[WFTR]

I'm not weeping for the departure of any Rudybots, junior. I'm upset that good FReepers, for years, many longer than you, were banned because they chose a candidate against the main train of thought around here.

I hated seeing so many Alan Keyes supporters banned in 2000. I thought that many of the people we lost were great FReepers and many that we kept were idiots. However, I don't think anyone was ever permanently banned for supporting a different candidate. Instead, some were banned for being disruptive and insulting in what they said in support of their candidates. I was one who supported Mr. Keyes and criticized Mr. Bush very strongly, but I mananged not to turn everything into a personal attack. As a result, I was never banned. I also learned to step away from the forum for a while when the "Bushbots" were being too shrill and insulting.

One thing I've noticed about the current situation is that some of the "Bushbots" who were insulting towards critics back then are on the receiving end of things now. If the experience of having to take insults or be banned teaches them a little humility, maybe the whole forum will be better when they return someday.

Bill

[EternalVigilance]

I hated seeing so many Alan Keyes supporters banned in 2000.

Can you name some? I'm scratching my head over what seems like a parallel you're trying to draw with the Giuliani people. I don't see it at all.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

I ended up backing Dubya in 2000, but if I were able to play God for 10 seconds, I would have Alan Keyes in the White House right now. He would have *itch-slapped Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton around so hard the video could sell as a DVD(the RNC would have made a fortune).