# Why \_are\_ today's GOP so daft?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-_are_-todays-gop-so-daft/615340
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [March 9, 2012, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-_are_-todays-gop-so-daft/615340 "2012-03-09T22:22:30Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 6
### Author:  [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2012, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-_are_-todays-gop-so-daft/615340/101 "2012-03-11T16:16:30Z")
I think your position is that liberals critiquing conservatives just proves that they’re liberals or some other rhetorical ouroboros.
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### Author:  [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2012, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-_are_-todays-gop-so-daft/615340/102 "2012-03-11T16:25:40Z")
Yeah, well you’re also the guy who summed up the rebuttals in this thread as “no u.” So, there you go.
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### Author:  [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2012, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-_are_-todays-gop-so-daft/615340/103 "2012-03-11T16:34:12Z")
> [@cbass1017](#):
>
> Wow! Sounds to me like most of the people writing these posts really have some serious issues with people who they don’t agree with. Not that I agree with any of the people you all are bashing here, but I do consider myself to be conservative which according to most of you would lable me as a republican. And also a F@#\* this and stupid that and dim-witted self-serving piece of monkey sh#_. Even though you know nothing about me or what I am about. Bill Maher calls himself a democrat so should I sit here and rant and rave about how all democrats are a bunch of sexist a **holes? come on now! I"m just a man who loves my family, works hard, and tries to help other people when I can. But since most would call me a republican I guess really I am just some worthless F’d up, retarted slack a** ed cu_ dumpster. Boy I really learned a lot about myself today… thanks everyone!
Some of us do err by conflating “Republican” with “intelligent conservative.” The terms are not equivalent; instead the terms, increasingly, seem to describe disjoint sets.
No one in this thread has described intelligent conservatism as “daft.” Bachmann and Santorum, among others, _are_ daft. “Intelligent conservatives” might wish to enhance their credibility by admitting that.
Let’s start with you, **cbass1017**. Is Santorum daft? Bachmann? Paul?
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### Author:  [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2012, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-_are_-todays-gop-so-daft/615340/104 "2012-03-11T16:34:13Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#):
>
> Yeah, well you’re also the guy who summed up the rebuttals in this thread as “no u.” So, there you go.
And it was an accurate summation of your argument. So are you going to actually MAKE a point, or just keep up with the “no u” nonsense?
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### Author:  [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2012, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-_are_-todays-gop-so-daft/615340/105 "2012-03-11T16:41:52Z")
> [@tnetennba](#):
>
> I think your position is that liberals critiquing conservatives just proves that they’re liberals or some other rhetorical ouroboros.
I believe Stratocaster is saying that because the OP was so hyperbolic with its characterization of the republican party as nitwits your average thread reader should immediately recognize that the republicans aren’t that dumb and asking for non-dumb quotes from republicans simply reveals you to be a liberal freeper unable to think anything beyond what MSNBC and Rachel Maddow have told you.
I think it’s cute how he thinks anyone should care.
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### Author:  [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-_are_-todays-gop-so-daft/615340/106 "2012-03-11T16:45:53Z")
Thank you for for parsing.
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### Author:  [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2012, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-_are_-todays-gop-so-daft/615340/107 "2012-03-11T16:46:25Z")
::shrug:: I don’t really care, not too much. But the board is dedicated to fighting ignorance, so, do-gooder and prince of a guy that I am, I try to point out non sequiturs where I see them. It’s a character defect of mine. I’m \*too \*good–it’s a curse.
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### Author:  [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2012, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-_are_-todays-gop-so-daft/615340/108 "2012-03-11T16:46:54Z")
Lol.
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### Author:  [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-_are_-todays-gop-so-daft/615340/109 "2012-03-11T16:49:13Z")
**Inner Stickler** ,
“Liberal freeper” is a contradiction in terms. Freepers are denizens of [freerepublic.com](http://freerepublic.com)
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### Author:  [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-_are_-todays-gop-so-daft/615340/110 "2012-03-11T17:34:22Z")
oh for the love of
Good, you know what a freeper is. Now, imagine that this freeper has all the traits of a member of freerepublic, but has a liberal viewpoint.
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### Author:  [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2012, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-_are_-todays-gop-so-daft/615340/111 "2012-03-11T17:51:40Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#):
>
> You keep claiming you can do this, but you never do it? Why is that?
Because no one asked. Are you asking? How many would you like?
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### Author:  [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2012, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-_are_-todays-gop-so-daft/615340/112 "2012-03-11T17:53:52Z")
> [@saoirse](#):
>
> Can I explain to you why you’re retarded?
>
> Attributing the quote to Pauline Kael proves your point better than attributing it to some dude. See the 1972 was one of the most lopsided popular vote results in modern history. Considering that JOhn Kerry received over 48% of the popular vote, it would not be particularly surprising for someone to not know any Bush voters.
I don’t have to “attribute” it to anyone. It has become widespread enough that no attribution is needed.
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### Author:  [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2012, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-_are_-todays-gop-so-daft/615340/113 "2012-03-11T18:05:52Z")
I seem to have helped create a monster. A great big green thing, with teeth.
I’ve followed US politics with some interest for a while, and I see the Republicans candidates saying things that are simply bizarre. Perry thought that natural disasters are some god’s act of retribution for letting gay people get married. Bachmann thought Obama wanted to turn the US into either some sort of Muslim caliphate or a futuristic dystopia where everyone wears green jumpsuits and walks to work in lockstep. Santorum seems to think higher education is a bad thing. And on, and on. All I wanted to know is whether or not these things accurately reflect their platforms, or if they actually have anything serious to say about their intended policies but those things don’t make the news.
People have pointed out a few stalks of wheat among the chaff, like some facets of Bush’s foreign aid policies. I’ll personally add Huntsman’s radical notions of not dismissing climatology and evolutionary biology as liberal plots (necessary but not sufficient conditions for one to be the leader of a powerful, influential nation, in my opinion), but by and large it seems to me that what I see is what you get; the Republicans are fools.
I don’t think foolsguinea’s response to my question is entirely hyperbolic. It really does seem to me that he (she?) is bang on about people not even caring enough about the facts to fix one’s own misconceptions, as puzzling as it is to me that people don’t want to be right, or know stuff. If this is a misconception resulting from sensationalist media and Republicans are serious about their work, clue me in. I for one do like to be right, and know stuff. But judging from the reaction to the OP and from posts from certain right-leaning denizens here, I’m not holding my breath.
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### Author:  [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-_are_-todays-gop-so-daft/615340/114 "2012-03-11T18:24:05Z")
Their best defense, offered by Stratocaster, appears to be that it’s not likely that 100% of the stuff that comes out of all Republicans mouths is crazy nonsense. He’s confident of this, even if he cannot be bothered to offer the invalidating example.
All I can say to that is “aim high.” If that’s the standard you’re willing to defend in order to stay on the team, it’s an indictment, not a counter argument.
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### Author:  [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-_are_-todays-gop-so-daft/615340/115 "2012-03-11T18:24:23Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#):
>
> BTW, are there talking points that say that anyone who doesn’t join the chorus of groupthink is whining, regardless of tone or the actual argument made? Is that supposed to be cutting or emasculating or something, this whole “conservatives are whiny bitches” standard response? That’s pretty funny, too. Am I supposed to cry or piss my pants or something over your cutting commentary?
I didn’t say anything about all conservatives being whiny bitches. I never said anything about anyone being a bitch. But you are whiny.
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### Author:  [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2012, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-_are_-todays-gop-so-daft/615340/116 "2012-03-11T18:27:42Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#):
>
> I didn’t say anything about all conservatives being whiny bitches. I never said anything about anyone being a bitch. But you are whiny.
Yes. Because you say so. I must be whiny, since I disagree with you and all. Your contribution is pure gold though!
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### Author:  [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2012, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-_are_-todays-gop-so-daft/615340/117 "2012-03-11T18:28:42Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#):
>
> Their best defense, offered by Stratocaster, appears to be that it’s not likely that 100% of the stuff that comes out of all Republicans mouths is crazy nonsense. He’s confident of this, even if he cannot be bothered to offer the invalidating example.
>
> All I can say to that is “aim high.” If that’s the standard you’re willing to defend in order to stay on the team, it’s an indictment, not a counter argument.
Why do you believe my objective is to defend Republicans? Curious…
ETA: BTW, are you suggesting that it would be impossible to come up with an example? 'Cause that would be funny.
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### Author:  [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2012, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-_are_-todays-gop-so-daft/615340/118 "2012-03-11T18:32:33Z")
Heading out the door, will be away on business for a few days. Have fun fighting ignorance!
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### Author:  [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-_are_-todays-gop-so-daft/615340/119 "2012-03-11T18:39:43Z")
It’ll be a bit easier for now.
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### Author:  [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-_are_-todays-gop-so-daft/615340/120 "2012-03-11T18:54:26Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#):
>
> Yes. Because you say so. I must be whiny, since I disagree with you and all. Your contribution is pure gold though!
I don’t know that you disagree with me; I haven’t stated a position on the OP. I’ve just noticed that all you do is come in and post whiny rants. Also, you have poor reading comprehension skills, otherwise you wouldn’t constantly be accusing me of having written things that I haven’t written.
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