Free Republic

The never read a label on any Internet blog saying “only one per customer”.

"So, how’s that TrueBlue website going for you?"


Quite well.

"As a matter of fact, I will vote for and support Mitt Romney, Ron Paul or Rick Santorum in the general election. Above all else, Obama & the Democrat Party must be defeated at all costs."


I agree with you there but can't get excited about any of the current candidates enough to put much effort behind anyone in the primaries.

"You have as much chance for PASSING LEGISLATION for cutting $ one-trillion from the Federal Budget ... ... as Mitt Romney has being the "New Celestial God King" over the (mythical) planet Kolob ... "


I see. Because the chance of actually passing legislation to cut spending by that much so remote, a Presidential candidate should not even talk about it. That is the most nonsensical position I have heard in quite some time. What was the probability of passing legislation banning slavery when the abolitionist movement first got started? What would have happened the anti-slavery cause if such thinking had prevailed among the early abolitionists? We are on the verge on bankruptcy and more than anything else need leaders who will at least entertain the notion of drastic cuts in spending.

"Newt needs to talk more about what the AMERICAN PEOPLE can do with LESS GOVERNMENT and how we need to CUT GOVERNMENT SPENDING BY OVER A TRILLION DOLLARS and talk less about how great government is."


I agree, but it is not going to happen. Newt is comfortable with big government social engineering as long as the most current management practices and the latest technology are employed in the process. He often talks about how to streamline government bureaucracy and make it operate more efficiently, but rarely about reigning in its basic role. Michele Bachmann was right. Newt is basically a frugal socialist.

"Go Santorum and don’t hide under the table crying about how mean it is to have little commercial’s against you like another famous candidate does AND don’t complain about the unfairness of anything."


Candidates who do not whine when attacked in the course of a political campaign? What a novel concept! The question now is whether he can pull it off.

"Newt is not now and never has been part of the Ruling Class, though he has mingled with them. He's our best bet for a representative of the "Country Class." Santorum strikes me as an aspirant to the Ruling Class, his anti-abortion record notwithstanding."


I really do not care about these silly class distinctions. What concerns me is limiting government to its proper role. Aside from Ron Paul, whom I have a problem with on the issue of terrorism, none of the candidates left is a limited government conservative. I give Santorum credit for being more consistent than either Gingrich or Romney, but he is no Ron Paul when in this respect. At the beginning of this election I determined not to support any candidate in the primary who backed the Bush TARP bailout. Both Romney and Gingrich fail that test. Romney was for a statewide mandate for health care and Gingrich was for a federal mandate. They both fail that test with Gingrich faring worse. There is not enough kool aid in the world that could get me to enthusiastically get behind either of these two in a primary. I will support whoever ends up going up against Obama in the general.

"This site used to be interesting.Maybe that is why people still stick around. Even if I did not agree with someone ( I mostly read), I would never tattletale, and post pictures of lightning or Viking kitties.

I would say that there are about 10 -15 people here,( and we all know who they are), that never grew up past the mean boy or girl stage in high school. If my statement gets me zotted, so be it."


Those days are long gone. Many Freepers have already migrated to other sites like True Blue Liberty, where they can voice their opinions without a horde of insecure and vengeful posters descending upon them. I find it absolutely incredible that a poster actually actually fears being zotted for not towing the party line. This is an Internet blog for crying out loud! Getting bumped form here is not the end of life as we know it.

I am not a Santorum fan either. I just find him a tad more acceptable than Gingrich. Since Bachmann imploded I really have not picked another horse, although I did give Cain some brief consideration and was hoping for a Perry comeback for a while. My focus now is on the Congressional and local races as there is no one at the Presidential level that I would be willing to spend time and energy supporting. I will vote for the eventual nominee against Obama though.

"His abrasive manner combined with his marital history."
That and his entering the revolving door from political leader to influence peddler. How on earth he has the nerve to paint himself as a Washington outsider is amazing to me.

"I am having a hard time convincing my wife and my mom to vote for Newt if he gets the nomination. Why is he so unliked by women?"


I am not sure, this is a topic that a lot of woman posters on another site discuss. Part of the problem most likely is the way he treated his previous wives. My problem with Newt is that he is nearly as unreliable as Romney when it comes to limiting government and on top of that he appears to has a questionable personal life. I would support either of them if they get the nomination, but am not going to lift a finger to help either become the nominee.

"We can win with Newt if the country is angry enough to want a real change."


Sorry, but I do not see the nomination of Newt as a win for conservatism. At this point I am more focused on Congressional and local races. I refuse to line up behind Newt just because I find Romney unappealing.

While Santorum does not impress me as a limited government conservative, he is more acceptable than Newt.

"Running for vice president?"


I doubt it, Romney seems to have is heart set on Rubio as the VP choice. The most likely explanation is that, as a solid family values conservative, he loathes the possibility of conservatism being defined by someone like Newt Gingrich.

"I have never felt that I was about to be forcibly 86ed from FR before, as I did last week or 2.

But I gave because as strongly as JimRob felt, he must have respected me enough to let me support, loudly, a different candidate. But I admit to being scared!"


I am trying to understand how someone could actually fear being banned from an Internet blog. Please do not take this as a personal attack, but such a fate would not be the end of the world. How on earth could such a possibility actually make you scared? There are Internet blog sites that do not ban people for stating an opinion that conflicts with the party line. If you really are at a point of fearing to speak your mind, it might not be a bad idea to do a little shopping.

"When you ban opinions and opposing posts why on earth would many members and lurkers donate? When the least offense (and who knows what will offend any given member of the goon squad on any given day might be) results in being browbeaten and harassed if not finally “Zotted” by a bunch of so called “adults” who run around high fiving each other when they “find” some poster that isn’t towing the line…according to them, people leave. "


BINGO!!! We have a winner!

"Gingrich is what we have to work with and we had by-God better get behind him or watch the whole circus fold. Deal."


What is it with this "we" B.S.? I am have no more interest in getting behind Gingrich than I do Romney. At this point I am more concerned with the House and Senate races, as well as the state and local ones.

"Are we really an echo chamber? There is some real meat here regarding Newt’s character."


An echo chamber? Apparently so. As for the meat of the article, that appears to be of little concern. The biggest concern is that it echos the party line.

"True, it's your site. Years ago, the draw for me was the open healthy debate on issues and those we elect."


Those were the good old days, the old free for all has been replaced by an echo chamber. Its pretty sad, this used to be an interesting site with some political influence.

"I have my doubts about if Newt is the best candidate but if he wins I will vote for him in the general."


I will vote for just about anybody in the General Election vs. Obama, but am about as wary of Newt in the Primary as I am Romney. It has come to the point where I do not have a horse in the GOP Primary and am focused on the U.S. House and Senate races as well as state and local races.