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To: Sabertooth
"Given the amount of lurking done on FR by folks like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Michelle Malkin, Ann Coulter, and a slew of others, including politicians, our forum is only made more relevant when we are willing to confront difficult truths about our party, our candidates, and our President.

Additionally, FR is a hothouse indicator of the mood of the most politically interested party rank and file. Negative feedback is good, because it gives an opportunity for correction."

===

Note the latest FR poll: 83% plan to vote for Bush.

Yet, judging from the very vocal, loud, some rather vicious minority, reading FR gives a false impression, that at least half or more of "conservatives" are upset enough with Bush, that they plan to not support him.

Also, precisely, because of the points you made, that many influential people read FR, your comment that Bush supporters, and defenders should just "shut up and vote", but not express our support, or correct the misconceptions, some attempt to present as facts, while encouraging and praising those who attack Bush, because they are merely "disagreeing passionately" shows that you are the one, who wants to make FR one sided: make it a site with its primary mission of criticizing Bush. We already have such a site: it's called DU.

322 posted on 02/07/2004 9:11:36 AM PST by FairOpinion (If you are not voting for Bush, you are voting for the terrorists.)
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To: Sabertooth
This was a terrible run-on sentence, but you the the idea.

I need more coffee.
323 posted on 02/07/2004 9:13:36 AM PST by FairOpinion (If you are not voting for Bush, you are voting for the terrorists.)
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To: FairOpinion
Note the latest FR poll: 83% plan to vote for Bush.

I'm among them. So?

If Bush onely gets 83% of the GOP (as an example, not claiming the FR poll is scientific), he needs to run the table on swing voters to be reelected.

Yet, judging from the very vocal, loud, some rather vicious minority, reading FR gives a false impression, that at least half or more of "conservatives" are upset enough with Bush, that they plan to not support him

First of all, the viciousness is far worse among the "see no evil, speak no evil" stalwarts who who are wildly intolerant of dissent.

Second, you're assuming, incorrectly, that everyone who is bothered by one thing or another that the President has done intends not to vote for him. That's not the case. Consider your poll in light of these...

Question ...

Do you approve of the plan to let some of the eight million illegal aliens in the United States move toward legal status without penalty -- but with social security benefits?

Yes
132 votes - 8%

No
1,352 votes - 85%

Undecided
97 votes - 6%

1,581 votes total
Poll 35

Question ...

After hearing President Bush's speech, do you approve of his immigration reform plan?

Yes
703 votes - 21%

No
2,269 votes - 67%

Undecided
368 votes - 11%

3,340 votes total
Poll 36

It's not a false impression that there is immense disagreement with some of the President's policies, even among his supporters. It doesn't take a lot of voter defections to flip a close election, so it's important that the source of that disaffection be identified, early, and corrected.

Free Republic can be a valuable contributor to that process, or it can be a simple-minded rah rah site.

Also, precisely, because of the points you made, that many influential people read FR, your comment that Bush supporters, and defenders should just "shut up and vote", but not express our support, or correct the misconceptions, some attempt to present as facts, while encouraging and praising those who attack Bush, because they are merely "disagreeing passionately" shows that you are the one, who wants to make FR one sided: make it a site with its primary mission of criticizing Bush. We already have such a site: it's called DU.

You've completely misunderstood my comment, and mischaracterized what's been transpiring at FR. It's not the dissenters that are telling others to "shut up and vote," it's those who can't bear criticism of the President and his poliicies who distract, dissemble, and attempt to stifle debate at every turn while demanding lockstep conformity.

I'm encouraging folks like you to get your fingers out of your ears and get a handle on the possible danger to the President's reelection. You're all in a panic because the debate has raged beyond the control of those posters who want control. Relax, this is politics, and disagreement comes with the territory.


324 posted on 02/07/2004 9:34:48 AM PST by Sabertooth (The Republicans have a coalition, if they can keep it.)
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