# 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:** 89
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1761 "2010-06-23T02:27:24Z")
I noticed that “small” thing too, got me to wondering, maybe Goober was going to break in and say “Naw, you got it all wrong, we want to bring in a whole bunch of Muslims to run off the Messicans, and Obama won’t do that…” ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1762 "2010-06-23T03:52:38Z")
The thing you have to remember about Congressman King is that he represents the Afrikaner quadrant of the state. His strength lies with a bunch of parochial and insular traditional Republicans who would fairly be characterized a Boers if they lived on the veldt instead of the winds of Northwest Iowa. Spanish speaking packing house workers scare the hell out of them. Black people scare the hell out of them. Methodists scare the hell out of them. Des Moines scares the hell out of them. We are stuck with this bozo until reapportionment kicks in, then he’ll get a job selling Farm Bureau insurance to the Boers. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1763 "2010-06-24T16:41:03Z")
[http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0624/congressman-calls-obamahitler-comparison-brilliant/](http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0624/congressman-calls-obamahitler-comparison-brilliant/) The stupid. It is neverending. ---
**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:** [June 24, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1764 "2010-06-24T16:45:11Z")
> [@](#): > > A Texas Republican **congresswoman** told colleagues on that House floor Wednesday that a columnist who accused Obama of planting the seeds for a Nazi state is a “brilliant man.” Is there something about Louie Gohmert (R-Fantasyland) we should know? ---
**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:** [June 24, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1765 "2010-06-24T18:11:44Z")
> [@Frostillicus](#): > > [http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0624/congressman-calls-obamahitler-comparison-brilliant/](http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0624/congressman-calls-obamahitler-comparison-brilliant/) > > The stupid. It is neverending. At least Texas took the baton from South Carolina in the moron relay. Even stupid needs a chance to catch its breath once in a while. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1766 "2010-06-25T02:43:29Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > At least Texas took the baton from South Carolina in the moron relay. Even stupid needs a chance to catch its breath once in a while. I don’t even know why we signed up for a stupid relay anyway. We’re so much more capable of a marathon. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1767 "2010-06-25T03:17:04Z")
> [@howye](#): > > You know he could do something crazy himself, he could say the question is nuts and doesn’t deserve the dignity of being taken seriously. Nah. Steve King is one of the True Believers. he is not saying this crap to kiss up to the Crazies, he is saying it because he is one of the leaders of the Crazies. > [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > It’s OK, because I’ve heard that if you’re just bringing small quantities of Muslims in, it’s just a misdemeanor, 'cause they can’t actually get you for trafficking. > > If you have, like, a whole bunch of Muslims in foil wrappers in your suitcase, that’s a different matter. You can make good money taping muslims to your chest and smuggling them in, but don not let them talk you into carrying the muslims anally. Really. Trust me on this. ---
**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1768 "2010-06-25T03:24:18Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > \ Really. > > Trust me on this. Yeah, and don’t think you can put your muslims into condoms and swallow them, either. They just keep coming back up. _Urp!_ Even smaller quantity muslims. Don’t try it. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1769 "2010-06-25T10:22:39Z")
> [@Frostillicus](#): > > [http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0624/congressman-calls-obamahitler-comparison-brilliant/](http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0624/congressman-calls-obamahitler-comparison-brilliant/) > > The stupid. It is neverending. > [@Louie Louie woooah](#): > > And this isn’t in the article — this is my comment — but we do have useful idiots today, who are heard to say, ‘Wow, what we really need is for the president to be a dictator for a little while.’ They know not what they say. Erm…wasn’t that a key narrative of right-wing commentators during the post-9/11 Bush years (we must all line up behind the President, dissenters are traitors, free speech zones and so forth)? Useful idiots indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1770 "2010-06-25T13:08:13Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > Trust me on this. Psstt…it’s because your butt will smell like hummus. Don’t ask how I know -Joe ---
**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:** [June 25, 2010, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1771 "2010-06-25T14:10:23Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > Ask and ye shall receive: > > STEELE: George Bush created a lot of jobs. > > HAINES: Beg your pardon? > > STEELE: I think there were jobs created in the eight years that George Bush was in office. > > HAINES: No I’m sorry, you’re mistaken. […] > > STEELE: I think jobs were created. I’m almost confident about that. And I think the markets reflect that. […] > > HAINES: So, did the Lehman blow up and all, that didn’t happen on Bush’s watch? … You were talking about the markets. The markets tanked. […] > > -Joe A textbook example of truthiness, there. I would like it to be true, I think it’s true, therefore it’s true. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1772 "2010-06-25T15:55:22Z")
Perhaps this isn’t the right place for this, perhaps it deserves its own thread. Brothers and sisters, pals and gals, I am heartsick this morning. I stare at the news, rub my eyes, and try to believe I’ve misread. But no. Marching in lock-step, the Pubbies have denied an extension of unemployment benefits to our fellow Americans. By callous and cynical manipulation of the rules, they can turn back a solid majority who favor extending such benefits. In the midst of the worst economic downturn in living memory (unless you are really, really old!). This goes beyond my usual partisan rage, which I can soothe with snark and sarcasm, get the evil ya-yas out. Can’t do it. Can’t smirk, can’t scorn. These people need our help, need it badly, need it now. Fifty-eight Senators want to vote for it, a healthy majority in any context. Forty-two can thwart it, veto it, stop it dead in its tracks. Millions of people are going to suffer for this. And here’s the worst part: a lot of those people have never been poor before. And that’s important. Because being poor is difficult. (Duh! to N-plus-one) People who have never been poor, people who have lived under a sense of reasonable security have no idea how difficult it is, until they have to do it. And they will spiral down, trying to sell possessions that were valuable until everybody else tries to sell theirs at the same time. People who were middle class six months ago are dirt poor today. And don’t know how to cope with it, don’t have a clue about the techniques for surviving poverty. I do, and many of you do as well, you know how to use labor intensive techniques to make a cheap cut of meat palatable, even tasty. You go to Goodwill first for a clothing purchase, then step up to Wal-Mart if you have to. I’ve always done that, pretty much, even in times when I made a good living. I know how. The New Poor don’t know what I and you know. Desperation and fear sit at the dining room table with them and their children. These are our people. If they are not our people, who’s people are they? If they do not deserve our help, who does? Perhaps, in a while, I can recover my sarcasm, take some minor joy in bitter humor. Today, I am just too heartsick. I am reminded of Lincoln’s line about the little boy who stubbed his toe in the dark - too old to cry but it hurts too much to laugh. ---
**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:** [June 25, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1773 "2010-06-25T16:03:42Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Fifty-eight Senators want to vote for it, a healthy majority in any context. Forty-two can thwart it, veto it, stop it dead in its tracks. Yes, but one of those was a Democrat, so it is all our fault. ---
**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:** [June 25, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1774 "2010-06-25T16:21:16Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > These are our people. If they are not our people, who’s people are they? If they do not deserve our help, who does? > > Perhaps, in a while, I can recover my sarcasm, take some minor joy in bitter humor. Today, I am just too heartsick. I am reminded of Lincoln’s line about the little boy who stubbed his toe in the dark - too old to cry but it hurts too much to laugh. We can hope that some of these people will learn to recognize, as I had to when I had my wake-up call, that this is the reality for many. Will everyone who has lost their job find it in them to be more compassionate, more understanding, more aware of the people around them? No. But a few will. I didn’t understand how good I had it until I married someone who was dying and took on the US healthcare system. I couldn’t get it until it happened to me. Maybe a few of the people who are having it happen to them will get it. I hope so. ---
**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:** [June 25, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1775 "2010-06-25T16:24:19Z")
Strictly speaking, I believe the Pubs blocked an extension to a supplemental benefit, not to unemployment benefits _en toto_, since those are administered by the states. I could be wrong since I can’t find the actual bill. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1776 "2010-06-25T16:36:01Z")
You are correct. From _HuffPost_… > [@](#): > > …Extended unemployment benefits lapsed at the beginning of June. By Friday, more than 1.2 million people out of work for longer than six months will have found themselves ineligible for the next tier of extended benefits, which were originally provided by the stimulus bill to fight the recession… This only affects the poor sumbitches who have been out of work longer than six months. If you got laid off yesterday, the clock has just started for you. And I somewhat exaggerate, its not millions, merely 1.2 million. So far, that is. Cold comfort. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaptics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Sinaptics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaptics)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1777 "2010-06-25T17:54:02Z")
The little cynic on my shoulder is telling me that the Republicans are doing this on purpose to make it hard on the economy so they do better in November. If that’s the case and a memo ever comes out stating such, I’m all for prosecuting the lot of them for treason. I just don’t see how not even a single Republican can be in favor of this. ---
**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:** [June 25, 2010, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1778 "2010-06-25T20:21:38Z")
> [@](#): > > “I believe today, under the circumstances that we’re facing, that the majority of the illegal trespassers that are coming into the state of Arizona are under the direction and control of organized drug cartels and they are bringing drugs in,” Brewer said. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100625/ap\_on\_re\_us/us\_arizona\_governor\_immigrants](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100625/ap_on_re_us/us_arizona_governor_immigrants) ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1779 "2010-06-25T20:30:14Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100625/ap\_on\_re\_us/us\_arizona\_governor\_immigrants](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100625/ap_on_re_us/us_arizona_governor_immigrants) Wow, the ignorance of that statement is breathtaking. ---
**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:** [June 25, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/1780 "2010-06-25T20:39:08Z")
Well, it’s the specific language. Regular illegal immigrants have been redesignated _Enemy Border-Crossers_. The ones with drugs are now _Illegal Trespassers._ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=88) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=90)