Posted on 03/27/2018 1:00:28 PM PDT by The Citizen Soldier
My journey with Free Republic began in late 1998. It was near the end of the Clinton Presidency, and there seemed to be a new wave of hope and a sense of renewed patriotism as we gathered to defeat Al Gore and elect George W. Bush. But, on the whole, we lacked a platform, a vehicle, whereby we could gather together and speak with a common voice.
Jim Robinson provided that platform, utterly unique at the time, a place for conservative voices to sing out, to proclaim their views, to unite, and to encourage one another that we were not battling alone.
I would meet FRiends when I traveled to Washington D.C. in January 2001 to attend the inauguration of George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States. I’ll never forget the joy and the celebration of that day; a new day, a new hope, a new opportunity.
Along the way I lost my Free Republic password, and there was no way to recover it. And so I started anew as The Citizen Soldier on November 26, 2002. Over the past twenty years, Free Republic has been my go to site to confirm conservative stories, to read thoughtful and insightful conservative comment, and generally “lurk.” Actually, evidenced by my relatively few posts over the years, I would categorize myself as a life-time lurker at Free Republic.
In 2016, in the run-up to the election of Donald J. Trump as the 45th President of the United States, I began to detect the seeds of dissension and disharmony at Free Republic, ala the “Never Trump” crowd that emerged. Less and less, I frequented the site because it seemed that every thread was a mini-battle, not with liberals and socialists—I would have welcomed that—but with ourselves; conservatives and libertarians taking off the gloves, continually entering the battle royal.
Oh, I participated now and then, but I tired of fighting our own side, and found new online homes where I could find more consistent support for our new President. Through it all, Free Republic has remained bookmarked and like a magnet it has continually drawn me back. I lurk again and again. But lately it has all become too much. Every move our President makes is scrutinized and criticized, often with the reminder, “I’ve always been a never-Trumper,” either voiced or implied. The thought of a Hillary Clinton Presidency, and the CERTAIN destruction of our great nation that would have brought, makes me cringe to this day, now into the second year of the Donald Trump's Presidency. But I feel like a voice in the wilderness, as the criticism of Donald Trump and his administration escalates week by week.
I’m not leaving. I’m 70 years old now, and I’ve moved from California to Arizona to enjoy the “sunshine years” of my life. Recently my 46 year-old son visited and before he left he said, “Dad, please don’t ever stop fighting.” And I won’t. But, my dear FRiends, Free Republic must recapture the spirit of independence and conservatism.
As a Christian, I end my comments with a paraphrase from Bob George’s, “Classic Christianity.”
“The answer is not simply calling someone wrong or proving yourself right. The real issue is what answer can we give to those who desperately need to hear the message of conservatism?”
That is exactly why people have left. The idea that no one can criticize Trump, like when no one could criticize Bush (causing several purges) is what drives people away. Saying that someone disagrees with you is hateful, and their words are vitriolic just because they have a different opinion is "What's happened".
In 1776 the “Wealth of Nations” was published and demonstrated the theoretic superiority of Free Trade over governmental practices intended to produce a specie surplus. The latter required extensive and oppressive government involvement and control.
Smith believed that greater wealth was produced by getting rid of the mercantile policies of the government and adopting free trade.
So there was no “free trade vs an alternative” to choose from. Hamilton and other Founders knew that tariffs were taxes and relied on them because they had no choice.
However, their desire to limit government contradicted expanding it to control foreign trade. Given the state of the ability to tax which confronted the FF, the distortion of our economy by Royal Colonial laws, and the need to service the National Debt and pay the expenses of government only a tariff could accommodate all that.
We have gone past this point, never to return.
This song made the Billboard Hot 100, soaring all the way to #95 in the early spring of 1962.
The John Birch Society--The Chad Mitchell Trio
Two years later, they were back, with Barry's Boys
As an opposing viewpoint, I wish I could post "John Birch, American" by the New Breed (1963), which I have on a 45 rpm disc, but it hasn't made it online yet.
Yes, because part of war is fought with propaganda, and propaganda which aids and abets the Enemy can't be sanctioned once a community has adopted a certain editorial position (e.g. supporting Trump). "Tokyo Rose" type behavior was very much frowned upon at that point, as the Cruzbots with their fantasies of a contested convention, etc. simply refused to face reality.
Basically at the point someone decides to become merely an antagonist to a community—instead of a contributing member—the hammer starts to fall. It's atypically reserved for only the most egregious offenders.
Over the years, I believe JimRob has been very fair-minded overall. Nobody is perfect, but you either have a moderated forum—which means that some kind of well-understood code of conduct is enforced—or else you get chaos that results from choosing not to...
Love Donald Trump, FR, and the Birch Society. It’s the GOP/’Rat Uniparty I cannot, and will not, tolerate.
*typically, not atypically, of course...
The internet, overall has changed a lot.
In 20 years many have died, and many more have been born. A new generation of people who grew up treating the keyboard a little differently. There was a time in human communication when people who learned to use pens just crossed out mistakes where those who still used pencils did not. This lead to a lot of arguments.
This is a generational thing now. I remember the first time I used “CUSeeMe” I was all polite and used my best HAM Radio voice and manners. Now I see that people just whip out their d!cks and jerk off on it.
There are lots of changes.
No one was hateful or vitriolic with me. Whether or not anyone agreed with me or disagreed with me is not the issue. I was simply pointing out that there were plenty of Freepers who were hateful and vitriolic against President Trump. Not me.
I have no doubt though that many of the same Freepers who were kicking Trump to the curb last week were the same Freepers who were kicking never Trumper‘s to the curb back in 16. Ironic, Huh?
I’ve never seen any Bircher posting either.
“A huge amount of the people active on this forum used to be strongly in favor of open borders.”
No fricking way.
Even libertarians—at least those who value the Constitution—understand the concept of natoinal sovereignty, and that you don't have a nation if you can't control your borders...
As a recipient of many and endless mean-spirited attacks from Cruz supporters for simply stating positive things about Trump there is no ‘mis-remembering’ on my part.
Cruz brought out the very worst in people, both on FR and elsewhere.
That prompted me to use a tagline for about six months that went something like “Is Ted Cruz himself as mean spirited as his supporters?”
Cruz brought out the very worst in people, both on FR and elsewhere.
That prompted me to use a tagline for about six months that went something like “Is Ted Cruz himself as mean spirited as his supporters?”
I could ask the same about Trump supporters. Not all Cruz supporters are nasty and not all Trump supporters are sweetness and light. If anyone felt wronged by me I apologize. Can you do the same?
You know, that’s the same crap the Cruzers pulled back then, trying to justify their mean-spiritedness.
Thank you for proving my point. Have a nice evening
Free republic has always been contentious and has had some very vicious posters over the years. It’s pretty much why I have never sent any of my friends here.
You didn’t prove anything.
I’ve held very few grudges in my life, and at my age that’s saying something, but the Cruzers worked overtime to earn this one, and it would be unfair to them to let this one go easily.
Correct. We have too many trolls here these days. In the “good old days” they would have been zotted or banned. I can’t remember the last time I saw a zot - does anyone know the last time the Viking Kitties struck?
Conservatives believe in the 'original' intent of our Constitution... God, Family, Country... some of US instantly recognize play acting conservatives... otherwise known as wolves in sheep's clothing, especially those with Harvard Law degrees.
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