# 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:** 904
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2014, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18061 "2014-12-07T09:20:39Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > [GOP Congressman Wants To Defund Air Force One](http://www.liberalamerica.org/2014/12/06/air-force-one-defund/) > > They really just cannot stand that that black man is living in that big, beautiful house and flying around in that big, beautiful airplane. They’ve never liked seeing black people in government housing. ---
**Author:** ![Willcross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Willcross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Willcross)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2014, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18062 "2014-12-07T12:45:00Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > They’ve never liked seeing black people in government housing. Sure they have! They are called prisons. ---
**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:** [December 7, 2014, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18063 "2014-12-07T13:16:06Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > That’s a bit of an exaggeration; he suggests decreasing the White House’s budget, including Air Force One, not necessarily cutting it entirely. And the picture used in the article is at least a couple decades old. Not an exaggeration at all. His exact words were > [@](#): > > “I’d rather defund Air Force One,” Huelskamp said. ---
**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:** [December 7, 2014, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18064 "2014-12-07T14:55:33Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Not an exaggeration at all. His exact words were > > > [@](#): > > > > “I’d rather defund Air Force One,” Huelskamp said. Yes, but rather defund it than what? There’s a missing context, I think. It sounds like he’s just comparing the relative desirability of two courses of action, not necessarily offering this one as a firm proposal. ---
**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:** [December 7, 2014, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18065 "2014-12-07T15:30:56Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Yes, but rather defund it than what? There’s a missing context, I think. from the linked piece: \*Late Tuesday, Rep. Paul C. Broun (R-Ga.) called for Boehner to not invite Obama to deliver the State of the Union address next year. Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.) suggested that the budgets for White House operations, including for Air Force One, should be decreased. Other conservatives have mentioned censuring the president, impeaching him or suing the administration over its immigration actions. “I’d rather defund Air Force One,” Huelskamp said. “Congress took a 19 percent cut on its budgets — we should do the same for the White House.” On the State of the Union, he added: “In the spirit of George Washington, he could send it to us in writing. It’d save some time.”\* ---
**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:** [December 7, 2014, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18066 "2014-12-07T15:58:24Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > from the linked piece: > \*Late Tuesday, Rep. Paul C. Broun (R-Ga.) called for Boehner to not invite Obama to deliver the State of the Union address next year. Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.) suggested that the budgets for White House operations, including for Air Force One, should be decreased. Other conservatives have mentioned censuring the president, impeaching him or suing the administration over its immigration actions. > > “I’d rather defund Air Force One,” Huelskamp said. “Congress took a 19 percent cut on its budgets — we should do the same for the White House.” On the State of the Union, he added: “In the spirit of George Washington, he could send it to us in writing. It’d save some time.”\* I read the article. That’s why I said he wants to decrease the White House’s budget. I think his mention of defunding Air Force One is hyperbole, rather than a concrete proposal. It’s hyperbole that he uses in comparing it to other means of attacking the President, however. It sounds like he wants to do it out of spite, rather than for cost savings or budgetary restraint. That’s pretty low, but it doesn’t rise to the level of reality-bending stupidity that is the hallmark of this thread. In any case, I think “GOP Congressman Wants To Defund Air Force One” is an unfair oversimplification. ---
**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:** [December 7, 2014, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18067 "2014-12-07T18:09:50Z")
A New York Times [investigative piece](http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/07/us/politics/energy-firms-in-secretive-alliance-with-attorneys-general.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news) today reveals that Republican attorneys general have formed a secret alliance with large energy firms. They’re exchanging influence for campaign donations in a blatant _quid pro quo_, sending missives to WDC that were drafted by corporate lawyers and lobbyists. While Democrat AGs have allied with conservation groups in the past to lobby for better emission controls, this seems to be a blatant abuse of position and not in the best interests of anybody other than themselves. I blame Citizens United for making this at all possible. On the plus side, perhaps there will be some blowback in the next election cycle, but when you’re a red state and get all your info from FOX, it’s unlikely. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2014, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18068 "2014-12-07T19:53:48Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > On the State of the Union, he added: “In the spirit of George Washington, he could send it to us in writing. It’d save some time.”[/COLOR]\*[/INDENT] I am a democrat and totally on board with this one! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2014, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18069 "2014-12-07T20:58:24Z")
> [@](#): > > …“I’d rather defund Air Force One,” Huelskamp said… Its the deniable headline, isn’t it? The nitwits he’s pandering to most likely won’t read any more than that, and form a good opinion of his bold thinking. And if anyone might point out that this position if stupid, he simply points to the fact that the headline isn’t _precisely_ what he said, now is it? That way, he gets the goobers who won’t actually read the whole article, and still retain the respect of intelligent and honest Republicans, who might both read the whole thing. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2014, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18070 "2014-12-07T21:26:58Z")
The elusive and legendary… > [@elucidator](#): > > intelligent and honest Republicans ---
**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:** [December 8, 2014, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18071 "2014-12-08T04:36:38Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > intelligent and honest Republicans, who might both read the whole thing. I see what you did there! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2014, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18072 "2014-12-08T05:51:25Z")
Exaggerated? ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2014, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18073 "2014-12-08T07:39:23Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > . from the article "“The State of Oklahoma is in a better position than the E.P.A. to regulate drilling.” So you see the feds are so bad at doing anything , even worse than Oklahoma, which is a low , low hurdle, then we may as well dispense with the EPA as they can’t even do a bad a job as Oklahoma so let Oklahoma do things better. Fox said so, or was it Mr J. Heller? The annoying thing is , it was probably cheaper and less hassle to deal with the needs of the lesser prairie chicken and the encompassing ecosystem ( not to mention not screwing up the well with a shitty/absent intermediate casing, tax write offs with cheap/effective pad environmental remediation and not losing product/usable production data from leaky shitty well head / compression stations) than it was to pay off politicians and scamming lobby groups. le sigh ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2014, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18074 "2014-12-08T15:18:22Z")
[Bill-O: The Eric Garner protests are the work of a vast LW conspiracy.](http://www.salon.com/2014/12/08/5_worst_right_wing_moments_of_the_week_%e2%80%94_bill_oreillys_latest_deranged_conspiracy_theory_partner/) ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18075 "2014-12-08T16:47:02Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > ISTR Mark Kessler, former police chief of Gilberton, PA, has been mentioned here. [An update](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/12/libtard-hating-ex-cop-claims-feds-paid-him-to-lure-right-wing-nutjobs-with-profane-videos/comments/#disqus): > > > [@](#): > > > > {He} claims he made a series of profane videos showing his rants against “libtards” as part of a government effort to identify anti-government extremists. > > … > > “I got to save a lot of lives,” Kessler said. “I’m happy to say that we took down several plotted attacks that didn’t go through, we took down a group in Georgia. We took down a group in Texas.” That’s a \*brilliant \*gambit. I really respect that. Of course, it leaves the question why the chief of police himself would be the mole, rather than using somebody lower in the department. And why the mayor wouldn’t be told. And why Kessler can tell the world he did this, but not name the agency because the investigations are ongoing… > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Bill-O: The Eric Garner protests are the work of a vast LW conspiracy. Oh my God, I took part in a vast left wing conspiracy without even knowing. I feel so stupid… ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2014, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18076 "2014-12-08T17:07:23Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Oh my God, I took part in a vast left wing conspiracy without even knowing. I feel so stupid… There, there, we’ve all been a [useful idiot](http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Useful_idiot) at one time or another. ---
**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:** [December 8, 2014, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18077 "2014-12-08T17:11:12Z")
> [@bup](#): > > That’s a \*brilliant \*gambit. I really respect that. > > Of course, it leaves the question why the chief of police himself would be the mole, rather than using somebody lower in the department. And why the mayor wouldn’t be told. And why Kessler can tell the world he did this, but not name the agency because the investigations are ongoing… See, it’s just like this Special Forces guy I know. The unit he was with was so elite, its very existence was classified. He took part in a whole lot of super secret missions that he’s not allowed to talk about. I know it’s all true though, because he showed me a scar on his lower right abdomen, about three inches long, which was where he was stabbed once. Man, he’s tough. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2014, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18078 "2014-12-08T17:54:18Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > See, it’s just like this Special Forces guy I know. The unit he was with was so elite, its very existence was classified. He took part in a whole lot of super secret missions that he’s not allowed to talk about. I know it’s all true though, because he showed me a scar on his lower right abdomen, about three inches long, which was where he was stabbed once. > > Man, he’s tough. “And on weekends, he’s a Ninja!” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2014, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18079 "2014-12-08T17:56:22Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > See, it’s just like this Special Forces guy I know. The unit he was with was so elite, its very existence was classified. [Oh, you mean the 303!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wag_the_Dog) ---
**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:** [December 8, 2014, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18080 "2014-12-08T19:57:43Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > See, it’s just like this Special Forces guy I know. The unit he was with was so elite, its very existence was classified. Well, it was until [some German TV station blew their cover](http://trekmovie.com/2011/05/06/geman-tv-fail-star-treks-maquis-not-involved-in-bin-laden-mission/)… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=903) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=905)