Ok BB1 ..... How many FReepers will be at the most important event of the year, The Gathering of Eagles II. Will you be there?
Free Republic does not have the clout ot get members to turn out. It has been marginalized.
“Free Republic does not have the clout ot get members to turn out. It has been marginalized.”
i think it’s hard to compare the differences in grassroots organization on the left and right. the left doesn’t have talk radio: the right does and that is a fierce problem for the left because talk radio hosts do educate and galvanize along with sites like FR (to wit the immigration debate). the power of the radio is that it reaches people who tune in spontaneously and this may convert some minds. that is less likely on a website. anyway, if a candidate finds a way to unite the forces of the right (radio, websites, blogs, RNC, Conservative Party, etc), i am convinced the right would be more powerful.
Most Freepers aren't trust fund babies, who can follow the 'rock concerts' around the country to show support. On the contrary, we are the people who keep the economy rolling. There are other ways to raise money and get attention to our causes than just having conventions, and I don't think Freepers enthusiasm is less because they don't go to them.
What has impacted the enthusiasm of grass-roots conservatives, including many of us, is the way the RNC threw away the opportunity we gave them. They said if they had the majorities, and the presidency, that they would move our small government, conservative values forward, but they didn't. They gave us more big government, more intrusive government and paid lip-service to our values.
The big question now isn't what new internet rallying the right can come up with to stay ahead of the left's netroots, it's who we'll find to rally around that will follow through with their promises to us.
Get out for a count of noses? Get out for a some emotional jump and shout event? Or even just get out to be with like minded folk? -- That's for the young or healthy, those unencumbered by other responsibility.
We've got to find a better way to do it for the fully employed, those with kids etc. Kos will always get a lot more loosely employed singles and union members to show up than we will find among the gainfully employed and small business owners.
In the frame of mind of Kathy Bates comment 'I've got better insurance', the FR folks need to play to their strengths, not the other guy's. So, I donate to groups like Club for Growth. The young liberals I know don't donate to much beyond Starbucks.