No, Jim, you haven't. Many of them got fed up with the hostility and groupthink that has engulfed this place, turning it into an angry echo-chamber, and left on their own.
The sad part is, most of them weren't even Romney supporters.
They're people who saw the candidacy of a stalwart conservative like Rick Perry and his supporters savaged mercilessly on this forum because Governor Perry was perceived as a threat to the non-candidacy of Sarah Palin. They're people who saw Newt Gingrich run a piss-poor, undisciplined campaign that has left him with virtually no chance of winning the primary and they know that if they post as much, they'll be tarnished as "RINOs" and see your name pinged to every thread where they don't toe the line. "Jim! Look here! This guy has no faith in Newt. He's not conservative! He needs to be zotted!" And they're people who want to see the most destructive, America-hating Marxist president that has ever sullied the White House voted out of office and know that the only way to do that is to vote for the guy with the (R) after his name and then, once again, these good Freepers get attacked despairingly as "RomneyBots", RINOs, pro-"abortion," "pro-homo" and on and on. And when a long-time contributing Freeper gets zotted, we have the childish display of "zot ping list" posters arriving to dance on the thread.
Jim, You've had a lot of good people leave (some voluntarily, some not) and take their money with them. And you have some good people remaining who are frustrated and keeping their money in their wallets. Free Republic isn't the only show in town anymore. There are other conservative forums where people behave like adults and treat each other with respect, --a place this forum used to be. This is the truth the way I see it. I hope you don't zot me for saying so but if you do, you do.
Drew, I find it amazing that you have proof of the "many who have left". Is there a sign-up sheet floating around the interweb entitled "disgruntled former FReepers"? Or a phone tree? Are you all on FaceBook? How do you know they were FR donors that "took their money with them"?
How about a list of these "many" so that we can mourn their passing?
I've got news for you. In every election since this place first came along it has ALWAYS been an echo-chamber, for MANY different viewpoints and candidates. It still is, and it will always be. We have posters here today that support (STILL) just about every candidate that ran in the current election. But, they don't get the boot - and there's a big reason for that.
The ones that HAVE gotten the boot let their anger run away with them, they got nasty, and THAT got them the boot 98% of the time. They start it, they get the boot, and that has happened to supporters of EVERY candidate on the ballot so far this election.
The rules here are rather simple. The biggest rule, keep it CIVIL... and it is violation of that rule that usually results in being evicted, not the candidate that you support.
Jim has said he won't allow this website to be used to support or push for the election of Romney. Those that chose to violate those wishes will likely get the boot, yet there are still many hundreds of folks here that support Romney, they wisely just don't push it.
What a well stated post. No, excellent...
‘Many’ are standing up and applauding (don’t have the graphic handy lol!)
Isn't it fun and rather useless to over past history from one's own point of view? FWIW, supporters of each candidate have their very own view that's likely totally different from yours.
In my view, members who elect to stay here, but stay here seething, pouting, and sitting on their wallets, might as well move onto those other sites.
Tea Party Patriot FReepers don't whine and cry.
I might add, I am speaking only for myself and my own experience here. Primaries are always rough and tough at Conservative Free Republic.
You sound like you want to leave, so why don’t you?
Jim has explained his position on Mitt Romney til he’s blue in the face, yet there you sit, still encouraging him to roll over for the Socialists and their enablers.
Tell you what, Drew. If Jim actually did that, I think he’d lose a helluva lot more Freepers than those he’s been forced to zot. This place would be without honor or a soul if he backed down to the threats of RINOs, cowards, and other assorted traitors.
Well, they (the ones who are leaving) have got to do what they’ve got to do. I’m not going to try to persuade them otherwise if it means I have to allow campaigning for or supporting a man who is 100% opposed to every conservative principle I hold dear. I do not put up yard signs for abortionist/homosexualist/statists! Not at my home and not on my pro-life, pro-family, pro-liberty website!!
Thank you very much!!