# 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:** 838
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16741 "2014-09-13T20:49:17Z")
Two Palin headlines today: 1. Palin family engages in barroom brawl. 2. Sarah Palin apologizes. One would think there was a connection between the two. One would be mistaken. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16742 "2014-09-13T21:57:49Z")
I think the funniest part of that story, other than the mental picture of a Palin dogpile (I keep seeing it like [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwAbnL-wBV4) in my mind), was somebody shouting “This isn’t some reality show!”. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16743 "2014-09-13T22:13:35Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I think the funniest part of that story, other than the mental picture of a Palin dogpile (I keep seeing it like [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwAbnL-wBV4) in my mind),… I envisioned it rather more like [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcSMaNlcDPs). (I think I should get bonus points because it involves another Palin.) ---
**Author:** ![slumtrimpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@slumtrimpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slumtrimpet)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16744 "2014-09-13T23:53:43Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I envisioned it rather more like [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcSMaNlcDPs). (I think I should get bonus points because it involves another Palin.) This. This is why I read the Straight Dope 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16745 "2014-09-14T02:33:36Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Two Palin headlines today: 1. Palin family engages in barroom brawl. 2. Sarah Palin apologizes. > > One would think there was a connection between the two. One would be mistaken. LOL. I made the same mistake when I saw the second headline. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16746 "2014-09-14T13:21:26Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > “I owe America a _global_ apology”? For being born and then procreating, presumably. Stupid twat. Sarah speaks for the entire world. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16747 "2014-09-14T19:45:39Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > Do you think she knows what a globe is? You mean that empty thing on top of her neck? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16748 "2014-09-14T21:17:32Z")
> [@computergeek](#): > > Did Cruz not understand the organization he was talking to or did he think all Christian organizations were the same? More likely he thought all **conservative** organizations were pro-Israel like American conservatives (except for the Buchananite paleocons, and the White Nationalists if they count as conservative). ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Jocko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncle_jocko/32/2932_2.png) [@Uncle\_Jocko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Jocko)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2014, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16749 "2014-09-15T16:56:25Z")
Guess which party’s governors are falling all over themselves to turn down the offer of increased federal food aid to their residents at practically no cost to their states? Well, [There’s a reason I’m putting it in this thread.](http://gawker.com/republican-governors-proudly-starve-their-poorest-citiz-1634807310) Guys like Walker and Christie are so bent on proving their “any taxes are bad/we must keep cutting taxes/ohmygod those takers are killing American business” to their angry conservative voters that they’re turning down food aid for the poor. Food! And something like a 50/1 margin in federal to state spending! There’s an anecdote from New Jersey in the article of one fellow whose food stamp allowance dropped from $138 to $15 a month. On the bright side, he’s lost five pounds, so, yay? ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2014, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16750 "2014-09-15T17:04:20Z")
> [@Uncle\_Jocko](#): > > Guys like Walker and Christie are so bent on proving their “any taxes are bad/we must keep cutting taxes/ohmygod those takers are killing American business” to their angry conservative voters that they’re turning down food aid for the poor. Food! As demonstrated in the last presidential election, contempt for the poor is pretty much a standard Republican position. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16751 "2014-09-15T19:27:23Z")
Gov. Sam Brownback of Kansas has been so extreme in his views that [a coalition of more than 100 Republicans has formed to endorse his Democrat opponent](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/07/15/more-than-100-republicans-endorse-democrat-against-kansas-gov-brownback-r/) for Governor, state Rep. Paul Davis. “They oppose Brownback for a laundry list of reasons, including tax cuts he spearheaded, cuts to education spending, and his alienating some centrist members of the GOP.” Former state Senate president Dick Bond: “…This election should not be about electing a Republican or a Democrat as Governor. It must be about electing a moderate, commonsense Kansan as governor.” If only this sanity would spread nationwide. Edit: ah, shit this happened in July. I’ll leave it here anyway. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2014, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16752 "2014-09-15T20:00:09Z")
> [@Uncle\_Jocko](#): > > There’s an anecdote from New Jersey in the article of one fellow whose food stamp allowance dropped from $138 to $15 a month. On the bright side, he’s lost five pounds, so, yay? Governor Christie, take note: Go on food stamps! ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16753 "2014-09-16T04:25:26Z")
Same story, different week: [A Republican group says 772 thousand people have signed a petition to the FCC in opposition to “Regulating the Internet”](http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/09/republican-group-convinces-772000-people-to-oppose-internet-regulation/). This byzantine bullshit blather bomb just makes my blood boil. I think these people are making a deliberate effort to cause me to pop-and-drop. ---
**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:** [September 16, 2014, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16754 "2014-09-16T14:29:21Z")
From the [“We Have Always/Never Been At War With Eurasia”](http://mediamatters.org/blog/2014/09/15/fox-news-acknowledges-160-airstrikes-against-is/200753) Department: > [@](#): > > On the September 15 edition of America’s Newsroom, Fox News contributor Pete Hegseth pushed for American ground troops to be sent to the Middle East to combat Islamic State forces there. Hegseth criticized Obama’s response thus far, saying that allies are seeing “American ambivalence.” > > A more striking ambiguity took place on screen, where Fox News’ text suggested simultaneously that: > > Obama has not taken any military action against the Islamic State > U.S. has conducted over 160 airstrikes against the Islamic State ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16755 "2014-09-16T14:34:29Z")
There are always legitimate criticisms to be made of a President’s actions in wartime. And I agree that ruling out ground troops, both in Obama’s, and in Clinton’s case in Kosovo, was stupid. It’s a promise that can’t be kept unless you’ve decided that losing is an option. When a reporter asked the President what he’ll do if airstrikes prove insufficient, his lame response was, “I’m not anticipating failure at this point.” Translation: I have no plan B. But the Congressman’s criticism is stupid. There is no need for US ground troops now. I wouldn’t criticize the President if he chose to use them, but making the Iraqis fight for their own country isn’t exactly bad policy. It’s only bad policy if they lose. And they won’t be allowed to lose, so there will be ground troops if air strikes are insufficient. But at this point a lot of the GOP criticism is just to find something to criticize. I got through reading about how we shouldn’t arm the Syrian opposition on conservative blogs, when for awhile all I was reading was how we must arm the Syrian opposition. Liberals have at least been consistently unsure about the issue, because it’s damn complicated. Conservatives just seem to be supporting whatever the President doesn’t. ---
**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:** [September 16, 2014, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16756 "2014-09-16T14:50:54Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > When a reporter asked the President what he’ll do if airstrikes prove insufficient, his lame response was, “I’m not anticipating failure at this point.” Translation: I have no plan B. And if he gave a substantive answer of what he will do if airstrikes don’t work, the story would be, “President has no confidence in his plan.” If you were President, what would you rather have the press write about? ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16757 "2014-09-16T15:02:26Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > And if he gave a substantive answer of what he will do if airstrikes don’t work, the story would be, “President has no confidence in his plan.” If you were President, what would you rather have the press write about? Nah, it would have been “President tells enemy his plans.” ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16758 "2014-09-16T15:07:20Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > There are always legitimate criticisms to be made of a President’s actions in wartime. Oh, sure there are, when the President is a Democrat. “Support the troops!” “Politics stops at the water’s edge!” Any of [this](http://www.brendan-nyhan.com/blog/gop-dissent-attacks.html) ring a bell? The worst might be from Zell Miller (technically, a Democrat) during his keynote speech at the Republican National Convention in 2004: > [@](#): > > While young Americans are dying in the sands of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan, our nation is being torn apart and made weaker because of the Democrats’ manic obsession to bring down our commander in chief. That’s what happens when you criticize a Republican president during wartime. ---
**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:** [September 16, 2014, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16759 "2014-09-16T15:23:00Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > But at this point a lot of the GOP criticism is just to find something to criticize. I got through reading about how we shouldn’t arm the Syrian opposition on conservative blogs, when for awhile all I was reading was how we must arm the Syrian opposition. Liberals have at least been consistently unsure about the issue, because it’s damn complicated. Conservatives just seem to be supporting whatever the President doesn’t. Hope springs eternal. ---
**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:** [September 16, 2014, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16760 "2014-09-16T15:34:02Z")
Nice alliteration there, **eschereal**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=837) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=839)