Time to part company

myself | 4/1/05 | hchutch

[hchutch]

Six months ago, Free Republic was riding high, and I was proud to be a part of it. It was coming off having blown the cover off of Dan Rather’s use of forged memos against the President. The President was well on his way to winning re-election. It was a great time to be a Freeper.

However, things have changed. It started with the justifiable removal of ALIPAC. I supported that move by Jim Robinson, but the ugliness directed towards Alberto Gonzales. He was accused of everything under the sun, and Senator Mel Martinez was viciously attacked for speaking Spanish on the Senate floor. The tone and outright viciousness (terms like FROBL and traitor were fired off at anyone who did not toe the line established by Michelle Malkin and Tom Tancredo) on immigration threads had concerned me, but I had concluded it was an isolated incident. After ALIPAC was removed from FR, I had hoped the tone there would improve. But it only got worse. I was point-blank called a traitor because my views on immigration differ from those of Michelle Malkin’s groupies. On immigration threads, questioning the questionable is not allowed. One must accept the unacceptable and allow folks to defend the indefensible. Never mind that VDARE, American Renaissance, and other sites are racist or have no problem hanging out with those that are racists (I’m just going to call a spade a spade here).

There were folks who had the long knives out for Senator Rick Santorum, one of the strongest pro-life members of the United States Senate. Why? Because he endorsed Arlen Specter over Pat Toomey. It was stunning to see these long knives out for a conservative. And all it would accomplish would be his replacement by a Democrat. How in the world replacing Rick Santorum with a Democrat would aid conservatism is beyond me, but it was demanded because Santorum endorsed Specter. The long knives were out, and I suppose it was a sign of what was to come.

The whole Terri Schiavo case has changed everything for me. A mob mentality took over the first few days after the order to pull the tube was given. Anyone who did not toe the line was attacked. I saw a dedicated active-duty member of our armed forces called a “Maine liberal” for simply asking why troops in harm’s way did not get the same sort of “all-nighter” attention that Terri Schiavo got. It was a reasonable question – we have 40-year-old P-3s still out there. We have a war on terrorism still going on, in case folks have not noticed. We have to get Social Security fixed. I say this as a person who believes that at best, Michael Schiavo’s relationship with a woman (and having two kids with her) meant he had a conflict of interest – and that he had decided that Terri was inconvenient. I cannot take his word alone that Terri would have wanted this. I also believe that George Felos is a supporter of euthanasia, and that he is using this case for his own ends. Those folks give me the creeps, and I think that Jim Robinson was on the right side of this issue. However, I also got a very bad feeling when the Schindlers embraced the likes of Randall Terry and Bo Gritz. I had to wonder what has happened to the conservative movement when the threads were allowed to spiral so out of control. The concept of euthanasia is repulsive and disgusting, but it does not excuse allowing the threads to spin out of control.

I have seen the President of the United States, George W. Bush, and the Governor of Florida, John Ellis Bush, take huge political risks in an effort to save Terri’s life. I believe they were doing their best to do the right thing, and that the original law passed in 2003 was a reasonable one that was wrongly stuck down by Judge Greer and the Florida Supreme Court. I think that the Republican Party has taken a huge risk to give Terri a chance at life, and I am disgusted with those who seek a pretext that will justify leaving the GOP in the lurch. I’m sick of the way the Terri threads spun out of control, and the vicious attacks launched at reasonable people who came to a different conclusions about the situation or who pointed out facts that certain people found inconvenient. This is not what I signed on here for.

I believe in a strong national defense, cutting taxes, and in general trying to keep government involvement as minimal as possible (there are times when the best one can do is to limit government involvement in a situation). I am pro-life (with exceptions for rape, incest, and to protect the life of the mother) and pro-Second Amendment. However, I do NOT want the federal government to be involved in any culture war. “Culture” was never mentioned in the constitution, thus I believe it is left to the States or TO THE PEOPLE (see the Tenth Amendment). I do NOT think immigration is a problem, but I believe some mistakes were made along the way (like eliminating the bracero program). I also think that the President of the United States has proposed a sensible plan that will go a long way towards solving the problems on our border with Mexico and do much to alleviate the problems surrounding illegal immigration. Therefore, I have come to the conclusion that it is time for me and Free Republic to part company, because Free Republic has left this limited-government neoconservative. In the process of Free Republic leaving me, I now find that I fear the social conservatives as much as I fear the loony left. As a result of coming to this conclusion, I ask that my account be deleted and all posts I have made, save for this opus and the ping to my friends be removed.

I do this with regret, since I will miss some of those who I have met here, but I feel no other choice. So long.

[RepublicMan4U]

"accidental hypocricy"

Wow, my spelling's really on today.

[lonevoice]

Good post! Appreciated your posts today on the Family Feud thread too. Very helpful.

[nickcarraway]

The thing you don't realize is that the Terri Schiavo case will have a huge impact on the War on Terror. Every terrorist lawyer and every smart terrorists saw this case and recognized their trump card. Now they know the way to defang the President and Congress when it comes to the War on Terror is through judges. The President has conducted a strong war, but now they know his achilles heel is through the courts. They saw that even a lowly probate court judge can derail our national security, because there isn't one person in government, from the President on down who won't back down to them. A smalltime judge could singlehandedly dismantle the Patriot Act and order the executive branch to leave suspected terrorist groups alone.

[LibSnubber]

You "get it". Wish there were more here who did. :)

[WVNan]

It's a shame you couldn't take the heat of debate h.c. I've seen FR fall into all out war time after time. The case of Elian Gonzalos comes to mind. Freepers tend to be passionate in their beliefs and are not afraid to debate them. That very thing is what makes this such a special place. It's interesting how FR withstands the heat of passion and comes up stronger each time. As someone else mentioned, it's the crucible that refines the truth. A lot of dross is filtered out in the long run. You just got caught up the some issues that are close to your heart and you don't want to hear that they MIGHT not be true. We all have our sacred cows. Defend yours. Don't give up so easily.

[Jakarta ex-pat]

Does this mean hcstarsky also has to leave?

[RushCrush]

Okidoki Speaking from experience, I've gone back and re-read some threads where I have participated in such actions as questioning someone's sign-on date, or their right to disagree with a poster, and they always devolve into something embarassing for both parties and I regretted doing it.

But, in your deference, like I said on a thread earlier, it's justa buncha ions -n- stuff on a computer monitor. (that statement can be applied both ways)

[raybbr]

I do NOT think immigration is a problem, but I believe some mistakes were made along the way (like eliminating the bracero program).

Once again you can't stick to the truth. It's not immigration we are against - it's illegal immigration we want stopped.

[RushCrush]

Does this mean hcstarsky also has to leave?

Best reply yet!! ROTFLMAO!!!!!!

[uglybiker]

Perhaps more because the sight of Bill Gate's sexy eyes and massive hard drive were too much to resist (I'm a woman btw!).

What did Bill Gates' wife say on their wedding night?

"Now I know why you call your company Micro soft."

[exmoor]

Please come back.. and I don't even know you...

[peyton randolph]

Does this mean hcstarsky also has to leave?

If they split, who keeps the car?

[PRND21]

Poohbah's Opus

[dennisw]

I've read a few goodbye opuses and yours doesn't rank very high. BuhBye!

[SaveTheChief]

As much as I dislike the harsh words, the heated arguments, the mild flame wars, and the occasional profanity around here, I think it is our ability to debate and seek common ground as conservatives that helps the overall cause. Sure, with such varied viewpoints, the discussion of hot topics can be difficult at times, but such debates help us all in knowing how other people think, and keeps us honest.

No one is perfect. We all get caught up in causes and topics that get us thinking of solutions that might not be perfectly in line with the Constitution. We might let emotions cloud our judgment, and personal attachment get in the way. For these reasons, we need other objective viewpoints.

I believe we are the open minded ones - NOT those on the other side of the political spectrum. Most of the time, FReepers try to be respectful, stand by their statements, and measure their own opinions to those of others here. Honestly, this cannot be said of many other discussion forums.

Your resignation thins out this diverse herd, and I am sure I speak for many FReepers in saying that we wish you would reconsider. Either way, I wish you the best.

[AZ_Cowboy]

Well said. I am disappointed in the flame-baiting that has gone on here as well over the last few days. I think it will probably die off in a few days or perhaps a week. I haven't been on here very long, but I have seen mini-cases of this before, so I have a general idea.

Still, I think the whole idea of leaving this forum because of a few dust-ups is kind of silly.

It's always a kick to hear your calls to Hannity, doug.

[Dog Gone]

What hyperbole was that? That FR has gotten particularly nasty of late? I don't think sane people dispute that. Quite a few defend the nastiness, but that's not the same thing.

My other point was that if this forum becomes dominated by a couple of special interest groups in the conservative movement, many people with broader conservative views will go elsewhere. That's a prediction, but perhaps you could explain why it's invalid instead of the way you've responded so far.

[RavenATB]

Too bad he's leaving.

I think he's underestimated the amount of emotional fervor associated with the Schiavo case. Many people, myself included, saw Michael Schiavo as another Scott Peterson...but a "Scott Peterson" who is apparently going to get away with it.

The Schiavo case is unique in the amount of media attention that was paid to it, and I think many FREEPERS got carried away with their rhetoric. I know people who spent hours a day praying for Terri Schiavo. I also know people who have been glued to the news of the Schiavo case for weeks, literally locked to the TV or radio whenever possible. I've can't remember the last time I saw an incident where so many Americans invested so much emotion in the plight of a single person.

Going overboard, getting over-emotional, and striking out at a time of incredible tension aren't necessarily indicators that those who were involved were wrong.

Other than the Schiavo clan and their representatives, I think most people who expressed an opinion on the plight of Terri Schiavo had generally good intentions, including people who wrote mean, stupid, and caustic statements about this case on FR.

Doug appears to be judging the members of FR using the words of what I believe to be a tiny fraction of the members.

I'm sad to see Doug go. But, when I think about it, it seems to me that his decision to leave FR is as irrational as many of those who he's criticizing in his "opus."

[PigRigger]

I believe there's an immigration problem; I felt it was the right thing to go into Iraq. I also came around to believe that Terri's tube should not have been pulled with the level of doubt (regarding her consciousness only) that existed.

Some felt the same way, some didn't...that's the way it is everywhere. Sure I received some nasty replies, never dished it back....just not my style.

I also learned a lot by listening to those with differing opinions. There's one thing that can be said about this forum; there are a lot pretty bright people posting.

But in the end, getting past the pettiness and extreme emotions, we all pretty much agree on a lot of issues.

It would be a very, very boring world if we all agreed on everything. It really ain't worth cutting and running.

BTW, I lurked for five years before registering in 2003...it is possible.

That's my two cents...IMHO

[DumpsterDiver]

Some are simply jerks.

I can't help but feel that was directed at me. I'm outta here!

Before you leave (ha!), go to the thread linked below.

Read it, study it, embrace it.

Then leave!

(And take that mean ol' Billthedrill with ya.)

The Opus: Hello to my friends.....
Author: Lazamataz
Published: 09/09/2000