under the proposed public option. When attenders point out that the\* insurance company\* made her search for a doctor more difficult, Mr. Olson abruptly ends the meeting. > > I lolled! They can dish it out, but they sure can’t take it! How sad, how very, very sad. He’s making his case because _she’s_ convinced her son wouldn’t have been born? And who convinced her, asshole? Fucking pathetic. No, wait, what’s truly pathetic is his response of “don’t talk to me, talk to her!” Sickening. Fear mongering demagoguery: 1 Democracy: 0 ☹ ---
**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:** [September 1, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/618 "2009-09-01T19:21:03Z")
[Mike Huckabee, (R-Jesusland)](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/28/huckabee-kennedy-would-ha_n_271605.html) : > [@](#): > > The 2008 Republican presidential candidate suggested during his radio show, “The Huckabee Report,” on Thursday that, under President Obama’s health care plan, Kennedy would have been told to “go home to take pain pills and die” during his last year of life. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/619 "2009-09-01T19:32:07Z")
> [@](#): > > ‘Atheists are out to get us!’ says Catholic League president… > > “And not just atheists,” said Bill Donohue during an August 31st Fox News interview. “I’m talking about people who are disaffected Catholics and Protestants who are mutineers within their own religion, trying to change things.” It wasn’t just “militant, dogmatic” atheists and “disaffected” Christians that the Catholic League president complained about either. Donohue also had a few choice words for magicians Penn & Teller whose Showtime series, Penn & Teller: Bullsh\*t!, just ran an episode on the history of the Catholic Church. "This was the most Nazi-like assault,” Donohue said. “The most unrelenting half an hour of bashing I’ve ever seen.” From [here](http://www.examiner.com/x-8947-LA-Atheism-Examiner~y2009m8d31-Atheists-are-out-to-get-us-says-Catholic-League-president). Okay, I’ll grant that Donohue might not be exactly a Republican, though I don’t remember ever seeing him attack Republicans–only Democrats and, apparently, TV shows. Penn and Teller are like NAZIS, yo. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/620 "2009-09-01T19:40:59Z")
Wow, everyone’s a Nazi these days! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=30) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=32)