[harpseal]

I agree on many of the points about why one needs to vote Republican. However, the Republican Party includes a liberal wing and if criticism of Republican positions becomes grounds for removal from this forum the forum will IMHO suffer. I still remeber the Don Morgan One who Knows wars of years back. Clearly this is your sandbox and you may do as you wish as we are merely invited guests but given such looming issues as trade policy the Assault Weapons Ban and other coming issues it could be way too limiting to take a position that Free Republic is an adjunct of the Republican Party.

Clearly getting consensus among those opposed to big government makes hearding cats seem like a pleasure but by adhereing to one party many Freepers will be driven away.

[wita]

I have rewritten this to conform to what I think will pass muster, but your reference to days of yore, brought back memories of Ash Alerts. and he who bashed ash is long gone. Ash on the other hand was still lurking in the weeds, but maintaing an extremely low profile, at least long after the ash basher left or was banned, I don't remember which. What's my point, I think I've forgotten already. Oh yea it had something to do with selective banning, but then I'm not the owner, boss, moderator, or anyone else associated with regulating, monitoring, running, or building, oops, scratch that, I have helped to build FR, in my own small way.

I vote a resounding NO, to any association with a political party willing to let unprincipled people who cannot back the party platform, but will take party money and support for calling themselves such. A rino does not belong in the republican party, or deserve to gain political favor, by use of the party name after his or her own.