Is Free Republic a Failure?

vanity ^ | July 6, 2002 | B. A. Conservative

[B. A. Conservative]

"Founded in 1996 by Jim Robinson, Free Republic is a loosely organized group of grassroots Americans who support our Constitution and look for honesty, integrity and honor from those in government."

What is our mission? "Free Republic is dedicated to reversing the trend of unconstitutional government expansion and is advocating a complete restoration of our constitutional republic." Jim Robinson has listed a great deal more worthwhile information and detail concerning the mission and a description of Free Republic. The current mission statement has been edited from an earlier version to account for past events. The original mission statement included language advocating the impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton, then President of the United States. Free Republic accomplished that portion of its mission statement by playing a central role in the events culminating in the successful vote in the House of Representatives to Impeach William Jefferson Clinton. For its role in the impeachment, Free Republic is an unequivocal and unqualified success.

However in evaluating and measuring Free Republic's performance with regard to the larger and by far the more significant role, "reversing the trend of unconstitutional government expansion and a complete restoration of our constitutional republic", I think the leadership and members of Free Republic need to refocus their thinking. By using any yardstick of your own choosing, there are few if any parameters in which conservatives can claim any improvement. And in any small victories that might have occurred, I would ask that you point out the role played by Free Republic in bringing it about. In short, I think that Free Republic has lost its focus on its most important reason for being.

Before offering my suggestions for getting back on track, I would like offer some thoughts on how and why we have become distracted from the primary focus as so eloquently stated by Jim Robinson:

• The lawsuit initiated by the Compost and the Lost Angles was a major distraction to the forum and a significant consumer of time and talents for the Free Republic leadership and of its legal and financial resources. Thanks to the Divine Providence that guided the thinking of the Founders, this lawsuit is now behind us and no longer a drain on our resources or a distraction to the business at hand.
• "Most of the visitors to the Free Republic website are attracted...for two basic reasons: First, this is a fast moving forum where you can often find breaking news and up to the minute updates. But, most importantly, visitors are encouraged to comment on the news of the day here, and especially to contribute whatever information they may have to help others better understand a particular story."
  Relevant discussion and analysis of current events contributes to the primary mission, but much of what takes place now is nothing more than idle chat or instant messaging. I would offer the suggestion that the "Private Reply" button should be used much more frequently than the "Post Reply". I would also proffer that moderators do more to eliminate or discourage chat, again utilizing the "Private Reply" mode. The new method of indexing and linking forum topics is very helpful. Thank you to the Robinsons.
• News for the sake of posting or as a source of news may be great fun, and may bring some viewers, but does not always add and may detract from the primary focus. More thought on the part of the poster with regard to categorization separating current events, political news, humor, etc would be helpful to us all.

The two courses of action most likely to offer a speedy and effective return to our Constitutional Republic are political and judicial. The left has used judicial appointments very effectively against the Constitution. Reagan advanced the task of recovering the federal judiciary, but we still have a long way to go in this area. Nevertheless, strategic use of the courts could be a very effective weapon in our arsenal. I think this should be the topic of some very serious discussions on how we can use the courts to attack existing unconstitutional government actions, laws and regulations. It takes someone to bring an action, and some legal thought to make such efforts productive. Forum shopping and plaintiff seeking are actively used by our opposition. I think this is an area where we can do much more than we have been doing.

And that brings us to the area of the greatest interest to us all. And it is in this arena that we are more likely to bring the quick results that we all desire. Well thought out, carefully crafted political activism can be effective. And each election offers opportunities to build on prior successes and to learn from prior mistakes. I will proffer that we have done little more than chat or indulge in wishful thinking. Our attempts at organized planning, coordination or unification of efforts, orderly assignment of tasks and delegation of responsibilities have been largely non-existent. All volunteer labor is hard to harness and effectively deploy. But it is not impossible.

Our computers and the internet provide the means to share and coordinate our efforts. It could also provide the means of choosing our leaders, delegation of tasks and responsibilities, and our most powerful weapon in recruiting new talents. Every human on the planet that has an internet connection has access to our materials and our efforts. It is a means to make our voices heard and to recruit more voices.

Everyone that frequents this site has visions of making their voice heard and making their vote count. Individually our voices are lost in the crowd noise. And even with our dismal lack of voter turnout, there were still more than 100 million votes cast in the last presidential election. It is difficult to know that your vote counted when it constitutes such a small part of the total vote. Political parties make a difference in the outcomes of elections by pooling the votes of like-minded individuals. Political candidates exercise power because each supporter transfers a portion of their individual power to the candidate. Coalitions gain power by pooling the individual powers of their members.

Free Republic can exercise the power of a coalition through uniting behind either common candidates or common issues or both. By acting as a unit, we can multiply our political effectiveness considerably. By recruiting and enlarging or attracting new members or supporters, we can multiply our effectiveness even more. We have proved that we can be effective. Ask the House managers and other members of the House how Clinton came to be impeached in spite of all the efforts of the media to prevent it.

We are approaching another election in a few months. Traffic on this site will increase progressively as we get closer to election day. Our political clout and power will increase exponentially as our viewing numbers increase. No matter what anyone wishes, the polls will be relatively close and the outcome of the election uncertain until the polls are closed. We will only have a good idea of the outcome when the exit polls and returns begin to come in. Before Election Day, the closer the polling data and the more uncertain the outcome of the election, the more our votes and our voices will matter. The more unified we are leading up to the election, the more our voices will be heard, and the more our votes will be courted.

We will have zero influence on Democratic voters or candidates. Any efforts directed at Democratic candidates will be a complete waste of our time and resources. Almost all directed at Democratic votes will have the same sad results. But our efforts directed at Republican voters and candidates can have a tremendous impact on the election and more importantly on the campaign leading up to the election. And surprisingly, our efforts in this election could have an even greater impact on the election of 2004.

FreeRepublic has the power within its grasp to achieve its mission and change the course of history. Organization, delegation, and unity of purpose are the keys to success. On another thread, I have offered what I believe to be one solution to the problem. There may be others. That is what the mission of this forum is about. Let's Roll!

[VA Advogado]

Part of the problem is that Free Republic has been infiltrated by leftists (Libertarians) who support blasphemy, drug use, homosexuality, abortion, fornication, adultery, prostitution, immorality, and a host of other things that All true conservative despise and hate.

You couldn't be more right! Libertarians are liberals with a greater hate of America.

[AAABEST]

OK. All or nothing. ™

Why do you people insist on making assuptions about those you know nothing about? That's a thoughtless argument that's overplayed and ineffective, put your thinking cap on and come up with a better debate tactic.

Most of us will and have put up with quite a bit. But lately it's been a full speed end run by both parties to grow government to absurd levels and completely ignore the constitution. We all just finished last month working for our repective local, state and federal government (that's right, an entire half a year of labor devoted to politicians and sluggards) and nobody is doing a damn thing about it, except making things worse.

The GOP doesn't even make a half-assed attempt at holding the line anymore, they're now in a "compassion" race with the Dems.

According to folks like you, the only reason I'm supposed to keep on pulling the lever for them is to keep the dems out. Well, I'm not voting out of fear anymore, fear is never a good reason to do anything. I'm voting for people who actually earn my support.

[KirkandBurke]

FreeRepublic is not a failure by any stretch, but it needs to extract its cranium from the RNC's anus. The current Republican Party is a mere shadow of what it once was. It has now been infested with Trotskyite, Frankfurt School Neocons, whose Big Government objectives do not jibe with true conservative values. They're little more than avaricious, internationalist Democrats who claim they go to church and have traditional values. Woodrow Wilson would be proud. Let FR return to its original purpose

...an online gathering place for independent, grass-roots conservatism on the web. We're working to roll back decades of governmental largesse, to root out political fraud and corruption, and to champion causes which further conservatism in America.

[MinorityRepublican]

While we are not--we hope--faced with having to manage a revolution in the streets, the point is the same. With 20,000 well informed Conservative activists, we could create a psychological climate that would make the continued drift to the Left impossible. With 40,000, we could finish the job we thought we were going to accomplish in 1980.

I am impressed by the growth of this forum. There were only few hundred people in 1998. Look at where we are now. We have come a long way, and just think about what we would be able to do in 5 years. Let's say that we have 75,000 active FReepers, America just might be saved.

[VA Advogado]

Ask FF578. He seems to have all the answers to the hard questions.

FF578 is a wise poster. You would do well to appreciate his viewpoint rather than react in a knee jerk way.

[headsonpikes]

"Never speak ill of a fellow Republican.

--Reagan's Law

'Never speak well of a Constitutional Literalist'

--FF578's Law

[headsonpikes]

Yet another reminder that jackals are a pack animal.

[SamBees]

FreeRepublic has the power within its grasp to achieve its mission and change the course of history. Organization, delegation, and unity of purpose are the keys
to success. On another thread, I have offered what I believe to be one solution to the problem. There may be others. That is what the mission of this forum is
about. Let's Roll!

[Tuor]

You're the infilterer, I remember when the vast majority of this forum nearly worshipped the constitution.

It doesn't seem that long ago, does it? Say...about 9 months?

Tuor

[VA Advogado]

Yet another reminder that jackals are a pack animal.

lol funny how you libertines scatter like roaches when someone turns on the light. Keep up the good work FF!

[Johnny Shear]

Reagan's vision of America is still with us. The 1994 Congressional elections prove it.

OK...Here's what you and your kind need to do...

Keep whining and complaining then throw in another Ross Perot and get Hildabeast elected in 2004...

THEN, you'll have set the stage for another 1994 for the Republicans...And ONLY then will you have done so!

And I hope you'll finially be happy with Hildabeast as your President for another 6 years...

[JZoback]

Free Republic must focus on its primary mission in order to get the Republican Party back on track.

Sorry to inform you, but the words Constitution and Republican Party are not even closely related.

I'll take a Repug over a Demoncat any day, but they for the most part are different sides of the same wooden nickel.

Only the Republican Party can restore America to her former greatness

Are you not paying attention at all?

If you really think this, you are (no offense) either very young with lot to learn about how politics work or very old and senile

...Or you are something in between I'll rather not accuse you of

[Little Bill]

I don't think so.

One of the problems is that we got what we wanted when GW was elected. One of the things that we on the right do not realize is the continual offensive. Our commie opponants know that to effect public opinion you pick a theme and hammer on it. This is a repeat of the 60s, they hammer we slide, stay home you loose.

[stands2reason]

Bump to your idea.

[Nick Danger]

Well thought out, carefully crafted political activism can be effective... I will proffer that we have done little more than chat or indulge in wishful thinking. Our attempts at organized planning, coordination or unification of efforts, orderly assignment of tasks and delegation of responsibilities have been largely non-existent.

There are a lot of people working to make that happen, and you denigrate them by claiming, I think in ignorance, that they do not exist. The Fresno chapter has been out there almost every week, causing some kind of Hell for the liberals. The DC chapter was Bill Clinton's worst nightmare, and they are still out there raising hell. Only last month they tried to put on a major rally. Did you go? The Florida chapter made Sore Loserman go home. The Houston chapter just participated in a protest on illegal immigration. The Dallas chapter sent a bunch of Greenies home in their SUV last month when they came to put Exxon/Mobil "on trial." Some more of us in DC did a similar number on Ralph Nader's "PIRGies" when they tried a similar thing. All of the Texas chapters just got together and coordinated a booth at the Texas Republican convention. They paid for it, too, out of their own pockets.

The Free Republic Network has gone out and acquired the services of the Leadership Institute, and is putting on a convention within driving distance of at least 3,000 Freepers where people can learn how to do this stuff even better, from the people who teach the best. Are you going?

I'm sorry, but I see a lot of people doing a lot of work in this area, and it irks me to see people say that no one is doing anything, or that things aren't being coordinated, or that things aren't being planned. Do you have any idea what goes into putting on the kind of rally DC tried? Or fielding a booth at a GOP convention? Or putting on a national Free Republic conference? People aren't just giving their time to these things, they are putting money where their mouth is. I don't see you on the list of chapter members. How come?

[JZoback]

Ping

This should be interesting

[asneditor]

creep!

[asneditor]

#22 ..... DITTO!

[Petronski]

Also those with foot odor.

Uh, only foot odor?

[philman_36]

FF578 is a wise poster.
That is your opinion and you are entitled to it. I don't think FF578 is very wise at all myself, judging from his.
You would do well to appreciate his viewpoint rather than react in a knee jerk way.
Quit telling me what to do NANNY!
Jerk my knee, please. I'm feeling very reflexive today.