I think it says more about the decline in FR than the “rise” of Alex Jones.
Free Republic is almost 25 years old. We're on "Generation 2" of people on this site. Sure, lots of older people are still here. But lots of others joined in the last few years and so can't be expected to know about the legendary history of the site, and famous contributors from earlier eras.
There are two sides of politics pretty much. Who do you think is more extreme, Alex Jones or teachers that put children on transgender hormone therapy without informing parents?
So fkn leave then.