# 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:** 423
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/8441 "2013-02-01T13:32:42Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Regarding McCain’s condemnation of Hagel as possible Sec’y of Defense, in the video [on this page](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/01/31/maddow-republicans-wish-we-were-still-in-factually-wrong-iraq-war/) (about 1:24 in) from several years ago, McCain touts Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense ! But that was before Hagel went over to the . . . err . . . umm . . . _Pigmented_ Side! ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/8442 "2013-02-01T18:57:52Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > It’s not nitpicking. The point is that people with lots of sense went along with the violence anyway. It’s a warning about human nature. I’ll let [this dude](http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/it-does-not-make-sense-to-turn-everything-into-a-partisan-critique/) give a possible response to this: > [@Steven Taylor](#): > > To note that violence, especially genocidal violence, was “senseless” is not to suggest that the people who perpetrated the violence lacked reasons for their actions. It means that the violence, and resultant death, lacks meaning or good purpose, that it was ultimately unwise and unreasonable. The meaning is clearly that despite whatever reasons the murderers had for their murder, that the actions lacked legitimate thought and reason behind them. > > How ideologically blind does one have to be to turn such a use of words, which is a fairly commonplace way of referring to violent tragedies, into a left/right critique? Note that last sentence; this was not intended as a “warning about human nature,” this was intended as a critique of the President and his words. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2013, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/8443 "2013-02-01T19:30:05Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > [Asked and answered](http://debgeisler.livejournal.com/2107904.html): So this National Review writer thinks that the Holocaust is an act of _rational_ violence. Let’s hope the author doesn’t get nominated to serve as Secretary of Defense anytime soon, because she might have to explain further why the Holocaust made sense. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/8444 "2013-02-01T19:41:59Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Note that last sentence; this was not intended as a “warning about human nature,” this was intended as a critique of the President and his words. It was both. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/8445 "2013-02-01T19:43:29Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > So this National Review writer thinks that the Holocaust is an act of _rational_ violence. Let’s hope the author doesn’t get nominated to serve as Secretary of Defense anytime soon, because she might have to explain further why the Holocaust made sense. It made sense to alot of Germans, that’s the point. They weren’t drooling insane lunatics, yet the supported mass murder, and that should scare us even more. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/8446 "2013-02-01T19:46:28Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > My question for you **Qin** is: How do you stumble on such tripe in the first place? People talk about such things. In fact, I looked up this thread to mention that article because someone started a thread about it on another forum. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/8447 "2013-02-02T00:03:18Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > People talk about such things. In fact, I looked up this thread to mention that article because someone started a thread about it on another forum. This exactly. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/8448 "2013-02-02T00:11:34Z")
As I’ve seen pointed out elsewhere, that NRO column is pretty much literally saying “Say what you like about the tenets of National Socialism, dude, at least it’s an ethos.” So that’s pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/8449 "2013-02-02T00:23:22Z")
> [@waterj2](#): > > As I’ve seen pointed out elsewhere, that NRO column is pretty much literally saying “Say what you like about the tenets of National Socialism, dude, at least it’s an ethos.” So that’s pretty cool. The Dude abides. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/8450 "2013-02-02T00:25:19Z")
> [@waterj2](#): > > As I’ve seen pointed out elsewhere, that NRO column is pretty much literally saying “Say what you like about the tenets of National Socialism, dude, at least it’s an ethos.” So that’s pretty cool. No, it’s not even remotely saying that. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/8451 "2013-02-02T03:32:03Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > The Dude abides. The [Duce](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duce)too. It seems, for some people. ---
**Author:** ![Peanut\_Gallery](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/838e76/32.png) [@Peanut\_Gallery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanut_Gallery)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/8452 "2013-02-02T04:43:38Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > No, it’s not even remotely saying that. [Shut the fuck up, Donny.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J41iFYO0NQA) ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/8453 "2013-02-02T05:15:52Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > No, it’s not even remotely saying that. It managed to give that impression to a great many people. And regardless of intent it was still a “Stupid Republican Idea”; Nazism is the radioactive ideology that you want to avoid any risk of associating yourself with. Especially when you come from a political faction that has an association with ruthlessness, authoritarianism and racism. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/8454 "2013-02-02T13:18:00Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > It’s not nitpicking. It’s nitpicking in the same way that I’m nitpicking when I criticize people for calling a mass shooting at a school a “tragedy.” There’s nothing tragic about it. You can call it horrific or criminal or disgusting or many other things, but it’s not tragic. The shooter wasn’t some guy with great potential who was brought down ironically by a character flaw that originated as an element of his own strengths. So it’s not a tragedy. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/8455 "2013-02-02T15:17:36Z")
Was it irony? ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/8456 "2013-02-02T15:50:53Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > It managed to give that impression to a great many people. So? Lots of people often misread things, especially when their guards are up. The readers saw someone criticizing Obama over a word choice, and didn’t read deeper. > [@](#): > > And regardless of intent it was still a “Stupid Republican Idea”; Nazism is the radioactive ideology that you want to avoid any risk of associating yourself with. Especially when you come from a political faction that has an association with ruthlessness, authoritarianism and racism. And that just reveals what I’m talking about -your biased reading. He wasn’t “associating” with Nazism. He was criticizing it. And your attitude only insulates Nazis from criticism. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/8457 "2013-02-02T15:51:55Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > It’s nitpicking in the same way that I’m nitpicking when I criticize people for calling a mass shooting at a school a “tragedy.” There’s nothing tragic about it. You can call it horrific or criminal or disgusting or many other things, but it’s not tragic. The shooter wasn’t some guy with great potential who was brought down ironically by a character flaw that originated as an element of his own strengths. So it’s not a tragedy. Okay. Yeah, call it what you want, it was the same point. ---
**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:** [February 2, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/8458 "2013-02-02T17:45:26Z")
Bryan Fischer [stupidly denies](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXr88jzODN0) that the Republicans are the Stupid Party, closing with this stupid statement of stupidity: > [@](#): > > Todd Akin was right! That wasn’t stupid. He was right. He was right on the money. He was completely accurate about that. So our ideas are not stupid, and the people who advocate them are not stupid. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/8459 "2013-02-02T18:49:53Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Bryan Fischer [stupidly denies](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXr88jzODN0) that the Republicans are the Stupid Party, closing with this stupid statement of stupidity: How have I never heard of this guy before? There’s a bunch of videos of him on Youtube, and each one is funnier than the last. ---
**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:** [February 2, 2013, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/8460 "2013-02-02T20:52:21Z")
“Generations Radio host Kevin Swanson, who last week delved memorably into feminist theory, tells us this week that “certain doctors and certain scientists” have researched the wombs of women on the pill and found “there are these little tiny fetuses, these little babies, that are embedded into the womb…Those wombs of women who have been on the birth control pill effectively have become graveyards for lots and lots of little babies.”” > **[Swanson: Wombs of Women on Birth Control 'Embedded' with 'Dead Babies' |...](https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/swanson-wombs-of-women-on-birth-control-embedded-with-dead-babies/)** > > Well, here’s some medical research we hadn’t heard about. Generations Radio host Kevin Swanson, who last week delved memorably into feminist theory, tells [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=422) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=424)