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When did Freepers turn so nasty? (vanity)
vanity | 2/12/2016 | Optimist

Posted on 02/12/2016 10:04:27 PM PST by 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:
  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.):

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.


TOPICS: FReeper Editorial; Free Republic; Front Page News; Miscellaneous; Politics/Elections; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: 2016; 2016gopprimary; cruz; cruzcontrol; cruzorlose; election; faq; trump; vanity
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1 posted on 02/12/2016 10:04:28 PM PST by Optimist
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To: Optimist

It’s the primaries. People have chosen their candidate and are fighting for them. I don’t mind it if it’s a regular. Think though there are new members / astro turfers / paid posters muddying up the threads on ANY candidate.

Your summary is a good one though.


2 posted on 02/12/2016 10:45:17 PM PST by TigerClaws
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To: Optimist

Remember BobJ, Asmodeus, Johngalt?
Guiliani for Pres?
Just asking.


3 posted on 02/12/2016 10:46:28 PM PST by Darksheare (Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same.)
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To: Optimist; JustAmy

Bump!


4 posted on 02/12/2016 10:46:50 PM PST by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to to God!)
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To: Optimist

Consider the primary demographic of FR: senior citizens. Their longevity to 2020 and 2024 is in doubt. 2016 is their last shot. Elderly age regression is in full force.


5 posted on 02/12/2016 10:47:31 PM PST by JPX2011
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To: Optimist

Well put post.


6 posted on 02/12/2016 10:50:44 PM PST by eyedigress ((Old storm chaser from the west))
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To: TigerClaws

Cause most FReepers are old angry voters and are sick of government lol.


7 posted on 02/12/2016 10:51:41 PM PST by the_individual2014
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To: Optimist

Every Presidential primary gets sort of rough on FR. This one is on up there, but there have been worse. For instance, Giuliani, that was wild. FR as a group was also pretty firmly against both McCain and Romney until they were nominated, and many couldn’t let go of their opposition even after nomination. They opused out, got the zot or fell silent. This is not a new thing, the FR where I lurked for years could be a pretty harsh place. So, as far as Trump vs. Cruz, this too shall pass.


8 posted on 02/12/2016 10:55:20 PM PST by RegulatorCountry
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To: Optimist

Because it makes a difference. Levin, Limbaugh, Hannity, Savage et al use Free Republic for the pre show prep. They value our opinions. For example Rush “stack” is nothing but him printing off stuff form FR. We are being heard.


9 posted on 02/12/2016 10:56:28 PM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: Optimist

I hope (can I dare say I am, er, optimistic?) that it comes to an end, but on the other hand there are tomfools and lurkers all over the place. That alone guarantees it won’t. We regulars, at best, can start refusing to take the bait.

I try to be Fox-y, that is, fair and balanced. I think I know what the dangers are for America, and they aren’t even in the political sphere, but the spiritual one.

However, even if Billy Graham became president, this wouldn’t do a thing about the situation. How could it? The government is a Caesar thing; the church is a believer thing; never did God ask them to mix except in the entity He called Israel.

I could see the possibility of Cruz making it, but it doesn’t look like he is pursuing the grace of God, which probably leaves it to Trump, who seems more of a Balaam’s Donkey sort of figure than anything else. He’s here mainly to tell off the liars and otherwise be a pretty fair Caesar, friendly to Christians.

Real salvation for America will come, if it does, in the form of a revival of its collective church, the body of all believers. It needs to get the point that Caesar isn’t its agent but God is. This will possibly appear as an unusual answer to things like the prayer-in-schools issue, that faith will come in through the kids and Caesar, while not formally leading it, will speak well of it.


10 posted on 02/12/2016 10:56:28 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: JPX2011

BS. I ain’t elderly.

This was happening back in 2007 when I joined the forum. Don’t pretend this is new. Frankly, this is the first time I’m supporting the FR “popular” candidates.


11 posted on 02/12/2016 10:57:02 PM PST by Twink
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To: JPX2011

I represhent those remarks.


12 posted on 02/12/2016 10:57:26 PM PST by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to to God!)
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To: TigerClaws

I understand standing up for your candidate in the primary. And it is certainly a slugfest among the candidates. They know what they are getting into and it’s all part of the process. But getting personal with each other or even in describing the opposition is beneath us.

We each need to make our best case (if so inclined) and let our passion lead without hate.


13 posted on 02/12/2016 10:57:35 PM PST by Optimist
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To: Optimist

Being nice is how we got here.


14 posted on 02/12/2016 10:58:20 PM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: Optimist

With Trump and Cruz, you are right, FReepers have a surfeit of candidates with a hope to get our free country back.

But, honestly, you can’t add Jeb Bush, Kasich, or Rubio to the mix. They are the typical status quo candidates, GOPe, and up to all three of them have incredible skeletons in their past.

I also do not like the vitriol here lately. Yes, it has happened before, during primary season. And even during general, when half the people have worked themselves into a tizzy and refuse to vote.

FReepers are here because they are passionate about their country. I am going to give them all the benefit of the doubt and say that they are convinced the priority they have set for voting is the right way. Really, it seems there are two main thoughts here.

Vote Trump to hopefully put a stake through the heart of the uniparty and their media lackeys, and try to get our country back from them. Focus on getting a real economy back that favors the USA, focus on getting sovereignty back, and controlling immigration to benefit our country long term.

Or,

Vote Cruz, because we can’t trust anyone who hasn’t proven with all his deeds he is a true conservative like we are.

Secondary thoughts re the two top candidates are eligibility for Cruz, and popularity / ability to win nomination and the presidency.

I wish we didn’t have to insult each other for choosing one priority over the other.


15 posted on 02/12/2016 11:00:12 PM PST by Yaelle
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To: the_individual2014

Speak for yourself. I ain’t old. I ain’t really angry. I am sick of government and those who want government to control every aspect of their lives, including those who claim to be “conservative.”


16 posted on 02/12/2016 11:00:34 PM PST by Twink
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To: Optimist

Everybody is mad as hell and frustrated with what is going on. They blow off steam.


17 posted on 02/12/2016 11:05:12 PM PST by laplata ( Liberals/Progressives have diseased minds.)
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To: Yaelle

well said.


18 posted on 02/12/2016 11:05:59 PM PST by Optimist
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To: central_va

Exactly.


19 posted on 02/12/2016 11:07:27 PM PST by Twink
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To: Optimist

I just want to let you know if you don’t support my guy you’re a commie and you suck and you should be permabanned from this forum!

Like that?

Yeah, it’s getting old.

:)


20 posted on 02/12/2016 11:08:29 PM PST by Califreak (Madeleine Albright says I'm going to hell)
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