# 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:** 840
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16781 "2014-09-17T00:59:40Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Interesting. So, when he wants to do things to improve conditions in America, “you” (“people”) fight him tooth and nail, but when it comes to killing lots of Arab-types, back off and let the man do his job. Because that is the credible part of his job, killing “those people”. Domestic politics is politics. Politics stops at the water’s edge. Plus we don’t agree that his favored policies would improve conditions in America. We do agree with him that ISIS is a threat and must be dealt with. ---
**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 17, 2014, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16782 "2014-09-17T01:21:08Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Whining is a tone. Or if you prefer, defensiveness. Republicans are not protesting too much that they are actually patriots despite their dissent. It’s taken as a given. I’m not talking about Republicans whining now, I’m talking about the whining they did when people questioned George W. Bush. > [@](#): > > People only question your patriotism when you say things that are unpatriotic, like, “The war is lost”. You know, countries sometimes do lose wars. The unpatriotic thing is to keep fighting when it’s doing more damage to the country than to just stop. Or to get the country into that situation in the first place. > [@johnpost](#): > > mama grizzly > > Sarah Palin Goes Makeup-Free—and Kinda, Sorta Gives the Finger—After Family Is Involved in Drunken Fight > > [Sarah Palin Goes Makeup-Free—and Kinda, Sorta Gives the Finger](http://www.eonline.com/news/579476/sarah-palin-goes-makeup-free-and-kinda-sorta-gives-the-finger-after-family-is-involved-in-drunken-fight) Avert your eyes, children, it may take on other forms! ---
**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 17, 2014, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16783 "2014-09-17T01:57:57Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Domestic politics is politics. Politics stops at the water’s edge. Plus we don’t agree that his favored policies would improve conditions in America. We do agree with him that ISIS is a threat and must be dealt with. Sorry, I am calling total bullshit here. A couple years ago, the right wing was calling the president a pussy for not working to depose Bashar al Assad. They were saying he was afraid of tangling with Vlad, Bashar’s avowed ally. _People are being brutalized by Bashar, we ought to do something, Syria deserves to join the Arab spring, why will he not bring democracy to Damascus???_ Maybe you “agree” with him now, only because you need the janitor to clean up after the mess you made that caused this problem in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16784 "2014-09-17T02:12:09Z")
And I’m calling BS on that one. We didn’t depose Assad. If we assume Saddam is still in power, he ends up having to fight ISIS too. ---
**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 17, 2014, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16785 "2014-09-17T02:30:08Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > And I’m calling BS on that one. We didn’t depose Assad. If we assume Saddam is still in power, he ends up having to fight ISIS too. If Saddam/the Ba’athists were still in power all this time, ISIL never would have had a patch of sandy soil to germinate in, they would not exist. And no, we did not depose Bashar, because the president chose not to (and was attacked by the right for being weak, so fuck this “politics stops at the beach” noise). If the Ba’athists were gone, IS would have Syria by now, probably Lebanon as well, and be knocking on Israel’s gates. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16786 "2014-09-17T02:32:43Z")
I meant that Bush didn’t oppose Assad. ISIL would still germinate on Syrian soil and probably be so bold as to challenge Saddam at some point. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16787 "2014-09-17T04:44:37Z")
> [@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. You often seem far more intelligent and perceptive than the average Republiopath. Where are the other honest Republicans? Why do you affiliate yourself with Scum? > [@adaher](#): > > There were a million voices criticisizing GWB. A lot of them made valid points, as the war was badly mismanaged and a bad idea from the start(that I supported at the time). But a lot of criticism as well was stupid, and some of it even immature. I’ve been watching old Daily Show episodes and some of the smarmy talking points were just so childish in hindsight. And almost universally the stupid criticisms came from Democrats. > > I also loved the defensiveness: “Dissent is patriotic!” That’s assumed, dumbasses. It’s like “I’m not a racist!” That would depend on what you actually said, not on your protestations. At least Republicans are foregoing the whining part of their partisan nonsense. I’m going to call Bullshit on this unless you provide quotes. The Bush adventure was an obvious stupidity, and some people realized that. GWB’s decisions were opposed, not his person. If some articulated their dissent poorly that doesn’t make them scumbags. I do remember Republicans in early 2003 questioning the patriotism of dissenters. Present-day Republican whining has an opposite character. Google “Foxnews Iraq” and discover that, for Fox, the issue is not how to proceed against ISIL, but how to turn this crisis into a liability for Obama. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16788 "2014-09-17T15:06:32Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > You often seem far more intelligent and perceptive than the average Republiopath. Where are the other honest Republicans? Why do you affiliate yourself with Scum? I believe what I believe. If people with no sense or bad motives believe the same thing, sure, it makes me revisit those beliefs but for the most part I came down in the same place. I believe in free people and free markets. I don’t support the Religious Right’s desired policies, although I do endorse their criticism of modern society. But society changed mostly independent of government and it can only change back mostly independent of government. > [@](#): > > I’m going to call Bullshit on this unless you provide quotes. The Bush adventure was an obvious stupidity, and some people realized that. GWB’s decisions were opposed, not his person. If some articulated their dissent poorly that doesn’t make them scumbags. I do remember Republicans in early 2003 questioning the patriotism of dissenters. > > . It was more like the current impeachment thing, there were a lot more Democrats talking about it than Republicans. There were some really awful statements made by some administration officials, the worst being Ari Fleischer telling Americans that they should “watch what they say” lest they give aid and comfort to the enemy. But the only people I remember actually saying other people weren’t patriots was Democrats, albeit primarily as a way to throw the imaginary charge back at Republicans. It’s possible that blowhards outside of the government like Rush or Glenn Beck were saying stuff like that, but if Democrats were addressing them they were punching below their weight. Or doing what they usually do: seize on the dumbest things Republicans say and try to portray it as the view of the conservative mainstream. The only time I ever thought myself that a Democrat was being unpatriotic was when Harry Reid declared the war lost. That’s just defeatism and there was simply no justification for it, as we found out a couple of years later. And given that it was Reid, I think it was politically motivated defeatism. Reid can match any Republican for saying really awful, dumb things that he knows aren’t true. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16789 "2014-09-17T15:15:12Z")
Nothing on the guy in Arizona who wants to “Norplant” welfare recipients? I swear I want to print a bunch of bumper stickers that say “I’m pro-life. Just not yours.” Think they’d sell? ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16790 "2014-09-17T15:32:36Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Yabbut that’s in the _human_ breast. I’m not sure if Pubbies qualify. And even if they did, they would have to immediately cover up with a curtain. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16791 "2014-09-17T17:18:00Z")
> [@Wash](#): > > [Rush: “No means yes, if you know how to spot it”](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/rush-limbaugh-ohio-state-university-policy) > > Seriously though, why are Repubs SO obsessed with rape? Much of it is because rape is about the only thing which most everyone agrees justifies an abortion, and so anti-abortion Republicans would like to redefine rape out of existence so they could flat-out deny women the right to an abortion, period. Unfortunately, the vast majority of Americans just aren’t buying it, but still, the anti-abortion Republicans keep trying, and digging themselves a deeper and deeper hole … Plus, some of them probably like rape. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16792 "2014-09-17T17:19:20Z")
No one likes rape, but I do agree that there’s a sexist streak among prominent Republican men. Although frankly, it could just be a generational thing. While Democrats when handled properly seem to know what not to say in public, too many Democrats get nailed for being pigs in their personal life to convince me that they actually respect women. ---
**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:** [September 17, 2014, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16793 "2014-09-17T17:35:47Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > **No one likes rape** , but I do agree that there’s a sexist streak among prominent Republican men. Although frankly, it could just be a generational thing. While Democrats when handled properly seem to know what not to say in public, too many Democrats get nailed for being pigs in their personal life to convince me that they actually respect women. Won’t somebody think of the rapists? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16794 "2014-09-17T17:38:00Z")
Oh yeah, forgot about those guys. Actually, it’s more widespread than that, because while very few men like to wait in dark alleys for unsuspecting women, a whole bunch of men seem to think it’s okay to commit date rape. On the other side of it, while this isn’t the stupid liberal thread, I actually had a liberal friend of mine claim that if a man lies to get sex than he’s committed rape. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16795 "2014-09-17T17:47:28Z")
Don’t forget Clayton Williams (Republiopath - TX), who suggested that a rape victim should like it. > [@](#): > > Rape is kinda like the weather. If it’s inevitable, relax and enjoy it. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16796 "2014-09-17T17:49:18Z")
> [@Wash](#): > > Seriously though, why are Repubs SO obsessed with rape? They struggle with the idea that consent matters. See: discussions of the slippery slope from SSM to man-on-dog marriage. ---
**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:** [September 17, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16797 "2014-09-17T17:52:45Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > No one likes rape Actually I think it’s a pretty common fantasy among both men and women - and it could be on either side of it, too. But of course, there’s a yawning gulf between “that’s something I think I could ruin my undies about, given the right context/person” and “that’s something I should try IRL sometime”. And yet another between that and “that’s something I _get_ to try when _I_ feel like there’s subtextual consent”, as Rush Limpdick is apparently saying. ---
**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:** [September 17, 2014, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16798 "2014-09-17T17:53:34Z")
But date rape is expensive – a dinner and drinks and all that. With an alley and a club, well – the alley is free and you can split the cost of the club among all the rapees. ---
**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:** [September 17, 2014, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16799 "2014-09-17T18:20:15Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > On the other side of it, while this isn’t the stupid liberal thread, I actually had a liberal friend of mine claim that if a man lies to get sex than he’s committed rape. Yes, and? Are you saying it isn’t rape? Ted Cruz: “[it’s not our job to be social workers in Iraq and put them all on expanded Medicaid](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/09/ted-cruz-social-worker-obama-wants-to-fight-isis-with-expanded-medicaid/).” North Carolina legislator votes no on a declaration condemning an 1898 riot where white people attacked and massacred black people. His reasoning? Because [the declaration didn’t praise white people who didn’t massacre black people](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/09/17/1330379/-Tillis-opposed-apology-for-1898-racist-massacre-because-it-didn-t-praise-white-Republicans-enough?detail=facebook). ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16800 "2014-09-17T18:27:01Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > On the other side of it, while this isn’t the stupid liberal thread, I actually had a liberal friend of mine claim that if a man lies to get sex than he’s committed rape. It depends, actually. “I’m a professional race-car driver – you should sleep with me!” is not rape-by-deceit. But (if, perhaps, the woman is visually impaired, or if it’s in the dark) “I’m your husband back from the war – let’s go to bed!” is rape-by-deceit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=839) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=841)