Posted on 02/11/2005 10:55:36 AM PST by Jim Robinson
The shot heard around the Internet has been fired on FreeRepublic.com The owner Jim Robinson and his moderators have launched a sniper style purge against members that disagree with the President’s ‘guest worker’ amnesty or support more control of illegal immigration. Free Republic is an amazing tool for those looking for a good debate and news from around the country.
The problem for the administration of the site is that their creation is allowing the participants to learn that the Bush immigration record and plans are shockingly out of line with the views of most conservatives. The management’s answer to this conflict between the majority of conservatives and the influence of the White House on their Web site has become electronic executions and censorship.
Members and readers of Free Republic would be surprised to know that many members of their community have fallen silent on the discussions about illegal immigration lately because free speech is an illusion on FR.com. They are silent because they have been banned from the Web site without warning, cause, or explanation in most cases. For weeks the moderators have been suspending and banning new members that chimed in quickly on the immigration debates.
Now this trend has broadened as the first groups of long-term users were suspended or banned this past week. Although Robinson and his staff removed many members of the Free Republic community in the first few days of the purge, those that religiously support President Bush’s immigration plan, open borders and approve of public benefits for illegal aliens remain on the forum. Those that were banned were the members that wanted more done to control illegal immigration and a strict observance to the President’s Oath of Office.
After HE said:
Shame, your posse is winning the field today.
I simply pointed out that it appears he's pretty upset that the vast majority of Freepers, contrary to claims we've heard for months, are perfectly capable of being for strong borders without being anti-Hispanic, a trait that doesn't seem to be present in some of the most vitriolic posters on these threads.
There was a crackpot thread on the Great CFR--Trilateral Commission--Rothschilds One World UN Cabal Conspiracy, and she was lapping it up like a kitten with cream-- "NOW it all makes sense!!" etc, etc.
It was a sad thing to witness.
Remember the Big Dig...which still isn't finished.
Nice to see you. Haven't crossed paths lately.
Most likely: you'll stop only 10%, and divert 70% to over-the-beach entry, which the USCG cannot cope with as it is. So,
Union labor? Who need union labor?
Ever hear of the Davis-Bacon Act? Of course you haven't.
we have the SeaBees and the US Army Corps of Engineers.
The Army Corps of Engineers is all civil service and union contract labor.
And the there aren't enough Seabees available for this mission: they're already committed to other taskings that support the US Navy.
We have prison labor.
Prison labor to build something deemed vital for national security...
With all due respect, that is a really foolish idea.
We have hundreds of thousands of illegals sitting on their butts in jail.
And I'm sure they'd do good quality work on the wall intended to keep them out...
Another really foolish idea.
We have contactors who are employing illegals and can be court-ordered to work for nothing as part of their restitution for employing illegals, in lieu of jail or closing them down, using those same illegals prior to deportation.
Except that those contractors never get convicted in the first place--juries consistently refuse to convict people for hiring day laborers.
Some people aren't being honest with you.
It was a silly and stupid poll. It did not allow for "nuance." So what? Many posts here didn't either, including some of yours, and I like you anyway.
Several Freepers posted replies about the above.
Reading through more than 300 replies there were several example of just that.
The words bigotry, racists and references to the KKK and Nazis were used to describe fellow Freepers not the ones banned. (IMO some of the banned ones had virtually taken over the issue and rarely posted anything but their own announcements. They have their own site for that. I want to see news articles, thank you.)
I remember the name calling during the days of Goldwater v. Rockefeller. Rockefeller Republicans joined liberals in calling the modern conservative movement racist and lots more.
Name-calling stifles debate. Though back then it didn't work in the Republican Party. We got a Ronald for president not a Nelson.
I remember just one of the name callers occasionally posting anything of substance. What changed my mind to be against "sending them all home" I learned on my own. Our government and businesses invited them here by ignoring our laws.
I am still against the "guest worker" plan: No shiny new laws for government and business to ignore!
Prove you can enforce the existing laws first! They are NOT broken.
RE: guest worker plan opponents' name calling
True. It happens. Things like "illegal lover" but almost always in response to being called a bigot or racist.
There's got to be another Ronald Reagan under this pile of crap somewhere.
Bump to that.
I think "injustice" is about the only term that could be used when one-fifth of a country's population has already left and immigration is even more desperate than ever. When 80% of a population is kept poverty stricken and with no hope for their future --- what other word could apply? There isn't anything here in the USA that comes even close to what's going on in Mexico. The word "injustice" as it's used in the USA doesn't describe what is going on in Mexico --- but then no Americans are getting themselves locked inside boxcars with no food or water to leave this country.
He makes the accusation, he'd better be prepared to back it up.
He can't. He loses.
It was mere courtesy that I pinged those involved in the post cited by stands2reason -- as well as this one; NOT to further entertain your majesty.
As big a Bush supporter as I am, I do not think he can always be right.
I always try to see the reasoning and strategy behind his decisions. I used to pray regularly for God to grant him wisdom, but have been too overwhelmed this last year to remember to do that often enough.
BUT, although Dubya is savvy and tries to be a good man, he is not all knowing. He needs input from his staff and his Cabinet and the American people...meaning us.
We have to let him know when we have misgivings about something, and why.
Of course there were more, many more. And I can't stop you from fighting against windmills, Fighter. Carry on.
Open borders for only one country though --- they don't mean to let desperate Haitians over to prevent chaos or strife in Haiti and to keep the Haitan elite safe and sound. Everything for the Mexican government --- that's what they're really about. Massive immigration from Mexico saves the skins of the corrupt ruling class in Mexico. That's the only thing it achieves. Mexico's ruling class is very racist --- yet the open borders types feel a strong need to keep them in power --- but at the same time will call Americans racists for being opposed to Mexico's ethnic cleansing.
They started it. I didn't start flaming anyone. I lamented the loss of several freepers I like and a few who live at ground zero in this mess.
Then the holier than thou-everything is about race Cotton Mather posse chimed in.
It is wrong to ban FReepers whose migra views were most hardline and ignore those who live...and I mean live to bait them and stir the pot.
I just asked Fitz some questions. I'd like to see the answers from the hyenas.
Torie....you are a fine person...well mannered and I know you think I'm a bit provincial and I am....by choice. I have no beef with you.
But I do with some here. A few are just FR resident bullies and well.....I'm not granting them any politeness they forfeited....unless you are cloaked as the AM.
I'm not in the "core group" here and the only AM I ever knew for sure was Dales on the "outed" thread...lol
This is the most contention I've seen here since the Lott Affair....I see no positives. FR is split about like our own "movement" over this but FR is on the short end from what I see. Nearly all conservatives I know...granted middle and upper middle class whitebread mostly....want much tighter migra policy than W is advocating.
Thanks....I must have gotten yer vibe while responding...lol
I would like a serious poll. If I am in the minority here, I'll mostly shut up.
Do folks want W's plan or something tougher? It ain't rocket science...even a Southerner could understand.
Something tougher.
"I have laughed with others, been a bit 'randy' at times..."
That what it's called?
Lol...
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