wardaddy wrote: "I think the BOTs and their taskmasters use that as an excuse to try to stem any criticism of their demigod GW."
I agree Free Republic has its share of apologists for GW and the RINOs, but I think your characterization of the moderators and Jim Robinson is totally unfair! Read some of my past posts, and you'll see I've been very critical of GW for several years--yet, I'm not banned (yet).
The way I see it, we have a pretty open forum here to debate the issues. Just because we FReepers disagree on certain points, we all need to come together and do what's best for this country BEFORE election time. That doesn't mean all dissent should be squashed, and I don't believe it is. It only means we need to remember we are essentially on the same side here.
Maybe there's hope of moving to the point where every thread doesn't become a food fight between the "bots" and the "unappeasables."
For example ... I enjoy spending time on ConfirmThem.com ... and while there are certainly disagreements there, the threads are intelligent and rarely devolve into an exchange of insults.
Of course, that site has only a tiny fraction of the posters that FR has ... so part of the problem here is the price of success.
(Oh, for what it's worth, there is a rumor at ConfirmThem that there may be a Supreme Court retirement as early as today.)
I did not accuse Robinson personally but the Mods are Bots and their wolf packs are allowed to run wild.
Fair or not.
You should have seen how Bush was talked about around here in the old days.
And his daddy.
I supported him hardcore. I will always view W with ambivalence....just like I do his daddy.
The Bots are on one side. Their's. It's like a perverse little club.
Would you like me to freepmail you the top bullies in their gang?
You can follow them around and watch them threaten like they own the joint.
Call old timers trolls.
And talk about "Lists" while they hive five over who is the biggest toe-sucker like they are some sort of forum gestapo.
They are pukes.
A lot of decent folks have been banned for saying far less than used to be said around here in the old days about W.
All that talk about folks voting Dem in disgust has so little truth. It's just subterfuge to thwart dissent and elevate their club.
The same club that ironically during Schiavo would tarred and feathered JR give a chance.
This is Free Republic. A highly subjective joint unless folks are rallied like an election or war.