# 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:** 939
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18762 "2015-01-27T16:19:23Z")
Congress is a co-equal branch on foreign policy. Congress declares war, imposes sanctions, sets trade rules, and can have any foreign leader they want address Congress any time they want. We can argue over whether that’s proper, and frankly I’d agree that it is not proper. However, you can’t condemn Congress’ actions and support the President’s questionable actions changing or refusing to enforce laws. If the President can push the envelope because he doesn’t like the policies Congress has decided on, then it is entirely fair for Congress to act when the President won’t as well. ---
**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:** [January 27, 2015, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18763 "2015-01-27T16:19:38Z")
_Confirming_ them, yes, not negotiating them. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18764 "2015-01-27T16:32:29Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Congress is a co-equal branch on foreign policy. Congress declares war, imposes sanctions, sets trade rules, and can have any foreign leader they want address Congress any time they want… Yes, yes, yes, and … maybe. There’s nothing unconstitutional, much less treasonous, about what Boehner’s doing. But there used to be a saying “Politics ends at the waters’ edge” meaning that parties and branches show a united front in foreign policy. Having a foreign head of state address congress is a big deal. Circumventing protocol, bypassing the White House, when dealing with a head of state, is a big deal. Boehner has crossed a line, just to engage in a pissing contest. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18765 "2015-01-27T16:48:03Z")
Won’t happen. A plausible reason will be found, scheduling conflicts discovered, something like that. The sizzle has already been sold, no real reason to sell the steak as well. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18766 "2015-01-27T17:02:11Z")
> [@CGav8r](#): > > The Speaker throwing in his lot with a foreign leader, and trying to affect foreign policy-which is not within Congress’s congressional authority-yeah, I can see how some might use the T word there. Especially if he wants that foreign leader to attack the leader of his own country. In fact, SCOTUS heard a case earlier in there session that is all about whether Congress can make foreign policy laws; > [Jerusalem passport case divides Court: In Plain English - SCOTUSblog](http://www.scotusblog.com/2014/11/jerusalem-passport-case-divides-court-in-plain-english/) > > Obviously, having two branches of Government both handling foreign policy is ridiculous, as you’ll end up with two foreign policies. > > As to whether POTUS can use executive authority to affect how he can enforce laws-that’s a weak way to try to justify the unprecedented actions by Boehner. Quick request, for you and other SDMB posters. Can you try not to quote adaher posts with my name in it and where he responds to me? I have him on ignore but when I spot my name in one of his quoted posts, its jarring because it brings the stupid back. You all should put him on ignore too. The air smells sweeter, water tastes fresher, the sky is bluer. There is literally no downside to it! 😃 Thanks. > [@jsc1953](#): > > Yes, yes, yes, and … maybe. > > There’s nothing unconstitutional, much less treasonous, about what Boehner’s doing. But there used to be a saying “Politics ends at the waters’ edge” meaning that parties and branches show a united front in foreign policy. > > Having a foreign head of state address congress is a big deal. Circumventing protocol, bypassing the White House, when dealing with a head of state, is a big deal. Boehner has crossed a line, just to engage in a pissing contest. The GOP has shown no intelligence, no decorum, no honor, and no morality. And that’s by their standards when they accused Dems of all kinds of things during a GOP presidency. Its perfectly fine to hold them to their own standards and call them traitors, because they are, according to themselves. It would take another 40 years of Democratic iron-fisted control over Congress to change the culture and make people realize dissent is perfectly legitimate and American. But no need to give the frankly evil GOP any leeway in judging them ---
**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:** [January 27, 2015, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18767 "2015-01-27T17:36:38Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Great googily moogily. That was priceless. Notice the lip licking going on and the non-stop stream of conscious? A big snoot full of coke before coming onstage is my guess. The woman is a nonstop recording of decade-old attack points that even the audience couldn’t applaud for. This is who they pick to speak for them: some worn out old hag without an original thought in her head? Come to think of it, it’s a perfect choice. A lot of this is blocked by my company. Was there video? If so, what was the crowd reaction? ---
**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 27, 2015, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18768 "2015-01-27T18:12:58Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > A lot of this is blocked by my company. Was there video? > > If so, what was the crowd reaction? Oh yes, the video was classic Palin on steroids. The crowd started out being enthusiastic, but sort of lapsed into slack-jawed puzzlement and outright boredom because of same old. You know how a catch phrase is wildly funny the first 50 times you hear it, then eventually just becomes annoying? Well, I think Palin is way past her expiration date. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18769 "2015-01-27T18:13:57Z")
Yes, there’s video. You can’t hear the crowd reaction because the audio is from the mixing console, not ambient camera mics. Palin seems to be drunk or high. Her speech is a mishmash of non-sequitur right wing slogans and talking points, many of them a decade out of date. This was about as painful to watch as Phil Davison’s stump speech for the nomination to be Stark County (OH) Treasurer back in 2010. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18770 "2015-01-27T18:15:46Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Yes, yes, yes, and … maybe. > > There’s nothing unconstitutional, much less treasonous, about what Boehner’s doing. But there used to be a saying “Politics ends at the waters’ edge” meaning that parties and branches show a united front in foreign policy. > > Having a foreign head of state address congress is a big deal. Circumventing protocol, bypassing the White House, when dealing with a head of state, is a big deal. Boehner has crossed a line, just to engage in a pissing contest. It’s more than a pissing contest. The President is expanding the power of the executive branch to include the effective power to repeal or alter legislation he doesn’t like. Since Congress has no easy way to respond that would actually fix the problem, they are left to respond by doing tit for tat. Congress doesn’t agree with the President’s Israel policy. So Congress will act where the President refuses to. Turnabout is fair play. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18771 "2015-01-27T18:20:43Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Palin seems to be drunk or high. You don’t think it wasn’t just her natural incoherence? ---
**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:** [January 27, 2015, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18772 "2015-01-27T18:24:14Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Oh yes, the video was classic Palin on steroids. Crystal-meth-frosted steroids, maybe. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18773 "2015-01-27T18:26:07Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > The President is expanding the power of the executive branch to include the effective power to repeal or alter legislation he doesn’t like. Ermm, no, that was W. > [@adaher](#): > > Since Congress has no easy way to respond that would actually fix the problem . . . Why not? They’re Congress, and the same party now controls both houses. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18774 "2015-01-27T18:26:15Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > It’s more than a pissing contest. The President is expanding the power of the executive branch to include the effective power to repeal or alter legislation he doesn’t like. Since Congress has no easy way to respond that would actually fix the problem, Other than doing their job and crafting legislation, you mean? > [@](#): > > they are left to respond by doing tit for tat. Congress doesn’t agree with the President’s Israel policy. So Congress will act where the President refuses to. Turnabout is fair play. “tit for tat”, “turnabout is fair play” is THE DEFINITION of “pissing contest”. ---
**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 27, 2015, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18775 "2015-01-27T18:27:24Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > It’s more than a pissing contest. The President is expanding the power of the executive branch to include the effective power to repeal or alter legislation he doesn’t like. Since Congress has no easy way to respond that would actually fix the problem, they are left to respond by doing tit for tat. Congress doesn’t agree with the President’s Israel policy. So Congress will act where the President refuses to. Turnabout is fair play. This is one way to look at it. Another way to look at it is “Republicans in Congress and Iran are endangering negotiations of a peaceful solution with Iran, and thus are endangering the future of Israel”. Sure, it’s legal for the Republicans to do it, but it’s very foolish IMO – so appropriate for this thread. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18776 "2015-01-27T18:29:31Z")
It’s not that simple. If the President can just refuse to enforce a law he doesn’t like, what good does it do Congress to pass another law? The laws that the President has chosen to alter or ignore already exist. Re-passing them does not solve the problem, even if they do it with veto proof majorities. The only way to solve the problem is to punish the President for flouting the will of Congress and violating his oath of office. Impeachment is the extreme way to do that. An easier way is to simply undermine his initiatives the same way he undermines Congress’ ---
**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 27, 2015, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18777 "2015-01-27T18:32:20Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > It’s not that simple. If the President can just refuse to enforce a law he doesn’t like, what good does it do Congress to pass another law? > > The laws that the President has chosen to alter or ignore already exist. Re-passing them does not solve the problem, even if they do it with veto proof majorities. The only way to solve the problem is to punish the President for flouting the will of Congress and violating his oath of office. Impeachment is the extreme way to do that. An easier way is to simply undermine his initiatives the same way he undermines Congress’ “violating his oath of office”? No. “flouting the will of Congress” is something every President has done and can do. It’s enshrined in the Constitution, for god’s sake! ---
**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:** [January 27, 2015, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18778 "2015-01-27T18:35:00Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > It’s not that simple. If the President can just refuse to enforce a law he doesn’t like, what good does it do Congress to pass another law? > > The laws that the President has chosen to alter or ignore already exist. Re-passing them does not solve the problem, even if they do it with veto proof majorities. The only way to solve the problem is to punish the President for flouting the will of Congress and violating his oath of office. Impeachment is the extreme way to do that. An easier way is to simply undermine his initiatives the same way he undermines Congress’ When it comes to the enemies of our country Congress should be concentrating on thwarting right now, who would you say the top three or four are? ---
**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:** [January 27, 2015, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18779 "2015-01-27T18:35:08Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > It’s not that simple. If the President can just refuse to enforce a law he doesn’t like, what good does it do Congress to pass another law? Congress failed to pass a law that appropriated enough funding to deport 11 million undocumented residents. It is not only entirely within the power of the President to prioritize the law when Congress passes unfunded mandates, it is his duty to do so as a responsible manager. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18780 "2015-01-27T18:38:00Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > “violating his oath of office”? No. “flouting the will of Congress” is something every President has done and can do. It’s enshrined in the Constitution, for god’s sake! A President can veto laws. He cannot just alter a law because he doesn’t like it, or refuse to enforce it. The exception would be if that law violates the Constitution by infringing on executive branch powers that Congress has no say over. Under no circumstances can a President just refuse to enforce a law passed by overwhelming majorities in Congress, and reaffirmed several times in subsequent legislation. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/18781 "2015-01-27T18:40:45Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Congress failed to pass a law that appropriated enough funding to deport 11 million undocumented residents. It is not only entirely within the power of the President to prioritize the law when Congress passes unfunded mandates, it is his duty to do so as a responsible manager. Congress did pass enough funding to deport more than just felons. Especially the very narrow definition of a felon that the administration has produced for its amnesty program, which would exclude offenses like drunk driving. The pace of deportations has dropped. Not because the President doesn’t have the funds, but because he doesn’t want to deport non-felons. Then there’s his Cuba policy, which is directly at odds with laws Congress has passed governing when we can establish relations with Cuba. As in, when they hold elections. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=938) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=940)