# 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:** 368
**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:** [October 25, 2012, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/7341 "2012-10-25T23:41:29Z")
[“Some girls rape easy”, according to WI state Rep. Roger Rivard](http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/10/10/989981/wisconsin-lawmaker-claims-some-girls-rape-easy/). Apparently he was trying to express the idea that girls who have consensual sex will later claimrape if they get pregnant as a result. FYI, this guy has been endorsed by Paul Ryan. No matter hoe much truth there is to this most generous of interpretations – it is perhaps the stupidest statement to date from Republicans about sex. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/7342 "2012-10-25T23:47:02Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > No matter **hoe** much truth there is to this… Freudian slip? 😃 Anyway, that guy Mourdock is sure he gained voters from saying that rape babies are a gift from God: [http://www.indystar.com/article/20121025/NEWS0502/121025027](http://www.indystar.com/article/20121025/NEWS0502/121025027) Keep talking, buddy. Keeeeeep talking. Keep this issue at the forefront of every voter’s mind… ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/7343 "2012-10-26T00:07:59Z")
Colbert’s rant on GOP talking about rape was pretty good. They should probably take his advice. [QUOTE=Stephen Colbert] If you think it might be a good idea to approach the subject of rape in a public forum: Just, don’t. Ever. At all. And if you’re tempted, just ram a pencil in your eye until you rid yourself of the idea that caveman ideas about sexual assault have any place in the public discourse. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/7344 "2012-10-26T02:04:35Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Place your bets. Why do I feel like you’re talking to me? Anyway, there are plenty more reasons to criticize it besides, but the stupid Republican version escapes me… _however_, [Defiant Texas AG wants to keep poll observers out](http://start.toshiba.com/news/read.php?rip_id=%3CDA24STK00%40news.ap.org%3E&ps=1011): > [@](#): > > Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott delivered Thursday to international poll watchers who plan to come and observe voting on Election Day, tweeting “BRING IT” after the group took offense at being threatened with criminal charges from the state’s top prosecutor. Any chance Texas has something to hide? Because, you know, if you don’t have anything to hide then it doesn’t matter what we observe, no? ---
**Author:** ![sugaree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@sugaree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugaree)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/7345 "2012-10-26T03:07:11Z")
> [@Uncle\_Jocko](#): > > Anyway, the fact these spots aired back to back only emphasized the fact they were templates with the GOP candidates dropped in. Even better, though, the main color scheme for these GOP ads? > > Blue. Deep, rich blue. > > I’ve actually noticed this with several recent ads around here. I realize neither party owns a color, but since 2000 the Republicans are generally identified with red and Democrats with blue. I find it interesting that a lot of Republicans around here are using blue, rather than red. Misdirection? Or am I overthinking? No, I noticed that too, in my largely Democratic town. All blue signs. Obviously, none but the dimmest will mistake blue Romney for a Democrat, but all blue signs could serve to muddy the waters for lesser-known candidates for lesser offices. I was wondering if Republican candidates were shipping blue signs to areas that leaned left and red signs to areas that leaned right. > [@user\_hostile](#): > > The Reverend does have Parkinson’s, which may have impaired his cognitive abilities (it sure as hell did to my uncle who later died from the disease ☹ ). It would not surprise me if there are other pronouncements that are \*not \* seeing the light of day. Considering the length of time he’s had Parkinson’s, his advanced age, and his other health problems, I wonder if he’s lucid enough to be making these pronouncements at all. They just sound so much Franklin than Billy. ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/7346 "2012-10-26T04:39:25Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > Why do I feel like you’re talking to me? Anyway, there are plenty more reasons to criticize it besides, but the stupid Republican version escapes me… > > _however_, > > [Defiant Texas AG wants to keep poll observers out](http://start.toshiba.com/news/read.php?rip_id=%3CDA24STK00%40news.ap.org%3E&ps=1011): > > Any chance Texas has something to hide? Because, you know, if you don’t have anything to hide then it doesn’t matter what we observe, no? Governor Perry’s keen intellectual abilities once again demonstrate why he’s too smart to be president (from **Try2B Comprehensive** ’s link): > [@](#): > > Gov. Rick Perry has thrown his support behind his top prosecutor, tweeting, “No UN monitors/inspectors will be part of any TX election process.” The article continues by drolly pointing out: > [@](#): > > OSCE is not an arm of the United Nations. ---
**Author:** ![legalsnugs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@legalsnugs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/legalsnugs)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/7347 "2012-10-26T06:57:38Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > I think that’s it. He really does think that unless the magic switch is flipped there will be no baby. Humans alone can’t reproduce. > > If you read the old testament a lot, you’ll read many stories about women praying for children and God granting them when nothing their husbands were doing was working. In the case of Sarah, it worked even though she was too old to have children. > > That’s got to stick in the back of the mind. It’s never explicitly stated in the bible, but a person could conclude that men can provide the seed but only God can make it grow. (An alternate conclusion is that most pregnancies happen the regular way, but that God can intercede.) Let me get this straight: supernatural spirits create children? Oh, right. I recall reading that it was the Holy Spirit that impregnated the Virgin. So, Hitler, Dahmer and Pol Pot were gifts from God, too? What about diabetes - is that a gift from the spirit world, too? That’s pretty hit-or-miss. How about cancer? Does God just flip that magic switch and you get cancer springing from your cells instead of a child? Or is disease from an eeeeeeeevil spirit? I weep for America… ---
**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:** [October 26, 2012, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/7348 "2012-10-26T12:34:17Z")
> [@Uncle\_Jocko](#): > > We are getting somewhat similar things in Iowa, although not to the extent of using the same locations for the ads. Last night there were two ads (back to back, no less!) for Republicans running for the statehouse that used almost exactly the same template, the same graphics, and the same scary buzzwords about their opponents (“She supports Obamacare! And $716 billion in Medicare cuts our seniors need!” As if Iowa’s legislature really has a big impact on either of those, even if it were true). > > Anyway, the fact these spots aired back to back only emphasized the fact they were templates with the GOP candidates dropped in. Even better, though, the main color scheme for these GOP ads? > > Blue. Deep, rich blue. > > I’ve actually noticed this with several recent ads around here. I realize neither party owns a color, but since 2000 the Republicans are generally identified with red and Democrats with blue. I find it interesting that a lot of Republicans around here are using blue, rather than red. Misdirection? Or am I overthinking? > [@sugaree](#): > > No, I noticed that too, in my largely Democratic town. All blue signs. Obviously, none but the dimmest will mistake blue Romney for a Democrat, but all blue signs could serve to muddy the waters for lesser-known candidates for lesser offices. I was wondering if Republican candidates were shipping blue signs to areas that leaned left and red signs to areas that leaned right. Actually, it’s quite simple, psychologically. Red is an alarming color. Blue is a calming color. Look quickly at the following two sentences. **There is a spider on your arm.** **There is a kitten on your lap.** At first glance (without analyzing the content of the sentence), the second sentence probably sent an alarming signal to your brain. That’s why the signs are blue, you don’t want the electorate scared of you. You want them scared of the other guy. ---
**Author:** ![Double\_Foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@Double\_Foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Double_Foolscap)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/7349 "2012-10-26T12:49:22Z")
> [@legalsnugs](#): > > Let me get this straight: supernatural spirits create children? Oh, right. I recall reading that it was the Holy Spirit that impregnated the Virgin. So, Hitler, Dahmer and Pol Pot were gifts from God, too? > > What about diabetes - is that a gift from the spirit world, too? That’s pretty hit-or-miss. How about cancer? Does God just flip that magic switch and you get cancer springing from your cells instead of a child? Or is disease from an eeeeeeeevil spirit? > > I weep for America… These are the types of questions that theologians have pondered for thousands of years, and have proposed many hypotheses. I’m just glad we have Republican politicians to sum them up for us, and present them in terms which, coincidentally, further their aims to make women second-class citizens who are punished for enjoying sexy times. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/7350 "2012-10-26T14:19:37Z")
> [@](#): > > Humans alone can’t reproduce. Let’s go over this one again, as it could be the missing link in my understanding these people. Is that what they really think? Is that what they REALLY think!? ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/7351 "2012-10-26T14:32:05Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Actually, it’s quite simple, psychologically. Red is an alarming color. Blue is a calming color. Look quickly at the following two sentences. > > **There is a spider on your arm.** > > **There is a kitten on your lap.** > > At first glance (without analyzing the content of the sentence), the second sentence probably sent an alarming signal to your brain. That’s why the signs are blue, you don’t want the electorate scared of you. You want them scared of the other guy. Actually, the universal colour for danger is **mauve**. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/7352 "2012-10-26T14:36:27Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Actually, the universal colour for danger is **mauve**. AAAHHHHHH! Don’t scare me like that! ---
**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:** [October 26, 2012, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/7353 "2012-10-26T15:35:59Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Actually, the universal colour for danger is **mauve**. Funny - I thought it was Muade ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/7354 "2012-10-26T17:01:57Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > Colbert’s rant on GOP talking about rape was pretty good. They should probably take his advice. That sounds pretty deep for his normally sarcastic parody. Did he say this somewhere else? ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/7355 "2012-10-26T20:04:51Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Funny - I thought it was Muade That color often Harolds danger. I mean, heralds… ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/7356 "2012-10-26T20:48:46Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > That sounds pretty deep for his normally sarcastic parody. Did he say this somewhere else? It was his regular show. He was on a tear that night. I think it was the same night he offered Trump a million dollars if he’d let Colbert dip his balls in his mouth. > **[Comedy Central Shows & Movies - Watch on Paramount+](https://www.paramountplus.com/brands/comedy-central/)** > > Watch the Comedy Central shows, including The Daily Show, Chappelle's Show, Strangers with Candy, RENO 911!, Drawn Together, and more. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/7357 "2012-10-26T20:55:26Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > That sounds pretty deep for his normally sarcastic parody. Did he say this somewhere else? No, it was on his show. He’s usually more standoffish in his comedy, but I thought his real feelings were coming through about the stupid things that have been said. ETA; I didn’t realize \*\*boytyeranma \*\* responded before I did. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/7358 "2012-10-26T21:11:39Z")
A ship containing \*\*red \*\*paint crashed into a ship containing \*\*blue \*\*paint. The survivors were **marooned**. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/7359 "2012-10-26T21:22:20Z")
A Texas senator, while not going as far as explicitly saying he is in favor of allowing gay marriage, has [publicly stated that he endorses several anti-discrimination measures](http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2012/10/dallas_sen_john_carona_declare.php): “I think anything that advances, encourages monogamy is a good thing,” he said. “And frankly how could you be against people who want to get their affairs in order and have a loving household.” Other members of the Republican party, and other Texas politicians, are freaking right the fuck out that one of their own would dare to [del]display basic decency and humanity[/del] go against party lines. From the article: > [@](#): > > Yesterday the Liberty Institute-founded group Texas Values lambasted Carona for his support for the "top legislative agenda of the homosexual lobby. “We also remain very concerned that such statements regarding marriage and the LGBT agenda would ever be uttered by Senator Carona or any other member of the Texas Legislature who is believed to support family values,” the group said in a statement, adding that it’s “very clear, these so-called “gay rights” measures are nothing more than a direct attack on marriage.” ---
**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:** [October 26, 2012, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/7360 "2012-10-26T21:32:51Z")
> [@sugaree](#): > > Obviously, none but the dimmest will mistake blue Romney for a Democrat If he steps on his own dick hard enough, the Fox News chyron writers might. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=367) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=369)