Although FR was NEVER as wacko as DU is now, there is some truth to that. I remember battling attorney Jack Thompson (now famed as the video game industry's least favorite lawyer) as he spread his never-proved allegation that Janet Reno was a drunk driver, a purveyor of prostitutes, and caught on tape with the latter. He turned on FR after JimRob booted him for posting multiple threads smearing Dan Burton (again, without a shred of evidence).
I remember A+Bert, who seemed to seek out threads in which Buchanan was slighted, and attacked with a full quiver of insults. Drudge de-linked FR after the Danny Williams allegations were too prominent. Several Freepers (including the great Connie Hair) fled after Alan Keyes came under vicious attack.
I am pleasantly surprised, however, at how little the expanding membership and exposure of FR has diluted its overall quality. Nobody does it better than Freepers! Ask Dan Rather!
Nice post!