I considered sending this to you privately, but see no need to hide it from others.....in case they feel the same way.
Look up posts by Peach, Fair Opinion, Celtjew Libertarian, stuned_beeber, liberty4alland4ever, WestVirginiaRebel, AZRepublican and quidnunc (one of his final posts here)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1797149/posts?page=513#513
Also, I am guessing you missed this gem of a post to Quidnunc early on that thread which caused several freepers to opus or just leave quietly:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1821435/posts?page=56#56
Nowhere do I see anything about FR being a Republican website. All the posters that you miss who elevated the tone of FR, according to some, were all GOOD Republicans, but not much in the way of conservatives IMO. I found all that you mention by name tiresome in their support of the Republican party, but then I'm just a conservative with very little allegiance to the Republican party. I'm positive they've all found a home on one of the Republican "Do or Die, Right or Wrong" websites on the internet and are no doubt much happier there where there are only a few conservatives to disagree with their liberal Republican views.