# 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:** 576
**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:** [October 29, 2013, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11501 "2013-10-29T17:49:35Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > His job is to decide what is best for the country/state rather than blindly voting for whatever his constituents want. Clearly you and he disagree on exactly what his job entails. ---
**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:** [October 29, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11502 "2013-10-29T17:53:16Z")
> [@Babyeater Bohemoth](#): > > He did express revulsion; perhaps you missed it:[url=[HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News | HuffPost](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/28/jim-wheeler-slavery_n_4172054.html)] > Perhaps you don’t think that holding your nose is a sign of revulsion? No, I don’t. Because, see, normal fucking people would say “No, I fucking would not, because that’s a monstrous idea and it’s not acceptable to do that sort of thing.” Not, “Golly, I wouldn’t like it but I would go along with it because gosh, oh golly gee, my constituents are in control!” ---
**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:** [October 29, 2013, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11503 "2013-10-29T17:54:29Z")
[ > [@](#): > > He gave more surveillance power to U.S. government spies, railed against civil liberties advocates who warned about privacy abuses, and famously shut down a 2005 hearing to silence critics. Now Rep. James Sensenbrenner wants to scale back some of the counterterror laws he once championed, citing an overreach by the National Security Agency that has proven him wrong. > > Sensenbrenner says he was “appalled and angry” to learn this year that the NSA was sweeping up millions of Americans’ phone records each day. He says that goes far beyond the intent of the 2001 USA Patriot Act, of which he was the chief congressional architect and which was enacted weeks after the 9/11 terror attacks. ]([http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US\_NSA\_SURVEILLANCE\_CONGRESS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-10-29-12-24-31](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_NSA_SURVEILLANCE_CONGRESS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-10-29-12-24-31)) A blowhard and an idiot, but at least he’s now realizing it and trying to unmake the mess he helped to create. > [@](#): > > On Tuesday, Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., and Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., offered legislation to overhaul the NSA. Already, the bill has bipartisan backing in the House and Senate and support from a broad array of support groups that ranges from the National Rifle Association to the American Civil Liberties Union. > > “We have to make a balance between security and civil liberties,” Sensenbrenner said in an interview last week. “And the reason the intelligence community has gotten itself into such trouble is they apparently do not see why civil liberties have got to be protected.” ---
**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:** [October 29, 2013, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11504 "2013-10-29T17:54:50Z")
> [@Babyeater Bohemoth](#): > > It was a stupid thing to say because of the backlash that the subject of slavery (or genocide or eating babies, etc., etc.) will engender, but to think he personally wants or was advocating for slavery is ridiculous and not supported by facts. So you’re saying that, at heart, this assemblyman is a Quisling, not a slave trader? ---
**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:** [October 29, 2013, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11505 "2013-10-29T17:59:06Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > No, I don’t. Because, see, normal fucking people would say “No, I fucking would not, because that’s a monstrous idea and it’s not acceptable to do that sort of thing.” Not, “Golly, I wouldn’t like it but I would go along with it because gosh, oh golly gee, my constituents are in control!” Well, I guess we just disagree then. You’re blinded by your biases to the point where you’re unreasonable and verging on hysteria and I’m able to read and understand things that I don’t agree with. You have a nice day now. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11506 "2013-10-29T18:02:38Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Bulgaria won’t return our calls about the scheduling. Maybe Mali? > [@runner pat](#): > > His job is to decide what is best for the country/state rather than blindly voting for whatever his constituents want. A representative’s job is to represent the people of his district. Ideally, he does so in one of two ways 1. On topics that his district cares about and makes their opinion known, he votes that way. 2. On (the vast majority of) topics where (the vast majority of) his district doesn’t care, he will vote in a way that supports his personal ideology or he believes will be best for his district. So it’s a little of column A and a little of column B. Yes, he’s there to lead. But he’s also there to represent. Sometimes it’s a tug of war between the two. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11507 "2013-10-29T18:08:25Z")
I think a combination of both is not only acceptable, but ideal. If a representative votes the way his constituents would have it done, he is clearly doing his job and his duty. But if his constituents are wrong, if they would require him to vote for something that is unjust and hurtful to the nation as a whole, he has a duty to commit political suicide. He must vote against it, and return to his constituents and explain why it must be so. If he is turned out of office for doing what is right and just, so be it. He has not failed them,\* they \*have failed _him_, and all of the rest of us. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11508 "2013-10-29T18:17:06Z")
The Nevada Congressman could easily have solved that problem, he could have said, “Of course I will not vote for something that is blatantly unconstitutional. We had a WAR to settle the slavery issue, I won’t be revisiting it.” That said, I don’t think his comment implied any desire to reinstate slavery on his part. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11509 "2013-10-29T18:18:15Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > A representative’s job is to represent the people of his district. Ideally, he does so in one of two ways > > 1. On topics that his district cares about and makes their opinion known, he votes that way. > 2. On (the vast majority of) topics where (the vast majority of) his district doesn’t care, he will vote in a way that supports his personal ideology or he believes will be best for his district. > > So it’s a little of column A and a little of column B. Yes, he’s there to lead. But he’s also there to represent. Sometimes it’s a tug of war between the two. Whether he has any duty at all WRT 1) is highly debatable. Neither, of course, is a defined legal or constitutional duty, so the debate is one for political scientists/philosophers/commentators, not for lawyers. ---
**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:** [October 29, 2013, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11510 "2013-10-29T18:23:09Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > The Nevada Congressman could easily have solved that problem, he could have said, “Of course I will not vote for something that is blatantly unconstitutional. We had a WAR to settle the slavery issue, I won’t be revisiting it.” > > That said, I don’t think his comment implied any desire to reinstate slavery on his part. Desire to reinstate slavery? No. A lack of automatic understanding that the very idea is beyond acceptable? Yes. He shouldn’t need to sit around and _wonder_ whether he should vote to re-institute slavery. The sort of “Well, hmm, I really need to think about that. Gee, I wouldn’t like it but I would go along” answer is absolutely unacceptable. ---
**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:** [October 29, 2013, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11511 "2013-10-29T18:24:11Z")
> [@Babyeater Bohemoth](#): > > Well, I guess we just disagree then. You’re blinded by your biases to the point where you’re unreasonable and verging on hysteria and I’m able to read and understand things that I don’t agree with. You have a nice day now. Yes, I am sure that I am biased against people who say they would vote to reinstitute slavery. I must be hysterical to think that. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11512 "2013-10-29T18:29:38Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > We need to be a bit more generous here. In the past, we might have had some confidence that an elected Republican had the good sense that God gave a goose. But since the rise of the Insane Clown Posse, many of them are as crazy as a duck on acid, so we need to adjust our standards somewhat. And, after all, one good tern deserves another, to extend my aquatic avian metaphor a bit too far. > [@sylmar](#): > > That was a grebe-ious, auk-ful run of punditry. > [@johnpost](#): > > is that all that crazy politics has quacked up to be? Oh, don’t hang an albatross on him, you boobies! Quit sniping! If you think he’s being serious you’re just too gullible! ---
**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:** [October 29, 2013, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11513 "2013-10-29T18:36:58Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Yes, I am sure that I am biased against people who say they would vote to reinstitute slavery. I must be hysterical to think that. Yes, you seem to be so against slavery that you also believe it must not be used as a metaphor or to illustrate a point. That’s why you’re coming off as nearly hysterical and completely unwilling to listen to and consider the actual words and context of Assemblyman Wheeler’s comments. Have a nice day. ---
**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:** [October 29, 2013, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11514 "2013-10-29T18:43:44Z")
> [@Babyeater Bohemoth](#): > > Yes, you seem to be so against slavery that you also believe it must not be used as a metaphor or to illustrate a point. That’s why you’re coming off as nearly hysterical and completely unwilling to listen to and consider the actual words and context of Assemblyman Wheeler’s comments. > > Have a nice day. Or, you know, maybe I disagree with you. Does it advance your argument to try to say that I am “hysterical”? Slavery can easily be used to illustrate a point. Observe: “Someone who would say that they would vote for slavery in order to serve the republic is not someone I believe should ever be in a position of power.” And “Someone who would entertain the idea of voting for slavery in order to serve the republic is unacceptable.” And “People I would consider voting for or respecting would not say that.” Using slavery to prove a 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:** [October 29, 2013, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11515 "2013-10-29T19:04:40Z")
> [@Babyeater Bohemoth](#): > > Perhaps you don’t think that holding your nose is a sign of revulsion? In this context, it is a sign that he knows better, and thus lacks the only possible excuse (profound stupidity and/or ignorance) for his cowardice and opportunism. ---
**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 29, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11516 "2013-10-29T19:08:07Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > A representative’s job is to represent the people of his district. Ideally, he does so in one of two ways > > 1. On topics that his district cares about and makes their opinion known, he votes that way. > 2. On (the vast majority of) topics where (the vast majority of) his district doesn’t care, he will vote in a way that supports his personal ideology or he believes will be best for his district. > > So it’s a little of column A and a little of column B. Yes, he’s there to lead. But he’s also there to represent. Sometimes it’s a tug of war between the two. Return with us now to the thrilling days of yesteryear, when the phrase “conservative intellectual tradition” could be uttered with a straight face, and see what it has to say about this issue: [QUOTE=Edmund Burke, Speech to the Electors of Bristol] Certainly, gentlemen, it ought to be the happiness and glory of a representative to live in the strictest union, the closest correspondence, and the most unreserved communication with his constituents. Their wishes ought to have great weight with him; their opinion, high respect; their business, unremitted attention. It is his duty to sacrifice his repose, his pleasures, his satisfactions, to theirs; and above all, ever, and in all cases, to prefer their interest to his own. But his unbiassed opinion, his mature judgment, his enlightened conscience, he ought not to sacrifice to you, to any man, or to any set of men living. These he does not derive from your pleasure; no, nor from the law and the constitution. They are a trust from Providence, for the abuse of which he is deeply answerable. Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion. [/QUOTE] ---
**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:** [October 29, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11517 "2013-10-29T20:13:33Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Or, you know, maybe I disagree with you. Does it advance your argument to try to say that I am “hysterical”? > > Slavery can easily be used to illustrate a point. Observe: “Someone who would say that they would vote for slavery in order to serve the republic is not someone I believe should ever be in a position of power.” And “Someone who would entertain the idea of voting for slavery in order to serve the republic is unacceptable.” And “People I would consider voting for or respecting would not say that.” > > Using slavery to prove a point. I really don’t see what point you’re trying to make here, **js**. Do you think that Assembleyman Wheeler was advocating in favor of slavery? ---
**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:** [October 29, 2013, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11518 "2013-10-29T20:19:51Z")
> [@Babyeater Bohemoth](#): > > Ah, so you agree that it can be done. In that case, what is your problem with what the Assemblyman said and did? I think I’ve already said what my issue was with it. I said it again in the post you quoted. I have no idea how to make it clearer. ---
**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:** [October 29, 2013, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11519 "2013-10-29T20:22:57Z")
:mad: Missed the edit window. Or is it just that, to you, the subject of slavery is so evil that you think that any use of it that doesn’t include a declaration of how evil and distasteful it is automatically means that the person using it must wish for slavery to once again be the law of the land? Even if the context of the discussion and the acknowledgement that it was a poor analogy contradict that? Even after an apology? ---
**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:** [October 29, 2013, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11520 "2013-10-29T20:24:08Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > I think I’ve already said what my issue was with it. I said it again in the post you quoted. I have no idea how to make it clearer. Ah, then it seems I have it right. The subject is so distasteful to you that it makes you unable to react in any way other than with revulsion. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=575) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=577)