Posted on 09/24/2002 10:51:10 AM PDT by Texaggie79
Well, it was a fun ride and I made a LOT of great friends on Free Republic... including one who came to my wedding. But nothing lasts forever, and maybe in a way it's a *good* thing, 'cuz there's no convincing some people that no increase in power makes that power any more pure.
JimRob has drummed me out of Free Republic. Here's the reason he put on the screen that popped up on my end:
Your posting privilege has been revoked.
Reason: Democrat
Now, I'm not a Democrat. Haven't been one since 1994 when I changed to Republican, and haven't changed that (yet).
If JimRob is now banning people because he believes they are Democrats, he's obliterated any credibility that Free Republic has as a *conservative* forum. Conservatism espouses a free marketplace of ideas. A dissenting idea isn't something a conservative tries to muzzle: a conservative will articulate why it that idea is wrong, make his point as convincing as possible, and let the chips fall where they may. It's LIBERALS who shut off people they disagree with from entering into debate.
I've been accused of being a Democrat, an agitator, a disruptor... any number of things. I've done my damndest to promote this site in what meager ways I've been left with these past few years. Hell, I stood for four hours - for the most part alone except for an hour with another fellow Freeper - on a summer day when the mercury hit 102, to protest an UN-Constitutional practice by a nearby city. On my sign was "FreeRepublic.com". My own money, my own principles, and no one ever asked me to do it. I'll wager that that as small a thing that was, it's a helluva lot more than what most people have done in their time on Free Republic.
Today, I presented an idea - one that wasn't Republican or Democrat, or any other party's notion - that is apparently unwelcome on this forum. My belief is this: that we cannot trust a political party - ANY political party - with any great amount of power, because political parties are about nothing but power. Given enough power, the Republicans would become as corrupt and evil as the Democrats. Maybe it was my comparing the Bush-bots to the Clintonistas. Maybe it was my stating that Free Republic is fast becoming as wildly extremist as Democratic Underground. Or maybe it was my admission that, yes, I *will* vote for Erskine Bowles for U.S. Senator from North Carolina. Between the two major contenders, Bowles is the only one who is a real resident of this state... and my sentiments for North Carolina far outweigh the "needs" of any political party.
For whatever reason it was, JimRob banned me... but if it was for the crime of *once* being a Democrat, that demonstrates how shallow Free Republic is becoming. I've no love or loyalty for the Democratic party and the Republicans have given me no reason why my trust should be placed with them.
I suppose there's no room at Free Republic anymore for those of us who see America's freedom as a gift from God's grace rather than man's pride.
Sincerely, Christopher Knight "Darth Sidious"
Not a conservative? I doubt we'd see his detractors making any public efforts like that.
FR is in danger of becoming what its detractors falsely accuse it of being.
I sympathize since I'm stuck with Arlen Specter. On the other hand, if Specter were running this term, I would vote for him in a heartbeat. It's a national election. A vote for Mrs. Dole or Specter or Chaffee is a vote against Daschle and maybe even a vote for Nichols as Majority Leader.
And before you complain about the GOP being just as much anti-Constitution as the Dems, don't you think it would be uselful to give them the House, Senate and the Presidency at the same time just to prove it. The alternative is to leave the Dems some control. That's not an alternative.
Capitalism and altruism are incompatible; they are philosophical opposites; they cannot co-exist in the same man or in the same society.
The mistake a lot of people make is to think that America is about "capitalism." It's not. It's about freedom. And freedom means that if you want to look out for your neighbor you are certainly allowed. An altrustic society is much happier than a society based on looking out for number one.
Bubba-2 is offensive,and it's absurd to not notice. Then again,maybe you are one of those "conservatives" who wants open borders,more feral gooberment bureaucracies,more spending,more feral employees,etc,etc,etc?
if you actually believe that, you are most definitely a fool,
Right. Ain't Jorge "The Messiah" Bush just DREAMY in his new sombrero? and a probable troll.
I've been here a couple of years longer than you.
None. Note even any of the ones with (R) behind their name.
so probably is bowles.
I have absolutely no doubt about that.
First, there's no such thing. The Democratic Party is hopelessly corrupt. A Dem who claims to be "conservative/libertarian" is lying.
over a RINO any day of the week.
Second, even if there were such thing as a "conservative/libertarian" Dem we are talking about control of the Senate or House. A vote for any Dem is a vote for either Gephardt or Daschle. This cannot be disputed. And voting for these guys is voting against America.
It might make sense to vote for a Dem for a state or local race, but not for control of the federal government.
Of course not! Giddy Dolt will have you know Giddy Dolt is a STRONG supporter of the 2nd Amendment! That was her evil twin mouthing off about trigger locks,people shouldn't be ALLOWED to carry concealed weapons,liking the "ugly rifle" ban,and other such nonsense.
A better questions is "Which ARE conservatives?".
You should have asked: "where is the support for the republican party in those statements?"
Not everyone is willing to assign the conservative tag to anyone who runs as a republican. A true conservative is one who would stand firm against any and all violations of constitutional authority. Reps and Dems have both demonstrated a lacking in this regard over time.
Lockboxes and fuzzy math are all that we have to show for 200+ years of struggling against tyranny and its companions. Fifty years from now the Bush/Gore debates may dominate the comedy circuits (provided a 1st ammmendment still exists).
Banning those who criticize the two power parties will only reinforce the perception that politcal correctness has taken hold. Constitutional Correctness is all that truly matters. PC be damned.
With each passing day and with much passing legislation I am reminded of the geniousness of our founders. What saddens me most is our failure to share in their vision.
Bad judgement--you should apologize --sneakypete has been here a long time and has often expressed very good insights about our politicians.
..a rather large stain.....
..one that will be difficult to erase.
redrock
Click again. Anyone can look at that list and see that it is factually accurate. There's nothing to correct. It does not logically follow that just because someone is on the Republican ticket, they must be a good candidate, a good conservative, or a good human being. Does the name Jeffords mean anything to you? How about Snowe, Chaffee, and McCain? (Chaffee's already considered switching if it will throw the balance again. THAT'S what you'll accept from a candidate, as long as he has an "R" after his name?? Having a Senate majority is worth trashing our principles?)
A better Christian soul than most of us was banned for daring to utter common sense and Founding principles (concentration of power in any one party is a bad thing... limited federal power... "power corrupts"... don't trust a carpetbagger... vote for the person, not the party...). The fact that there is no shame in this is saddening.
The idea that a person's voting preference in one single race is worth ostracising him is anathema to everything conservatives are supposed to stand for. Has FR become so weak that support for a non-GOP candidate that is expressed in mature fashion, with supportive and logical reasoning, cannot be allowed to be uttered? The kid simply said that he wanted a Tarheel to be his representative, not an outsider, and he got BANNED from the best website on the 'net. That isn't right, and it shouldn't be representative of the Right. It stinks.
Zell talks the talk for his conservative Georgia constituents. He walks the walk for Dascle & McAwful.
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