America is the land I love and I defend her and our Liberty with every fibre of my being.
I set up Free Republic to promote the conservative point of view (not necessarily the Libertarian point of view) and invited other like-minded conservatives to join me. I never intended to create a liberal or even libertarian debating society.
True, I may have allowed things to get a bit out of hand in the earlier years, but I eventually recognized the error of my ways and have since corrected course.
Liberals infest and control the government, our justice systems, our legal professions, our educational institutions, our media, our churches, our charities and every aspect of our society, families and personal lives. Liberalism is a cancer and it's feeding on our society and our American way of life. Untreated, it will destroy us.
We ARE the dissenters. Free Republic is intended to be a liberal-free zone where conservatives can be free to discuss issues important to ourselves without having liberal trolls and other slimeballs jamming their gnarly diseased thumbs in our eyes at every turn.
This is not a liberal debating society. It's a place for conservative discussion and activism. We have certain goals in mind and have on going conservative activism projects at all times. We do not need, nor do we appreciate naysaying trolls dogging our efforts.
Liberals are not welcome here. Nor are abortionists, feminists, homosexualists, environmentalists, gun grabbers, anti Americans of any kind, peaceniks, pacifists, U.N. lovers, world government advocates, socialists, communists, marxists, anarchists, fascists, nazis, skinheads, whackos, propagandists of any stripe, tinfoil hatters, whacked out conspiracy theorists, religious bigots, racists, white supremacists, anti-Semites, Holocaust deniers, violence advocates, violence prone revolutionaries, uni-bombers, sociopaths, perverts, spammers, hawkers, solicitors, self promoters, trolls, trashers or bashers, whiners, etc., etc.
Most Libertarians are ok as long as they don't fall too much in line with any of the above unwanted categories and don't go into the bashing/trashing mode or otherwise become anti-FR trolls.
Otherwise, you are certainly free to join any of the other forums on the internet (it's a big FREE world out there) where you may feel more comfortable, or even to create and operate your own free speech haven and operate it any old way that pleases your pea-pickin' heart.
In the meantime, if you desire to remain on Free Republic you're certainly welcome to do so, but I really do wish you would learn to quit harping your victimhood. It's very annoying and does not necessarily reflect well on libertarianism in general.
In spite of the assertions of you detractors, I believe you have your nation's best interests at heart. Always have believed this. Pushed the point home for years even when your former friends called you a thief and a liar and fraud. All a bunch of shit laid at your feet by disgruntled folk. Never participated in it, and did my best to reign it in when I saw it.
You and I don't agree about everything, but there's a difference between disagreeing and smearing. You've taken your share of abuse. (I know what its like)
I don't contest your dominion over your website. In fact I celebrate it. It's yours. You built it. You nurtured it. It is yours to do with as you please. You want to control the content.. that's your call. You want to make a few bucks, I personally think you deserve it. (I am a capitalist to my very core)... You want to toss conspiracy nuts and leftists out on their ass, more power to ya.
As you know, I disagree with your take on the best way back to a limited republic that protects inidividual rights. You think the pubbies are the way. For the life of me, I can't figure out why. They spend like liberals, they cave on social programs, and gun control, and actually sponsor intrusive legislation that erodes our legitimate rights. On this we'll have to agree to disagree. (you didn't always disagree... and in fact were once one of the most vocal opposition voices on FR). But times and circumstances change.
I'm not here to "harp on victimhood". I made a passing comment on a thread that I didn't even post. I talked about your past behavior. I stand by those comments. You did in fact encourage the more unseemly elements at FR, to find greener pastures on LF. Honestly it was a pretty smart move on your part. Get rid of the nuissances here, while giving FR folks something to point at and despise.
I don't think it's all that big a deal really. We'll get over it. But it does create a little bit of an unfair situation. LF gets characterized as a skinhead site by those who present the worst crap as characteristic of the website as a whole. You used to hate that when it happened to FR.
But be that as it may, the site is devoted to free speech, and will remain that way. Two websites, two philosophies. Censorship and control, versus free speech and open content.
One is easier (but in my opinion less rewarding, as it can only be devoted to truth as dictated by central authority).
The other is a harder road. You have to deal with real dissent.. muck-throwing kidney-punching nasty-ass dissent..
It isn't easy... but...
The truth doesn't need the support of authority..
As always, I wish you continued success.