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Opus de Darth Sidious
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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Your posting privilege has been revoked.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"


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: darthsidious; opus; opuslist
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To: MeeknMing
He is apparently welcome back anytime after the election, in spite of his history of advocating goals which are contrary to the mission statement of the owner of the server he was squatting on.
401 posted on 09/25/2002 6:40:08 AM PDT by Cultural Jihad
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To: Cultural Jihad
One less disruptor until November 5-6th.
402 posted on 09/25/2002 7:07:29 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
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To: jjm2111
Why can't Republicans annoite true conservatives, not these liberals dressed conservatively?

Because the elitist "Country Club/Corporate Government" Republicans have taken over again,and they dominate the RNC. Any Rep candidate who doesn't have the backing of the RNC has zero chance of ever being elected.

403 posted on 09/25/2002 7:07:33 AM PDT by sneakypete
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To: Kevin Curry
I bet she wants to keep pot illegal though..... so she must be a good one, huh?
404 posted on 09/25/2002 7:18:04 AM PDT by Texaggie79
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To: snopercod
I prefer to think of him as "Magic Bullet":-)

Sign me up on the crusade to bring back true republican (small 'r' please note) government.

405 posted on 09/25/2002 7:21:05 AM PDT by Tribune7
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To: MeeknMing
I'm for free expression, but undermining the base is not supportive of the cause of Conservatism, just imho.....

Preach it, bro... I'm with ya. And if I ever go off and try to vote for liberal dem scum without fully considering ramifications of such, I want y'all to do the humane thing and take me out. One nice clean shot between the eyes.

Darth, ya screwed up in my book. JimRob's position is resonatin' better for me than yours is, bud... See ya in a few...

406 posted on 09/25/2002 7:22:12 AM PDT by maxwell
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To: jjm2111
Is Zell on the judiciary committee?

Here's his committees according to his websit -- * Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry * Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs * Veterans' Affairs

Actually, I was kind of impressed by his website and bio. It's well-written. But it still doesn't make up for the fact that he puts up with Daschle.

407 posted on 09/25/2002 7:27:39 AM PDT by Tribune7
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To: Tribune7
"But it still doesn't make up for the fact that he puts up with Daschle."

Yup.
408 posted on 09/25/2002 7:29:38 AM PDT by jjm2111
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To: maxwell
Howdy, Max ! I gotta run and help Ming out at her store for a while. Be back this afternoon. See ya then.
409 posted on 09/25/2002 7:50:08 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
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To: Senator_Palpatine
#350, Thats the best quote yet!
410 posted on 09/25/2002 8:01:54 AM PDT by Rebelbase
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To: Constitution Day
I got your FReepmail.

"I hereby apologize to Constitution Day. I misread your comments on 'that other site', and, in my crankiness, shot my mouth off (with my foot) while cutting off my nose to spite my face."

How's *that* for putting metaphores in the blender and hitting "Frappé"?

411 posted on 09/25/2002 9:03:18 AM PDT by Cyber Liberty
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To: Cyber Liberty
Thank you, CL.
It takes a gentleman to admit he's wrong.

I appreciate it.

FRegards,
CD

PS - Your "metaphor smoothie" was good. ;^)

412 posted on 09/25/2002 9:06:43 AM PDT by Constitution Day
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To: AppyPappy; Jim Robinson
No. The "FR is DU" slam is a codeword for "please ban me". Wink wink, nod nod.

Sounds like a fallacy of false distinction.

DU is noted for banning dissent. The more that happens on FR, the more similar the two sites become.

DU is full of folks who brook no criticism of their man Clinton.
FR is home to many who brook no criticism of their man Bush.

Regardless of the fact that Clinton is slime and that Bush is a good and decent man, cults of personalities ought to be avoided. The more we see it on FR, and it's here, the more FR becomes like DU. I believe that is a trend that doesn't serve this site, the conservative cause, the Republican Party, or this country well at all.

I recall reading how shaken JFK was at the German crowd's reaction to his "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech. That kind of response hadn't been seen there since the days of Hitler, and he found it disturbing to see that kind of mass psychology in response to charisma, even if the message being delivered was a good one, because the the masses can be emotional and can be swept along in the passions of the moment.

The Founding Fathers understood this, that's why America is a republic, not a simple democracy.

We are well advised to guard against this type of thing, even if we like the short term results. Nations can become charisma junkies, and the next charismatic leader might not be as much to our liking as we now find President Bush to be. The last one wasn't.

The best way to innoculate ourselves now is with a little circumspection on out own parts and tolerance for good faith differences of opinion on the parts of others.

FR is a great site, but it is harmed by excessive bannings.




413 posted on 09/25/2002 9:32:09 AM PDT by Sabertooth
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To: Sabertooth
"I'm a doughnut!"
414 posted on 09/25/2002 9:38:06 AM PDT by Texaggie79
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To: Sabertooth
Nations can become charisma junkies, and the next charismatic leader might not be as much to our liking as we now find President Bush to be. The last one wasn't.

Yep. Facts aren't enough to have an educated public. The Washington Post is full of facts. Critical thinking, not just PC-thought, has to be valued, even if one problem with critical thinking is that sometimes it can get more "critical" than we'd like.

415 posted on 09/25/2002 9:54:18 AM PDT by VadeRetro
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To: Sabertooth
Amen Toothie! And may I add ... the uneven and capricious application of the "rules" that seem to change from day to day. &;-)
416 posted on 09/25/2002 9:55:40 AM PDT by 2Trievers
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To: VadeRetro
The Washington Post is full of facts. Critical thinking, not just PC-thought, has to be valued, even if one problem with critical thinking is that sometimes it can get more "critical" than we'd like.

It's critical that we ban all things critical.




417 posted on 09/25/2002 9:58:59 AM PDT by Sabertooth
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To: Sabertooth
Hooray!
418 posted on 09/25/2002 10:11:22 AM PDT by bvw
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To: Texaggie79
Since I don't have all the facts about this situation, I will agree that regardless of who is in power I believe the following: Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely even if it's well-intentioned.
419 posted on 09/25/2002 10:48:36 AM PDT by lilylangtree
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To: Sabertooth
Good post. Even a passing similarity to DU is a problem, IMHO.
420 posted on 09/25/2002 12:46:21 PM PDT by NittanyLion
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