# Why are there so many freaking retards in the Republican party? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 3, 2004, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-freaking-retards-in-the-republican-party/253433 "2004-07-03T23:51:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-freaking-retards-in-the-republican-party/253433/61 "2004-07-05T19:31:51Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > At least Stalin had the gumption to stab you in the heart. These modern tyrants eat you like ringworms, from the inside out, nibbling at your liberties bit by bit while feigning a love of freedom. They are grim reaper cheerleaders, basking in your adulation even as they plot to squeeze out of you whatever they can before you die. Your grandchildren will hear of freedom in whispers, from wildmen whom their leaders have declared insane. Apathy is the enemy of diligence. Either you’re joking, or you’re going off the deep end. I hope it’s the former. ---
**Author:** ![Shaolinrabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Shaolinrabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shaolinrabbit)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-freaking-retards-in-the-republican-party/253433/62 "2004-07-05T19:36:53Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > At least Stalin had the gumption to stab you in the heart. These modern tyrants eat you like ringworms, from the inside out, nibbling at your liberties bit by bit while feigning a love of freedom. They are grim reaper cheerleaders, basking in your adulation even as they plot to squeeze out of you whatever they can before you die. Your grandchildren will hear of freedom in whispers, from wildmen whom their leaders have declared insane. Apathy is the enemy of diligence. You sir, need to put the tin hat back on 😉 As for the argument, I’ve always found the concept of one party having more idiots than the other rather humorous. It depends on how you define “idiot” obviously, but I’d say the party in power has the most, and that’s why they’re in power. Idiots make up a rather large slice of the populace after all. ---
**Author:** ![laigle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@laigle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/laigle)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-freaking-retards-in-the-republican-party/253433/63 "2004-07-05T19:42:46Z")
> [@Polerius](#): > > Either you’re joking, or you’re going off the deep end. I hope it’s the former. No, he’s a batshit insane troll. There’s an ignore list feature on the “User CP” page (toppish left, under where it tells you your board location). I highly recommend this to all who are arguing the point with this and the various other pathetic degenerates. If you keep replying to them, they’ll stay around. If you ignore them they’ll get bored and go troll somewhere else, or go find justification at Stormfront and the Free Republic before popping back in every few months under a new screen name. ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-freaking-retards-in-the-republican-party/253433/64 "2004-07-05T19:59:51Z")
> [@laigle](#): > > No, he’s a batshit insane troll. There’s an ignore list feature on the “User CP” page (toppish left, under where it tells you your board location). I highly recommend this to all who are arguing the point with this and the various other pathetic degenerates. If you keep replying to them, they’ll stay around. If you ignore them they’ll get bored and go troll somewhere else, or go find justification at Stormfront and the Free Republic before popping back in every few months under a new screen name. Doesn’t anyone read the FAQ anymore? > [@](#): > > Do not publicly accuse someone of trolling at the SDMB. > [@](#): > > Hinting that any particular person or group of people is on your ignore list is very strictly frowned upon. ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-freaking-retards-in-the-republican-party/253433/65 "2004-07-05T20:30:20Z")
> [@wring](#): > > Suggesting that Rush’s listeners all suscribe to all of his positions is not particularly defensible either (some listen for amusement, some listen to get amunition against him, some believe his tripe - he’s an entertainer after all - would you suggest that all Mel Gibson fans suscibe to his ideology? I wouldn’t). Ditto for numbers of books Ann Coulter sold (some were bulk purchases as gifts, some would have been for jokes, some would have been 'cause they’re true believers, some would have to get amunition etc.). Are you insane? Do you seriously think that most of the millions of Fox News fans, Rush fans, and Coulter fans are viewing/listening/reading them for amusement only/as a joke/to get amunition against them? Or is it more likely that, while there are a few people that do what you describe, the vast majority (and that would be millions of people) view/listen/read them because they agree with their nonsense? Are you seriously comparing Mel Gibson and Rush in any way, shape or form? Rush, who has millions of self-described _dittoheads_? Do you actually believe what you are typing? (It’s actually interesting that you used the word “Ditto” just below Rush, without seeing the irony of you ignoring the millions of dittoheads) > [@](#): > > But to continue to assert (as you do here) that we should believe that the party itself has ‘more’ than their share of kooks, based on your bits of anecdotal references is not logical. And makes you look like a kook. You stupidly discount the evidence provided by the existence of millions of fans for Fox News, Rush, and Coulter and then claim that what remain are only “bits of anecdotal references”. Very clever. I’ll try that sometime. No wait - it’s stupid and won’t convince anyone. Nevermind. ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-freaking-retards-in-the-republican-party/253433/66 "2004-07-05T20:40:06Z")
> [@Polerius](#): > > the vast majority (and that would be millions of people) view/listen/read them because they agree with their nonsense? I have to clarify that I never stated that they “all suscribe to all of his positions”, which is what you claim I said. I assume the majority agree, in general, with Rush et al, _not on every single point_. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-freaking-retards-in-the-republican-party/253433/67 "2004-07-05T20:57:24Z")
> [@lurkernomore](#): > > Sure. Here’s a couple of points on Kerry: > > He said he was for the common man. A big vote on employment benefits for a million people died this year by 1 vote: Kerry? Didn’t show up. > > [http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/business/story/5063012p-4990803c.html](http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/business/story/5063012p-4990803c.html) Aw, what the fuck. You can’t be so ignorant of politics to fail to see the maneuverings behind that. If he had shown up, it wouldn’t have passed - they would have changed their votes, or failed to bring it to the floor for a vote. Just like they did with the bill last week, when he did cut short his activities in New Mexico to come back to vote. ---
**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:** [July 5, 2004, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-freaking-retards-in-the-republican-party/253433/68 "2004-07-05T21:14:15Z")
The reason there are so many freaking retards in the Republican Party is that they were specifically invited in. Hence the Southern Strategy, to get the slackjawed racist vote. Hence the appeal to the religious right. They don’t call it a “big tent” for nothing … the old line Republicans would never dream of inviting such rabble into their HOMES. ---
**Author:** ![laigle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@laigle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/laigle)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-freaking-retards-in-the-republican-party/253433/69 "2004-07-05T21:14:25Z")
> [@Hentor the Barbarian](#): > > You can’t be so ignorant of politics to fail to see the maneuverings behind that. That sounds like a challenge. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-freaking-retards-in-the-republican-party/253433/70 "2004-07-05T21:25:41Z")
well, I see that you’ve qualifed your postion somewhat “not all” agree on every point etc. That’s nice. Because, you see, my position is that “not all Rush listeners agree w/him on every point” and the fact that you can find **some** who agree on some things doesn’t prove squat. You do realize, don’t you, that for example there’s republicans who are, gasp, gay, and some others who are, gasp again, in favor of allowing choice wrt abortion? I’m not the one claiming numbers here sparky. Again, if you want to **claim** that “Millions hold this view” you should be able to substantiate it. Just 'cause some one self identifies as a Rush fan, listens to his show or buys an Ann Coulter book, does **not** prove that **all** folks who do so (or any single individual) agree with any single point of his blathering. Or, even that a majority do on any single point. unfortunately - that is **exactly** what you did in the OP here. You took a few quotes from a few individual sources and made the claim that ‘many’ in the party suscribe to those views. and it just does not follow logically - as you seem to understand here. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-freaking-retards-in-the-republican-party/253433/71 "2004-07-05T21:41:31Z")
Here’s the scuttlebutt on the Kerry/unemployment vote, as I gathered from a variety of sources. The vote for an unemployment extension was, as you might well imagine, breaking down along party lines, Dems for, Pubs agin. Of course, Pubs in the more or less “industrial” states needed some slack, it would be hard to go back to their constituents with voting against “the working man” hanging around the neck. So, some Pubs were given a pass, you can vote for the extension, just so long as we can be sure it wont actually pass. Hence, they knew before the bill hit the floor what the count was going to be, because they controlled the deciding votes. (This is a considerable oversimplification, but the rough outlines are about right…nobody but a hopeless wonk would even actually know all this shit, and I don’t see friend **Simon** about) Kerry knew this, they all did. So, his choice was to break off campaigning and rush back to Washington to cast a vote that wouldn’t do the least bit of good (since the Pubs could just yank the chain on one of their votes back over to the “Nay” column…) or he could keep on strokin’. In my estimation, he made a political mistake, he should have come back for the vote so stories like this, about how he didn’t care enough about unemployed people to cast his vote, wouldn’t be bandied about. Like they are here. The complexity of Washington treachery and cunning is as twisted and confused as a greased earthworm orgy. A similar effect is reached with thrashing on Kerry for the votes he “missed”. All Senators know before they get up in the morning how the vote will go, there are no surprises in a whorehouse. Senators routinely trade off their votes, a committed “no” will make a deal with a committed “yes” to simply skip it, total effect nil. Does it suck? Sure. What’s your point? ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-freaking-retards-in-the-republican-party/253433/72 "2004-07-05T21:46:38Z")
> [@wring](#): > > well, I see that you’ve qualifed your postion somewhat “not all” agree on every point etc. I never claimed otherwise. > [@](#): > > Because, you see, my position is that “not all Rush listeners agree w/him on every point” and the fact that you can find **some** who agree on some things doesn’t prove squat. I think it proves a lot (even ignoring the total untruthfullnes of _some_ instead of _most_) > [@](#): > > You do realize, don’t you, that for example there’s republicans who are, gasp, gay, and some others who are, gasp again, in favor of allowing choice wrt abortion? You’re a moron. I never said that all Republicans are retards. I just said that a large number of retards are Republican. Of course there are several Republicans (e.g. on this board) that are intelligent and have good reasons to vote Republican. > [@](#): > > I’m not the one claiming numbers here sparky. Goodbye, “sparky”. When you get a brain, we’ll continue this discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Unregistered\_Bull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3da27b/32.png) [@Unregistered\_Bull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unregistered_Bull)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-freaking-retards-in-the-republican-party/253433/73 "2004-07-05T22:28:20Z")
> [@Apos](#): > > Cry me a fantasia river. They’ve mostly kept military style weapons off the marketplace. Since when has there every been any serious drive to ban the ownership of hunting weapons or handguns for home defense? > > Can you please find that in the party platform for me? Handguns and hangdguns accessories have been banned by Democrats. And if you look at the California, the Democrats their have banned even normal double action revolvers that weren’t grandfathered. The Democrats, at the National level and their Presidential canidates are anti-gun and they will try to ban more if in power again. It’s the anti-gun party. You’re either in denial, spinning the issue like a good little pundit, or stupid. ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-freaking-retards-in-the-republican-party/253433/74 "2004-07-06T00:13:55Z")
> [@laigle](#): > > No, he’s a batshit insane troll. There’s an ignore list feature on the “User CP” page (toppish left, under where it tells you your board location). I highly recommend this to all who are arguing the point with this and the various other pathetic degenerates. If you keep replying to them, they’ll stay around. If you ignore them they’ll get bored and go troll somewhere else, or go find justification at Stormfront and the Free Republic before popping back in every few months under a new screen name. You’re well out of bounds, **laigle**. **milroyj** is quite correct in his quotes from the FAQ: we do not want anyone crying “troll!” or making a big public to-do of who’s on ignore lists. This is a warning for you to _not_ do this again. TVeblen, Pit mod ---
**Author:** ![laigle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@laigle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/laigle)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-freaking-retards-in-the-republican-party/253433/75 "2004-07-06T00:20:17Z")
> [@TVeblen](#): > > You’re well out of bounds, **laigle**. **milroyj** is quite correct in his quotes from the FAQ: we do not want anyone crying “troll!” or making a big public to-do of who’s on ignore lists. > This is a warning for you to _not_ do this again. > > TVeblen, > Pit mod My apologies, I didn’t think those policies applied to the Pit. Won’t happen again. ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-freaking-retards-in-the-republican-party/253433/76 "2004-07-06T00:25:59Z")
> [@laigle](#): > > My apologies, I didn’t think those policies applied to the Pit. Won’t happen again. Fair enough! Can’t ask for more. Veb ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-freaking-retards-in-the-republican-party/253433/77 "2004-07-06T02:10:10Z")
> [@Polerius](#): > > You’re a moron. I never said that all Republicans are retards. I just said that a large number of retards are Republican. Of course there are several Republicans (e.g. on this board) that are intelligent and have good reasons to vote Republican. > > Goodbye, “sparky”. When you get a brain, we’ll continue this discussion. and yet, you’ve failed to demonstrate anything beyond “a few individuals quoted are both idiots and apparently Republicans” and that Rush/Ann have sold a number of books, have a number of folks who listen to them. Now, I’ve attempted several times to point out the difference between facts and opinions, attempted several times to point out that individual quotes don’t prove your assertion (even the watered down one here - any idea, for example how many people self identify as Republicans? start there). Also attempted to point out (as you apparently do understand and agree) that being a fan of a commentator or being a Republican doesn’t really mean that the person agrees w/everything. Your selective understanding of the written word is impressive. Too bad not much else is. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-freaking-retards-in-the-republican-party/253433/78 "2004-07-06T02:10:14Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > In my estimation, he made a political mistake, he should have come back for the vote so stories like this, about how he didn’t care enough about unemployed people to cast his vote, wouldn’t be bandied about. Like they are here. **elucidator** , initially I felt that you were incorrect in this, and said to myself, “Damn, that’s like, twice that he’s been wrong.” See, no matter what Kerry does, you’ll still hear numbnuts telling you “Kerry has missed 80% of the votes in the Senate this year. He doesn’t care about his constituents!” But then he was later able to turn their bullshit back on them a bit for their shenanigans on the [veteran’s health care](http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5279744/) bill. So perhaps it was a bit of a political mistake. I’m just not sure that he should hold his campaigning for president hostage to the whims of Fristful of Dollars and the rest of The Bad, the Bad, and the Ugly. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-freaking-retards-in-the-republican-party/253433/79 "2004-07-06T03:44:20Z")
> [@Hentor the Barbarian](#): > > …Fristful of Dollars… Doctor Feelbad. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-freaking-retards-in-the-republican-party/253433/80 "2004-07-06T16:02:43Z")
> [@Polerius](#): > > Either you’re joking, or you’re going off the deep end. I hope it’s the former. I’m sad to say I agree with him 100%, we’re witnessing the fall of the empire. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-freaking-retards-in-the-republican-party/253433.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-freaking-retards-in-the-republican-party/253433.md?page=5)