# 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:** 672
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13421 "2014-03-13T19:12:17Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > But if you’re going to post a protest every time it is used as an insult, why not start a thread in ATMB calling for it’s banning? Either the word is allowable _officially_, or it isn’t. So you’d prefer that it be banned rather than simply being asked nicely? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13422 "2014-03-13T19:16:56Z")
I personally prefer the discussion be taken elsewhere, FWIW. ---
**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:** [March 13, 2014, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13423 "2014-03-13T19:17:28Z")
If someone is being delusional, can I call them Retardo Montalban, of Fantasy Island? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13424 "2014-03-13T19:24:54Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > So you’d prefer that it be banned rather than simply being asked nicely? If you are going to continue asking until the other person gives in, then it is no longer nice-it is an annoyance. ---
**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:** [March 13, 2014, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13425 "2014-03-13T19:26:15Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > And you say I’m the annoying one for sticking up for some of the most vulnerable and innocent people in our society who also happens to be one of my children and–nicely–asking that people not use insults that degrade them, just as they would be expected not to use insults that degrade people by race, for instance. Do you still refer to your child as retarded? I thought that term for the developmentally disabled went out decades ago. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13426 "2014-03-13T19:34:06Z")
[http://www.thelostogle.com/2014/03/1…gs/#more-42991](http://www.thelostogle.com/2014/03/13/survival-of-the-fittest-channel-25-will-do-anything-for-ratings/#more-42991) Saw another post nationally on this yesterday but the link didn’t work for me. This is the local story. GOP FOX News 25 local channel covers over NDT’s one mention of evolution with a lame local promotional spot. Some conspiracy highlights: **1. Channel 25 has incompetent employees with really bad timing.** **2. Channel 25 didn’t want to offend conservative Derplahoman viewers by teaching evolution.** **3. Channel 25 is desperate for viewers.** ---
**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:** [March 13, 2014, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13427 "2014-03-13T19:36:49Z")
Do you approve of the words moron, idiot, stupid, imbecile, feeble-minded, etc.? They were once terms used to diagnose disabilities, no different from retarded. Will you post a request every time you see one of those being used? ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13428 "2014-03-13T19:55:19Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > And you say I’m the annoying one for sticking up for some of the most vulnerable and innocent people in our society who also happens to be one of my children and–nicely–asking that people not use insults that degrade them, just as they would be expected not to use insults that degrade people by race, for instance. I agree that it is hurtful to people that already have enough to deal with for an accident of birth. The term is used as a cheap insult yet there are so many more appropriate words available. The people it’s directed at are not _really_ thought to be retarded, but stupid, ignorant, foolish, dumb et al, any of which do not insult an uninvolved group. Your comment about insults that degrade people by race reminds me of another term that I think is inappropriate and unnecessarily hurtful to another uninvolved group. The use of **White Trash** indicates that really low dirtbag Whites are the equivalent of Blacks. It might not be so if there was the term **Black Trash** , but there isn’t. I don’t think anyone that uses those terms is going to stop by being asked, nicely or otherwise. I’m not looking to debate or further hijack the thread, just want to state my opinion as simply agreeing with lance strongarm. ---
**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:** [March 13, 2014, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13429 "2014-03-13T20:11:29Z")
“Dumb” is a disparaging word for people with speech impairments. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13430 "2014-03-13T20:46:46Z")
… it’s also a word for this hijack. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13431 "2014-03-13T21:12:36Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > If someone is being delusional, can I call them Retardo Montalban, of Fantasy Island? No, you can’t, but that’s just because it would be lame. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13432 "2014-03-13T21:14:53Z")
We can still say “lame,” can’t we? ---
**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:** [March 13, 2014, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13433 "2014-03-13T21:31:04Z")
Only in the context of a fabric woven with metallic threads. Any other use would be retarded. ---
**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:** [March 13, 2014, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13434 "2014-03-13T21:37:03Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > We can still say “lame,” can’t we? I was born with a hoof! You’re making fun of me!!11 ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13435 "2014-03-13T22:00:19Z")
You can’t use lame. Offensive to cripples. You can’t use retard. Offensive to imbeciles. You can’t use dumb. Offensive to mutes. You can’t use suck. Offensive to vacuum cleaners. Please refer to things simply as “disagreeable” “displeasing” and “unenjoyable” until further notice. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13436 "2014-03-13T23:33:28Z")
Pat Robertson says God shut off the power in Washington DC to punish the Democrats over their debate on global warming. [http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/03/13/pat-robertson-god-shut-off-d-c-power-as-a-fun-way-to-punish-dems-for-climate-lies/](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/03/13/pat-robertson-god-shut-off-d-c-power-as-a-fun-way-to-punish-dems-for-climate-lies/) I guess no Republicans were punished. Public education is socialism : [Ohio State Rep: ‘Public Education In America Is Socialism, What Is The Solution?’ - TPM – Talking Points Memo](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/andrew-brenner-education-socialism) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13437 "2014-03-13T23:44:45Z")
[Canadian doctor schools Republican Senator on health care.](http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/03/12/toronto-doctor-smacks-down-u-s-senate-question-on-canadian-waitlist-deaths/) ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13438 "2014-03-13T23:57:28Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > You can’t use lame. Offensive to cripples. > You can’t use retard. Offensive to imbeciles. > You can’t use dumb. Offensive to mutes. > You can’t use suck. Offensive to vacuum cleaners. > > Please refer to things simply as “disagreeable” “displeasing” and “unenjoyable” until further notice. Well, I do think the list provided is unimaginative, but I do think if you are going to insult a person, you owe it to yourself to put effort into finding the most appropriate and abstruse term. (My parents would allow use to insult each only in foreign languages, and never in German.) ---
**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:** [March 13, 2014, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13439 "2014-03-13T23:58:06Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Public education is socialism : [Ohio State Rep: ‘Public Education In America Is Socialism, What Is The Solution?’ - TPM – Talking Points Memo](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/andrew-brenner-education-socialism) > [@](#): > > Socialism, defined on Wikipedia, ‘is a social and economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and co-operative management of the economy,’" state Rep. Andrew Brenner (R ) wrote in a post published Mar. 3 on Brenner Brief News, a website founded and edited by his wife. "That seems to summarize our primary education system. Public education in America is socialism. If your public schools have means of production he’s got a point : you’re doing \*something \*wrong :). ---
**Author:** ![Askthepizzaguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askthepizzaguy/32/9405_2.png) [@Askthepizzaguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askthepizzaguy)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13440 "2014-03-13T23:59:39Z")
I want to give thumbs up to\*\* lance strongarm\*\* for taking me to task on the use of that word, and defending his position with grace and civility even if it seemed unpopular. I may still occasionally let the word slip when I am absolutely furious, but I want to assure lance that I don’t use it in real life… I feel the anonymity of the internet allows me to drop my self-censorship perhaps more than I should. I just gotta have a place where I can express myself openly and honestly without the filter. Here, I’m willing to brawl with someone about politics or religion, trade insults, get pissed off, and make more off-color jokes than I normally would. In real life I avoid conflict by self-censoring, because most of the time I spend out there is in the business and customer service world where I’m in management, and I get so sick and tired of being polite to people who don’t deserve it… come home and let my real feelings slip on here. I apologize for the use of the word, however, I’ll defend myself by saying that this is a situation analogous to the South Park ep where they reclaimed the use of a certain word to refer to loud, obnoxious bikers as opposed to using it as an epithet against homosexuals. I’m not suggesting these folks have a mental handicap, I’m suggesting they are too ignorant and incurious to bother to develop their minds and oblivious to the facts. Two very different circumstances. One is not something someone chooses to do, and has no real negative consequences to society. The other is deliberate and extremely damaging. Good now? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=671) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=673)