Posted on 12/01/2002 1:23:55 PM PST by BraveMan
What a long way Free Republic has come! From its birth in 1996 as what began as just a place where hardcore conservatives to post the latest news and analyze it, Free Republic two years later had a significant role in the neutralization of the Clintons - as it became the organizing point for enormous protests ridiculing Bill Clinton over Monicagate everywhere he went in the U.S. early in Monicagate throughout 1998. Some top liberals even blame Freepers for Al Gore's defeat.
Very early in Monicagate, Freepers brought Free Republic out of just being a sort of giant cybercafe for dissidents to talk things over - and made it into a very-effective organizing point for giant protests against liberals and liberalism, like the one in Houston at a Clinton fundraiser that not only like most greeted Clinton with hundreds of dissidents ridiculing him for his adultery and perjury, but even found a fire engine to hang a giant sign on that read "Bill Clinton Is A Four-Alarm Fraud." Freepers in Florida hung a giant sign on a cabin cruiser to float in a strategic position just offshore a fundraiser of his there. And here in North Carolina, about 30 Freepers picketed an Al Gore fundraiser in Raleigh's Volvo district in May 1999 - some dressed as Buddhist monks. The Clintons/Gore Regime just couldn't escape the conservatives from hell.
Other liberals were no luckier. The "Rosiecott" that ended Corporate America's willingness to indulge leftist politics was in large part organized on Free Republic. Freeper-organized boycotts were to Rosie O'Donnell's career what a later gay boycott was to advice-talk radio host Dr. Laura's.
But - just six years after its founding, just four years after the height of its power - Free Republic today is largely a total waste of time. As a reader commented, it isn't accomplishing anything anymore - with the giant protests against liberals formerly organized on it by Freepers over; as he agreed last week, the sole positive things it now does are to provide rapid dissemination of news, even from small-town dailies, to dissidents everywhere - and to guide dissidents to the various dissident newspapers that really are hardcore.
Some social issues are almost unmentionable on Free Republic today. More than one Freeper has griped that posted articles on immigration often just disappear. Other Freepers have been just blacklisted from Free Republic - for offending the sensibilities of founder Jim Robinson or the small clique under him that largely actually runs Free Republic now.
Today, Free Republic is every bit as handicapped as founder Jim Robinson - but by another problem. To all too many Freepers now, anyone calling themselves a Republican is God's brother - and cannot be criticized, no matter how Clintonesque their views on many social issues may be. And to all too many Freepers now, Pres. Bush really is God - uncriticizable, no matter what.
To make Free Republic great again, a number of things have to happen. First, all involved - from ordinary Freepers to "JimBob" himself - have to accept that having an (R) next to one's name doesn't make a politician beyond criticism. Second, all involved must also accept that Pres. Bush isn't God. And then, all Freepers must commit to doing again what made Free Republic great - hounding any politician at odds with Red Nation's masses on social issues; if that means picketing Pres. Bush everywhere he goes if he hints at amnesty for illegal aliens or tacit support of racial quotas, that's what it takes.
Free Republic didn't become great by being a Chinese-style "Democracy Wall" for dissidents to post articles from "mainstream" newspapers to and then discuss them. It can only became great again the same way it originally got great.
Coming from you, this is perhaps the funniest thing I've read in some time.
Please be so kind as to enlighten me on the details of how, when, and where any of my behavior would give that impression? Specifics please, or withdraw that comment.
Look who is turning into a black kettle calling the pot black. Your personal attacks are pretty pathetic and shows a deep hypocrisy.
Maybe I should say something different? Go to hell.
Lincoln "liberated" the South like Stalin "liberated" the Ukraine.
Can't you see it? Lincoln's only two claims to fame are victory and martyrdom - both of which ended in his sympathizers, not his detractors, writing the history books. Other than that, his actions during Sherman's sack of Atlanta exactly were those of "war criminal" Slobodan Milosevic - only predated CNN, so sheeple like you would be able to say you didn't know.
By their works shall ye know them.
As AFPhys said, "Truth in advertising."
I did not state anything with regard to my actions two years ago and never intimated anything with regard to that time period. Just because you have a sickness that blinds you to that reality, don't try to push your psychosis off on me.
I have never passed myself off as a major Bush supporter. I didn't here, and if you had a lick of sense you'd know it.
Although I have only been a member of FR since October, 2001, I can I’ve seen evidence of all your “demands” in the past year, briefly, described below:
1. Many weekly FReeped Gary Condit (I don’t remember all their names), but they were successful: he was not re-elected;
2. Many have been staging protests wherever Billy or Hitlary Klintoon show up, most recently, in November, where “spy information” was gathered about impending voter fraud (thanks to sweetliberty, Budge, stop_the_rats, and another person).
3. Stop_the_rats drew unwanted attention to herself by a member of the NAACP, an “unbiased” precinct worker who went to get the sheriff to get rid of stop_the_rats....I cannot remember all the details. She can share them better.
4. Jeff Head spearheaded a petition drive, accumulating, nationwide, signatures to stop the PC memorial that was to incorrectly portray the firemen who erected the flag at the WTC ruins; Jeff’s efforts were rewarded. The PC memorial was stopped in its tracks. Who knows what effects this petition may have had on educating normally inactive citizens to becoming more interested in their world and more angry with the PC crap going on? We don’t know, but who’s to say that might have had some significance in the overwhelming change of hands during the voting this past November.
5. Senator Daschle’s destruction, in power, and stature (not that he had any to begin with, as far as I’m concerned), I have no doubt whatsoever, that FReepers were a part of his downfall: as he himself said: “there have been threats made against him.....because of Rush and Rush wannabees.” Although I believe he is lying about threats made by conservatives against him, I believe he received many, many, e-mails, criticizing him for months about what he’s been doing/saying re his obstructionism. I know that I, myself, have sent him quite a few. Others in FR have, as well.....so much so, that it has caught the attention of “mainstream media,” as I have noticed in the past couple of months, more and more comments being made about FR....I have no doubt this has something to do with our sending e-mails to senators and to our friends online.
Circulating articles about him and other politicans, to educate others about what they're doing is an effective way to stay or get informed. I, for one, do this often, even circulating posted articles to my liberal friends. They get a dose of plenty of “literature” from me, oftentimes only found here in FR, where I come to learn about new issues or updates. Education is an invaluable tool. There are many FReepers responsible here for their invaluable work and time posting or archiving many articles; I cannot think of them all but here's a few: kattracks, JohnHuang2, backhoe, AlamoGirl; sweetliberty;Pokey78. Of course, there's still others who have artistic talent and help us use them inside and outside FR, like Registered, St.Louis1, and ForGod'sSake.
6. Regarding your statement about any “lack of criticism of Bush policies or RHINO’s” at ths site, I completely disagree with you. I remember the anger when Bush signed CFR (mine included). This anger was directed toward Bush and McLame; it continues. RHINO’s: plenty of criticism around here. And Lott gets criticized for wanting to “share power with Rats.” These kinds of discussions have led, again, to letter writing to the RNC, the Republican senators, etc., stating our opinions, urging they take different actions. Letter writing is an effective tool; sometimes our only means to communicate with these people.
There are many more examples, it isn’t possible to list all the examples of the different kinds of action taken by many, many Freepers. That is not to say that we couldn’t do still more, but to say that FR is “largely a total waste of time” is ridiculous and insulting. Thank you, once again, Jim Robinson, for this place and allowing such a place to grow and thrive.
My time has not been wasted here; I’ve been educated, equipped, encouraged, and entertained (by rintense, Brad's Gramma (who always makes me laugh), and kayak, to name a few). I have been an informer, an instigator, a reminder, to other FReepers, about past events, obstruction, and illegalities. Armed with this, they have been able to link threads to these things, for informative and preventive purposes. This is not a waste of time. History is a funny thing, if we let ourselves forget, it repeats itself. And so, for some, their best, best job is reminding us of were we’ve been so we are prepared to fight the next battle, armed with knowledge and ready to fight the deceitful and repetitive Rat tactics.
FR is not perfect, as nothing in this life is, but it truly is doing what it’s supposed to be: allowing people of like mind to gather, equip, and prepare, and sometimes, just enjoy each other.
Why do I mention all these FReepers' names? Because I wish not to over-generalize and paint with a broad brush. I remember certain events, articles, and people here; had it been a waste of my time, they'd have all blended together; none would have stood out. But it hasn't been a waste of my time; I remember each individual FReeper I've mentioned and what they've done to contribute to FR. To them I say "thank you, and Let's Roll."
Some of the "American values" from the 50s should be tossed. They aren't reflective of real American values, those that are expressed or implied in our founding documents.
Foremost among these are the bigotry and racial prejudice that was quite common in America at the time. I defy anyone to show me anything "American" about racial prejudice.
True - but how many Freeped carpetbagger Liddy Dole when Bush imposed her Hillarylike drop-in candidacy on a state she hadn't lived in for over 40 years, at a time when two genuine local conservatives were also running in the GOP Senate primary here in North Carolina (Parker and Snyder)? Did the kind of few and small protests of Hillary's parachuted Senate campaign haunt Liddy Dole - with Freepers reminding everyone that Liddy under two years ago in a presidential campaign was saying the exact same things about guns and abortion as Hillary was?
Or is this just another example of how FR has degenerated into a GOP auxilliary since Bush took office?
Also, the notion that to be effective, massive public actions and events are necessary is a symptom of modern liberalism... in the vain that success means governmental action. Republicans, and Freepers, tend to believe that individuals, as individuals, are the true vehicles of change. When I work hard and raise my daughter with my whole heart, mind and strength, then she will grow up to become another part of the quiet, individual solution. If all of us as individuals do our part in this great country, then there will be no need for mass demonstrations. That is idealistic to be sure, but it defines the difference between democrats and Republicans.
If I may add a few...
How many times have we seen Free Republic instant research show up on talk radio or the next news cycle? The "Sore Loserman" logo, the Hillary/Bill Freeps and the "get outa Cheney's house" chant all made national news. And then there was the rally to keep Judge White from being confirmed to a Federal Judge position.
Some of our Freepers are headliners - like BKO, severnside, Gary Aldrich, Notra Trulock - but everybody's opinion matters on Free Republic.
Truly, Free Republic has shown that the Liberty Tree is possible because of the internet. People post their protests, opinions, announcements and views here - like they used to tack them to the tree for all to see.
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