# 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:** 586
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11701 "2013-11-13T10:59:32Z")
I clicked a little here and there to see what the Paul plagiarism fuss was about; I reached two conclusions. (1) Paul calls his enemies “haters.” This isn’t unique to Paul; I hear many right-wingers, both leaders and followers, accuse opponents of “hating.” Is this a new trend? Even Clinton and Gingrich didn’t call each other “haters,” did they? Wouldn’t it be sweet if Americans came to their senses and refused to vote for people that used such words? (2) Paul repeatedly defends his plagiarism by stating, over and over, that he specifically said “In the movie Gattaca" when he used its plot for his speech. _ **But that was never the charge.** _ That he doesn’t even understand (or pretends not to understand) what the charge was demonstrates that either he is stupid, he regards his potential supporters as stupid, or both. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2013, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11702 "2013-11-13T11:03:20Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > (1) Paul calls his enemies “haters.” This isn’t unique to Paul; I hear many right-wingers, both leaders and followers, accuse opponents of “hating.” Strangely, it’s usually right after they’ve done something hateful (not that plagiarizing Wikipedia is hateful in any meaningful sense). ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11703 "2013-11-13T15:54:23Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Latest antichoicers’ tactic](http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/14347/antiabortion-christian-activist-urges-false-imprisonment-of-women-seeking-abortions) (though it probably comes under the heading of “evil,” not “stupid”): Volunteer to drive women to the abortion clinic, then don’t take them but spend the drive preaching. “And hey even if you can’t change her mind by the time she gets out of your car and realizes she is at a church and not the clinic she’s missed her appointment anyway.” This looks more like an individual rightwing idiot’s idea rather than an actual tactic. I don’t see any evidence that anyone actually tried it out, and given that in doing so they would open themselves up to charges of kidnapping, I doubt that anyone will. For that reason it definitely falls more in the area of stupid than evil. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11704 "2013-11-13T16:09:47Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > That he doesn’t even understand (or pretends not to understand) what the charge was demonstrates that either he is stupid, he regards his potential supporters as stupid, or both. Regarding ones potential supporters as stupid is not stupid. It’s cynical, but effective. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11705 "2013-11-13T17:47:27Z")
Its not cynical if you are just as stupid as they are. Its only when you know better and do it anyway that you cross over that line. ---
**Author:** ![LeeshaJoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@LeeshaJoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeeshaJoy)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11706 "2013-11-13T18:24:43Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > I clicked a little here and there to see what the Paul plagiarism fuss was about; I reached two conclusions. > > (1) Paul calls his enemies “haters.” This isn’t unique to Paul; I hear many right-wingers, both leaders and followers, accuse opponents of “hating.” Is this a new trend? Even Clinton and Gingrich didn’t call each other “haters,” did they? Wouldn’t it be sweet if Americans came to their senses and refused to vote for people that used such words? “Hater” is a term that only came into the popular lexicon in the past few years, so I’m pretty sure Paul is just trying to make himself seem cool by using it. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2013, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11707 "2013-11-13T18:25:09Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Its not cynical if you are just as stupid as they are. Its only when you know better and do it anyway that you cross over that line. They’ve got a thread called “If Rand Paul were a woman” over in Great Debates, and my thought was, “If Rand Paul were a woman he’d have an awful lot of kids and no idea who any of the daddies were.” ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11708 "2013-11-13T19:41:53Z")
A scurrilous anecdote relates how the father of Warren G. Harding counted himself blessed that his son was male, for precisely the same reason. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11709 "2013-11-14T04:24:41Z")
[Still more from Papa Cruz.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/13/rafael-cruz-black-people_n_4256737.html) > [@](#): > > Evangelical pastor Rafael Cruz, father of tea party star Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), called black and Hispanic voters “uninformed” and “deceived" during a speech to conservative activists in February. > > After attending a panel on minority outreach at the FreedomWorks grassroots summit, Cruz, a Cuban-American, born-again Christian, spoke at the conference. He noted that a previous speaker “mentioned something about Hispanics being uninformed or deceived.” > > "Well, the same thing is true of the black population,” Cruz said. > > Cruz also suggested how blacks and Hispanics should vote. “As a matter of fact, if we could communicate the truth, not only to the Hispanics but to the black population, all blacks should be Republican," he said. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11710 "2013-11-14T04:25:44Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > They’ve got a thread called “If Rand Paul were a woman” over in Great Debates, and my thought was, “If Rand Paul were a woman he’d have an awful lot of kids and no idea who any of the daddies were.” > [@elucidator](#): > > A scurrilous anecdote relates how the father of Warren G. Harding counted himself blessed that his son was male, for precisely the same reason. But was he despairing or bragging? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11711 "2013-11-14T07:09:29Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Still more from Papa Cruz.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/13/rafael-cruz-black-people_n_4256737.html) \ Your shenanigans are going to cost me this election. \ ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11712 "2013-11-14T08:10:54Z")
Not insane! ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11713 "2013-11-14T12:01:59Z")
Dear Santa, Please have Papa Cruz run in the Republican primaries. Love, Rhythmdvl ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11714 "2013-11-14T13:50:25Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Dear Santa, > > Please have Papa Cruz run in the Republican primaries. > > Love, > > Rhythmdvl Or, if that’s just not feasible enough, just have him get out on the campaign trail for his boy. And talk. A lot. In front of microphones. With no filter. Now that’s feasible… I can’t wait! ---
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11715 "2013-11-14T13:54:20Z")
With the talk of Sen. Cruz running for president, you would think that Orly Taitz would be all over this. Sadly for America [Orly has given up](http://www.orlytaitzesq.com/?p=429869) because the judiciary has been so corrupted by Pres. Obama that it just does not matter anymore. > [@](#): > > “When I see such complete lawlessness in the court of law, my response in regards to Ted Cruz, that it does not matter any more, whether the candidate is eligible. We have no rule of law any more.” ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11716 "2013-11-14T13:58:04Z")
Dubya is now fundraising for a [Jews for Jesus](http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/11/george-w-bush-jews-for-jesus-messianic-jewish-bible-institute)group - the Messianic Jewish Bible Group has a mission to convert the heathens. The Anti-Defamation League is on the case, don’t worry. ---
**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:** [November 14, 2013, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11717 "2013-11-14T14:20:31Z")
You know what will finally get Obama out of office? [Camping!](http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/nov/13/conservatives-plan-dc-occupation) Who will be doing the camping? RANC. You know, RANC. Reclaim America Now Coalition, founded by the wacky leader of Freedom Watch. But that’s not all, the truckers who “tried” to shut down the DC beltway ([and succeeded in having a few truckers actually show up](http://wonkette.com/531321/dozens-of-truckers-show-up-to-completely-shut-down-dc-constitution-likely-to-survive-anyway)) will join the event… so you know this is going to be big. And how long will this camping go on for? “As long as it takes, **Ravenman**! There’s no clock on getting Obama out of office!” Well, no. “The speaking is a one-day event, but if people want to camp and stay there, that would be very effective,” says an organizer. I think OWS were primarily a bunch of stinky, lazy bums, but this protest is making the Unemployables look as tough and principled as the Marine Corps. ---
**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:** [November 14, 2013, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11718 "2013-11-14T14:31:15Z")
If they stay there for three years, Obama will be out of office and they’ll have achieved all their goals. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11719 "2013-11-14T14:39:08Z")
[A Tea Party group is planning to primary 87 Republican “traitors.”](http://www.buzzfeed.com/katenocera/tea-party-group-will-primary-87-republican-traitors) (And, yes, that’s **their** word.) > [@](#): > > WASHINGTON — A tea party group has launched a campaign to support primary challenges against all 87 Republicans who voted for the deal in late October to reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling. > > The Tea Party Leadership Fund, a PAC affiliated with the group [TheTeaParty.net](http://TheTeaParty.net), began a fundraising push — dubbed the “Primaries for Traitors Fund” — shortly after the shutdown deal passed in the House, and they are now ramping up efforts to find “credible candidates” in each of the districts, said the fund’s treasurer, Dan Backer. > > \ > > Backer says the group has honed in on a few specific members to start: Illinois Rep. Rodney Davis, New York Rep. Peter King, North Carolina Rep. Robert Pittenger, Louisiana Rep. Charles Boustany, and most importantly, Backer said, House Speaker John Boehner in Ohio. ---
**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:** [November 14, 2013, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11720 "2013-11-14T14:57:54Z")
How long before Democratic donors realize the best use of their money is funding Tea Party primary challengers? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=585) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=587)