You make it sound like you've observed a long-term trend, but it appears you became a member November 13th, 2001. So, I have to wonder just what new influence you're bringing with you (besides a gift for starting Three Stooges style pie fights).
If you are in fact a Conservative, hold your ground, you are in good company. As to the occasional liberal that shows up, they know they are the ones out of place. And, they get blown out of the water by knowledgeable Conservatives. After all, what does it say on our home page, “Free Republic is an online gathering place for independent, grass-roots conservatism on the web.” If people of a differnet persuaion want company, they can go somewhere their kind hangs-out. Everyone will be happier.
Why is this? Is this a Libertarian site now?
LIBERTARIAN DOES NOT = LIBERAL!!!
But you knew that already. You are just trying to be controversial.
I used to post
I used to to be Pitmaster for the Puget Sound Hog Roast!
I was banned----- twice
I post every now and then
I AM PITMASTER IN MY OWN RESOLVE
I lurk every so often
Don't get near my family
RIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As for comparing liberals to libertarian... Huh? I probably tend more to a Libertarian viewpoint than the strict party-line Republican; however, they're nuts on foreign policy and military matters, plus they never get elected. If they ever were to get elected, the entire Congress would gang up against them and none of their more valid policies would get carried out. Thus, I vote Republican, as they seem better equipped to defend my country, reduce dependence on government, and reduce regulations on every aspect of business.
It's attitudes such as yours that turn off a lot of women to the Republican vote. The "If you can't look at things 100% the way we do, you might as well leave the party." It's attitudes like that that get people like Clinton and Gore elected. Thank God Bush was able to overcome that factor.
You got that?? We libertarians also come in Christian varieties that Do Not Like
REPOs giving Offical government recognition that has now been given HOMOSEXUALITY
as an "OK deathstyle" as Long as they are Conservative/REPO Homosexuals.
(ask a TexAggie79 about that little bit of weirdness)
This was done as the first thing after inaugaration as a certain "so-called" Non-Liberal POL
apppointed openly PRACTICING homosexuals to be our ambassador to Romania
and to head the (Executive Branch) Office of National AIDS Policy
which is a liason to the Aids?Homosexual Commune(ity).
Are these things what we should now consider as conservative??
Count me out on that one.
How about you?
"Party" worth more than the soul??
I am one of those Christian libertarian varieties that wants NO Official Sanction for this BEHAVIOR. Chew on that a while.
You need to define what a liberal is TO YOU!
Then would you be so kind as to define what a libertarian is TO YOU.
Can you do that for everyone???
Don't strain yourself but I think you need to define YOUR terms.
LOL!
Have fun,
CATO
The fact that FR attracts people who want ideological purity also contributes to the rise of libertarianism. Unfortunately or fortunately, conservatism is the most prominant political philosophy in America, and that means it deals with the real world which is imperfect and doesn't fit so neatly into everyones's paradigms. It tends to mean that mistakes are made and half measures are taken. Since Libertarianism has never been effectively implemented as a viable political philosophy on a national scale, it has not had the opportunity to disappoint its adherants.
Not exactly, and sometimes patience is lacking. Most commonly, it is something that has been hashed and rehashed, or subject to minimal reading and review can be shown to be without basis. New people often have not seen the debates that occur here, and that should be understood...but many disruptors act in ways that are difficult to distinguish between them and the merely uneducated.
and those who hold a more right-winged view than the average libertarian seem to be kicked out.
Clearly racist, vulgar or profane, incitements to murder, or extended personal attacks are generally grounds to be booted: "Please: NO profanity, NO personal attacks, NO racism or violence in posts." Another thing is people who drop posts or replies all over the plave without seeming interested in actual discussion.
Determine your points of argument, make them in a civil manner, and defend them before reposting them, and you will be given a great amount of leeway by Mr. Robinson. ...As well as respect among many here.
Those who can make sane and cogent arguments will build a following rather quickly here.
BTW, Liberal does not equal Libertarian, even if there are branches of each that tend towards Anarchy.
Poke around, and you'll see that even though most here are Conservative, with a heavy smattering of Libertarians, there are a wide variety of views held within those labels.
Things go in cycles here with rises and falls in relative numbers occuring every few weeks. Heck, what you get will even vary depending on what time of day you hit.
One last thing...what's right-wing? Compare it to classical liberalism. Ruminate.
I think he has registered as Republican, but, maybe he still agrees that the views of all should be "aired"
Just a thought.
DL
I must say, I am truthfully sick of some of these so called conservatives that run from the real huge issues like our out of control immigration invasion, both legal and illegal.
I also fall into the trap of not living in the US.. So therefore, I can't contribute much to localised politicising that many engage in.
I also have a sense of humour (at least, I think I do) so this thread...for a start is hill-feckin'-larious (before the postin' police come after me!!!! That's an indigious Irish term, alright?????? *L*)
And lastly, if you are right, and you know you are right, what the hell are you afraid of by a thought process that is not quite so `right' as yours? (That is just a question). I consider myself conservative...but I'm a few steps away before I declare myself God. ~havin' that said, I am rather heavenly~ *L*
Ah, the welcome opportunity to sink my teeth into the mind-muddled masses who comprise the democrats, the liberals, the whining RINOS, and my favorite snack: "the media."
And they don't call for a vanity post about it.
And if you ever SHARE private email again, please have the deceny the FLAG the person you plan on ragging.
I don't think it is actual political differences so much that is changing as it is style. A lot of the old-time conservatives are/were, let's face it, not hip. And meanwhile the liberals were running rings around them because of their cluelessness. Oh, they might have meant well but culturally they were already defeated. I think the big change came with Rush who showed you could be cool and hip and still be conservative. For example, his Condom Updates might have offended a lot of the old style conservatives but to a lot of other conservatives he tapped in to our culture of parody.
One problem I have with the old style conservatives is that they are just so damn serious all the time. I remember once during one of the protests during the Florida ballot disputes last year, a bunch of us were sort of doing a little dance to some music on the street when some old fogey conservative came up to me and proceeded to lecture me about how it was improper to be dancing around on the street during the protests. What a jerk! All it did was make me dance around a bit more while Mr. Old Line Conservative got an even grumpier look on his face.
So, anyway, I think you might be confusing style with substance.
I hope not. I view libertarianism as a bankrupt philosophy; indeed, it is more like an affliction, like a disease that won't go away, than anything else.
Only rarely and on certain issues do conservatives and libertarians have common cause.
More disturbing to me is the way a whole bunch of RINOs who are racist Dem apologists seem to be allowed to run wild on this forum. Many of them spend their SOLE time on this forum to post vanities proclaiming anyone with an "R" next to their name is a "marxist"-- then go on the next thread and talk about how great life was under a bunch of segregationalist 'RATS. I don't understand why some minor posts listed under the "wrong" catergory" get pulled, but garbage like this is allowed on the forum; it certainly doesn't help "promote" conservativism or improve our image:
Abraham Lincoln: America's Greatest War Criminal [In addition to pledging they will "spit on his grave", several "Republicans" insist only "history revisionists" believe Woodrow Wilson gave us the income tax instead of Lincoln. Gee, we better leave those nice WWI-era Democrats alone]
Confederate flag down, scalawag Jeb Bush faces fight [A.K.A. "Republicans for native Floridans RENO/CHILES" thread. Some "conservatives" even talk about how great ol' Lawton "Gore recount court" Chilies was on this thread]
Man From Hope: ZELL MILLER (Nominee Sought for Golden Balls Award-- Courage in Politics) ["Conservatives" fall all over themselves to insist pro-abort Miller is "more right-wing than most of the Republican Senators from up north"]
Senator Byrd's cameo just a start"> [ <-- RINO Shucksmaster expresses glee that the senial old liberal Senator and "former" KKK member Byrd will appear as in civil war uniform to celebrate West Virgina's "hertiage"]
I want a real conservative for president [A bunch of Bush-hating "Republicans" have a bashing fest against the "war monger" here, although none of them were around to back Keyes, it seems...]
Spielberg shows darker side of saintly Lincoln Rumor had it that big DNC contributor Stevie Spielberg was going to defame the first Republican president as evil incarante to get even at the GOP for "destroying President Clinton" RINOs expressed delight that Spielberg would reveal "the truth" about Abe, which they were ready to beat down the door to see the film, several RINOs even went as far to claim Speilberg was a "conservative patriot" who's Saving Private Ryan "was made to attack the left"
Giuliani's third term (What New York can ask from Michael Bloomberg Drivel from the London Times talking about how great RINO Bloomberg is. Several self-proclaimed conservatives on this forum were overcome with joy that "former" Democrat (he switched to the GOP a few monthes before the election solely because the Dem slot was too crowded) was such a victory of the GOP. RINOs marveled at his ablity to win over Jews, minorities, and registed Democrats (gee, I wonder why that is?)
Other NON-conservative articles celebrated on freerepublic include many threads I can't find because I forgot the exact wording, but included such gems as "Condit is the son a baptist preacher and a true conservative-- the media should lay off him" , <-- paraphrased) the " we must perserve Fritz Holling's (arrogant libDem from S.C.) legacy" , the "Roy Barnes is a GREAT governor" apologist thread, the various threads talking about how Bobby & Jack Kennedy were "real conservatives" , the various "U.S. Grant was EVIL" threads , the "NRA was founded by people who destoryed the bill of rights" thread, the "Rethink the civil rights act of 1964" (article actually argued that the law passed by Senators Dirksen and Williams to outlaw public segregation was bad, and Byrd, Gore, and Ervin had the right idea), the "Jesse Helms is a UN-loving stooge" hate piece, and the ever popular "Bob Smith is an idiot who must be kicked out of office " and the "we hope Earley loses cause we hate him and Gilmore" threads (the RINOs got their wish on that one).
Even though I can't locate any of the above trash, that's just fine with me because I hope they never see the light of day on this forum again.