# 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:** 36
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/701 "2009-09-28T13:21:57Z")
> [@Trion](#): > > So, porn is an evil plot to make me gay? > > Why would people want me to be gay? It leaves more women for those of us with self-control? 😃 ---
**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:** [September 28, 2009, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/702 "2009-09-28T14:24:25Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Old stupid republican idea of the day just bought to light. Didn’t think it deserved it’s own thread, so I put it here. > > [Tony Blair and the freaking president of Colombia get Medals of Freedom](http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2009/01/20090113-7.html) but JK Rowlings does not. And not because she wrote what some describe as mediocre books or that these books lack cultural significance but because [Harry Potter promotes and encourages witchcraft.](http://thinkprogress.org/2009/09/24/bush-officials-objected-to-awarding-medal-to-j-k-rowling-because-harry-potter-books-promote-witchcraft/) The only thing dumber than Tony Blair getting the Medal is Rowlings getting it. BTW, your link has no reference to Rowlings whatsoever. Why should a writer of mediocre fantasy books get a Presidential medal? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/703 "2009-09-28T14:29:13Z")
The Rowlings item is in the second link. The award can be given for “contributions to culture,” so I imagine the thinking behind giving it to JKR would be for getting kids to read. ---
**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:** [September 28, 2009, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/704 "2009-09-28T14:32:09Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I’ve seen Oily Taint around a lot. Oily Titz is new to me. She really does look like Lady GaGa rode hard and put away wet. Oily Taint is mine, in the sense that I came up with it myself, but I’m sure someone else came up with it independently before me. ---
**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:** [September 28, 2009, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/705 "2009-09-28T14:32:25Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > The only thing dumber than Tony Blair getting the Medal is Rowlings getting it. BTW, your link has no reference to Rowlings whatsoever. > > Why should a writer of mediocre fantasy books get a Presidential medal? There are two links. As I said, if the reason for Bush not giving her the medal was because he thought her writing was mediocre, that wouldn’t be stupid at all. But his reason for not giving her the medal is because of witchcraft, which is stupid. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/706 "2009-09-28T15:05:53Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > As I said, if the reason for Bush not giving her the medal was because he thought her writing was mediocre, that wouldn’t be stupid at all. But his reason for not giving her the medal is because of witchcraft, which is stupid. Though the reasoning may be idiotic, I can’t say I disagree with the final result. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/707 "2009-09-28T15:14:10Z")
While the writing may not be Shakespeare, I don’t think there’s much argument that _Harry Potter_ is a huge contribution to culture. _HP_ is going to be with us for a long, long time. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/708 "2009-09-28T15:18:10Z")
I don’t think it would be for the quality of the books, _per se_, but for her contributions to literacy in general by encouraging and popularizing recreational reading among children (and even some adults). ---
**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:** [September 28, 2009, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/709 "2009-09-28T15:19:08Z")
Not that long, since the last book was the final novel in the series. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/710 "2009-09-29T20:31:08Z")
So have you heard? Apparently, Obama is [“an Enemy of Humanity”](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/29/gop-rep-trent-franks-call_n_302713.html) now. ---
**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:** [September 29, 2009, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/711 "2009-09-29T20:54:11Z")
Resistance is futile. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/712 "2009-09-29T22:08:32Z")
He also went to the birth certificate well. I guess this is the new way for obscure, back bencher Republicans to raise a little cash. Make the most hyperbolic accusations against Obama that you can think of, and you become an instant folk hero to the teabaggers. ---
**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:** [September 29, 2009, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/713 "2009-09-29T22:13:22Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > So have you heard? Apparently, Obama is [“an Enemy of Humanity”](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/29/gop-rep-trent-franks-call_n_302713.html) now. Hannity too. ---
**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:** [September 29, 2009, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/714 "2009-09-29T22:48:38Z")
Well, we already know he was against god. Now he’s against humanity. What’s left? Oh yeah, he DOES like puppies, I think. But only Kennedyesque puppies. ---
**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:** [September 30, 2009, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/715 "2009-09-30T00:22:10Z")
Of course Bush would not give JKR an award. The last time he read a kid’s book the WTC went down. ---
**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:** [September 30, 2009, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/716 "2009-09-30T02:07:01Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Of course Bush would not give JKR an award. The last time he read a kid’s book the WTC went down. I suspect witchcraft. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/717 "2009-10-08T05:45:36Z")
We have a [30-way tie](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/07/meet-the-senators-who-vot_n_312976.html) here, but first, [a little background](http://thinkprogress.org/2009/09/16/jones-sue-kbr/)… > [@](#): > > In 2005, Jamie Leigh Jones was gang-raped by her co-workers while she was working for Halliburton/KBR in Baghdad. In an apparent attempt to cover up the incident, the company then put her in a shipping container for at least 24 hours without food, water, or a bed, and “warned her that if she left Iraq for medical treatment, she’d be out of a job.” Even more insultingly, the DOJ resisted bringing any criminal charges in the matter. KBR argued that Jones’ employment contract warranted her claims being heard in private arbitration — without jury, judge, public record, or transcript of the proceedings. After 15 months in arbitration, Jones and her lawyers went to court to fight the KBR claims. Yesterday, a court ruled in favor of Jones. > > … More at link, of course. New Senator Al Franken introduced > [@](#): > > [an amendment to the Defense Appropriations bill](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/07/franken-gets-first-amendm_n_312399.html) that would punish contractors if they “restrict their employees from taking workplace sexual assault, battery and discrimination cases to court.” You’d think that this would be a no-brainer, actually, but that didn’t stop Jeff Sessions from labeling Franken’s effort a “political attack directed at Halliburton.” Franken, of course, pointed out that his amendment would apply broadly, to all contractors, because otherwise, ['twould be a bill of attainder](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/24/gop-fail-congressional-re_n_298698.html), right? Right? Giving a great gift to political opponents trying to come up with good campaign ads, 30 Republicans voted against Franken’s amendment. It passed 68-30. Here are the rape supporters and Stupid Republicans of the Day: > [@](#): > > Alexander (R-TN) > Barrasso (R-WY) > Bond (R-MO) > Brownback (R-KS) > Bunning (R-KY) > Burr (R-NC) > Chambliss (R-GA) > Coburn (R-OK) > Cochran (R-MS) > Corker (R-TN) > Cornyn (R-TX) > Crapo (R-ID) > DeMint (R-SC) > Ensign (R-NV) > Enzi (R-WY) > Graham (R-SC) > Gregg (R-NH) > Inhofe (R-OK) > Isakson (R-GA) > Johanns (R-NE) > Kyl (R-AZ) > McCain (R-AZ) > McConnell (R-KY) > Risch (R-ID) > Roberts (R-KS) > Sessions (R-AL) > Shelby (R-AL) > Thune (R-SD) > Vitter (R-LA) > Wicker (R-MS) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/718 "2009-10-08T06:05:09Z")
I utterly cannot fathom that vote. Can’t get my mind around it, when I try, my mind hocks it back up like a cat with a hair ball. There’s a pro-rape demographic somewhere? What the fuck are they thinking? ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/719 "2009-10-08T06:29:55Z")
As should be obvious to any thinking individual, these people are not supporters of rape. :rolleyes: How utterly ridiculous. This is the type of inflammatory, over-the-top rhetoric that has caused so much of this country to be at each others’ throats and has made it virtually impossible for the two sides to come to agreement on anything. The people voting against it are simply people who see no need to get the government involved when rape is already illegal. Anyone who is raped can bring charges and have their case heard in court. And if a company interferes or attempts to prevent it for whatever reason, they can be sued. In other words, remedies already exist. Democrats want to get government involved in everything possible; Republicans want to keep government out of everything possible. It’s as simple as that. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/720 "2009-10-08T06:34:17Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > As should be obvious to any thinking individual, these people are not supporters of rape. :rolleyes: How utterly ridiculous. This is the type of inflammatory, over-the-top rhetoric that has caused so much of this country to be at each others’ throats and has made it virtually impossible for the two sides to come to agreement on anything. Of course you’re right. I assume you felt the same way about Palin and her “death panels” bullshit. Right? > [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > The people voting against it are simply people who see no need to get the government involved when rape is already illegal. Anyone who is raped can bring charges and have their case heard in court. And if a company interferes or attempts to prevent it for whatever reason, they can be sued. > > In other words, remedies already exist. I take it you didn’t read the cites. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=35) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=37)