[an amused spectator]

The Freepers feel as though they’re connected and influential, but they don’t seem to realize that this is largely an illusion.

Right. Which is why there is "...stuff that violates the deal in the Washington ComPost litigation". The Clintonites seemed to think that Free Republic was important enough to order two of the largest newspapers in the country to sue Free Republic and secure a sympathetic federal judge in the case (put on the bench in part by free political advertisements disguised as "news articles" in the Los Angeles Times, one of the parties to the lawsuit).

Once LAT and WP had the judgement, they allowed Democrat sites like The Smirking Chimp to continue posting full-text Los Angeles Times and Washington Post articles (one from today, 11/26/2002: Robert Scheer (LAT): 'How the politicos stole Christmas'). At the time of the lawsuit, the legality of FR's postings was in doubt. At this time, postings like the example above are clearly a violation of copyright, yet they remain unmolested.

Tell me how Free Republic isn't a political threat. :-)

[gcruse]

 The Clintonites seemed to think that Free Republic was important
enough to order two of the largest newspapers in the country to sue Free Republic

Wow.  Drinking the Kool-Aid is one thing,
but mainlining it can't be good for your mental health.

[nicmarlo]

they allowed Democrat sites like The Smirking Chimp to continue posting full-text

I hope you cleaned your cookies from Rat infection before you came back to FR, lol. : )