“Some of the best posters here were (inexplicably, IMO) banned around/after the 2006 elections and I never understood it...”
Really? I’ve been on here since about ‘02 but didn’t really notice a purge of regulars around the time of the ‘06 elections?
Do you recall who got booted?
It wasn’t a mass purge so much as it was a series of bans over the course of a few months. Pukin Dog definitely got banned, MadIvan stopped posting (and is a moderator at another conservative forum made by the group of ex-FReepers in question), and there are definitely others.
I wish I had a list to give you.