[ForOurFuture]

If the vast majority of the FReepers want it so, then Free Republic will officially become the newest "Republican wing" of the Republican Party.

I vote nay.

[Cindy]

"Is FREEREPUBLIC Too 'Republican'?"

No. I am a Christian, conservative, a registered voter and not a Republican and I post away quite freely, thanks to you, Mr. Robinson.

[xm177e2]

Free Republic should stay independent of political parties. There should definitely not be an official Republican affiliation. (And I say this as someone who's more Republican than conservative.)

If we get too drawn into "beating the Democrats at all costs," what are we propping up? We have to keep the Republicans honest.

[Diddle E. Squat]

I want to defeat the left, and I want to do it as quickly as possible.

Now that is beautiful poetry.

[ClancyJ]

I am surely Republican but I enjoy reading posts of other views too - (as long as I can stand it).

I am middle of the road on this.

I agree - nothing will beat the Democrats except the Republican Party. And, as dangerous as the democrats are - we have to beat them.

So we become a little more liberal - so what? We can also become more conservative too as time goes bye.

[The Raven]

No....

The libs have - over the years - spun the termonology. They have succeeed in correlating right wing [conservative, Republican] with the NRA, pro-life, anti-labor, anti-popular government programs (social security, education) and the Nazis.

Put me in the column of freedom. Free people, free markets, free press, small government, and republican rule (small "r").

[JohnHuang2]

Long live Republicanism. Long live the Republic!'

Amen. Well said, Jim.

[ladyinred]

Okay, I am in the minority here, but Republicans are the only ones who can defeat the democrats, and I think we all know that, even those who prefer a third party.
The liberal left is the enemy, and we need to use the best weapon against them.

[HAL9000]

Keep the "independent" label - and the Republican spirit.

[lowbridge]

If the vast majority of the FReepers want it so, then Free Republic will officially become the newest "Republican wing" of the Republican Party.

Nay.

[PaulJ]

I vote "no". As FR gains in numbers and power it will be too easy, for those on the left, to attempt to discount & discredit us by saying Free Republic is nothing more than the postings of Republican talking points.
And there is always the fear that anyone critical of the GOP not only would be hesitant to post, but could be flamed for posting their thoughts.
Grandpa always said, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it">

[sit-rep]

Don't fix want aint broke... tell the whiners to get a life.

[BagCamAddict]

I vote No. I'm quite new to the site, but....

I'd rather fight against wrong issues than a wrong political party. Some issues are clearly "liberal" or "conservative" and there is no middle ground. Whereas the "right" solution for other issues may be somewhere in the middle. But if everyone focuses on "partisan" politics, then there is no attempt to find the RIGHT (proper) solution for each separate issue.

Partisanship causes attitudes of: "I don't care what is right for this issue, as long as it's the opposite of what the Democrats want." That would make us no better than them. We should be capable of critical thinking, and of separating politics from issues. Otherwise, we'd be equally as guilty of stupid-logic and stupid-thinking as "they" are.

So I vote No to assigning "Republican" to the website name/charter.

[chasio649]

Nay

[oceanperch]

Can we do a poll thingy that would only take one vote per Freeper? So it won't get Freeped.

[Neets]

No matter what changes you make to FR, be it in title, vision statement or mission...there will always be a group who are not going to be happy.

FR has enough of a history to show that there are people out there and in here who for whatever envy they hold will pick and peck at the slightest thing they see that falls outside of their agenda.

Don't make FR like this bumper sticker I have seen:

GOVERNMENT: IF IT AIN'T BROKEN, FIX IT TILL IT IS.

[D-fendr]

FR represents a spectrum of conservatism. And I think it pretty closely reflects the size of various factions.

A great many are Republicans, as the majority of conservatives have tended to be for some time.

Their representation would decrease with a less popular Republican president.

[Godebert]

Unbelievable. When will you make Republican party membership mandatory to post on the forum?

[Rodney King]

It's great the way it is. Conservatism encompasses a wide range of different beleifs. All of them are well represented here. The whining that you are hearing is certain inviduals who simply don't like it when people disagree with them. There are certain people, who, say, want to put all homosexuals in jail. They just can't believe that others here are allowed to disagee with them.

The point though is that its not so much the individual positions, rather its the character of the people complaining that is the issue. If the issue was what the best flavor of ice cream is, they would want everyone to agree with them.

In addition, most of these people seek out those who disagree with them, not vice versa. Although I voted for W and generally like him, I am one of those who can't stand the "Day in the life" love-in's. Therefore, I don't click on them. Problem solved. Although I have strong views on the WOD and the civil war, I don't post on those threads as dong so is a useless exercize. Do I complain that the other side ought to be kicked off of Free Republic? No, I just avoid those threads.

Everything is great just the way it is. Conservatism has long encompassed people of significantly different outlooks, from Pat Buchanan to PJ O'Rourke. Don't let a few compaliners force any unneccessary changes around here.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

I'm Republican and proud, but let's keep FR independent. As much as I love my party, they need a good whack in the head when they stray.