Is Free Republic too "Republican?"

Jim Robinson

[Jim Robinson]

Is Free Republic too "Republican?" I've been receiving a lot of complaints lately that FR is not really conservative, it's Republican. Is that a bad thing?

When I started FR (see the wayback machine) I don't think I even used the labels conservative or Republican. But, even though I was a registered Democrat at the time (I registered when I was very young), I was definitely anti-Democrat. And definitely anti-big government, anti-government corruption, anti-government abuse, anti-liberalism, etc. And I still am.

As FR became more and more popular, people started referring to it as a "conservative" web site and so eventually I posted the label to the front page. If it no longer applies, big deal. What's in a label? I'll change it to "Republican" if demand warrants.

I'm still anti-big government, anti-government corruption, anti-Democrat and anti-liberalism. I just happen to believe that in the current political environment we stand a better chance of defeating the left (liberalism/socialism/marxism, etc) by using the Republican Party to defeat the Democrats. The organization is there. The platform is there. The winning candidates are there. The dollars to run winning campaigns are there. The momentum is there. And the vast majority of the conservative voters are there.

Makes perfect sense to me. I want to defeat the left, and I want to do it as quickly as possible. I'll go with the organization that can get the job done.

My current goal is to defeat liberalism by defeating the Democrat Party. If that labels me a Republican, then so be it. If the vast majority of the FReepers want it so, then Free Republic will officially become the newest "Republican wing" of the Republican Party.

Long live Republicanism. Long live the Republic!'

What say you, FReepers?

[ApesForEvolution]

I like your homepage. God bless you and yours richly.

Next time I'm in the NW, maybe I can buy you an ice cold tea.

[Humidston]

Thanks for the ping, Justshe. I love being called a conservative my own self! There are actually a handfull of conservative Dems I'd vote for, if they ran against a "moderate" Republican.

Well, a thimble-full.

[justshe]

I LIKE it!

Conservative by nature ...
Republican by spirit ...
Patriot by heart ...
AND ...
ANTI-Liberal by GOD

[PhiKapMom]

Thanks for the ping! Already replied but wouldn't have known this was here if someone had not freep mailed me.

See the usual people touting the usual glass half empty theme!

[PhiKapMom]

Very good post! Makes you wonder how many of these one issue types that threaten not to vote actually ever vote in elections. Don't think there is a candidate out there that they would find to their liking that could get elected.

[CyberCowboy777]

I would enjoy that immensely.

God bless you and yours also.

"In those days... Every man did that which was right in his own eyes." Judges chapters 17-21

[Pagey]

Here's my position on a cross section of political issues: Pro-tax cut, Anti-redistribution of income,Pro-Boy Scouts, Anti-feminist, Anti-government regulation, Anti-environmentalist (to a point-I mean I don't leave cigarette butts on the freeway, sand or ground anymore), Anti-government social spending, Anti-affirmative action, Anti-judicial activism, Anti-social engineering, Pro-gun, Pro-defense spending, Pro-missile defense system, Anti-socialized medicine, Pro-oil exploration, Pro-free market, Anti-price controls, Pro-big business, Pro-free trade,Pro-capital punishment, Anti-campaign finance reform, Anti-union, pro-more spending for public education, Pro-voucher system for public education, anti-tobacco, Pro-SUV, Pro-cop, Pro-CIA, Anti-suing every thing in sight,Pro-tort reform.

I myself, don't believe this site is Too Conservative,no.I've always called myself a Conservative,and I've been called a 'nazi' by Liberal scum, more times than years I've been alive.Their problem is,they don't know how to verbally defend their arguments, when you're looking them in the eye.

[PhiKapMom]

Just following up on your post for those that cannot get it through their heads to this day about Perot!

Ross Perot would NEVER have gotten that many votes if we had the Internet back then because the rest of the Country would not listen to the people of Texas about Ross Perot because the word could not get out! What Perot did to Texas Education thanks to Ma Richards, took President George W. Bush to solve when he became Governor.

Perot pulling out of the race and then jumping back in had Clinton fingerprints all over it but the only place I heard it was on San Antonio Talk Radio! And then in 1996, people still voted for the Little General! He had a vendetta against the Bush Family and gave us Clinton even if some people will not admit it. Clinton only got 43% of the vote!

As for Buchanan in 1988, we all see what Buchanan has become today! What happened to his core values when he goes on TV and says Bill Clinton would make a good Mayor like he did yesterday on MSNBC? Tells me he has none!

[Pagey]

Oops I meant Pro-Tobacco as I'm a 20 plus year smoker.I'll choose to quit when I choose to quit.

[justshe]

Standing OVATION! Well said.

However, for those who claim that we must "hold the Republicans feet to the fire", I say you are doing more harm than good when you burn their feet rending them, leaving them unable to walk. The dishonesty and deception of your claims of good intentions are exposed as we see the real damage you are doing.

[rightofrush]

I was definitely anti-Democrat. And definitely anti-big government, anti-government corruption, anti-government abuse, anti-liberalism, etc. And I still am.

I feel so strongly about the above that I'm a dues paying member of the Libertarian Party.

Outside of Ron Paul, can you name a Republican that gives more than lip service to the Constitution and all of the Bill of Rights?

As far as the canard about Libertarians being druggies, keep two things in mind:
1. The basic tenet of the Libertarian Party is that you may choose your own ticket to Hell, just don't expect anyone to pay for it.
2. The period ohis country's greatest economic growth and development was during the 19th and early 20th centuries when there were no drug laws.

[annyokie]

Thanks! Your daughter is a doll! I got three boys for my efforts. They are handsome dudes, though!

[TLBSHOW]

You liked that one huh? LOL

Most of it was not true. If the republicans would not throw principal out the door their feet would not have to be held to the fire.

[jpl]

2. The period of this country's greatest economic growth and development was during the 19th and early 20th centuries when there were no drug laws.

That is certainly debatable. You could make a pretty good argument that the country's period of greatest economic growth and development was from 1982 to the present.

[justshe]

I like your post. And I am EXCELLENT at reading between the lines! (snicker)

[Sir Gawain]

Is Free Republic too "Republican?"

No, it appears to be split evenly on most hot-button issues that I read. Free Republic does, however, have too much of this:

Coffee Klatch

For Coffee Klatch the discussion forum is a social gathering - like Mah Jong or the Wednesday morning canasta club. Coffee Klatch prefers a friendly, chatty environment and almost always limits her participation to non-technical forums. Whether inadvertently or by design, Coffee Klatch prepares the battlefield in her favor by making it soggy with pleasant, but vapid messages - her favorite phrase often being, "thanks for sharing". This renders the battlefield rather slow going for many of the swifter and more powerful Warriors, and if war does break out she will shed her benign facade and strike mired Warriors with great ferocity.

The Swarm

A Swarm hive is almost impossible to detect. When a hapless victim stumbles on a forum that houses a Swarm and disturbs it with a message that runs counter to its prevailing ideology, the Swarm will erupt without warning. Taken one at a time the irrelevant, often mindless attacks by individuals in a Swarm can be crushed or easily brushed aside, but because of the sheer volume of the assault even the strongest Warriors must yield. WARNING: Only those who are highly skilled in Swarm management techniques should attempt to wade into a Swarm hive. Protective clothing will not prevent a Warrior from getting a few stings.

Whisper

Whisper maintains a benign demeanor and carefully avoids open conflict. When aroused, however, she will send vigorous attacks to sympathetic forum participants via private e mail in an attempt to sway the tide of battle. A typical Whisper maneuver is to "accidentally" post an ambiguously critical, but ostensibly private message to the discussion forum, e.g., "Dear Mary - see what I mean about this guy?" Or, "John - did you read what Bill said? I rest my case!" When challenged she will protest (disingenuously) that she hit the "reply" key by mistake, that the message was never intended to be read by forum participants, that the message was out of context, etc. Whisper's intent is to gain a tactical advantage by leaving the impression that her side in the conflict is gathering heavy forces just over the horizon, and though transparently obvious to veteran Warriors, this feint can often blunt a successful attack by less experienced fighters.

source

And the majority of that comes from the party-over-principle members of the GOP on this site.

[justshe]

~~~Most of it was not true. If the republicans would not throw principal out the door their feet would not have to be held to the fire. ~~~


Why are you telling me that it was not true? Why not take it up with the person who posted it? Oh....and WHY do you assume that post was about you?

[Cathryn Crawford]

Coffe Klatch

LMAO

[proud American in Canada]

I cannot understand why people claim they will vote for a third party to punish a Republican for not being 100% on abortion or RKBA, when doing so can result in a Democrat getting into office. After all, that's what happpened in 1992.

Under the "winner-take-all" system we have--we don't have a parliamentary system--voting for a third party is suicidal.

I don't think FR's name should be changed, because it's important to maintain an exchange of ideas and I wouldn't want to alienate the Libertarians, etc.

However, discussing theory and what would be best in a perfect world is one thing. I just wish when it came down to voting day, that these people would pay attention to the political reality, and vote Republican, because, as you point out Jim, they are the only ones who can defeat the Democrats.

[rwfromkansas]

FR should not label itself Republican. I say that as a proud Republican.