Our Republic and Our Free Republic

9-6-02 | Joe Phillips

[BADJOE]

History teaches some very good lessons. They are hard to learn but our forefathers did a great job.

From the beginning of time man has overthrown one form of centralized government only to re-establish another one in its place. Our forefathers understood this far better than anyone ever had. They said governments are the eternal enemy of free men. They said that in order for man to remain free it would take a bloody revolution every other generation, unless you bound down (bastard) government with the chains of the constitution.

On another site this week a poster asked if anyone else hated government as much as he did. I replied to him

"Hell !! I thought you were not a good American if you didn't love our country and hate our government.

At least that is how I have always felt about it"

I think our forefathers had the same attitude that I have now. And I think it is inherent in the average Americans attitude to distrust and have disdain for any government, including ours. One of the hardest conclusions I had to arrive at as a young man, after having been a product of the public school system, was that our government was not on our side. As James Forrestahl, former secretary of the Navy, who suffered a mysterious death, once said about our State Department's foreign policy, " Stupidity is never a mark of consistancy. If they were merely stupid, they would occasionally make a mistake in our favor".

Newt Gringrich put it in a humourous manner when talking about the attitude of Europeans. He related the following story. If you go to Europe and drive on the Autobahn, you feel pretty good cruising down the highway at 100 mph when some some German passes you doing 140 mph. Now he said if the Bundestag passed the 55mph speed limit law, every German would dutifully obey that law, untill the next election. They would vote the 55 mph crowd out of office and the no speed limit crowd in. In America Newt said "A speed limit sign is a benchmark of opportunity.

It is obvious that Yankees and Euros have entirely different attitudes about government's edicts. There are darn few Americans who do not break the speed limit laws everyday.

Now we come to the Free Republic. Once a free wheeling, joyful site for news and discussion of politics, economics, philosophy, ethics and morals. I could not understand the transformation that has taken place in the last six months. Camaraderie, the sense of family, and cooperation seems to have disappeared. Are the Freepers exhibiting the same disdain for the new FR as Americans have for our government?

[Mo1]

Your idiotic, boring questions are not worth a reply. Get lost.

Hmmm .. Great plan you got there .. very clever

[FreeTheHostages]

Post 2005: excellent numerology

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

You must have "stumped the band", Mo.

[FreeTheHostages]

I'm in the process of index and creating a place to view all the lists together. Will be easier to judge that way too. I'll announce it in this thread when it's complete. Probably around 6:30 p.m.

[tpaine]

[To roscoe] - "I notice you haven't really bothered trying to refute his arguments, but instead try to attack his motives and character - a rather Clintonistic approach to debate, if you ask me." - DB

Roscoe has gone far beyond being a piker liar like clinton. -- He is approaching the legendary status of a Mojo.
-- Mojoian thought processes defeat the rational mind in that if you can understand them, you are de-facto crazy, -- a sort of catch 22 effect.

[dirtboy]

His arguments are self-refuting. All that is left is to point out their inherent silliness.

Then do that, Kevin. First of all, perhaps you could provide your bona fides on this matter. Are you either a lawyer or law enforcement officer? Have you ever prosecuted a case? Gone on an arrest or served a search warrant? I won't demand specifics like some folks have - just tell us generalities about your background to offer expert commentary on this subject.

Second, Abundy has presented factual information regarding the Zito case. Go back to post #1808. What did he say that you disagree with? AND WHY?!? You may think it's enough to say his arguments are inherently silly without providing a factual basis for your arguments. But most folks here think otherwise. Facts, Kevin, facts. Put some up, please...

[tpaine]

Ho hum.

While you two clowns have my permission to dream on, please do it elsewhere. -- You're dismissed.

[dubyagee]

then why do you always ping the exact folks you know will disagree with you??

So THATS what I'm what I'm doing wrong HERE. Man! Ya learn something new everyday.

[balrog666]

Well, evidently a vast majority of people do not agree with you, Joe, up to and including Jim. Most of the people on this forum LIKE the way Jim runs this place. Now, are you mad about that now, too?

Wow, you really are quite a harpy, aren't you?

Did it ever occur to you that most people don't know what is going on under the surface here? Did it ever occur to you that maybe people don't want to be banned for speaking their mind here? Did it ever occur to you that people might not want to be banned for asking a few simple questions? In fact, have you ever stopped to think about what you were about to say, and the consequences of it being said, before it leaped out of your mouth and made you look like a fool?

[FreeTheHostages]

I just want you to know that I've totally enjoyed your posts in this thread! Especially the steamed gas fitting thingamajig. Well done.

[Roscoe]

And I notice you haven't really bothered trying to refute his arguments

His assertions from unnamed "secret" sources?

[Mo1]

Ho hum.
While you two clowns have my permission to dream on, please do it elsewhere. -- You're dismissed.

YES SIR!!

[dirtboy]

Did it ever occur to you that maybe people don't want to be banned for speaking their mind here? Did it ever occur to you that people might not want to be banned for asking a few simple questions?

Did it ever occur to you that there are countless liberal jerks monitoring this website, just waiting to pounce on any post that lingers more than a few minutes that calls for a death threat ... or says Bush let 9/11 happen ... or that claims remote-control airplanes crashed into the WTC, despite the cell-phone calls to the contrary? And those liberal jerks will work overtime to discredit this site with that crap? It's a fine line to walk between freedom of expression and credibility - but JimRob is NOT demanding that other sites censor their conspiracy views, just that the more insane stuff not be posted here to give our opponents the hammer to hit us with. I have often been opposed to the Bush Administration's actions and decisions, and I have NEVER, NEVER, NEVER feared censorship or banishment for my views. FR is still an open marketplace for ideas that bother to incorporate reality into their foundation...

[dirtboy]

His assertions from unnamed "secret" sources?

*** SIGH *** - once again, he has been threatened by a poster on this site if he were to reveal his identity - and it is wrong to demand such - check on the status of your efforts to "out" Abundy on post 2012 - it be gone, and FR does not tolerate that kind of crap kindly. And, as I laboriously explained earlier, in the end I, not knowing you or abundy personally, can only balance my opinion of your respective credibilities. You have never given me a reason to doubt your own personal credibilty, other than your own propensity to question the credibilty of others. Abundy has NEVER given me reason to question his own personal credibility. That is the only currency we have on FR - our own personal credibility - so hard to earn, so easy to lose. So if you want to convince me that Abundy is wrong, why don't you address the issues and facts he has stated, instead of trying to attack abundy's personal credibility? Questioning the motives of someone is NOT going to win this argument with me...

[Mo1]

Oh well .. it happens

[FreeTheHostages]

I HATE TO INTERRUPT THIS SLUGFEST, BUT I HAVE IMPORTANT CONTEST NEWS:
(why, the very co-existence of this contest in this thread should shame some people into cheerfulness, one would think)

LIST OF FINAL ENTRANTS IN THE CONTEST WITH ACTUAL REAL WORLD PRIZE!! CHENEY BOOK AND COULTER BOOK

Mudboy Slim, here’s my list, noting the post number, the Freeper name, the category they entered, and a link to the entry. The entire text of the entries will appear in a separate judges’ thread which I’m preparing. The categories for lists again were:
STILL = (1) I'm Still Posting in This Thread
HAPPY = (2) I'm Still A Happy Freeper
SCAREY =(3) This Thread Scares Me

Bribe attempts are annotated at the end of this list (in case for you Mud that’s a factor in judging, as apparently it is!) Me personally, I can’t begin to start drinking before selecting the finalists tonight! If you’re on this list, it means you complied more or less enough with the rules to be a qualified entry to be considered on its merits. We’re really quite speechless about one of you turning in 11 and not sure what to do about that scandal, but we’ll find something to do about it, that’s for sure!

2018 – Brian Allen (HAPPY) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/745759/posts?page=2018#2108
1508 – Forgiven Sinner (HAPPY) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/745759/posts?page=1508#1508
1229 – harpo11 (HAPPY) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/745759/posts?page=1229#1229
1092 – Vets_Husband_and_Wife (um, *11* HAPPY reasons) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/745759/posts?page=1092#1092
1091 – dubyagee (HAPPY) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/745759/posts?page=1091#1091
1081 – (ignore, formatting error fixed in reposted list at 1092)
1037 – Miss Marple (HAPPY) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/745759/posts?page=1037#1037
1013 – Indy Pendance (HAPPY) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/745759/posts?page=1013#1013
965 – Chad Fairbanks (HAPPY – I guess, it’s top ten reasons he loves FR) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/745759/posts?page=965#965
954 – one_particular_harbour (STILL POSTING) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/745759/posts?page=954#954
887 – Timesink (HAPPY) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/745759/posts?page=887#887
886 – dubyagee (STILL POSTING) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/745759/posts?page=886#886
870 – ArneFufkin (HAPPY/POSTING [“happily on this thread”]) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/745759/posts?page=870#870
764 – Physicist (STILL POSTING) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/745759/posts?page=764#764
762 – dubyagee (STILL POSTING) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/745759/posts?page=762#762
752 – paulklenk (STILL POSTING) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/745759/posts?page=752#752
738 – Dianna (STILL POSTING) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/745759/posts?page=738#738
736 – Jake0001 (STILL POSTING) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/745759/posts?page=736#736
724 – BluesDuke (STILL POSTING) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/745759/posts?page=724#724
680 – JulieRNR21 (HAPPY) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/745759/posts?page=680#680
667 – dubyagee (STILL POSTING) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/745759/posts?page=667#667

Mud, notice people were “still posting” and then as our contest continued more contestants at least claimed to be “happy Freeperes.” Pat yourself on the back, sport, we’ve made this little corner of the world a little sunnier.

The ping list of contestants, with bribes noted, is: Brian Allen; Forgiven_Sinner; harpo11, Vets_Husband_and_Wife; dubyagee (um, one of his lists is basically an ode to Mud); Miss Marple; Indy Pendance; Chad Fairbanks (bribe at post 1947: photo of Ann Coulter; bribe at post 1975: charmingly brutal question); one_particular_harbour; timesink; ArneFufkin; Physicist; Dianna; paulklenk (hilarious non-list posts); jake0001; bluesduke; JulieRNR21 (bribe at post 1921 – animated chocolate kisses)

[FreeTheHostages]

test www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/745759/posts?page=2018#2108

[justshe]

Uh oh.....NOW you've done it, Mo1.

Oh.......wait a minute. You were just acknowledging his delusions of grandeur! THAT's the ticket!

[balrog666]

Did it ever occur to you that there are countless liberal jerks monitoring this website, just waiting to pounce on any post that lingers more than a few minutes that calls for a death threat ... or says Bush let 9/11 happen ... or that claims remote-control airplanes crashed into the WTC, despite the cell-phone calls to the contrary? And those liberal jerks will work overtime to discredit this site with that crap? It's a fine line to walk between freedom of expression and credibility - but JimRob is NOT demanding that other sites censor their conspiracy views, just that the more insane stuff not be posted here to give our opponents the hammer to hit us with. [snip]...

That's an amusing conceit but what has it got to do with my post? Or do you really think that liberal jerks can't read the message if it isn't spelled out for them?

[FreeTheHostages]

HERE'S Clickable Links to your Competition. Finalist selection is now underway.

Mudboy Slim, here’s my list, noting the post number, the Freeper name, the category they entered, and a link to the entry. The entire text of the entries will appear in a separate judges’ thread which I’m preparing. The categories for lists again were:
STILL = (1) I'm Still Posting in This Thread
HAPPY = (2) I'm Still A Happy Freeper
SCAREY =(3) This Thread Scares Me

Bribe attempts are annotated at the end of this list (in case for you Mud that’s a factor in judging, as apparently it is!) Me personally, I can’t begin to start drinking before selecting the finalists tonight! If you’re on this list, it means you complied more or less enough with the rules to be a qualified entry to be considered on its merits. We’re really quite speechless about one of you turning in 11 and not sure what to do about that scandal, but we’ll find something to do about it, that’s for sure!

2018 – Brian Allen (HAPPY) Entry
1508 – Forgiven Sinner (HAPPY) Entry
1229 – harpo11 (HAPPY) Entry
1092 – Vets_Husband_and_Wife (um, *11* HAPPY reasons) Entry
1091 – dubyagee (HAPPY) Entry
1081 – (ignore, formatting error fixed in reposted list at 1092)
1037 – Miss Marple (HAPPY) Entry
1013 – Indy Pendance (HAPPY) Entry
965 – Chad Fairbanks (HAPPY – I guess, it’s top ten reasons he loves FR) Entry
954 – one_particular_harbour (STILL POSTING) Entry
887 – Timesink (HAPPY) Entry
886 – dubyagee (STILL POSTING) Entry
870 – ArneFufkin (HAPPY/POSTING [“happily on this thread”]) Entry
764 – Physicist (STILL POSTING) Entry
762 – dubyagee (STILL POSTING) Entry
752 – paulklenk (STILL POSTING) Entry
738 – Dianna (STILL POSTING) Entry
736 – Jake0001 (STILL POSTING) Entry
724 – BluesDuke (STILL POSTING) Entry
680 – JulieRNR21 (HAPPY) Entry
667 – dubyagee (STILL POSTING) Entry

Mud, notice people were “still posting” and then as our contest continued more contestants at least claimed to be “happy Freeperes.” Pat yourself on the back, sport, we’ve made this little corner of the world a little sunnier.

The ping list of contestants, with bribes noted, is: Brian Allen; Forgiven_Sinner; harpo11, Vets_Husband_and_Wife; dubyagee (um, one of his lists is basically an ode to Mud); Miss Marple; Indy Pendance; Chad Fairbanks (bribe at post 1947: photo of Ann Coulter; bribe at post 1975: charmingly brutal question); one_particular_harbour; timesink; ArneFufkin; Physicist; Dianna; paulklenk (hilarious non-list posts); jake0001; bluesduke; JulieRNR21 (bribe at post 1921 – animated chocolate kisses; post 796: butterfly)