Posted on 04/05/2007 8:46:45 PM PDT by Pistolshot
I came here in 1998 looking for conservative, logical, thoughtful conversation and debate on the things that matter to us the most. I was a Reagan Republican. One of those who had watched in horror as our embassy staff in Tehran was taken by fanatics. The answer should have been overwhelming force, but it was Carter, that limp-wristed, cant-we-just talk-this-out, weakling who had made the military a shambles, and stripped it of its soul because of VietNam. I knew from the beginning that there was no room in this world for weakness and that was the beginning of my road to conservatism.
Now here we are, in the beginnings of a campaign to deny the Democrats not only the White House, but the two houses of Congress. It is extremely early in this race, the leading candidates that have announced are far from acceptable to a large majority of us. Yet, day after day on this site we have the Rudy machine, the McCain people, Mitts people, and every other supported candidate backer posting missives about their guy. Some are repeated vitriol that has no debatable content, and only begs to be ignored. Some of it is the adage of Dont like it, too bad. He will be our candidate. In the past Ive seen posters here who were thoughtful, logical, literally passionate about impeaching Clinton, but with a HUGE degree of civility.
What is taking place here, and I am guilty of it too, so dont think I am pointing fingers here, is the destruction of what is good about this site. WE ARE CONSERVATIVES, first and foremost. We have our passions that lead us to the candidates we have running. Debate is the give and take of ideas to reach a consensus about a direction. A direction we should all look at for the country, not because of the he can beat Hillary dogma, but because the candidate we choose is THE one to carry what our hopes and dreams are for this great nation. I have seen posters here demean others, insult integrities, bash people they DONT EVEN KNOW ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, and generally look like some of the slime that lurks on DU.
We are supposed to be better than that. Its time we stop acting like we cannot debate without insult, stop treating each other as if our opinions dont matter or our vote. Its time that Jim starts looking around and suspending or closing some accounts for this type of behavior until it gets under control.
We are not DU here. The candidate we vote to carry the platform will be the one who reaches out to the most diverse among us. If that doesnt happen for your candidate, Im sorry. But to stoop to some of the tactics Ive seen here based on a persons opinion or religion is despicable and speaks poorly for all of us.
Don't you just love the smell of ZOT in the morning.
Do you not know any Republicans who don’t post on FR?
I sure do; and they’re not the least bit like we are.
The irony is that the usual step two in that formulation is that we must elect Giuliani (the only one who can beat Hillary donchaknow), an act which involves abandonment of principles.
Say, whatever happened to that troll Ash?
I agree with you about the nature of what passes for debate- not just here but everywhere. I do not believe that it is accidental.
Twenty years of a Bush/Clinton/Bush White House is no happy accident. A possible eight years more is likely. It can only happen one way.
It is inconcievable that the american public would choose to have a screeching beeeyotch like Hillary lreading them. And yet, through a pervasive and perverse orchastration of the media- TV and print “news”, Hollywood movies, sitcoms, talk radio, etc, we may end up with exactly that.
The goal is one world government. It will not be chosen directly. It can only be snuck into place whilst we take our eyes off reality and engage in this stupid partisan bickering.
You are right in that it is critical for us to maintain civility- not only amongst ourselves here, but also with our fellow americans and world citizens of differing opinions. Freerepublic has a hugely important role in guiding this country in a direction that makes sense.
Be nice people. There is a lot on the line.
Let’s try to getitright.
I sure do; and theyre not the least bit like we are.
There's no one like you anywhere, Howlin.
United we stand, divided we fall. There is no better way to eliminate the resistance than to confuse people with fiction mingled with fact.
The MSM Presidential draft is in progress. The MSM is selecting our next Presidential candidates by running a popularity contest. The presidential prize of late is how many millions of dollars was raised as if that is the meter of what makes a good leader.
Then theres the retreat equals defeat crowd. Defending basic freedom and helping oppressed people who have a desire to be free to many, is no longer a noble mission.
There are literally millions of graves filled because of the defense of freedom in the 230 plus years of the USA.
Yet people come unglued when volunteer soldiers make the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of freedom. The fact is that there are more people murdered in the streets of America on a daily basis then there are soldiers killed defending freedom. The outrage seems to be very misguided.
And President Bush has been under a relentless attack ever since before the 2000 election. How he has been able to sustain his focus is nothing but sensational. The daily attacks by the same dirty dozen democrats is nothing but a smokescreen to cover up their impotence as leaders who can accomplish a job. There has been very little meaningful legislation come from congress over the past 8 years. So who is not getting the job done? The boss, or the workers?
I see the same exact things in people as you do. We are becoming a fragmented society and that is exactly what the leftists want and need to gain power and hold on to power.
The people are very powerful. But only when united. I am not sure people have the will to want to work to protect our country. But it is definitely not too late to regain control of the runaway government.
No. It is a promise.
I can't threaten. I have only one vote. I am only sounding the alarm.
There are millions like me. We each have one vote. They add up.
Your principles won’t be squat to her; I’m having a lot of trouble watching people who demand we all march in lockstep willing to turn this country over to the very people who are SURE to destroy what little we’ve accomplished.
Thank you Onyx. Yes, it is the truth.
Many of us are deliberately staying away from threads like that. I have been shocked at the name calling from both sides on a thread!
I mostly post my graphics but I can see what’s going on.
In 2008, I’m voting for a pro-life pro-gun conservative, in May AND November (if I can find one on the ballot).
And there are millions like me who believe the country comes first over my personal agenda.
Not really, no. Most of the people I know are Democrats. How are non-posting Republicans different?
ROFLMAO!! That is too funny. How did you remember that thread from so long ago???
HONK!
They are a lot more pragmatic and realistic.
You know, normal.
I don’t demand we march in lockstep. I only know that voting for Giuliani in the primaries is—on the issues of the 2nd amendment and abortion—the same as voting for Hillary.
If November is Giuliani v. Clinton, conservativism will have already lost two gigantic battles.
Have you EVER gone to a costume party in your life? I should probably ask if you've ever been INVITED to a party in your life.
Oops...I meant White House.
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