But be that as it may, I cannot argue with Jim Robinson because he makes the rules and I signed on agreeing to follow them. I respect Jim Robinson and always have a great time here. So far I have NOT been told NOT TO POST any Rudy threads. But Mr. Robinson, If you prefer that we do not post any Rudy posts since they seem to be against the rules we respectfully will not but please tell us in no uncertain terms that Rudy posts will not be tolerated and I have it in good standing by quite a few Rudy freepers that all the Rudy people will leave and go somewhere else to post about Rudy if you say we cannot post here. Just say the word and it will be done. I am not here to cause you any grief. We respect your rules. I am deeply saddened by this (I am being serious - no pun intended). But I'm glad this is finally out in the open. Please let us know. Maybe you can post something to everyone so whomever is on the Rudy ping list can know this and will not make any mistakes. I'll make sure they get to read your post.
Hydroshock, Tommydale, ReaganMan, dirtboy, Spiff, Liz and others I may have missed who have made it very difficult to even say the word Rudy here on this forum You have gotten what you wanted. I hope it was worth it. And I wish you luck with your choice for president.
ping
You can't say "Clinton" on this forum without getting jeered either. Funny that...
"Most of Clinton's policies are very similar to most of mine." - Rudy Giuliani
It will be worth it when Duncan Hunter wins the nomination. Which I sincerely pray he does.
I don't think you should give in to these children, they couldn't wait to reply and mock you, it is shameful.
You should send what you wrote to everyone.
People should go back and read JimRob's vanity before the Nov. elections. This site is founded on conservatism but winning in Iraq, winning the WOT is the most important issue of the hour. Every social conservative's favorite topic is secondary to this war brought to us by Islamofascists. Because if we don't win, nothing else matters.
As far as I'm concerned, the real debate is over who would be the strongest CIC.
I'm interested in the answer to post #788 as well.
Funny thing about FR.
If you post an opinion, you should be prepared to defend it.
If you make insulting posts (such as saying Rudy's critics should back Edwards), you will get that thrown back in your face.
If you can't handle the heat, don't start a fire. On this thread, you had an ally say Rudy's critics were KKK. That is a truly pathetic post, but unfortunately happens much too often from your side. Is my side perfect? No. However, we at least are making topical critiques of Rudy. You seem to wish only to prevent such from happening.
Rudy is not a conservative. He is at the far left of the GOP. Some of us believe that he would rift the GOP in 2008, and that is why we are opposed to him. Nothing more, nothing less. If you think that you should be able to push Rudy as a nominee without critical feedback of your positions, I would suggest you start your own blog or forum where you control the commentary.
Don't go away, it's been fun! FR is all about spirited debate, and we've had plenty in the last 4 weeks or so!
Very well stated.
If we are not free to post in support of Rudy, then we will honor the owner's request and leave if that is what he wants. Count me in because I am not going to work and support a candidate I don't believe can win the general election. President wasn't conservative enough for them in 2000 either.
The Rudy haters have been allowed to trash us up one side and down the other even calling us abortionists because we support Rudy as Conservatives. Now they are on top of the world because of the owner's comments.
Let us know when you get a response.
Thanks again!
Thanks to FReeper "cgk" for alerting me to Jim Robinson's remarks on this thread supporting the conservative agenda of Free Republic. Thanks Jim!
Rudy Giuliani has more in common with the old Rockefeller-wing of the GOP, then he has in common with the conservatism of Ronald Reagan. Rudy will not win the GOP nomination. Social conservatives will reject Rudy come primary time.
Why do you get that idea? I don't know of anyone who does not want Rudy threads posted.
My mantra over the past few months has been that candidates do not win on ideology alone, but a combination of political principle and personal character and appeal. Goldwater and Reagan were fairly identical in terms of their ideologies, but one lost in one of the most lopsided landslides in American history, and the other won in a landslide. The difference wasn't the message, but the messenger.
It's been oer 17 years since Reagan was president, and over that time there has not been a heir to Reagan's position as the leader of American conservatism. It isn't the principles of conservativism that are bankrupt, but there is a bankruptcy of leadership. Without an obvious national leader to embody the principles of conservatism, conservatism has seemingly come unraveled into its constituent elements -- the gun-owners, the social conservatives, the religious conservatives, the libertarian-conservatives, the paleos, the neos, all splintering and moving to their respective corners, treating each other with suspicion and near-contempt over differences that should be considered minor. In the 1940s and '50s, before the rise of the contemporary conservative movement, conservativism could be characterized as being comprised of intellectuals, the paranoid, and the escentric. Consequently, conservatism never amounted to a majority in the electorate because it was an odd comglomeration of fringe elements. Without the "glue" of Reagan, or a Reagan heir, it's apparent that conservatism in the early 21st Century is dissolving back to its base elements -- intellectuals, the paranoid, and the escentric. We see representatives of these tendencies right here on FR, and especially right here on the Rudy threads.
The bankruptcy or the dirth of leadership within conservatism in America is seen in the fact that probably the most conservative of candidates for '08 -- FR's favorite, Duncan Hunter -- has a level of support among Republicans that's measured as an asterick (*), meaning his support isn't even statistically significant enough to measure. All that may change, of course, through this year as candidates jockey for position with the approach of primary season. But the point is that it is absurd to talk about this "conservative" or that "RINO" when there is no bonafide conservative in the top tier of the GOP race, and the only true conservative ranks with an asterick. That, my FRiends, represents a serious leadership vacuum within conservatism.
I've also mentioned in recent threads that if Rudy or McCain stretch out into a clear lead, and either are the nominee-apparent, FR will likely become an intolerable place to be in the fall of 2008. It's only the end of Jan. '07, and FR is already becoming an intolerable place to be if one is seriously considering supporting McC, Giuliani, or Romney, which is sad, because the path that the FR community seems to be on is a road to the political margins, and irrelevancy. I've posted an article excerpt on these Giuliani threads that appeared in "The American Spectator" last fall, listing aspects of Giuliani's positions on issues like taxation, streamlining of government, welfare reform, law enforcement, judicial appointments, and of course the war on terror, that should attract conservatives' support. Giuliani isn't anyone's idea of a model conservative, but he may turn out sufficiently conservative (especially in a race against Hillary) that he deserves our support. Of course, the naysayers will have none of this. My desire for FreeRepublic is that it will be a place where pragmatism overrules emotional and reckless idealism. Right now, I'm not sure which way FR will go. And I'm pretty much to the point where I'm considering avoiding these threads because participation in discussions about the 2008 nomination race on FR is increasingly becoming pointless at best, and counterproductive at worst.
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I know what I am – I am a conservative, who grew up in a 100% conservative family that knows what tyrants can really do to your life and the lives of your loved ones. I wish we would have a strong, credible conservative candidate throw his hat in the ring... it would make my life and the lives of everyone so much easier, and we would be united in fighting the liberals instead of fighting each other. However, as good as the candidates are, none of the them are as attractive to the electorate as much as Rudy, imperfections and all.
Anyway, this is Jim's site so, he should let us know if we are allowed to post Rudy threads and comment on them, because I can see the bullies intent on insulting Rudy supporters every time we express our opinion. No one should be bullied by a barrage of name calling and insults.
I don't like to be called “abortionist, gun-grabbing” – nothing could be further from the truth, and if they now think they have a license to break FR rules, then we need to know that as well.
Back later. :-)