Free Republic losing its impact

Alamance Independent ^ | Unknown | Matt Maggio

[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.

[billbears]

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)

Well there's me. But I supposedly 'hate' her for pointing out flagrant flipflops and refusal to support conservative issues. At least that's what I've been told. Personally, I just want to know why she's so interested in how I drive my car

[nicmarlo]

ADDENDUM to my post:

I obviously left out of my essay, BeforeISleep....her name should have been mentioned...which is why she was pinged. She has been instrumental in keeping the WTC petition bumped, and for she is always an encouragement to me and other FReepers...always having a kind word to say. So, instead of including her as I should have....I make that addendum, here. : )

[deport]

Or is this just another example of how FR has degenerated into a GOP auxilliary since Bush took office?

Welcome to the Auxilliary and glad you could participate and join up with the folks about. Without your rants and penned slams there would be less exposurer across the net. Just think of how much help you've gave FR by getting this topic aired on other discussion sites and read by many that would have missed the action had it been just a mondane non slamming piece. You did very well. Can you do this about once a month so as to help readership. How about kicking one off as soon as the next fundraiser cranks up.

Seems you like to link your site on some of your post.... so all must not be that bad. Or are we just hypercritical about things.

[nicmarlo]

My focus has not been on Liddy Dole; I have been focusing on issus in California and Colorado for the past couple of years, mostly because I lived there. They now focus on New York, because I now live here. Otherwise, I do pay attention to issues that will effect every state. I do not know what actions/lack of actions people from Dole's state may have omitted/committed; therefore, I cannot answer, specifically, for them. I can say, that if people in FR failed to act on this issue, in the manner you have portrayed, then they should have, perhaps, done something else, i.e., campaigned for another conservative who actually lived in the state and is pro-life. But as I also said, this is not a perfect world, or perfect place. There is still more we can do; and I do not think your one example can be used to claim that FR is a mere extension of the Republican/Bush agenda.

[nicmarlo]

we are documenting it in a way that has never been done in times past and I am trusting that somehow all this information will survive and that future generations may learn from it, not only the facts themselves, but the thoughts and feelings of real Americans from all walks of life, on the events and attitudes and legislations that shaped OUR generations.

I hadn't thought about it in that way, but you're absolutely right.....as long as FR is ongoing, that is. How would these archived threads continue if FR isn't around?

[sweetliberty]

There must be a way to save all this information just as it is. I'm not all that knowledgeable about computer stuff, but it just seems logical. I can't imagine that Jim and John would ever allow all this to go to waste.

[k2blader]

Thank you for the information.

I was going to take this article at face value and post a direct response to one of its assertions until I read your post & the attached editorial.

No time is well spent responding to racists.

[nicmarlo]

I can't imagine that Jim and John would ever allow all this to go to waste.

I would hope not....but, for now, I think there's nothing to worry about.....they may have backup plans (rainy day scenario, just in case.)

[azhenfud]

"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)?"

Those who did were ridiculed into silence and one was even banned from FR because he took an "abrasive" stance against her.

Actually, I hope she fulfills the dreams of those avid supporters - for both the country and NC's sake. In reality, I seriesly doubt the "Queen of WalMart" will propose doing anything to slow the flow of jobs out of NC or the US, since the bottom line of "China's Factory Outlet Store" could be affected, and it contributed greatly to her ill "literacy campaign".

Time will uncover the truth, and we've yet a lot to learn....

[nicmarlo]

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.

All true; and Gore just mentioned again last week about FReepers chanting in front of Chaney's house.....I forgot about that. And, yes, it seems more than odd when there's a hot thread going on here, it invariable shows up on Rush or Hannity's show the following day.....and quotes from threads are heard going over the airwaves. Too often to just be a coincident.

[Budge]

I love this line - "As a reader commented, it isn't accomplishing anything anymore...p> Come to think of it I agree. Just like Rush doesn't have anything to talk about anymore now that the Republiccaans control both Houses and the Presidency.

[LurkerNoMore!]

Then again, I don't have much room to speak since I recently totalled another car.

Next time, why not just skip the wrecker & police report, and let me pick you up? ;-)
(glad you are feeling better!)

[firewalk]

She has been instrumental in keeping the WTC petition bumped

Thanks again Nic, but actually it was mostly d14truth....just wanted the credit to go where it belonged

[nicmarlo]

LOL, especially with the "One-niners;" but you also, helped keeping it bumped.....(we all do our part). And what I'd like to know is, where has d14 been? Helloooo?

[A Navy Vet]

"What a sad time in America this may turn out to be if our opportunity to correct problems passes with no action taken."

Stock up on your Kleenex...the immigration problem will not be fixed...because it isn't considered a problem to the politicians. You and I will see in our lifetime the Balkanization of the southwest and the violence it will bring. After our side approving the Patriot Act, I'm losing my hope on a daily basis.

[nicmarlo]

Just like Rush doesn't have anything to talk about anymore now that the Republiccaans control both Houses and the Presidency.

Yeah, I know....they STILL say that. Funny, doesn't seem like that's what Daschole was complaining about though, :)

[kjam22]

But so far, Bush has been the anti-clinton--an honest man who says what he means and does what he says.

you are either on our side, or on the side of the terrorists. The US will make no destinction between those who fund terrorism or aid terrorists and the terrorists themselves.

I'm still waiting on that part to transpire.

[Antoninus]

Sounds like a classic "wishful thinking" column. We'll see...

[ApesForEvolution]

Who in the DOJ put the un-Constitutional 'sneek-a-peak' authority back into play with the 'Patriot' act?

Why did the Bush administration command GOP House leadership to go straight to a vote without a reading nor debate of the proposed legislation?

As hard as the base works for the GOP, the more disappointing close scrutinization of it's track record is getting.

[WarHawk42]

I'm sorry that you can not seem to comprehend reality, even you say you know it. The republicans do NOT have the Senate.

Like I said, the excuse dejour until 2004.

Any attitude such as you have expressed that he and conservatives can somehow force their will in the Congress in the present circumstances will doom that possibility and any hope of EVER gaining passage of an even modest conservative agenda.

Now that's funny.  According to your thinking the democrats are still in control.  I guess the last election was a waste of time.   The excuses never stop with you people do they.  I seem to recall Clinton got a lot of what he wanted and he didn't have the congress or the senate for a time.  I takes something called leadership.  Lets see, we have Lott in the senate.  Oh well, so much for leadership.  He is a proven commodity, a real loser.

Anyone who has such unrealistic, overly high expectations, such as those you expressed here, I suspect of being a Demodog (or demagogic libertarian) themselves.

You can suspect anything you like, you are wrong.  But then labels are an excellent way to try and discredit someone.  They must be, people like to use them a lot.:)  I hate to tell you this but there isn't much I haven't been called here on FR.  Yours was pretty lame.

 That golden opportunity will be squandered by overreaching and expecting too much, and it is exactly what the demodogs (and libertarians) are hoping for.

Is closing our borders to illegal immigration over reaching?  Looks to me like that would be welcome not only from republicans but a great number of democrats too.  Oh, I forgot, we are talking amnesty again.  Looks like the "war on terror" is more hype than action don't it?  Home security starts at out borders.  Everything else in the war on terror is a joke until that is done.

You keep on making excuses for them though.  I expect to hear a lot of that.  How many more 9/11's does there have to be before you quit making excuses?

WarHawk42