# 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:** 641
**Author:** ![Wash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9dc877/32.png) [@Wash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wash)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/12801 "2014-02-14T02:56:09Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Fucking assholes, the lot of them in Kansas :mad: Well, they do say that those who rail most vehemently against something are those that secretly, guiltily indulge in it. ---
**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:** [February 14, 2014, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/12802 "2014-02-14T05:32:29Z")
From the [“Bad habits are hard to break”](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/kentucky-sen-rand-paul-faces-new-plagiarism-allegations-nsa-suit-president-obama-article-1.1613823) department: > [@](#): > > Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul is once again facing plagiarism allegations – this time regarding a suit he filed earlier this week against President Obama over the NSA’s surveillance tactics. > > A spokeswoman for Bruce Fein, a former Reagan administration attorney, has accused Paul, who on Wednesday filed a class action lawsuit against Obama over the NSA’s bulk collection program, of leaving Fein’s name off the suit, The Washington Post reported. > > Fein’s camp told The Post that he and Paul had worked together for months to draft the suit… ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/12803 "2014-02-14T06:28:00Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > His rod and His staff will comfort you. Wait, there’s a rod AND a staff involved? I think that’s only in same-sex marriage (and only if it’s two guys…) :dubious: ---
**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 14, 2014, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/12804 "2014-02-14T07:15:19Z")
> [@SeldomSeen](#): > > Wait, what? All along they’ve been telling us that marriage is between ONE man and ONE woman! Now there’s this deity guy involved too?? > [@Not\_Carlson](#): > > Dang. That’d sure give _me_ performance anxiety. At least you know he usually shoots blanks… ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/12805 "2014-02-14T07:44:36Z")
Are we talking about the Second Coming of Jesus? ---
**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:** [February 14, 2014, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/12806 "2014-02-14T08:06:18Z")
As I recall, he was a very decent guest of the last wedding he showed up at. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/12807 "2014-02-14T09:54:56Z")
Tom Perkins, who you may recall as saying that [taxing the rich is morally equivalent to Kristallnacht](http://money.cnn.com/2014/01/26/investing/tom-perkins-nazi-kristallnacht?iid=EL), is at it again [with his plan for electoral reform](http://money.cnn.com/2014/02/14/investing/tom-perkins-vote/index.html?hpt=hp_t2); > [@](#): > > “The Tom Perkins system is: You don’t get to vote unless you pay a dollar of taxes,” Perkins said. > > “But what I really think is, it should be like a corporation. You pay a million dollars in taxes, you get a million votes. How’s that?” I’m beginning to wonder if he isn’t Sacha Baron Cohen in a mask playing an elaborate prank on all the other billionaires. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/12808 "2014-02-14T11:05:54Z")
God is a deadbeat dead. Gets Mary pregnant, lets Joseph provide for the kid, never once sends a alimony check. When Jesus is an adult, they talk a few times, but … Well, remember that: “why have you forsaken me”-line? ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/12809 "2014-02-14T13:37:32Z")
John Huppenthal, Superintendent of Public Instruction, state of AZ, decided it would be a good idea to do automated phone calls urging tax dollar donations for private schools. 😕 [http://www.azcentral.com/news/arizona/articles/20140212critics-blast-arizona-superintendent-promoting-private-schools.html](http://www.azcentral.com/news/arizona/articles/20140212critics-blast-arizona-superintendent-promoting-private-schools.html) ---
**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 14, 2014, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/12810 "2014-02-14T14:17:49Z")
I don’t think that’s a terrible idea in and of itself, but directing people to a website run by a third party think tank??? ---
**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:** [February 14, 2014, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/12811 "2014-02-14T17:05:10Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I thought Republicans were opposed to polygamy. > [@Kobal2](#): > > Wow. God’s a perv. > [@SeldomSeen](#): > > Wait, what? All along they’ve been telling us that marriage is between ONE man and ONE woman! Now there’s this deity guy involved too?? > [@Not\_Carlson](#): > > Dang. That’d sure give _me_ performance anxiety. > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > His rod and His staff will comfort you. > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > And with that whole Trinity thing, suddenly there’s five people involved. > [@CaptMurdock](#): > > Wait, there’s a rod AND a staff involved? I think that’s only in same-sex marriage (and only if it’s two guys…) :dubious: > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > At least you know he usually shoots blanks… > [@elucidator](#): > > Are we talking about the Second Coming of Jesus? Have I told you guys how much I love you lately? We should all get group cyber married and really freak the fuck out of the nutjobs! ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/12812 "2014-02-14T17:13:58Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > God is a deadbeat dead. Gets Mary pregnant, lets Joseph provide for the kid, never once sends a alimony check. When Jesus is an adult, they talk a few times, but … Well, remember that: “why have you forsaken me”-line? You’re the worst. Now all I can picture is Jesus on the cross screaming up to the sky “Are you paying attention to me NOW, dad?!?” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/12813 "2014-02-14T18:12:59Z")
[Tom Perkins doubles down:](http://www.salon.com/2014/02/14/multimillionaire_venture_capitalist_tom_perkins_says_the_1_should_get_more_votes/) > [@](#): > > •Perkins defended his infamous progressives-are-Nazis argument, telling Lashinsky, “”I think the parallel holds.” > •When asked to share an idea he felt would save the world, Perkins recommended voting rights be restricted to tax-payers and that the wealthy receive more votes than the rest. “You don’t get to vote unless you pay $1 in taxes,” Perkins said. “If you pay $1 million in taxes, you get a million votes.” > •He continued to insist the 1 percent are underappreciated, saying, ”I don’t think people have any idea what the 1 percent is actually contributing to America.” > •He recommended the U.S. cut food stamps. > •He claimed that the programs introduced during Johnson’s War on Poverty had ”unknowingly creating the destruction of lower-end families in America.” > •He claimed the federal government’s progressive tax code ”is persecution” of the wealthy. > •After saying that government is “a giant beast which has to be fed,” which means taxes go “up and up and up,” Perkins shot down Lashinsky’s counter that government financing helped create the internet (the source of Perkins’ extraordinary wealth) by responding, “Adam, you’re barking up the wrong tree. I’m not going to go there.” > •He said, “\*f Germany had American gun laws, there would have never been a Hitler.” > •He claimed the Koch brothers were suffering from “persecution.” > •He denounced child labor laws. > •He said Silicon Valley was “a meritocracy” and that race had “absolutely nothing to do with it.” > •He recommended breaking teachers’ unions. > •He asserted that America needs ”another Margaret Thatcher,” who was a “charming lady.” > •And he called free market capitalism “the only way to proceed.” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/12814 "2014-02-14T18:25:42Z")
[In Kansas, a Tea Party challenge-candidate for U.S. Senate (who happens to be a distant cousin of Obama’s) compares Obama to Hitler for his treatment of “successful Americans.”](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/milton-wolf-compare-obama-hitler) ---
**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:** [February 14, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/12815 "2014-02-14T19:00:04Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Tom Perkins doubles down:](http://www.salon.com/2014/02/14/multimillionaire_venture_capitalist_tom_perkins_says_the_1_should_get_more_votes/) He started this rant because of the protests over the buses in San Francisco taking people to Silicon Valley. None of the people on those buses are 1%ers, or probably really rich. So he’s stupid and paranoid. The most frightening thing is that Perkins was probably the smartest person on the HP board for years. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/12816 "2014-02-14T20:48:44Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Tom Perkins… > I’m beginning to wonder if he isn’t Sacha Baron Cohen in a mask playing an elaborate prank on all the other billionaires. [/QUOTE] [Doctor Zachary Smith](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/tom_perkins_wealthy_taxpayers_should_get_more_votes) ---
**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:** [February 15, 2014, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/12817 "2014-02-15T02:13:00Z")
**Missouri lawmaker introduces bill allowing familes to ‘opt out’ of learning evolution.** _A Missouri lawmaker has proposed what ranks among the most anti-evolution legislation in recent years, which would require schools to notify parents if “the theory of evolution by natural selection” was being taught at their child’s school and give them the opportunity to opt out of the class. […] “It’s an absolute infringement on people’s beliefs,” [State Rep. Rick Brattin ®] told the Kansas City Star of requiring schools to teach evolution. “What’s being taught is just as much faith and, you know, just as much pulled out of the air as, say, any religion."_ ---
**Author:** ![computergeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e56c9b/32.png) [@computergeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/computergeek)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2014, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/12818 "2014-02-15T02:33:30Z")
Good going Missouri lawmakers, keep the kids ignorant ---
**Author:** ![Wash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9dc877/32.png) [@Wash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wash)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2014, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/12819 "2014-02-15T02:56:02Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > _“What’s being taught is just as much faith and, you know, just as much pulled out of the air as, say, any religion."_ That statement is confusing. I’m assuming Brattin is religious? So is he saying Christianity is pulled out of thin air, or he believes in evolution as much as he does his god? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2014, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/12820 "2014-02-15T02:59:02Z")
> [@Wash](#): > > That statement is confusing. I’m assuming Brattin is religious? So is he saying Christianity is pulled out of thin air, or he believes in evolution as much as he does his god? I think he’s saying that teaching evolution is the same as teaching a religion. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=640) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=642)