It's very simple, if you have a state or a district that's overwhelmingly Democrat (60% or more) your best bet on getting a place-holder so that you can control the legislative body is to run a Democrat as a Republican.
Else, you're just wasting your money and everybody's time ~ that could best be spent elsewhere.
You notice, of course, that this argument EXCLUDES the Fuzziscuzzis of this world. She wasn't even a good Democrat.
In short, Free Republic first attracted Republicans who like to win, and Conservatives. From 99 to about 01 we had a crowd who feared the UN was bringing in an army. From 02 to 06 we had a bunch who thought we should run a RINO at the head of the ticket (the Giuliani crowd, and although we all respect Mr. Giuliani, and consider him an asset to America, he's not Conservative enough for us to support ~ except maybe as Senator or Governor of New York.
His fans got purged.
The Mitbots have a similar problem with their boy ~ but they're not purged yet.
“From 99 to about 01 we had a crowd who feared the UN was bringing in an army.”
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Instead of bringing in an army, they just brought in a Kenyan to be president...
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Don't forget the Y2K fear mongers.