# 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:** 919
**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:** [January 10, 2015, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18362 "2015-01-10T15:07:05Z")
If we may return to the delightfully stupid things Republicans do and say: Mitch McConnell is [attempting to claim](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/10/business/economy/economy-up-gop-wants-a-little-credit.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news) the recovering economy is the result of the recent Senate election. > [@](#): > > “The uptick appears to coincide with the biggest political change of the Obama administration’s long tenure in Washington: the expectation of a new Republican Congress.” :rolleyes: Meanwhile, Boehner has been claiming all along that it’s because of Republican policies. Pretty much any respectable economist has pointed out that if their policies had not been in place, if the stimulus package had been far larger, and government had increased, rather than reduced spending, the recovery would have been far quicker and more robust. This is based on past performance, not on political ideology and voodoo economic theories. I’m sure these outright falsehoods are being spun up now in anticipation of trying to once again polish the turds that will be trying to run for President soon. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2015, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18363 "2015-01-10T21:31:56Z")
[Republican Senator says climate change is natural, citing that Greenland was once green.](http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-mark-kirk-climate-change-met-20150108-story.html) [Yes, he does.](http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/rare-sight-gop-senator-walks-back-belief-climate-change) Umm, no, Greenland was called Greenland because Leif Ericson was a proto-real-estate-scammer.😛 Why am I surprised? Because the Senator in question was not Inhofe or the other usual suspects but Mark Kirk, who many believed to be moderate and who voted for the climate bill in 2009. [Cite.](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/01/08/sen-mark-kirk-r-ill-describes-global-warming-as-natural-phenomenon/) ☹ ---
**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:** [January 10, 2015, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18364 "2015-01-10T22:21:41Z")
from the 2nd link, _It’s worth appreciating how unusual this is. The Illinois Republican is the only politician I can think of who’s actually made the transition in the wrong direction – confronted with more evidence, Mark Kirk somehow became more ignorant, abandoning sensible positions he held just five years ago._ This “evidence”, did it come in stacks, wrapped with paper bands, in an aluminum attaché case? ---
**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:** [January 10, 2015, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18365 "2015-01-10T22:30:55Z")
Kirk’s seat is up next year. In the last 6 years, the GOP has just steadily become more and more batshit. He’s doing this because if he doesn’t, he gets no GOP votes next November. “Moderate” doesn’t go to Congress for the Republican Party anymore. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2015, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18366 "2015-01-10T22:41:25Z")
Aw, fuck. Mark, what are you doing? I voted for him last time because the Democrat was such an incompetent businessman-bully. I voted for him for rep, too, once, when he was just the guy from the 10th district in Illinois. He did a good job for the 10th. He was the guy I pointed to to prove I’m not just a guy who pulls the lever with the (D) after the name. The world is going crazy. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18367 "2015-01-11T03:42:08Z")
Look, truth and reality are messy. The piety of the GOP, like that of the pious frauds of obscurantists and mythmakers in the Middle Ages, imposes the appearance of order on the world. This “creates value,” to use an economic term. Sanity and truthfulness tend to lose to applied political effort. > [@Chefguy](#): > > Meanwhile, Boehner has been claiming all along that it’s because of Republican policies. Pretty much any respectable economist has pointed out that if their policies had not been in place, if the stimulus package had been far larger, and government had increased, rather than reduced spending, the recovery would have been far quicker and more robust. This is based on past performance, not on political ideology and voodoo economic theories. Are you going to believe a couple of guys named Krugman and Stiglitz, or a man named Boehner? ---
**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:** [January 11, 2015, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18368 "2015-01-11T03:48:17Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > …Are you going to believe a couple of guys named Krugman and Stiglitz, or a man named Boehner? Who’s got so much of God’s light shining on him that he’s been burnt orange! ---
**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:** [January 11, 2015, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18369 "2015-01-11T15:39:40Z")
The Guardians of the Profiteers (GOP) have only been in control for a week, and the House is already trying to ram through [legislation](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/11/business/kicking-dodd-frank-in-the-teeth.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=second-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news) to gut Dodd-Frank. Fucking assholes won’t be happy until their ridiculous “job creator” lunacy once again destroys the economy. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2015, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18370 "2015-01-11T17:14:02Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Louie Gohmert is challenging Boehner [for speaker](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/gohmert-challenge-boehner-speaker). > > Republicans – please vote for this man. I was in favor of this until I thought about it and realized he’s second in line to the Presidency. If the Prez and Veep get offed, he would be the new Prez. Boehner would be bad enough, but Gohmert?! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18371 "2015-01-12T17:54:45Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > The Guardians of the Profiteers (GOP) have only been in control for a week, and the House is already trying to ram through [legislation](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/11/business/kicking-dodd-frank-in-the-teeth.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=second-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news) to gut Dodd-Frank. Fucking assholes won’t be happy until their ridiculous “job creator” lunacy once again destroys the economy. It’s all good though… Even if their idiotic policies tank the economy … they are counting on being able to blame Obama for the next 8 years at least. It’s the go-to strategy right now and for the forseeable future: Blame Obama. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18372 "2015-01-12T18:03:24Z")
The bill got 276 votes, which means a heck of a lot of Democrats were on board. And this after the Blue Dogs nearly became extinct, so those aren’t just conservative Democrats. That’s pretty darn close to a veto proof majority. So call it a stupid bipartisan idea if you will. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2015, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18373 "2015-01-12T18:27:06Z")
A bill proposed in the Texas state legislature orders that any state officials who grant gay marriage licenses [must not be paid](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/texas-bill-state-worker-salary-gay-marriage). Please, stick with this line of politicking, Republican party. Pretty please. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18374 "2015-01-12T18:34:40Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > The bill got 276 votes, which means a heck of a lot of Democrats were on board. And this after the Blue Dogs nearly became extinct, so those aren’t just conservative Democrats. That’s pretty darn close to a veto proof majority. So call it a stupid bipartisan idea if you will. Looks to me like the bill [failed](http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-07/republicans-fail-to-quickly-pass-house-bill-easing-dodd-frank.html). Just like you. [Vote count.](http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll009.xml) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18375 "2015-01-12T18:49:41Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > The bill got 276 votes, which means a heck of a lot of Democrats were on board. And this after the Blue Dogs nearly became extinct, so those aren’t just conservative Democrats. That’s pretty darn close to a veto proof majority. So call it a stupid bipartisan idea if you will. Oh, we all know Wall Street has its hooks almost as deep into the Dems’ necks as the Pubs’; but that makes it “evil,” not “stupid.” ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18376 "2015-01-12T19:23:36Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > The bill got 276 votes {…} > [@running\_coach](#): > > Looks to me like the bill [failed](http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-07/republicans-fail-to-quickly-pass-house-bill-easing-dodd-frank.html). Just like you. > > [Vote count.](http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll009.xml) So the bill didn’t get 276 votes? 😕 CMC fnord! I bet it’s that new fangled [DEL][COLOR=“Black”]Republican[/DEL][/COLOR] _Common Core_ math! ---
**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:** [January 12, 2015, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18377 "2015-01-12T19:30:13Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > So the bill didn’t get 276 votes? 😕 > > CMC fnord! > I bet it’s that new fangled [DEL][COLOR=“Black”]Republican[/DEL][/COLOR] _Common Core_ math! I thought he was implying the bill passed with a shitload of (D)s voting for it. The actual vote for was 241-R, 35-D. Against was 1-R, 145-D ---
**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:** [January 12, 2015, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18378 "2015-01-12T19:31:49Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > So the bill didn’t get 276 votes? 😕 > > CMC fnord! > I bet it’s that new fangled [DEL][COLOR=“Black”]Republican[/DEL][/COLOR] _Common Core_ math! This particular vote was a procedure to expedite the bill, requiring two-thirds, it came up about six votes short. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18379 "2015-01-12T19:54:43Z")
[Ted Cruz is now chair of the Senate subcommittee on Space, Science, and Competitiveness.](http://www.salon.com/2015/01/12/oh_dear_theyve_put_ted_cruz_in_charge_of_nasa/) Yes. Ted Cruz is now in charge of NASA. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2015, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18380 "2015-01-12T20:46:29Z")
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18381 "2015-01-12T21:12:29Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Ted Cruz is now chair of the Senate subcommittee on Space, Science, and Competitiveness.](http://www.salon.com/2015/01/12/oh_dear_theyve_put_ted_cruz_in_charge_of_nasa/) > > Yes. Ted Cruz is now in charge of NASA. “Space, Science, and Competitiveness”?? Are we playing "One of these things is not like the Other? Is there a committee on Farming, Agriculture and Ethics? Mining, Industry and Renaissance Art? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=918) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=920)