Opus de Darth Sidious

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[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Your posting privilege has been revoked.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"

[nunya bidness]

Well said.

[gatex]

"A better questions is 'Which ARE conservatives?' ".

Well, I got the impression from the news that the Demos and the leftwing groups are are making strong attacks on those being held up. This is a strong implication that they are conservative -- at least more conservative than the Demos are willing to accept.

[Teacher317]

Nah, he votes for conservative bills regularly. Give credit where it is due. It's sad that a good mind is wasted on that party, and that the difference of one Senator could be made so incredibly powerful. (I hope Daschle gets his butt WHOOPED by the Founding Fathers in the afterlife.) For some reason, though, Zell is hard-wired to party loyalty, even though his party has left him long ago.

(Gee, that could NEVER happen on OUR side of the aisle, could it?)

[Cultural Jihad]

It stinks.

We are sorry to hear of the heavy, burdensome chains holding you down to this alleged cesspool of injustice.

[Tribune7]

OK, you're right. I take it back. Miller has an ACU rating of 60 compared to 56 for Specter and 44 for Chafee (albeit the ladies from Maine -- Collins and Snowe -- who are generally considered RINOs have ratings of 64 and 60 respectively)

I'd still hold my nose and vote R in any Senate race this year. Daschle is scum.

The lowest rated Senate R appears to be Jeffords -- he was an R in 2000 -- at 29.

Here's a link to the American Conservative Union.

[Sabertooth]

---

Maybe it was my stating that Free Republic is fast becoming as wildly extremist as Democratic Underground.

This was it.

11 posted on 9/24/02 10:56 AM Pacific by AppyPappy

---

So, banning the offending poster shows that Free Republic isn't becoming extremist?

How?

[redrock]

As long as Opus is the V.P. candidate...then Bill the Cat of course!!!!!!!!

redrock

[sneakypete]

Well, I got the impression from the news that the Demos and the leftwing groups are are making strong attacks on those being held up.

They would do this if one of the nominees were Leon Trotsky. It's blowing political smoke.

This is a strong implication that they are conservative -- at least more conservative than the Demos are willing to accept.

Not really. The reality is that if the Dims were to start holding hearings on ANY of the nominees,it would open them to questions about why they didn't allow the rest a hearing. As long as they stonewall,this isn't a problem. They can rant and rave about "radical right-wing nominees" all they want and get "good" press for it,all without any danger of the public ever getting to see and hear these nominees and finding out that they ain't monsters.

The Dims do NOT believe in "Power Sharing".

[Sabertooth]

We are sorry to hear of the heavy, burdensome chains holding you down to this alleged cesspool of injustice.

CJ, you ol' unifier, you.

[Publius6961]

I myself have been questioning the idea of a party based system..why not just vote for people who you believe are qualified to lead? Why the hang up on parties?

Good question.
I never gave it much weight.
Registered as a Democrat 40+ years ago and voted for democrat presidential exactly twice...

Had tons of fun in the primaries though.

[tomkat]

*plonk*

[Cultural Jihad]

Darth the Impaler will apparently be welcome back after the election, once he has had time to consider how divisive and contemptuous his screeds with their ulterior agenda were.

[tomkat]

don't hold your breath ...

[gatex]

"They would do this if one of the nominees were Leon Trotsky."

Maybe Bush should nominate Hillary to call them, then. --- Hillary probably wouldn't want to be a judge (not enough public power), but it might put her and the Dems on the spot- might be fun to watch . Reckon a Republican would be appointed to replace her in the Senate?

[Sabertooth]

Darth the Impaler will apparently be welcome back after the election, once he has had time to consider how divisive and contemptuous his screeds with their ulterior agenda were.

Yes, he must be made to understand... loyalty to the Party is paramount.

[Cultural Jihad]

Yes, he must be made to understand... loyalty to the Party is paramount.

Why not be courageous and mature enough to ping Mr. Robinson, the owner of the server you are squatting on, who alone made the decision to let Darth have a timeout and for his own good reasons? All you are doing is talking behind his back in a very dishonest fashion. Must be one of those 'principle' thangs we hear about.

[nutmeg]

FOR THE MEMORIES YOU CAN ALWAYS WHIP OUT THE Darth Sidious WEDDING ALBUM......LOL
AND THINK HOW THIS FREEPER WANTS TO VOTE FOR THE COMMIE DEMOCRATS!

I really hope Darth has a change of heart before Election Day.

Erskine Bowles? Yikes! If I could vote in NC, I'd hold my nose, vote for Liddy Dole, and repeat over and over: FOR CONTROL OF THE SENATE... FOR CONTROL OF THE SENATE...

The "Darth Sidious Wedding Album"? I don't think I'm familiar with this...

[wattsmag2]

Obviously you missed the heh heh

[nutmeg]

Registered as a Democrat 40+ years ago and voted for democrat presidential exactly twice...

Had tons of fun in the primaries though.

You too? My husband - FReeper "zelig" does the same thing. Always votes Republican in the elections, but loves to "vote out the bad guys" in the DemocRAT primaries. Problem is, here in CT the bad guys RARELY get voted out! :-(

He also loves to point out the fact that he's a "Registered Democrat" (LOL) to our two esteemed DemocRAT Senators - LIEberman and Dodd - when he's writing an angry letter to one or both of them.

Me, I just can't BEAR to see anything but an "R" after my name when I go to vote!

[NYCVirago]

I agree with you, but if not making sense was a banning offense, there would be no finger left on the ban button.

Fair enough. It's just that considering the two senators my state is stuck with, I just don't have a lot of sympathy for somebody who is whining over Liddy Dole possibly becoming their state's senator!