# 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:** 866
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/17301 "2014-10-09T15:09:11Z")
We could use a thread for _Stupid Republican Idea of Literally Yesteryear_. Also one for _Stupid Republican Hypocrisy_. Here’s [a story with today’s date](http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/19935/latest-appeal-greg-abbott-reaffirms-commitment-denying-funding-texas-public-schools)! > [@](#): > > When Judge John Dietz ruled that the 2011 Republican Legislature’s $5.4 billion cuts to public education were unconstitutional in August, it was a victory for Texas students and teachers alike. The ruling confirmed that the Republicans’ cuts created an unequal system that didn’t adequately provide for Texas students–and that violates the Texas Constitution. > > The ruling was also a blow to Greg Abbott, who, as attorney general, was the one responsible for defending the cuts. But, determined not to take no for an answer, Greg Abbott is officially going to appeal the ruling to the Texas Supreme Court, trying once again to take funding away from Texas students. Abbott’s office sent a notice to the Texas Supreme Court late last month confirming the appeal. > > Abbott has claimed that he’s just doing his job, and that state law prevents him from dropping the appeal. That claim is actually a straight-up lie–Abbott does have the ability to go for a settlement, though the settlement would ultimately be contingent upon legislative approval. The bottom line, however, is that Greg Abbott doesn’t have to continue to fight against public schools in court–he just wants to. Greg Abbott is, of course, the Republican candidate for Governor… ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/17302 "2014-10-09T15:21:22Z")
> [@bup](#): > > What Columbus did was important. That’s true. He and his younger brother had a direct hand in the extermination of the Taíno people. For sure, his “discovery” changed the world forever, including some extraordinarily unfortunate ways. I’m definitely on board with not celebrating his day, because Columbus was _not_ the first person to lead an expedition to the western hemisphere (that was accomplished tens of thousands of years earlier), was _not_ the first European person to lead an expedition to the western hemisphere, either (that was accomplished hundreds of years earlier), and the direct result of his imperialist bent was the annihilation of dozens if not hundreds of cultures and their peoples that had flourished for thousands of years. He also did not heroically seek to “prove” the world was round when everyone else thought it was flat (for some reason, this myth refuses to die.) Columbus’s arrival at Hispianola is a dark day in human history. Trying to whitewash his day by naming it something else is pretty darn stupid. Don’t celebrate it. Do talk about what happened and the true historical context for what he did. Don’t try to make a new holiday to cover it up. However, conservatives’ attempts to defend Columbus Day are even stupider. (Especially the “Italian heritage” argument. What crap!) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/17303 "2014-10-09T15:37:14Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > That’s true. He and his younger brother had a direct hand in the extermination of the Taíno people. For sure, his “discovery” changed the world forever, including some extraordinarily unfortunate ways. > > I’m definitely on board with not celebrating his day, because Columbus was _not_ the first person to lead an expedition to the western hemisphere (that was accomplished tens of thousands of years earlier), was _not_ the first European person to lead an expedition to the western hemisphere, either (that was accomplished hundreds of years earlier), and the direct result of his imperialist bent was the annihilation of dozens if not hundreds of cultures and their peoples that had flourished for thousands of years. He also did not heroically seek to “prove” the world was round when everyone else thought it was flat (for some reason, this myth refuses to die.) > > Columbus’s arrival at Hispianola is a dark day in human history. > > Trying to whitewash his day by naming it something else is pretty darn stupid. Don’t celebrate it. Do talk about what happened and the true historical context for what he did. Don’t try to make a new holiday to cover it up. > > However, conservatives’ attempts to defend Columbus Day are even stupider. (Especially the “Italian heritage” argument. What crap!) Still and all, you know, – no Columbus, no U.S.A. That’s why we celebrate it. If it was a dark day for Indians, well, so was the Fourth of July. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/17304 "2014-10-09T15:47:10Z")
ISIL/S is apparently fermenting the Republican brain. [Duncan Hunter, R-CA, claims that the Border Patrol has caught (but doesn’t say if they were arrested or simply turned around) at least 10 ISIS fighters trying to cross into the USA from Mexico.](http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/gop-congressman-doubles-down-categorically-false-border-claim) The Border Patrol says it never happened. Meantime, over in Arkansas, Tom Cotton (R, running for the Senate), [thinks that ISIL/S is collaborating with Mexican drug cartels](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/10/07/tom-cotton-terrorists-collaborating-with-mexican-drug-cartels-to-infiltrate-arkansas/). The drug cartels apparently want to expand into the terrorism business. The froth is amazing, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/17305 "2014-10-09T15:54:14Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > That’s true. He and his younger brother had a direct hand in the extermination of the Taíno people. For sure, his “discovery” changed the world forever, including some extraordinarily unfortunate ways. I was thinking more along the lines of his expedition began the inexorable process of uniting the old and new worlds. I understand people were here, and that Vikings had been in northern North America, but the old and new worlds had not started coming together. Lots of harshness, but still an incredibly important historical development. And we know exactly when it happened. What thread are we in? Oh, yeah! [Mitch McConnell got mad when a sports radio jockey asked him about Obamacare and global warming, after McConnell just showed up at the station asking to be on the air.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/08/mitch-mcconnell-kentucky-sports-radio_n_5953262.html?ir=Politics) ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/17306 "2014-10-09T15:54:52Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Still and all, you know, – no Columbus, no U.S.A. That’s why we celebrate it. If it was a dark day for Indians, well, so was the Fourth of July. So what? Many singular events, if they had not happened, would have led to no U.S.A. The overwhelming majority of them are not celebrated. The signing of the Declaration of Independence formed a new nation, currently the greatest on Earth. It was a step towards greater liberty for more people (not all, not enough, but more), drastically _unlike_ most of the couple hundred years of history in the western hemisphere after 1492. But as we celebrate our nation, I’m all for reflection and honesty about our past and current questionable or regrettable actions. To persist with this argument would be a hijack, so I’ll drop it. Not the right thread for this particular discussion. My intent was simply to lead up to my saying that the conservative attack on a stupid decision (changing the name of the day) is also stupid. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/17307 "2014-10-09T15:57:51Z")
A relative of mine does that a lot. Agrees we should drop a subject right after she’s given her final word but before anyone can respond. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/17308 "2014-10-09T15:59:31Z")
About Columbus day, I’m all for renaming or not recognizing it, but can they still keep that day as a holiday so I don’t have to work? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/17309 "2014-10-09T16:02:06Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > About Columbus day, I’m all for renaming or not recognizing it, but can they still keep that day as a holiday so I don’t have to work? You can take the day off but only if you’re Italian. It works like Rosh Hashana for Jews. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/17310 "2014-10-09T16:02:59Z")
> [@bup](#): > > A relative of mine does that a lot. Agrees we should drop a subject right after she’s given her final word but before anyone can respond. “Just one more thing…” Or is that better suited to Columbo Day? ---
**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:** [October 9, 2014, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/17311 "2014-10-09T16:05:50Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > About Columbus day, I’m all for renaming or not recognizing it, but can they still keep that day as a holiday so I don’t have to work? I was just coming in here to ask that. 😛 Meanwhile, Louie Gohmert (R-Insaneland) says that [Obama let Ebola-infected people sneak into the United States because he wanted everyone to “feel included.”](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/10/louie-gohmert-obama-thought-isis-beheading-victim-would-die-from-climate-change-first/) ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/17312 "2014-10-09T16:13:06Z")
Ah, Gohmert. He’s a special one. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/17313 "2014-10-09T16:14:42Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > About Columbus day, I’m all for renaming or not recognizing it, but can they still keep that day as a holiday so I don’t have to work? Renaming Columbus Day is a stupid idea. It’s a way of benefitting from what he did without honoring him. Unless we’re willing to give the continent back, such measures are just stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/17314 "2014-10-09T16:32:05Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I was just coming in here to ask that. 😛 > > Meanwhile, Louie Gohmert (R-Insaneland) says that [Obama let Ebola-infected people sneak into the United States because he wanted everyone to “feel included.”](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/10/louie-gohmert-obama-thought-isis-beheading-victim-would-die-from-climate-change-first/) But does he have asparagus for everyone? I want to be included on the asparagus. ---
**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:** [October 9, 2014, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/17315 "2014-10-09T16:38:57Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > The froth is amazing, isn’t it? And Santorum hasn’t even declared his candidacy yet! Meanwhile, from [Michele Bachmann (R-Arkham)](http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/bachmann-isis-car-bombings-will-bring-down-america-thanks-obama): > [@](#): > > Rep. Michele Bachmann predicted that ISIS members are planning imminent attacks inside the U.S. and will make American cities experience levels of violence seen in Iraqi cities like Baghdad. ---
**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:** [October 9, 2014, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/17316 "2014-10-09T16:41:37Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Renaming Columbus Day is a stupid idea. It’s a way of benefitting from what he did without honoring him. Unless we’re willing to give the continent back, such measures are just stupid. Give the continent back? What exactly do you think he did, and where do you think we would be right now if he hadn’t done it? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/17317 "2014-10-09T17:50:30Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Give the continent back? What exactly do you think he did, and where do you think we would be right now if he hadn’t done it? It steam-engines when it comes steam-engine time. **Some** Euro would have sailed across the Atlantic that decade. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/17318 "2014-10-09T17:59:17Z")
Getting this thread back on track: [Phyllis Schlafly: Obama wants ebola in the U.S. so we can be more like Africa.](http://www.salon.com/2014/10/09/conservative_activist_phyllis_schlafly_obama_allowing_ebola_into_us_so_we_can_become_more_like_africa/) ---
**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:** [October 9, 2014, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/17319 "2014-10-09T18:09:15Z")
I’m perfectly willing to give the continent back to anybody who can prove they were living here in 1492. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/17320 "2014-10-09T18:20:26Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Getting this thread back on track: > > [Phyllis Schlafly: Obama wants ebola in the U.S. so we can be more like Africa.](http://www.salon.com/2014/10/09/conservative_activist_phyllis_schlafly_obama_allowing_ebola_into_us_so_we_can_become_more_like_africa/) That’s awesome. I wonder if we can start the meme that a liberal biologist wants apes to have equal rights with humans, so is working with Obama to spread Ebola so the apes can rise. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=865) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=867)