# 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:** 480
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9581 "2013-06-03T22:17:48Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Today, Fox News’ print edition (i.e., the Wall Street Journal) has taken a bold stand against one of the most insidious threats to our way of life to ever darken our golden shores. > > A cruel totalitarian scheme wrought at the hands of a shadowy all-powerful lobby, supported by an autocratic regime against which the common man is completely helpless. > > I refer, of course, [to bike-sharing.](http://thinkprogress.org/media/2013/06/03/2093411/wall-street-journal-totalitarian-bike-shares-rabinowitz/) And an epic smackdown by Business Insider’s Transportation editor, Alex Davies: [New York’s Bike Share Is Brilliant, And Every Complaint About It Is Bogus](http://www.businessinsider.com/complaints-about-citi-bike-share-are-wrong-2013-6) ---
**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:** [June 3, 2013, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9582 "2013-06-03T22:20:08Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Today, Fox News’ print edition (i.e., the Wall Street Journal) has taken a bold stand against one of the most insidious threats to our way of life to ever darken our golden shores. > > A cruel totalitarian scheme wrought at the hands of a shadowy all-powerful lobby, supported by an autocratic regime against which the common man is completely helpless. > > I refer, of course, [to bike-sharing.](http://thinkprogress.org/media/2013/06/03/2093411/wall-street-journal-totalitarian-bike-shares-rabinowitz/) While the auto-generated transcript on [the WSJ site](http://online.wsj.com/article/C6D8BBCE-B405-4D3C-A381-4CA50BDD8D4D.html#!C6D8BBCE-B405-4D3C-A381-4CA50BDD8D4D) (mute to avoid the autoplay advertising; scroll down and click on “TRANSCRIPT”) “has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate”, somehow its distinctive prose only serves to give us a clearer view into Ms Rabinowitz’ mental processes. ---
**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:** [June 3, 2013, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9583 "2013-06-03T23:44:33Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Today, Fox News’ print edition (i.e., the Wall Street Journal) has taken a bold stand against one of the most insidious threats to our way of life to ever darken our golden shores. > > A cruel totalitarian scheme wrought at the hands of a shadowy all-powerful lobby, supported by an autocratic regime against which the common man is completely helpless. > > I refer, of course, [to bike-sharing.](http://thinkprogress.org/media/2013/06/03/2093411/wall-street-journal-totalitarian-bike-shares-rabinowitz/) I seem to recall pro-bike groups calling for bike lanes back in the 1970’s. Those lanes started being put in (at least so I noticed, in the mid-2000’s. For an all-powerful lobby, that’s pretty darned weak. The bike share plan has been floating around for at least all of the 21st century. * * * The crazy bicyclists I’ve crossed paths with are, without exception, messengers. No self-respecting NYC bike messenger would be caught dead on one of those clunky CitiBikes. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9584 "2013-06-04T00:58:40Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > Obviously, if they got rid of the bikes, no car driver would ever get stuck in traffic in NYC again. Yep. Shades of [The Pushcart War](http://www.amazon.com/The-Pushcart-War-Jan-Merrill/dp/0440471478/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_1). Think they’ll try to get rid of Smart cars, next? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9585 "2013-06-04T01:43:54Z")
> [@Foggy](#): > > Link: > > [Cathie Adams: Grover Norquist ‘Showing Signs Of Converting To Islam’ Because He Has A Beard](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/01/cathie-adams-grover-norquist_n_3372347.html) _“'Ašhadu 'al-lā ilāha illā-llāhu wa 'ašhadu 'anna muħammadan rasūlu-llāh!”_ – Abraham Lincoln ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9586 "2013-06-04T07:34:39Z")
> [@Askthepizzaguy](#): > > Now, when you say “Surrender Dorothy”, do you mean for Dorothy to surrender herself, or for others in her company to arrest her and offer to extradite her, because the context is ambiguous, m’hay. It’s the second thing. The first would be “Surrender, Dorothy.” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9587 "2013-06-04T07:36:48Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > They’re a plague, I tells ya! > > > [@](#): > > > > New York’s best neighborhoods are being “begrimmed…by these blazing blue Citibank bikes Begrimmed? Are the bikes themed after fairy tale characters? ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9588 "2013-06-04T13:26:07Z")
Do the bikes come with blue helmets? They could sell advertising for “Agenda 21” on them if they did. ---
**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:** [June 4, 2013, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9589 "2013-06-04T14:14:21Z")
The many other cities that have already adopted bike-sharing without a bunch of fuss are all laughing at big ol’ backwards, whiny, afraid-of-change NYC. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9590 "2013-06-04T14:34:45Z")
NYC isn’t afraid of change - WSJ is. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9591 "2013-06-04T16:27:49Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Begrimmed? > > Are the bikes themed after fairy tale characters? I wondered about that too when I read the quote, but upon watching the video it’s obviously a typo; she says “begrimed” clearly. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9592 "2013-06-04T16:56:52Z")
Yes, it is clearly “begrimed.” Which strongly suggests that Ms Rabinowitz doesn’t really have a handle on what “grime” is. Those bikes virtually\* _sparkled_! \*suggesting that I _do_ have a handle on what “virtually” means. It means “not really.” ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9593 "2013-06-04T17:00:56Z")
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant (R). > [@](#): > > Bryant was participating in a Washington Post Live event focused on the importance of ensuring that children read well by the end of third grade. In response to a question about how America became “so mediocre” in regard to educational outcomes, he said: “I think both parents started working. The mom got in the work place.” [Link](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/06/04/mississippi-governor-educational-troubles-began-when-mom-got-in-the-workplace/?hpid=z3). Yeah. He went on to say that he’d probably get a lot of emails for saying that. Could be. ---
**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:** [June 4, 2013, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9594 "2013-06-04T17:02:45Z")
Do they have e-mail in Mississippi? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9595 "2013-06-04T17:05:48Z")
So long as you have an adequate supply of kerosene. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9596 "2013-06-04T17:10:58Z")
And toner for the printer. Or do they have prisoners act out the messages? ---
**Author:** ![rogerbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@rogerbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rogerbox)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9597 "2013-06-04T17:44:49Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > So long as you have an adequate supply of kerosene. _clap_ ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9598 "2013-06-04T22:30:37Z")
You just can’t make this stuff up, folks: Saxby Chambliss to Congress about rapes in our armed forces: “The young folks who are coming into each of your services are anywhere from 17 to 22 or 23. Gee whiz, the hormone level created by nature sets in place the possibility for these types of things to occur. So we’ve got to be very careful how we address it on our side.” [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2013/06/04/gop\_sen\_chambliss\_blames\_hormone\_levels\_for\_sexual\_assaults\_in\_military.html](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2013/06/04/gop_sen_chambliss_blames_hormone_levels_for_sexual_assaults_in_military.html) ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9599 "2013-06-05T00:32:48Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > You just can’t make this stuff up, folks: > > Saxby Chambliss to Congress about rapes in our armed forces: “The young folks who are coming into each of your services are anywhere from 17 to 22 or 23. Gee whiz, the hormone level created by nature sets in place the possibility for these types of things to occur. So we’ve got to be very careful how we address it on our side.” > > [GOP Sen. Chambliss Blames "Hormone Levels" For Sexual Assaults In Military | Video | RealClearPolitics](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2013/06/04/gop_sen_chambliss_blames_hormone_levels_for_sexual_assaults_in_military.html) I’m setting the over/under at five days before Darrell Issa accuses Obama of orchestrating the rapes. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9600 "2013-06-05T01:10:06Z")
I would think the first response would be to use it as an example of why there shouldn’t be women in the military. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=479) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=481)