I didn't see that thread, but I saw one disruptive Perry supporter who trolled Palin threads (a n00b's ZOT) this morning, by the Admin Mod, and I realize that harm is happening and I am very concerned. I do not want Free Republic to suffer any harm at all. As you and all of us know, FR is wholly supported by the donations of our membership and our 4th Quarter Freepathon starts on October 1, 2011. We need all members to donate and that means Palin and Perry supporters, and supporters of all candidates.
Nobody should permit the vociferous, trouble making posters to hold sway. The majority of us think for ourselves. We are NOT followers of Pied Pipers who just happen to have some clever line against the other side, be that side Palin's or Perry's or some other candidate...(Ron Paul ..gasp).
We are the premiere conservative forum on the whole of the Internet and we will remain that way despite the actions of the scant few who seem to want to cause trouble and disruption.
The majority of our members can hold civil and lively discussions without getting personal and vicious, and the majority realize that vetting candidates and voicing opposing views are part of the process. We've done that here on FR every election cycle. We are conservatives. We want to make sure we are supporting a vetted conservative candidate.
Nobody is going to get a free pass this time around and nobody is a sure thing or not electable.
As far as I know, Jim doesn't ZOT anyone but trolls, retread trolls and the truly disruptive who just never learn. Of course, I could be mistaken.
The majority of our members can hold civil and lively discussions without getting personal and vicious, and the majority realize that vetting candidates and voicing opposing views are part of the process. We've done that here on FR every election cycle. We are conservatives. We want to make sure we are supporting a vetted conservative candidate.
I have given $100.00 to FR at each and every FReepathon since I joined... and for the last three... it has been $100.00 followed by another $50.00 due to some FReepers either not having money to give or being so selfish as to live off of the donations of others. EVERY FReeper can give something... even one dollar.
I will give on October 1 as I always do... but monetary support cannot and will not fix the problems that we see on this site today. I am beginning to think that the republican party would rather destroy itself than to allow Conservatism to flourish. I no longer give a rat's patootie about the republican party... I would love to see it die a horrible and painful death. The progressive monsters that run it deserve almost as bad a treatment as the rat bastards that run the dim party... and have no doubts... progressive republican operatives are causing much of this division. Who else besides a dim would embrace some of the leftist crap we see spewed forth in defense of progressive governance. I cannot and will not compromise on the foundational tenants of Conservatism... Ronald Reagan warned me of that danger... and he warned all of us in his CAPC speech of 1975. I am a Conservative Reaganite... I will NEVER be a republican again.
LLS