DISTURBING! The Electric Chair for Katherine Harris and Ken Blackwell

Magic City Morning Star ^ | Feb. 26, 2005 | Stephen Crockett

[MeekOneGOP]

Thank you, sir! :^D

[kfander]

I find it particularly interesting when someone criticizes the Magic City Morning Star for publishing an article from a far leftist, especially considering that, as the publisher, I am to the right of the Republican Party. I voted for Peroutka in November, not because I thought the Constitution Party had a prayer of winning but because I couldn't hold my nose tightly enough to vote for either Bush or Kerry.

The Magic City Morning Star is not Crockett's "web newspaper," crappy or otherwise. He is simply one of many writers who contribute. If you'd look around, you'd find people from throughout the political spectrum.

Reasonable people don't avert their eyes or cringe when confronted with something they disagree with.

We've had articles linked to from Rush Limbaugh's site, WorldNet Daily, national and state GOP sites, as well as Christianity Today; and we've been linked to from the Democratic Underground, Buzzflash, and several leftist sites.

I haven't voted for a Democrat since 1972, but I am pleased to give Crockett a forum. He writes well and people read his material. Mature people can decide for themselves whether they want to agree with him.

I get complaints from leftists whenever I publish articles from Doug Wrenn or Mark Oaks. When I publish material from Stephen Crockett or Charles Cutter, I hear from the Republicans. When I publish Grant Swank's stuff, everyone complains. The Christians complain when I publish something from a Muslim and the Muslims are upset when I publish something from a Christian.

Are you really so afraid to read something that you might disagree with that you'd like repeal that nonsense about freedom of speech?

Crockett didn't suggest murdering someone. He suggested that they be put to death. In a country where capital punishment is a reality, that's really not the same thing.

Was it preposterous? Certainly, but can you really tell me that you've never heard anything over the top from a conservative radio talk show host?

Ken Anderson
Publisher, Magic City Morning Star, and
Millinocket Republican Party Caucus Chairman

[Diana in Wisconsin]

"Was it preposterous? Certainly, but can you really tell me that you've never heard anything over the top from a conservative radio talk show host?"

Not sure why you addressed your rant to me, when there were others that disagreed with Crockett as well?

That said, I always like to research where an article or opinion piece comes from, so I know where they're "coming from." Nothing wrong with that, IMHO.

I mean, why swallow someone's views hook, line & sinker if you don't have background info on them?

"Reasonable people don't avert their eyes or cringe when confronted with something they disagree with."

I think if you "look around" Free Republic, you'll find articles and points of views from all over. Heck, this week I brought articles here from Women's eNews which is a total male-bashing, poor-me-I'm-a-woman site, as well as an article from The Socialist Worker's web page for discussion.

One of my favorite quotes:

"Don't join the book burners. Don't think you're going to conceal faults by concealing evidence that they ever existed. Don't be afraid to go in your library and read every book!" ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower

BUT, I also reserve the right to exercise my own First Amendment Right...if someone seems like a whack job, I have the right to state that. And, IMHO, Crockett seems unbalanced and scarey, calling for the death of people he disagrees with.

But, please feel free to post links to the examples of this behavior that you find on the Conservative side, and anyone else, please feel free to hi-jack this conversation and tell Mr. Anderson (Mr. Anderson? THAT 'Mr. Anderson?') your views if you'd care to. :)

[kfander]

Diana, my words were intended for the thread as a whole, and not to you specifically. I'm not familiar with this forum software and so didn't know how to do that. I suppose I could have simply replaced your name with "All" or some such thing.

My only criteria for publishing an article is its potential for interesting (even if enraging) my readers, that it is reasonably well written, and that it not likely to result in my being either sued or arrested.

I enjoy well-written articles that I disagree with, and find that they spark interesting and perhaps even health discussions.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

OK. Just checkin'. You should become familiar with us. There are quite a few terrific writers amongst us.

If you'd like to send me an e-mail (click on my name) I know of two other people from another board that are published in their local newspaper Op/Ed sections quite often. Of course, they're both conservative, but I've yet to see them call for anyone's death over an issue, LOL!