The latter more than likely get training in how to influence the forum into supporting a particular candidate. The reason I say this is that the methods employed by the various supporters are nearly identical and have been for about seven or eight years now (more for Palin and Perry than anyone else in this go-around). These are exactly the techniques first employed here by FairOpinion and the cloud of Schwarzenegger backers s/he commanded in the recall election of 2003 (all thankfully banned, especially (expletive omitted) 68grunt... ). I don't think anyone here now would dispute today the damage they did to California conservatism by convincing the CAGOP leadership that FReepers could be browbeaten into accepting "Arnold can win." He did, but conservatism in California, which had sponsored the recall in the first place, was mortally wounded once Arnold's people (see RINO Pete Wilson) took over the party machinery. They never let a conservative nominee get a dime from the Party ever again. In fact, they openly derided conservative nominees for Statewide office.
Even though I was a person who supported Schwarzenegger when I thought McClintock couldn't pull it out, I agree with your take on various campaigns here. The Bush II team pulled the same nonsense in 2000. It set back Conservatism for at least twelve years. Bush had a Republican House and Senate. Did he turn things around? No. And here we go again with what amounts to a proposed Bush III. Will he turn things around? Not a chance.
So, given the "success" of that gambit, I thought I would lay out how the formula works. It goes like this:
This thread is a prime example in that Perry, while cheering conservatives with his derision of a Marxist university professorate, is proposing a testing system that HE KNOWS will be administered by State educational bureaucrats as a "remedy"! Guess who writes the questions for these tests. Guess who grades them. He either KNOWS that the result of more centralized control is a continued drift to the left, or he's an idiot. Take your pick.
So, when he makes this pitch for a "solution," he is either fundamentally dishonest or delusional. It's your choice as to which, but in either case he is not a desirable candidate for President of the United States.
So, knowing this, our team of Perrywinkles has to get conservatives to cheer without thinking things through. This calls for a snow job! Which brings us to step 2. 01
Here is the problem: FreeRepublic was set up by its owner to be a grass roots forum. When this method becomes the pattern the grass roots get sucked into dealing with this constant barrage from people with little else to do. Thus, the conservative base loses its home for exchanging and developing ideas. There are lurking consequences to this that need be considered seriously.
First, FR is so influential that to consume a large portion of the sidebar constitutes the equivalent of valuable commercial advertising space. If in fact some of these posters are paid professionals (of which I have little doubt) their presence here shows that FR is effectively making an in-kind campaign contribution that as of now goes unreported. I see every likelihood that some zealous enforcer would be delighted to bring such a case. The amount of effort it would take to police such would be a big drain on the site's resources in a campaign year. All of that is bad.
Second, grass roots candidates get less exposure, indeed they get systematically marginalized by these propensities, which is counter to the entire purpose of the forum and immensely disrespectful of the private property rights of its owner.
This is the crux of the problem in my opinion. All the oxygen is sucked out of the room by those working for the RINOs. This forum's true calling is subverted every four years. This year it's Perry. Despite his despicable past, he's the RINO flavor of the week, and there's no rational argument that can be made that Perry supporters will agree is problematic. And isn't that revealing...
What we're supposed to believe, is that all of a sudden this group of people fell for Perry, they have no questions about him, and if others have questions, they are instantly evil. They won't contenance any challenge whatsoever. Is that the actions of a group of people who simply learned about Perry, and then fell in love with him? No. It's the actions of a group of people who are gaming the forum.
Normal people start liking someone and over time they grow to like them. The day of the Ames Straw Poll, Perry was instantly fifty or one hundred FReeper's absolute hero. There was no growing curve here. Someone flipped a switch, and suddenly Perry essentially owned the forum. Is that how Conservatives conduct themselves? Do they have to go out and subvert Conservative forums, if they truly are a Conservative. NO!
If you're a Conservative, you tell folks what you're about. They listen and look at your record. Pretty soon, you've won them over.
Look at the difference between Cain and Perry. Did Cain come here, invade the forum with his crew, and hijack the place? No. None the less, folks here think quite highly of him. On the other hand, Perry did come here, invade the forum with his crew, hijack the place, and insult as many people as possible. The crew started deconstructing Reagan ad-nausium. And they absolutely had to, because he is not a Conservative. He's a pretender.
<> Third, some very good posters and contributors to FR get tired of the crap and leave. FR then becomes less attractive to those who might otherwise come here to develop and discuss original ideas. It degrades FR's reputation as a center for thoughtful conservative discussion. That leaves the conservative movement less equipped with well developed and distilled ideas with which to attract support for true conservative candidates and legislation. It also inhibits distribution of said ideas. I agree.
Fourth, because everybody in these battles knows each other, the discussion becomes confusing and intimidating to newbies in that shorthand communication often lacks infill information, while reference to insults without apparent basis appears unpleasantly vitriolic. This harms forum growth. I agree.
Fifth, said confusion, and lack of exposure on the sidebar cuts support for grass roots conservative candidates which makes it more likely that RINOS get nominated. Just look at how the Fred Thompson fan dance consumed conservative energies, defocused support, kept other conservatives from developing sufficient momentum to take on the media/Party machinery as time grew shorter. The process precluded conservative support from coalescing behind one person such that McCain could gather momentum despite the fact that he is so terribly despised among the conservative base. How else could he have won in South Carolina? This has happened often enough to become a cliche. I agree. I will say that I backed Thompson, but that did play out as you said, and I can't argue with your description of it.
Sixth, once said RINO gains the nomination, conservative support dries up, said RINO doeth the now famous Bob Dole Swan Dive, and the Democrat gets elected. I call all that bad. It is bad, until three years later, and then all of a sudden it's good again. We're well on our way to niminating someone I won't vote for again.
I have no problem with professional representatives of candidates or the candidates themselves showing up here to discuss their strengths and answer challenges but ONLY so long as they identify themselves as such. This ongoing battle among consulting firms and Party apparatchiks portraying themselves as grass roots activists has to stop. It is a fraud upon the people of this forum for which, in my opinion, they should be banned. Couldn't agree more.
I did not mean to post that long post to you Cincinatus’ Wife.
It was intended for Carry_Okie. After developing the reply in a stand alone html text developer, I brought it back, and accidentally clicked on your post, and sent it to you instead of Carry_Okie.
He had posted just above you.
Sorry about that.
I’ve been posting on education - the awfulness - basically the crime of public education — the wasted potential and ruination of lives for years. Go to my account. Check it out.
I was thrilled when I found out that Gov. Perry has such an understanding and knowledge about this mess and has some ideas to tackle it and that other people were finally noticing.
That’s why I’ve been trying to get others to see it.
That is causing harm? To whom?
There is no coordination with me. NONE.
I posted the article and started the thread. Does that make me the leader of some secret cabal?
If so, I want to get paid, damnit!