When did Freepers turn so nasty? (vanity)

vanity | 2/12/2016 | Optimist

[Optimist]

Over the past several months, Free Republic has begun to show an ugly side of its members. Although admittedly comprised of many strong-willed, opinion-charged individuals presenting thoughtful, conservative insights into the topics of the day, this forum has begun to show a seamier side as the Trump-Cruz-Rubio-Carson 2016 Primary heated up. You all know what I mean. Many of you have either been at the giving or receiving end of EMOTIONALLY-charged attacks against various candidates or even individuals as their supporters.

Herewith a few thoughts I would like to share:

1. Passion for a candidate and buying into the campaign is exciting and important for exposing others to knowledge and understanding more about "your" candidate.
2. Most of us WILL NOT be able to have a voting impact on which individual becomes the candidate, so why such vitriol? A little perspective is really needed. What are you going to do if by mid-March (when only 20% of the country has had any type of primary vote) and your candidate has fallen off the slate? Face it ANY of these candidates are better than any Democrat or potential Independent opposition, and will have a better chance of being elected than nay 3rd/4th/obscure party candidate.
3. When did we turn into the Ron Paul group? Sorry, I don't mean to offend, but you know what I mean: personality driven, my guy can do/say no wrong, I'm going to get in your face if you don't see things my way, and .... well, you hopefully see the similarity.
4. None of the candidates is 100% perfect, but they all have characteristics that are admirable:
   • Trump is politically astute and media savvy, and has made an apparent conversion to conservative principles with support driven primarily by his fight against illegal immigration, and actually opens New York as a potential electoral win.
   • Cruz has a proven track record of fighting and winning for conservative causes, believes (along with other noteworthy legal minds) that he is eligible to be president, and is not afraid to stand up for and convincingly explain his position.
   • Kasich, has a history of fighting for fiscal responsibility, understands the workings of both legislative and administrative politics as well as decision balancing and decision making in an important electoral state.
   • Rubio is the new younger face of the Republican Party (hell, he's the younger face of the 2016 election) from one of the two critical electoral states in the past several elections, eloquently espousing conservatism and having shown his political chops by running and winning against an entrenched Democrat.
   • Bush comes from a conservative background, with administrative experience in what has consistently been a crucial electoral state, with the potential for earning crossover votes from the Latino community.
   • Carson presents the studied, calm outsider's perspective of the challenges we all know we face, speaking for many who are ready for the politicians to take a back seat and let intelligent people of good heart give it a try.
5. Yes there are negatives for all of them, but this is THE BEST crop of candidates we have ever had to choose from, unlike past elections when it seemed inevitable that the hand-picked, it's-his-turn, establishment candidate was chosen for us. And, besides, go back and re-read number 2.
6. And (finally?) a word about pundits: (Glenn Beck, Rush, Fox News, et. al.):
   • Fox - yeah they seem to be coming down pretty hard on "our/my guy(s)" but they are still a lot better than almost any of the hacks on all of the other networks, and why are you surprised that they have a bias for/against any of the R candidates (aren't all of us exactly the same?) when we have always known journalists are NOT unbiased, but just hopefully, at Fox, a little more centered.
   • Rush - has taken up the banner for many of the candidates and refuses (as always) to endorse one in particular, instead cheerleading the positive aspects of each because he knows one of them will be the only way to stop HillBerniBiden.
   • Beck - is passionate and has done exactly what we want "our" media pundits to do: TAKE A STAND! I'm sorry if his choice and their definition of conservatism isn't yours, but at least he has the balls to speak up, stand by his candidate, and explain his principles in as objective a way as you could hope. Considering some of the nasty attacks I have seen recently against different candidates and their supporters, as well as Beck, it would seem we need to put up a mirror so we can each see ourselves as others see us. We are better than that.

Well, this is what happens when one (Ok, I) become frustrated with the ad-hominem attacks against so many good people both on this site, and otherwise supportive of conservatism and the rise of a conservative Republican Party. We are all decent, America-loving conservatives who are driven to strive for what is best for returning this country to its pride.

Please Freepers, make your best case, and trust that whoever eventually runs against the Demobeast will, with God's light, be the right person for the job.

Let the flame-war begin, I have donned my suit! And God bless.

[jpsb]

This is the most important election ever for these United States. If we choice wrong this election the country, its' people and its' constitution are in the trash bin of history.

As I see it there is only one candidate that is not bought and paid for by the Marxist globalists hell bent on creating their "make the world safe for the rich" oligarchy. Want to see what life is like when ruled by an oligarchy? Visit Mexico. And then there is the other war with Islam. And we've got to win that war too or once again we are finished.

So yeah this election is kindof important and just about everyone knows it. There is really only one battle going on at FR and that is between supporters of "Trump the good" and those of "Cruz the bad." Hang in there this cycles' FR primary war will be over soon.

If you don't vote Trump you either become a serf to the NWO oligarchy or (if you are a man) you lose your head to a Muslim (if you are a women you'd wish you were a man).

[Elsie]

Cruz is funny looking.

Those eyes...

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[Elsie]

But then...

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[Elsie]

To my dismay, the moderators didn't even bother to delete it.

Perhaps they never SAW it!

I cannot image spending my time looking thru all of these threads; every day; hours on end...

Uh... wait...

[Elsie]

I’m on a knife’s edge on whether I’ll be able to bring myself to vote for Trump in the general election. If I do it will be the hardest vote I’ve ever cast.

Can I assume that you voted for Romney last time?

[MarDav]

Well, it’s easy to see who you’re voting for! Your photo side-by-side of Cruz compares him with a hound dog...nuthin’ but a hound dog. Obviously to suggest that he was cryin all the time. But weren’t the orangutan’s the intellectuals on the Planet of the Apes?

[Elsie]

People are idiots.

You are stuttering...

[yuleeyahoo]

Well said.

For myself, I do try not to say anything I will later regret and not be able to walk back. I find it helps to take a deep breath before posting while I consider alternate ways of making my point.

[Elsie]

Being on the receiving end of some REALLY nasty rhetoric, and seeing other FReepers get taken out to the woodshed over and over and over, this is the nastiest time ever here on FR.

When it gets too wild and wooly here in the News/Activism area; we can always move of to the Religion Forum where peace and love prevails.

[Fhios]

Many are inexperienced at posting their opinions without feeling the need to alyinski the other candidate.

marginalize, criticize, demonize then criminalize.

Just remember, there are the RINOS on the left of the GOP and RINOS on the right of the GOP and they can’t stand each other and are constantly trying to push each other out from underneath the GOP tent.

[grania]

This is nowhere near as bad as it was the first time Ron Paul went for the nomination. It seems that an invisible hand has actually toned down the direct personal attacks and insults.

Is it really out of control? Or are we one of the places where the issues get thrashed out, and everyone can have an opinion? One thing I learned early on as a Freeper. If anyone is too sensitive or unimformed to defend themselves, it's not a happy place for them!

[Elsie]

And they harangue you for money every 3 months!

[jpsb]

"At least I don’t think anyone has started their own site. ;-)"

LOL, I really hare to do this but Consistent Conservatives Hard core Cruz fan bots

[FreedomForce]

Yes, I did. I couldn’t bring myself to vote for McCain even with Palin on the ticket. I voted for the black guy in 2008...Alan Keyes. Thowaway vote.

[Elsie]

Where is the FR poll showing the current support for the Republican candidates?

[Elsie]

Posting on FR is an important responsibility.

Speak up, and out, EVERYWHERE!

The Silent Majority didn't do much good!

[Elsie]

I’ve only been here since 2000 and admit I’ve been mostly a lurker but I’ve never seen it so ugly.

Just yesterday, I was called "UGLY!" by a toad!

[Elsie]

The problem ended when the crew literally laughed the aliens right off the ship.

[Elsie]

The problem ended when the crew literally laughed the aliens right off the ship.

---

Proverbs 17:22
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

[Lakeshark]

Almost every poster here who is supporting Trump also supported Cruz as their number 2 candidate Almost every Cruz supporter hated Trump from the beginning and has never had a number 2 candidate.

For a long time, I preferred Cruz, but very quickly Trump became my second choice.

Now I prefer Trump, but would get behind Cruz if he wins the nomination.

I know a lot of Cruz supporters that would get behind Trump if he wins, but there are way too many who will take their balls, pout and go home if he doesn't win.

I'm just glad that Jeb is such a bad candidate, likewise Kasich, plus Rubio has been exposed.

I like all that. It seems this is coming down to Trump or Cruz, and unless something changes, we should be happy with that. Actually, we should be thrilled.