# 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:** 599
**Author:** ![computergeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e56c9b/32.png) [@computergeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/computergeek)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11961 "2013-12-08T22:03:38Z")
I’m not a fan of unlimited benefits either, except during times of near economic catastrophe like the economic meltdown of 2008. I think we’re at the point now that 99 weeks is perhaps unnecessary. At the very least, it (extending benefits) should probably be done carefully and with thoughtfulness ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11962 "2013-12-09T15:41:46Z")
> [@computergeek](#): > > I’m not a fan of unlimited benefits either, except during times of near economic catastrophe like the economic meltdown of 2008. I think we’re at the point now that 99 weeks is perhaps unnecessary. At the very least, it (extending benefits) should probably be done carefully and with thoughtfulness That’s a defendable position. But claiming that extending benefits makes one less attractive to potential employers is stupid and a half. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11963 "2013-12-09T16:03:49Z")
There is now [a coloring book to teach your children to love Ted Cruz](http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/12/09/3036431/good-news-tea-party-parents-coloring-book-teach-children-love-ted-cruz/). No, really. The thing’s [on Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=coloring%20books%20and%20ted%20cruz&rh=i:aps,k:coloring%20books%20and%20ted%20cruz&tag=viglink124132-20). ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11964 "2013-12-09T16:26:52Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > There is now [a coloring book to teach your children to love Ted Cruz](http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/12/09/3036431/good-news-tea-party-parents-coloring-book-teach-children-love-ted-cruz/). > > No, really. The thing’s [on Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=coloring%20books%20and%20ted%20cruz&rh=i:aps,k:coloring%20books%20and%20ted%20cruz&tag=viglink124132-20). WANT ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11965 "2013-12-09T16:34:33Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > There is now [a coloring book to teach your children to love Ted Cruz](http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/12/09/3036431/good-news-tea-party-parents-coloring-book-teach-children-love-ted-cruz/). > > No, really. The thing’s [on Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=coloring%20books%20and%20ted%20cruz&rh=i:aps,k:coloring%20books%20and%20ted%20cruz&tag=viglink124132-20). You mean you can make him different colors? Cool! ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11966 "2013-12-09T17:30:19Z")
Sure, just so long as it’s not brown. ---
**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:** [December 9, 2013, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11967 "2013-12-09T19:15:44Z")
😕 Why would they make him BROWN? Canadians aren’t BROWN! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11968 "2013-12-09T19:55:21Z")
Cruz renounced (or at least said he would renounce) his Canadian citizenship. On behalf of all Canadians, I’ll just say “whew!” ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11969 "2013-12-09T21:07:56Z")
He hasn’t yet. Probably, it would require that he submit proof that he is an American Citizen. Because he was born in Canada to an American Mother, he would have to show evidence that she had been living in the US for ten years after the age of fourteen, or something like that. (I don’t remember the exact requirement.) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11970 "2013-12-09T21:17:30Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > He hasn’t yet. Probably, it would require that he submit proof that he is an American Citizen. Because he was born in Canada to an American Mother, he would have to show evidence that she had been living in the US for ten years after the age of fourteen, or something like that. (I don’t remember the exact requirement.) He’s out of luck as there’s no document that can prove that. ---
**Author:** ![Falchion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Falchion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falchion)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11971 "2013-12-09T21:28:02Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > He hasn’t yet. Probably, it would require that he submit proof that he is an American Citizen. Because he was born in Canada to an American Mother, he would have to show evidence that she had been living in the US for ten years after the age of fourteen, or something like that. (I don’t remember the exact requirement.) I think it’s ten years total; five after the age of 14 (that was the quirk that meant that Obama had to be born in the United States, becuase his mother was only 18). Still, I would assume that he has a US passport and that Canada would accept that as sufficent proof of citizenship. Actually, I assume it would be fairly easy to establish a record of her presence, since it would really only need to get her through high school and the first year of college. That can be readily documented. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11972 "2013-12-09T21:33:19Z")
Y’all are getting ahead of yourselves. First, he has to prove that he’s human rather than pod people. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11973 "2013-12-09T21:33:21Z")
> [@Falchion](#): > > I think it’s ten years total; five after the age of 14 (that was the quirk that meant that Obama had to be born in the United States, becuase his mother was only 18). > > Still, I would assume that he has a US passport and that Canada would accept that as sufficent proof of citizenship. Actually, I assume it would be fairly easy to establish a record of her presence, since it would really only need to get her through high school and the first year of college. That can be readily documented. Perhaps she has years of welfare records that Ted doesn’t want to get out. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11974 "2013-12-09T21:37:42Z")
> [@Falchion](#): > > Still, I would assume that he has a US passport and that Canada would accept that as sufficent proof of citizenship. Unlike the US, [Canada recognizes dual citizenship](http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/publications/dual-citizenship) or even multiple citizenship. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11975 "2013-12-09T21:40:10Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Unlike the US, [Canada recognizes dual citizenship](http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/publications/dual-citizenship) or even multiple citizenship. The US recognizes dual citizenship too. But this is all about whether he can be _President_ and Canadian. ---
**Author:** ![Falchion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Falchion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falchion)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11976 "2013-12-09T21:45:47Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Perhaps she has years of welfare records that Ted doesn’t want to get out. 😛 Maybe. Or maybe she never graduate high school. I tend to assume that politicians conceal things becuase they’re damaging in some way. > [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Unlike the US, [Canada recognizes dual citizenship](http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/publications/dual-citizenship) or even multiple citizenship. So what? He’s said he wants to renounce his Canadian citizenship becuase he’s a US senator (I acutally agree with this). One proposed explanation for why he hasn’t is that Canada requires proof of alternative citizenship in order to renounce your citizenship. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11977 "2013-12-09T21:51:36Z")
> [@Falchion](#): > > Maybe. Or maybe she never graduate high school… Maybe not good for proving her residency, but great for the anti-intellectual Republican base! ---
**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:** [December 10, 2013, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11978 "2013-12-10T10:37:41Z")
Rush Limbaugh: [Don’t want me looking at your breasts? Maybe your breasts should stop looking at ME!](http://wonkette.com/536122/please-stop-raping-rush-limbaugh-with-your-gazongas) > [@](#): > > You find yourself staring, looking at, casually glancing at a woman, but you know that it’s now socially taboo. You shouldn’t be doing it. And you think everybody is noticing you doing it and condemning you in their minds. You shouldn’t — so you walk up to the woman and say, “Will you please ask your breasts to stop staring at my eyes?” > > Try that. Might help. And you don’t know ’til you try it. Yeah, that’ll definitely make things better, Rush. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11979 "2013-12-10T12:58:01Z")
As reported on Rachel Maddow last night, the Republican party opened an outreach office in Detroit yesterday " intended to improve the party’s outreach to African Americans. " She goes on: > [@](#): > > But the point that seems most important to me is the oddity of choosing this senator in the first place. There’s nothing wrong with the Michigan Republican Party opening an office to help reach out to African-American voters – Detroit’s population is 83% black – but why in the world invite Rand Paul? > > As we talked about over the summer, Paul’s on record opposing the Civil Rights Act of 1964. the Voting Rights Act and the Fair Housing Act. Paul found a neo-Confederate who celebrates the birthday of Abraham Lincoln’s assassin, then wrote a book with the guy, and then hired him to work on his Senate staff. Paul doesn’t believe Republican voter-suppression efforts have anything to do with race – all evidence to the contrary notwithstanding. > > Paul gave a speech at Howard University, one of the nation’s preeminent historically black colleges, where he was “condescending and intellectually dishonest.” > > The Michigan Republican Party couldn’t think of anyone with more credibility on racial diversity and civil rights? > **[The wrong person for the job](https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/the-wrong-person-the-job-msna227311)** > > Good: the Michigan Republican Party opening an African-American outreach office in Detroit. Not so good: they invited Rand Paul for the launch. Even more disturbing, if this is supposed to be an outreach to the black community, all of the pictures on this site and linked to of it show only white people: > **[Largely White Audience Turns Out To Hear Rand Paul Speak At African-American...](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rand-paul-african-american_n_4409356)** > > Largely White Audience Turns Out To Hear Rand Paul Speak At African-American Outreach Event The pictures don’t tell the whole story. If you look at other sites you can se that black people did attend, but they do seem to have been vastly outnumbered by white folks. This site shows not completely white audience, but still claims that it’s 90% white: > **[PHOTOS, AUDIO, & VIDEO: White Libertarian Rand Paul from Kentucky opens...](https://www.eclectablog.com/2013/12/photos-audio-video-white-libertarian-rand-paul-from-kentucky-opens-republican-black-outreach-office-in-detroit.html)** ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/11980 "2013-12-10T13:49:27Z")
Actually, reading closely, you see that the mostly white crowd was actually at Grace Bible Chapel, not at the opening of the center. There seems to be a higher proportion of blacks at the center opening, but it’s hard to tell from the video, which has an awful lot of white folks. [http://www.eclectablog.com/2013/12/photos-audio-video-white-libertarian-rand-paul-from-kentucky-opens-republican-black-outreach-office-in-detroit.html](http://www.eclectablog.com/2013/12/photos-audio-video-white-libertarian-rand-paul-from-kentucky-opens-republican-black-outreach-office-in-detroit.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=598) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=600)