[Jim Robinson]

Well, I want to defeat liberalism, and not only defeat it, but drive a stake through it's cold, dead heart. I could care less what label they put on me or what tools I use to get the job done. Right now the Republican Party appears to be the only party that can do it. I won't officially change the label on FR unless the vast majority of FReepers want it done, but I'd like to see the whining stop. I announced way back after the 2000 primaries my intentions. Three years and many successes later, we still have some people objecting. If they don't want to be part of the team that knocks out the Democrats, then they should either leave, or at least knock off the crying about it.

[ForOurFuture]

Jim, one of the biggest benefits I've gotten out of FR has been exposure to all the threads wherein the viability of the GOP as a vehicle for conservatism and small government is debated. One side will point to the constant growth of government even under GOP control, the horrible, unconstitutional bills passed and signed by GOP congresses and Presidents, the RINOs who have hijacked the party and moved it to the left, and how our side constantly compromises. They tend to be Libertarians and independents. They have completely lost confidence in the Republican party as a vehicle for conservatism and the constitution.

The other side will cite incrementalism as the way to go. They offer that unconstitutional socialism was put in place slowly, and that, under the GOP, it will have to be eroded slowly. They say ours is a two-party system, and that the lesser of two evils, however evil they may be, is the proper option. They acknowledge its faults, but believe the GOP can be reformed, and that that is the only way.

Well, I have struggled with this debate. I've heard eloquent, reasoned arguments on both sides, and I have bounced back and forth. I supported a Libertarian for my state's governorship. But in 2002, I campaigned for a very conservative Republican running for the state legislature, the dream candidate- pro-life, pro-RKBA, pro-Constitution, pro-small government, and vehemently so. He won the primary and the general election.

Partly because of this experience, and after reflection on all my observations, I just recently registered to vote as a Republican. The GOP is chock full of faults. But rather than abandoning it, I will work from the inside to change it. I just thought this would be a good opportunity to express this, particularly since I have read your remarks on the subject before.

[Night Hides Not]

Well, I want to defeat liberalism, and not only defeat it, but drive a stake through it's cold, dead heart. I could care less what label they put on me or what tools I use to get the job done. Right now the Republican Party appears to be the only party that can do it.

Aw c'mon, Jim, haven't you seen the exponential increase in the Libertarian vote? It's risen at least 200% over the past election cycle...from .5% to 1%.

All kidding aside, I'm with you as a member of the 'glass is half-full' set. Would I like to see the Pubbies in the Senate get some real cojones? You bet!

However, there is legislation that has passed that would have never taken place had algore won in 2000, such as banning partial birth abortion, and significant reductions in income tax rates.

At the risk of being called a Bushie, I shudder to think what a Gore administration would be like.

Retaining the 'Republican' moniker makes us more effective, IMHO. We worked hard to get Dubya and other Republicans elected, and the vast majority of Freepers are registered Republicans. Dropping that label, rightly or wrongly, would leave us on the fringes of the extreme right, just as the DUers are on the fringes of the extreme left. I've been posting here too long to know that we are more mainstream than that.

Thanks for the early wake-up, Jim.

[joesbucks]

I agree that I want to defeat rank liberalism and democrats in general. I also agree that with that being said, the republican party is the best vehicle for doing it. It doesn't mean that the Republican party is free from the sins that the liberals and democrats are guilty. And that's where I believe that FR is failing.....outing the wrongs that we seek to out on the liberals and democrats that seek to destroy our Republic but now seeming to protect republicans from the same scrutiny.

I am to the left of you politically, but not on the left. But I often dance very gingerly to avoid having a post pulled, a response zotted and an account suspended or terminated. There are times my voice isn't heard for fear of the aforementioned. I am not a troll, I am not a disruptor. But I can often divorce my opinion from the partisan view. I see the same groupthink here that I saw us accuse the Clinton supportors of doing. Some of that groupthink is perpetrated by the moderators. I see many articles that would be mind and value strengthing zotted because as written they support the left. But the article could have taught us the thought process of the left and how to best counter it. But we zot it for fear it may be seen as support rather than discussion. And often under the label of "well the article, post or poster is a democrat or liberal". Sad.

My posts never contain profanity, and often are not designed to provoke but rather invoke thought. Many conservatives and republicans are just as closed minded (and sometimes wrongly) as liberals and democrats.

I do believe there is a role for government, but not to the extent that it has become. As Paul Harvey says, self government without self restraint doesn't work. When self restraint doesn't come into play, then government must make rules to keep society secure from the predators working under the guise of capitalism. Attempts to regulate the buying of votes in our government has mandated us toward CFR. I don't think CFR is the answer in its present form, but when a person or group can buy a vote then we are in trouble. I've set in corporate executive offices when something that is not good for the public is being debated and the excutive gives the marching order of "you let him/her know how much we gave so if he/she wants MY continued $$ support they better vote my way'. That's wrong. The vote has attempted to have been bought. When it comes to access and sway of our elected critters, I and you should have the ability to discuss with our elected representatives our position. We should have the same access and sway as any person or group. Our reasoning should be able to convince that elected official to see our point of view, not our checkbook.

There's my soapbox. This is the best forum for political discussion. And there are times when the process has to be reined in or it will go out of control. I understand that. But the sensorship has made it seem that if it ain't pro Bush or pro republican, then it isn't worthy and could result in the ultimate zot. I sort of always thought that FR was created to route out government corruption and wrong doing at all levels, not just on the liberal side of the aisle.

[Miss Marple]

I don't think that FR is "too Republican", and I have the singed clothing to prove it. :-)

Although I am a Republican and appreciate all the help we can get, I would caution against an official affiliation with the party. The site would become a large target for the DNC and its minions, the Republicans would be tarred with every nutball that manages to register and post something inflammatory, and the site would sometimes find itself aligned with a policy that perhaps not all would support.

It is your site, however, so this is only my two cents and not worth much more than that.

Thanks again for all you do. You are a hero in my book!

[Mare]

I'd like to see the whining stop. I announced way back after the 2000 primaries my intentions. Three years and many successes later, we still have some people objecting. If they don't want to be part of the team that knocks out the Democrats, then they should either leave, or at least knock off the crying about it.

Amen.

I think we should stay a conservative site and not take on the label of any political party. There's more credibility in that.

Right now President Bush and his administration are the best hope we have to fight liberalism and the Demonocrats. What's wrong with ardently supporting them? As for President Bush, it is so refreshing to have someone in charge that you can admire and support. These things do not make one a Republican.

Thanks again, Jim and John, for all you do.

[Cultural Jihad]

If they don't want to be part of the team that knocks out the Democrats, then they should either leave, or at least knock off the crying about it.

The problem is that the whiners here on FR are really fighting for Democratic moral-liberal goals, such as acceptance of sexual perversion and drug legalization, and against religion in the public square.

[mombonn]

I'd like to see the whining stop.

Amen, Jim! I's so sick of certain posters who can't rush to bash the President that I spend a lot less time here than I used to.

I don't know how put up with complaints from ingrates who probably have never contributed a dime to FR.

God bless you, and thanks for FR.

And, no, don't change it to a Republican site. I'm a conservative first, a Republican second.

[Baseballguy]

Dont change the name. The Republic for which it stands is the true goal. I really like getting the other side of the news. Most that post here have a rational thought that I can relate to.

Mainstream media tried to pull you down and justly you prevailed. There might be hope for our court system. The greatest power is knowledge. With the internet and web we have tools that can be escaped.

My goal is to recruiting more to this sight with like beliefs....

[Cyber Ninja]

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

Dittos. CB^)

[ApesForEvolution]

"I won't officially change the label on FR unless the vast majority of FReepers want it done, but I'd like to see the whining stop. I announced way back after the 2000 primaries my intentions. Three years and many successes later, we still have some people objecting."

Who's whining about what? What are your intentions? Why break something that is fixed?

[Dead Dog]

As far as labling the site as "Republican" I don't see any real upside.

Well, I want to defeat liberalism, and not only defeat it, but drive a stake through it's cold, dead heart

Don't forget to burn the corps, plow the ashes, and salt the earth where the bodies fell. ...Just a little something I learned here at FR.

[FairOpinion]

"I'd like to see the whining stop. If they don't want to be part of the team that knocks out the Democrats, then they should either leave, or at least knock off the crying about it. "


AMEN.

I think it's fine and great to have people express various opinions on the threads. BUT I think the "whiners" are complaining, because they want to hijack FR to be a proponent of only their narrow agenda, which I think would be detrimental to FR and our cause in general, FR would become a fringe group, that nobody except the small group would read.

I think FR is a terrific forum as is, powerful, influential and leaving it just the way it is, is the best thing, in my opinion. Then let "the winers" know that if they can't accept reality, they can go form their own forum, from where they can exclude Republicans, if they want to. Then see if their forum ever gets anywhere.

[FairOpinion]

" I'd like to see the whining stop."

[Buffalo Head]

The only way to consistently defeat liberals (mostly Democrats) is to win the hearts and minds of the middle ground (Soccer Moms, etc). Common Tator has posted many of his excellent essays here about the danger of being too ‘conservative’ and too disdainful of the RINO’s and other middle-grounders. It takes a big tent to win elections.

I believe it would be counter-productive to become any more closely associated with the Republican party (even though that’s the way most of us vote).

[Gargantua]

I won't officially change the label on FR unless the vast majority of FReepers want it done, but I'd like to see the whining stop. If they don't want to be part of the team that knocks out the Democrats, then they should either leave, or at least knock off the crying about it.

Comments like that are rare from you, JimRob. Especially as such vitriol from you would surely offend some of your more loyal, long-standing supporters. I started wondering, what might this really be all about...?

Jim, if you did change FR to an officially "Republican" site, an official arm of the GOP, would FreeRepublic then receive funding from the Republican Party?

Is that what this entire tirade has been about? Because that is exactly the kind of nepotistic largesse that I thought FReepers were supposed to be against.

;-/

[RAT Patrol]

then they should either leave, or at least knock off the crying about it.

See, I think that's self-defeating. On the one hand, we must stick by the Republican label no matter what and be unified. On the other hand, if you disagree, leave or shut-up. Um...that doesn't match up, in my view. If we need all the help we can get then why run off minor dissent, especially when that dissent is coming from people with basically the same principles and values as everyone else on FR? Seems contradictory.