# 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:** 56
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1101 "2010-02-07T16:35:53Z")
This morning on Fox News Sunday, Chris Wallace conducted a 25-minute interview with Sarah Palin, a paid contributor to Fox News. Palin told Wallace that she doesn’t think President Obama will win reelection in 2012 if he “continues on the path he has America on.” However, Palin indicated that his chances of winning would dramatically change if Obama simply declared war on Iran: WALLACE: How hard do you think President Obama would be to defeat in 2012? PALIN: It depends on a few things, say he played — I got this from Buchanan — say he played the war card. Say he decided to declare war on Iran or decide to really come out and do whatever he could to support Israel–which I would like him to do. That changes the dynamics of what we can assume will happen between now and three years. Because I think if the election were today, Obama would not be elected. [http://thinkprogress.org/2010/02/07/palin-war-ira/](http://thinkprogress.org/2010/02/07/palin-war-ira/) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1102 "2010-02-07T16:37:16Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > I got this from Buchanan Even if, EVEN IF, we didn’t already know she was an idiot, this would clinch it. ---
**Author:** ![BigShooter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f07891/32.png) [@BigShooter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigShooter)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1103 "2010-02-07T23:37:21Z")
Did you hear/read the part when Wallace brought up the “retarded” brew-ha-ha? Allow me - from the transcript: > [@](#): > > WALLACE: OK. But Rush Limbaugh weighed in this week. And he said this: > > “Our politically correct society is acting like some giant insult’s taken place by calling a bunch of people who are retards, retards.” > > PALIN: He was satirical (ph) in that – > > WALLACE: Wait a minute, let me finish. > > PALIN: OK. > > WALLACE: “I mean, these people, these liberal activists are quote, kooks.” Should Rush Limbaugh apologize? > > PALIN: They are kooks, so I agree with Rush Limbaugh. Rush Limbaugh was using satire to bring attention to what this politically correct – > > WALLACE: But he used the “R” word. > > PALIN: Using satire. Name calling by anyone – I teach this to my children, you teach it to your children and your grandchildren, too. Name calling by anyone, it’s just unnecessary. It just wastes time. > Let’s speak to the issues and – > > WALLACE: But you know what some people are going to say, Governor, and have said. They say, look, when it’s her political adversary Rahm Emanuel, she’s going to call him out, he’s indecent, apologize. But when it’s a political friend like Rush Limbaugh, oh it’s satire > > PALIN: I didn’t hear Rush Limbaugh calling a group of people whom he did not agree with “F-ing retards.” And we did know that Rahm Emanuel, it’s been reported, did say that. That’s a big difference there. > > But again, name calling, using language that is insensitive by anyone – male, female, Republican, Democrat, it’s unnecessary, it’s inappropriate and let’s all just grow up. Ok, so she thinks it’s ok to call liberals “kooks” but name calling is BAAAAAD - all in the same breath almost. WOW. And Rush wasn’t calling liberals retarded!!! What part of “… calling a bunch of people who are retards, retards…” doesn’t she understand? I’ll say it - I think Sarah Palin’s fucking retarded… :smack: Wallace actually asked some good questions, though. I was surprised… ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1104 "2010-02-07T23:48:21Z")
I have a theory. We know that anything leaving Palin’s vagina has a 20% chance of coming out _full retard_. Somehow she must have gotten her whole head up her wizard’s sleeve. Is she double jointed? Oh by the way, that was satire. 😃 ---
**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:** [February 8, 2010, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1105 "2010-02-08T11:37:56Z")
She could still be [our next president](http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article7018587.ece): > [@](#): > > In an interview with Fox News, for which she is also a paid analyst, Mrs Palin said that it would be “absurd not to consider what it is that I can potentially do to help our country”. She said that she would not “close a door that could perhaps be open to me in the future” and acknowledged that she had started receiving daily political and economic briefings by e-mail from a panel of Washington experts. Bonus points for finally exhibiting some awareness of her own shortcomings: > [@](#): > > In oblique reference to a disastrous pre-election interview with CBS in 2008, she added: “I sure as heck better be more astute on these national issues than I was two years ago.” But minus several points for this: [Talk to the Hand](http://www.therightperspective.org/2010/02/08/palin-used-hand-to-prompt-her-at-tea-party/) And I don’t know what the hell to make of this: [Hi Mom!](http://biggovernment.com/jhoft/2010/02/07/you-betcha-palin-campaigns-for-rick-perry-writes-hi-mom-on-her-hand/) And finally (from the first link): > [@](#): > > She trained most of her fire on Mr Obama, caricaturing him as “a law professor at a lectern” rather than a true Commander-in-Chief, admonishing the President for “apologising for America” and asking her audience: “How’s that hopey, changey stuff working out for ya’?” Let it be known: if Sarah Palin becomes President, there will be no change and no hope. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1106 "2010-02-08T12:22:56Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > In his defense, it’s not a practical stance; it’s a principled one. He thinks education ought to be left up to the states. > > It’s not an unreasonable idea, as long as you’re okay with living in a country where some states educate their kids to Third World standards. If the people of a state want to educate their children to third world standards, then they should have the freedom to do so. (Freedom is a good thing, ya know.) As an Ohioan, who am I to say that a child in Montana is receiving an inferior? The beauty of the state system is that I am able to move to a state of my liking. If I don’t like the educational system in Montana, I can freely move to Ohio. Choice is a wonderful thing. It also makes states compete, which is also a good thing. The problem with federal involvement in education is that I have no choice; I am forced to live under one rule. With each state being responsible for their own educational system, I am able to pick and choose. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1107 "2010-02-08T12:48:40Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > If the people of a state want to educate their children to third world standards, then they should have the freedom to do so. (Freedom is a good thing, ya know.) Really? How about the freedom to educate their kids to a fifth world standard? To educate only white kids? To substitute sodomy brothels for schools–if a state so wishes? Oh, you don’t want the states to be TOTALLY free to exercise their judgment, just free to do the things YOU think (and the vast majority of us DON’T think) are good. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1108 "2010-02-08T13:04:52Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > If the people of a state want to educate their children to third world standards, then they should have the freedom to do so. (Freedom is a good thing, ya know.) As an Ohioan, who am I to say that a child in Montana is receiving an inferior? > > The beauty of the state system is that I am able to move to a state of my liking. If I don’t like the educational system in Montana, I can freely move to Ohio. Choice is a wonderful thing. It also makes states compete, which is also a good thing. > > The problem with federal involvement in education is that I have no choice; I am forced to live under one rule. With each state being responsible for their own educational system, I am able to pick and choose. The only choice your missing is the choice NOT to educate your children. You have choices in education. You can choose a private school, a religious school, home school, charter school, specialty school. You have choices. And there already is a vast difference in quality of education due to the fact that public schools are run by local districts. Just because the feds mandate and fund it, doesn’t mean that states don’t have some control of their own educational programs. They simply can’t deny the responsibility to educate children. ---
**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:** [February 8, 2010, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1109 "2010-02-08T14:01:34Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > The beauty of the state system is that I am able to move to a state of my liking. If I don’t like the educational system in Montana, I can freely move to Ohio. Choice is a wonderful thing. It also makes states compete, which is also a good thing. > > The problem with federal involvement in education is that I have no choice; I am forced to live under one rule. With each state being responsible for their own educational system, I am able to pick and choose. So Jim Crow was alright, because black people in the South were free to move to Minnesota? ---
**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:** [February 8, 2010, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1110 "2010-02-08T14:08:03Z")
[QUOTE=Dipshit] “How’s that hopey, changey stuff working out for ya’?” [/QUOTE] She is talking to people with the mentality of 2nd graders here. > [@Gyrate](#): > > And finally (from the first link): Let it be known: if Sarah Palin becomes President, there will be no change and no hope. Yeah, but really, who cares? We deserve Palin. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1111 "2010-02-08T16:45:53Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > …As an Ohioan, who am I to say that a child in Montana is receiving an inferior?.. An American? ---
**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:** [February 8, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1112 "2010-02-08T18:04:37Z")
I think CM is giving us the Stupid Republican Ideas of several millennia here. The pointy-laughy part of my brain is suffering hypertrophy. ---
**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:** [February 8, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1113 "2010-02-08T18:23:57Z")
> [@BigShooter](#): > > And Rush wasn’t calling liberals retarded!!! What part of “… calling a bunch of people who are retards, retards…” doesn’t she understand? Dude…read the transcript. Her objection was to the term “ **fucking** retarded.” Rush saying “retarded” without saying “fucking” before it makes it entirely different. It’s not even close to the same thing. Maybe because she thinks retarded people shouldn’t have sex, or something. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1114 "2010-02-08T18:54:04Z")
Plus, Rahm the weasel said it in a closed-door meeting, whereas Rush said it on a national broadcast, where the standards for decorum are much lower. ---
**Author:** ![Oldeb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ea666f/32.png) [@Oldeb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oldeb)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1115 "2010-02-08T23:28:34Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > The beauty of the state system is that I am able to move to a state of my liking. If I don’t like the educational system in Montana, I can freely move to Ohio. Choice is a wonderful thing. It also makes states compete, which is also a good thing. Just curious, but is there a reason you would prefer to have a (very?) loose collection of nations versus the current model of the US Government? Especially since the USA rather explicitly rejected your prefered model about 150 years ago as **jayjay** noted? And is there a reason you’re okay with uneducated children with inadequate food supplies as long as you aren’t related to them beyond an anarchistic view that some casualties must be taken in the name of freedom? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1116 "2010-02-08T23:46:18Z")
Don’t forget that it’s easier to sucker an uneducated, ignorant person than it is to sucker an educated, knowledgeable person. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1117 "2010-02-09T02:47:02Z")
> [@](#): > > “How’s that hopey, changey stuff working out for ya’?” This sentence alone should permanently disqualify her from ever being taken seriously by anyone ever again. ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1118 "2010-02-09T04:20:22Z")
> [@Frostillicus](#): > > This sentence alone should permanently disqualify her from ever being taken seriously by anyone ever again. The only thing it lacked was an “amirite” and a “gitrdone”. ---
**Author:** ![Piker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@Piker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Piker)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1119 "2010-02-09T13:18:47Z")
> [@Piker](#): > > Also, if I may ask, who would feed low-income children if their parents were not able to, and the government was unwilling to? What is the answer to that question? Still waiting on an answer here, **Crafter\_Man**. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1120 "2010-02-09T13:48:12Z")
Raffles and spaghetti dinners at the Moose lodge, what else? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=55) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=57)