Posted on 04/01/2005 2:39:59 PM PST by hchutch
Six months ago, Free Republic was riding high, and I was proud to be a part of it. It was coming off having blown the cover off of Dan Rather’s use of forged memos against the President. The President was well on his way to winning re-election. It was a great time to be a Freeper.
However, things have changed. It started with the justifiable removal of ALIPAC. I supported that move by Jim Robinson, but the ugliness directed towards Alberto Gonzales. He was accused of everything under the sun, and Senator Mel Martinez was viciously attacked for speaking Spanish on the Senate floor. The tone and outright viciousness (terms like FROBL and traitor were fired off at anyone who did not toe the line established by Michelle Malkin and Tom Tancredo) on immigration threads had concerned me, but I had concluded it was an isolated incident. After ALIPAC was removed from FR, I had hoped the tone there would improve. But it only got worse. I was point-blank called a traitor because my views on immigration differ from those of Michelle Malkin’s groupies. On immigration threads, questioning the questionable is not allowed. One must accept the unacceptable and allow folks to defend the indefensible. Never mind that VDARE, American Renaissance, and other sites are racist or have no problem hanging out with those that are racists (I’m just going to call a spade a spade here).
There were folks who had the long knives out for Senator Rick Santorum, one of the strongest pro-life members of the United States Senate. Why? Because he endorsed Arlen Specter over Pat Toomey. It was stunning to see these long knives out for a conservative. And all it would accomplish would be his replacement by a Democrat. How in the world replacing Rick Santorum with a Democrat would aid conservatism is beyond me, but it was demanded because Santorum endorsed Specter. The long knives were out, and I suppose it was a sign of what was to come.
The whole Terri Schiavo case has changed everything for me. A mob mentality took over the first few days after the order to pull the tube was given. Anyone who did not toe the line was attacked. I saw a dedicated active-duty member of our armed forces called a “Maine liberal” for simply asking why troops in harm’s way did not get the same sort of “all-nighter” attention that Terri Schiavo got. It was a reasonable question – we have 40-year-old P-3s still out there. We have a war on terrorism still going on, in case folks have not noticed. We have to get Social Security fixed. I say this as a person who believes that at best, Michael Schiavo’s relationship with a woman (and having two kids with her) meant he had a conflict of interest – and that he had decided that Terri was inconvenient. I cannot take his word alone that Terri would have wanted this. I also believe that George Felos is a supporter of euthanasia, and that he is using this case for his own ends. Those folks give me the creeps, and I think that Jim Robinson was on the right side of this issue. However, I also got a very bad feeling when the Schindlers embraced the likes of Randall Terry and Bo Gritz. I had to wonder what has happened to the conservative movement when the threads were allowed to spiral so out of control. The concept of euthanasia is repulsive and disgusting, but it does not excuse allowing the threads to spin out of control.
I have seen the President of the United States, George W. Bush, and the Governor of Florida, John Ellis Bush, take huge political risks in an effort to save Terri’s life. I believe they were doing their best to do the right thing, and that the original law passed in 2003 was a reasonable one that was wrongly stuck down by Judge Greer and the Florida Supreme Court. I think that the Republican Party has taken a huge risk to give Terri a chance at life, and I am disgusted with those who seek a pretext that will justify leaving the GOP in the lurch. I’m sick of the way the Terri threads spun out of control, and the vicious attacks launched at reasonable people who came to a different conclusions about the situation or who pointed out facts that certain people found inconvenient. This is not what I signed on here for.
I believe in a strong national defense, cutting taxes, and in general trying to keep government involvement as minimal as possible (there are times when the best one can do is to limit government involvement in a situation). I am pro-life (with exceptions for rape, incest, and to protect the life of the mother) and pro-Second Amendment. However, I do NOT want the federal government to be involved in any culture war. “Culture” was never mentioned in the constitution, thus I believe it is left to the States or TO THE PEOPLE (see the Tenth Amendment). I do NOT think immigration is a problem, but I believe some mistakes were made along the way (like eliminating the bracero program). I also think that the President of the United States has proposed a sensible plan that will go a long way towards solving the problems on our border with Mexico and do much to alleviate the problems surrounding illegal immigration. Therefore, I have come to the conclusion that it is time for me and Free Republic to part company, because Free Republic has left this limited-government neoconservative. In the process of Free Republic leaving me, I now find that I fear the social conservatives as much as I fear the loony left. As a result of coming to this conclusion, I ask that my account be deleted and all posts I have made, save for this opus and the ping to my friends be removed.
I do this with regret, since I will miss some of those who I have met here, but I feel no other choice. So long.
I agree. The discipine factor is missing. The Admin's must be on vacation. But, then again, this is their site... Oh well.
I've been through a lot here and I'm still standing.
"Well, maybe I don't, really, but I do like and appreciate hutch, don't consider him a cry baby and I'm truly sorry to see him go."
In this case, your taste in crybabies is woeful. At least they have an excuse at the hospital nursery.
My apologies if you've taken umbrage at my reaction to your post personally.
Your words (these words) struck me particularly:
"I had to wonder what has happened to the conservative movement when the threads were allowed to spiral so out of control. The concept of euthanasia is repulsive and disgusting, but it does not excuse allowing the threads to spin out of control."
Dear Friend,
It is an illusion that threads can be controlled; and it is impossible to stop threads for spiraling out of control at times.
Even the best moderator cannot control differences of opinions; and we can't expect Jim to limit folk's right to express themselves, do matter how unpleasant their opinions might be.
The only thing certain is change. There is no way that this forum could remain exactly the same as the day you joined.
I for one will miss you and hope that you reconsider. Moderation in all things. Peace.
i_dont_chat
;O)
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Actually Daughter, I think we have some Johnny Come Lately's to Free Republic , who are here mainly to disrupt and act disrespectful, possibly plants from the DNC.
This time, yes. As far as opuses go, this one was kinda dry. I liked yours though :)
If you'll excuse the self-plagiarism, hope you'll reconsider.
I think this explains why someone asked me if I was banned yet after my errr against the grain views in the Schiavo case.
I urge you to stay on and fight the good fight.
I read his entire opus, as well as poobah's.
I think so too.
You've just called me racist for disagreeing with you on immigration. Many of your other stated positions are good, but you've just shown yourself to be as much a part of the problem as anyone else. I'd love to see cleaner debate on all of the issues that this country faces, but your problem seems to be an inability to take what you dish out.
If that's the case you should have used the "private reply" feature.
Why did you have to write all that? If you don't like FR anymore, then stay away - - it's as easy as not clicking your mouse.
Personally, I was called a "troll" (by newbies!) twice last week on Terri Schiavo threads. Gee, I think I'll go into a hissy fit and post a long whining opus. Political discourse can be bruising and impolite. Oh well. Apparently, you folks can't take the heat so you're getting out of the kitchen.
I would prefer you both stay around and fight for your opinions because I know that you have been good freepers for a long time. But if you want to turn tail and run away because some people were mean, then knock yourselves out.
Stop playing Moderator. You are just another poster to me.
I'll say whatever I want to say to you ....so long as I'm within the posting guidelines. If you have a problem with that then you can contact an admin moderator if you "feel" I've broken any rules.
LOL! You could be about to get a real lesson about nature.
Yep! National Geographic on display.
Newbies.
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