Posted on 06/13/2012 6:05:21 PM PDT by Grig
This may be the post that gets me zotted, and if so, so be it, but it would be a nice sign of respect for free speech, and just plain old maturity if that doesn’t happen. I won’t lose sleep either way though.
All through the Clinton years FR played a key role in helping me really come to appreciate the wisdom of the founding fathers as Clinton violated their principles in so many ways. I found here a large community of wise, informed posters from a diverse background that added depth and clarity to the news of the day. It was here on FR that I found out about the WTC attack. Being Canadian, the second amendment always seemed kind of silly to me, but through FR I learned how wrong that view was and now wish my country had such a right for it’s citizens.
That was then, now more and more it has felt like FR has dwindled into an insular, nearly feral, group of political and religious thought police whose mission is to ferret out anybody who doesn’t fit their orthodoxy and get rid of them, while propagandizing against anything the disagree with. At times it feels more energy is spent attacking those who should be seen as allies rather than the true enemies. I used to spend a fair bit of time here each day, now perhaps a quick look once every few weeks because of this change in climate. I know many have left because of it, many have already posted their concerns about it, and their wise observations and suggestions have fallen on deaf ears.
I do feel I have a small measure of responsibility for the change (but no guilt). When FR started to fail to live up to it’s own rules about not bashing religions (when it came to my religion) we Mormon posters decided that instead of being party to the creation of long threads filled with contention that made it hard for the moderators see the difference in our behavior and theirs, we decided instead to simply post articles putting forward our position and leave the critics to show their true colors. (see http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2013341/posts). Not only did the anti-Mormon posters oblige us and demonstrate the level of hate and bigotry in their hearts, but so did the anti-Momons within the leadership of FR. And thus began the decent of FR from a vibrant ad-hoc conservative think tank into an echo chamber of yes men with a loud group of religious bigots leading the way. It is sad to see it come to this, and I hope that the day comes when sanity returns. Something that needs to happen for that day to come is for the majority of people around here to face this reality: If you are not supporting Mitt Romney, you are playing into Obama’s hands. Any hopes of a brokered convention or third party conservative super-candidate are nothing but delusions fueled by a denial of reality. It comes down to either Mitt or Obama, and if you are not supporting Mitt you are helping Obama. Deal with it.
And don’t try to hide behind the idea that Mitt losing will be good in the long term for conservatism. That is putting your partisanship above your patriotism. Obama has done massive damage to the USA, and if you give him another 4 years you may not have a USA left at the end of his term. What good will this theoretical transformation of the GOP then? Truth is that if Mitt loses, no matter how conservative or liberal his campaign and policies are, the media will blame it on him being too right-wing and drive the GOP to the left as much as they can. Also, the good of the country should come first if you want to call yourself a patriot, and having Mitt in the White House will be much better for the USA than having Obama there.
While Mitt is not perfect (nobody is) I find many of the attacks on him so over the top, so full of exaggeration and fear mongering that ignores contrary evidence or any sense of proportion that I can’t help but suspect they hyperbole is just a mask for darker motives. The fact that in many cases these attacks come from those who also display great hostility towards Mormonism says it all. Deny it all you want, it is easy to see. For a satirical look at it, check this video I made: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG68yz-mMgE
I am going to make some predictions I would like to make, and I hope this thread stays around so that in years to come you can all look back and see how it turned out:
- every conservative you respect will vote for Mitt, all of them (perhaps a couple excepts, but not many) will even endorse him and perhaps campaign with him
- Mitt will become the next POTUS in a landslide victory,
- President Romney will do very well on the economy and on foreign affairs/national security
- President Romney will conduct himself with honor and integrity both in office and in his personal life
- He will be a better president than either Bush was
- You will hear conservative pundits call him this generation’s Ronald Reagan, or Ronald Reagan’s 3rd term or something along those lines
- President Romney will be re-elected in another big victory
- His Vice President will become POTUS after his second term
- If there is an assassination attempt on him, it will either be by the Chineese, or by some religiously motivated nutjob (Islamic or Evangelical)
And for those of you anti-Mormons out there, I have some prediction for you too. And these apply even if Romney is not elected as POTUS:
- Your grandchildren will call Mormons Christians, and look at Mormonism as the third branch of Christianity alongside Catholicism and Protestantism
- All the attacks against Romney that stem from the anti-Mormon garbage you have bought into will result in the attacker either apologizing, or in their loss of credibility. The more anti-Mormon attacks are made in the mainstream media, the worse the attackers will look.
- Your grandchildren will likewise look at such attacks as being as bigoted and wrong, even when they come from you.
- Some of your grandchildren or great-grandchildren will become Mormons, and after you are dead they will have temple ordinances performed for you, and you will be glad at the time that they do.
I dare you to post your own predictions of what a Romney presidency will result in.
I dare FR to leave this thread open and available for comments and to not delete a single comment from it.
I dare FR to start respecting freedom of religion by not playing favorites towards one religious group as is currently done by disallowing Mormon caucus threads, and if that is too big a challenge for you, the do away with the Religion Forum altogether.
I dare you all to give Mormons and Mormonism the respect it deserves to have as the 4th largest denomination in the USA, stalwart defender of traditional values, glowing example of Christian charity at home and around the world, the most conservative people of all religious groups, and staunch defenders of the principles of the constitution and values that built the country. No matter how much you disagree with us on religious matters, we are and should be treated as valuable conservative allies. Until FR does that, all they do is shoot themselves in the foot.
It’s a LONG time, ‘tween November 6th and January 20th!
Me too; but run the video equipment.
Time to get off here and let the varmits loose for the day.
(Wonder what they’ll get me for Father’s Day???)
I've noticed it too. No one is getting enthused at two liberals running against each other, it's like a rat primary. Who cares?
Well, gotta keep bread on the table you know. Will try to get in more freeptime.
Thank you for your kind words and Amen to that. This world means nothing compared to eternity in Glory.
Eek! No, I mean if you have extra time (I know, “What’s that?”), not to take away from your family or your life!
I see it differently.
I think that most normal, decent, honest people are tired of having psychotic, lying, haters spew useless, ugly garbage at them every time they try to discuss the election rationally.
Further, I think the haters’ purpose in spewing the garbage is to dissuade normal people from posting here.
Finally, I think you know all of this already, but are lying about it.
We are all allowed to think what we please but outright calling me a liar is a little beyond the pale. It takes a cowardly person to express those thoughts while protected by the anonymity of the internet.
Unfortunately, some people lie.
Even worse, there has recently been a trend toward lying here on FR as those who are driven to derangement by their hatred for Mitt Romney lash out in every way they can.
A general rule against pointing out people who are liars would only advantage liars and result in more lying.
But you knew that already.
LOL.
It’s pretty fairly often.
Sorry I’m getting back to this late, I see that SVCW has one way to try and find it in their post 563.
Another way would be to search for the specific thread if you recall the title or keywords.
Click on the link, In the box at the top enter the subject or member you are looking for, enter a descriptive word or two.
Helps sort things out.
Better to take it out on a FReeper than on your dog! Hope he’s doing better! Woof!
Ya lost me right there. Advancing conservatism is the most urgent priority. Obama re-elected could be dominated by Republicans led by conservatives. A Romney elected would dominate conservatives.
thanks
thanks
LOLOLOL!!! Where's the graphic of the little guy rolling around, pounding the groudn with his fists and laughing?
That's pretty rich coming from you, ryam. Psychoic, lying haters spew useless, ugly garbage ... you posted upthread of we more than 100-strong FReepers who've been arguing pretty eloquently and thoughtfully for our declared refusal to commit Romney by ABO.
Talk about "a trend toward lying here on FR" ...!!! LOLOLOL!!! Rich!!!
Any lurker who doubts, click on the screen name and then "in forum" of, say, me, or the other FReepers here trying our best to alert to the folly of Romney. Look for examples of it -- and you'll start to wonder about rogue yam's definition of invective.
Ok, first you say you are tired of haters spewing garbage at normal people (apparently records and words are garbage), then in very next sentence call anyone not agreeing with you names. IE haters
So, explain it to me. You and Romney supporters are “normal”, and conservatives that disagree with you are “haters”. Ok - got it. (eye roll)
Isn’t it simply amazing that the “normal” people can call those that disagree with them liars and haters (among other things) yet we are the crazy ones. ((((sigh))))
I believe I've exhibited both in my posts, and I know you have. You're a credit.
Though regardless, there is a certain, I suspect deceitful, group of FReepers who will accuse thee and me of "hatred" every time. Our posted words will prove the lie. :^)
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