# 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:** 674
**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 14, 2014, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13461 "2014-03-14T13:49:27Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > I’m not sure I see the point or how that situation would come up in the first place. Either Congress passes a law, the President agrees with it and enforces it ; or he vetoes it. Not at all. The president is not obliged to enforce a law he (or she) believes is unconstitutional. In fact, the president is bound by oath to refuse to do so. Of course, he should veto a law if one comes across his desk that he thinks is unconstitutional. But not all laws are submitted to the current president - most were passed in prior years. And sometimes Congress overrides vetoes. ---
**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 14, 2014, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13462 "2014-03-14T13:55:33Z")
Obama made a mistake when he said he wasn’t going to wait for Congress to act, he’d act anyway. That fed right into the “King Obama” line. He has the power to issue certain executive actions, and he’s done so. But they are very limited. For instance, he ordered a sort of minimum wage increase or something - for federal contractors only. It’s not like he just ordered it for all private businesses instead of letting Congress do it. He can’t do that, and hasn’t. But he didn’t explain the distinction very well. ---
**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 14, 2014, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13463 "2014-03-14T13:57:02Z")
> [@Askthepizzaguy](#): > > But that’s like not enforcing a law upholding slavery. There are some laws so poorly thought-out and indefensible that it is an act of justice to not uphold them. Exactly - the president takes an oath to uphold the Constitution just like members of Congress and judges do, and that includes refusing to enforce unconstitutional laws. Just like judges can overturn such laws. ---
**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 14, 2014, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13464 "2014-03-14T14:05:18Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > Not conclusively stupid. The Bible is full of examples of God punishing the innocent along with, or sometimes even instead of, the guilty. I’d argue that believing in a benevolent omnipotent god that does that in the first place is indeed conclusively stupid. ---
**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 14, 2014, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13465 "2014-03-14T14:26:48Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Pat Robertson says God shut off the power in Washington DC to punish the Democrats over their debate on global warming. Funny, that. A few years back when Robertson said God would send a hurricane to Florida to punish Disney for being nice to gays, the very next hurricane to hit land that season struck an almost direct hit…on his headquarters in Va. Beach, Va. God’s way of saying “STFU already.” ---
**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:** [March 14, 2014, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13466 "2014-03-14T17:10:15Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I suspect it has to do with the Obama administration’s refusing to direct the Office of the U.S. Solicitor General to defend the Defense of Marriage Act when it is challenged before federal courts. Even if such a nonsensical rule was passed, it would simply invite a “required” defense along the lines of: “Hey, Judge, if you ain’t one of them icky queers you’re gonna vote to uphold.” ---
**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:** [March 14, 2014, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13467 "2014-03-14T17:18:33Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Even if such a nonsensical rule was passed, it would simply invite a “required” defense along the lines of: “Hey, Judge, if you ain’t one of them icky queers you’re gonna vote to uphold.” Well, yeah, but if you work in an attorney general’s office that’s part of the job. ---
**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 14, 2014, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13468 "2014-03-14T19:40:47Z")
[http://www.thelostogle.com/2014/03/1…es/#more-42994](http://www.thelostogle.com/2014/03/14/oklahoma-gop-leader-suggests-eliminating-public-schools-and-sending-women-back-to-dark-ages/#more-42994) Oklahoma politico wannabe Pam Pollard. She’s the former **Vice-Chair of the Oklahoma GOP** and currently the **President of the Oklahoma Federation of Republican Women.** Highlights :eek: No public school - women should stay home and school the children. Textbooks? Nah - the Bible has it all. Girls won’t need much education other than helping mom cook for the husband. Just WOW - Alas, this is what a significant portion of the American Taliban want. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13469 "2014-03-14T19:45:52Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Just WOW - Alas, this is what a significant portion of the American Taliban want. American Taliban. I like that. 🙂 ---
**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 14, 2014, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13470 "2014-03-14T19:48:39Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > American Taliban. I like that. 🙂 I like the corrollary - “Talibangelists.” ---
**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 14, 2014, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13471 "2014-03-14T19:53:14Z")
\*Teahadists \*is my favorite. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13472 "2014-03-14T20:02:47Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Just WOW - Alas, this is what a significant portion of the American Taliban want. Tealiban? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13473 "2014-03-14T20:24:31Z")
[The Politburo of Teabilly Mockery.](https://www.facebook.com/thePolitburoMocksTeabillies) ---
**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 14, 2014, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13474 "2014-03-14T20:46:43Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > But not all laws are submitted to the current president - most were passed in prior years. :smack: Of course. Thanks for powering my brain back on :). ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13475 "2014-03-14T22:05:36Z")
[Ron Paul on the Crimea:](http://www.mediaite.com/tv/ron-paul-putin-has-law-on-his-side-with-crimean-invasion/) > [@](#): > > “There should be a right of secession,” Paul concluded. He said America has a tradition of secession and Crimea should have it as well. Someone please tell him that while we do have a tradition of secession, it is a source of mixed feelings to put it mildly. ---
**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 14, 2014, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13476 "2014-03-14T22:30:05Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Someone please tell him that while we do have a tradition of secession, it is a source of mixed feelings to put it mildly. I expect he was talking about the thirteen colonies seceding from the British Empire but yeah, poor choice of words. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13477 "2014-03-14T22:43:05Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Ron Paul on the Crimea:](http://www.mediaite.com/tv/ron-paul-putin-has-law-on-his-side-with-crimean-invasion/) > > Someone please tell him that while we do have a tradition of secession, it is a source of mixed feelings to put it mildly. Can some-one help me out again? It’s been few decades since my last history class. What “tradition” of secession? ---
**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 14, 2014, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13478 "2014-03-14T23:08:39Z")
> [@j666](#): > > Can some-one help me out again? It’s been few decades since my last history class. What “tradition” of secession? the Civil War, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13479 "2014-03-14T23:09:52Z")
> [@j666](#): > > Can some-one help me out again? It’s been few decades since my last history class. What “tradition” of secession? The colonies seceded from the British Empire – though there’s not much mixed feeling about **that** any more, AFAIK; but then later the Southern states tried to secede from the Union, and there was among Americans some measure of mixed feelings about that at the time, and to some extent they continue to this day – there are still Neo-Confederates and Lost-Cause sympathizers and apologists. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13480 "2014-03-14T23:47:28Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > I expect he was talking about the thirteen colonies seceding from the British Empire but yeah, poor choice of words. Right. Let’s give Ron Paul[the benefit of the doubt](http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2011/02/09/ron-paul-invites-witness-with-neo-confederate-ties-to-testify-in-congress/) when it comes to [neo-Confederate sympathies](http://newsone.com/1812845/ron-paul-made-south-was-right-civil-war-speech-with-confederate-flag/). I think [he’s earned it](http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/04/25/the-ron-paul-institute-be-afraid-very-afraid.html). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=673) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=675)