Is Free Republic too "Republican?"

Jim Robinson

[Jim Robinson]

Is Free Republic too "Republican?" I've been receiving a lot of complaints lately that FR is not really conservative, it's Republican. Is that a bad thing?

When I started FR (see the wayback machine) I don't think I even used the labels conservative or Republican. But, even though I was a registered Democrat at the time (I registered when I was very young), I was definitely anti-Democrat. And definitely anti-big government, anti-government corruption, anti-government abuse, anti-liberalism, etc. And I still am.

As FR became more and more popular, people started referring to it as a "conservative" web site and so eventually I posted the label to the front page. If it no longer applies, big deal. What's in a label? I'll change it to "Republican" if demand warrants.

I'm still anti-big government, anti-government corruption, anti-Democrat and anti-liberalism. I just happen to believe that in the current political environment we stand a better chance of defeating the left (liberalism/socialism/marxism, etc) by using the Republican Party to defeat the Democrats. The organization is there. The platform is there. The winning candidates are there. The dollars to run winning campaigns are there. The momentum is there. And the vast majority of the conservative voters are there.

Makes perfect sense to me. I want to defeat the left, and I want to do it as quickly as possible. I'll go with the organization that can get the job done.

My current goal is to defeat liberalism by defeating the Democrat Party. If that labels me a Republican, then so be it. If the vast majority of the FReepers want it so, then Free Republic will officially become the newest "Republican wing" of the Republican Party.

Long live Republicanism. Long live the Republic!'

What say you, FReepers?

[LibKill]

Thanks. FR is better the way it is now, Free, Conservative, and beholden to no party.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..howz about Moderately Free Republic?...

He he he.

Never gonna happen, amigo. I'm sure you've seen JR's constitutionalist fervour, once he gets his dander up? He's way to the right of the Republican Party, himself, but is a realist in terms of who has the power and resources to accomplish our common agenda. And accomplishers (is that a word?) must always take precedence over those who have refined the art of complaint alone. Nice to see that even the hardcore GOPers want to leave FR the way it is, eh? But where, I wonder, are all the old time Freepers, who you think would come out of lurk mode, for a thread like this? Hope they haven't bailed permanently. Cheers, By

[CholeraJoe]

Thanks to you and John for this site. There are several principles that I disagree with the Republicans about. Conservative all the way.

I'm voting for Sharpton in our open primary.

[Sir Gawain]

I figured three examples were enough.

[TLBSHOW]

LOLROF

[Godebert]

"FR tends to be more anti-Democrat than pro-Republican or pro-conservative. And just because Bush has an R next to his name, he tends to get a free ride. Were more FR posters actually conservative (rather than merely anti-Democrat), then there's be a lot more hullaballoo about a lot of Bush's actions, such as signing the Patriot Act, sending billions of dollars to Africa and supporting Russia (who supported Saddam).

You forgot his support of the so-called "Assault Weapons" Ban.

[justshe]

I think you misread my comment--or I stated it poorly.

I was responding to this statement by you:

Judges, legislators, and bureaucrats alike take note: you do not make law, you follow IT.

When I said it was a goal but not a reality....I meant that YES, judges are making law from the bench. They do it all the time.
And bureaucrats DO subvert the law to their liking. And Legislators also make law. (Probably the only body who is charged to make law--and regularily breaks it too.)

If you think I am anti-Republican....you are dead wrong.

If my statement was unclear, I apologize.

[Kevin Curry]

. . . , the other to reatore America to it's traditional freedoms.

Traditional freedoms exist in direct proportion to personal strictness in adhering to traditional morals and virtues. A morally dissolute or relativistic people will never enjoy traditional freedoms in their most expansive and secure sense. Morally dissolute people foul and destroy the very conditions that allow freedom to thrive.

[A Citizen Reporter]

"Ross Perot would NEVER have gotten that many votes if we had the Internet back then because the rest of the Country would not listen to the people of Texas about Ross Perot because the word could not get out!"

I didn't live in Texas in 1992, but I knew I would always be suspicious of Perot, when the most liberal person I have ever known, started working on his campaign and did press interviews as a local spokesperson. When challenged about how Perot's nationally purported policies aligned with his own, all I could get as a response was some blather about how third parties are so important!

[Pontiac]

I'm still anti-big government, anti-government corruption, anti-Democrat and anti-liberalism. I just happen to believe that in the current political environment we stand a better chance of defeating the left (liberalism/socialism/marxism, etc) by using the Republican Party to defeat the Democrats. The organization is there. The platform is there. The winning candidates are there. The dollars to run winning campaigns are there. The momentum is there. And the vast majority of the conservative voters are there. </>

I vote No.

Jim I agree with everything you said in the above paragraph. However I am against labling FreeRepublic a Republican Party wing or directly affiliating with the Republican Party.

Although I am a card carrying member of the Republican Party and meet with other party members a often as I can to discuss party maters and current events, I do not consider myself part of the main stream party.

My political views tend to be much more conservative than I see in the national party and the Ohio Republican Party as well.

My purpose for being involved in the Republican Party is to attempt through my presence and my efforts to push the party to the right As you say “ The organization is there. The platform is there. The winning candidates are there.” If we can reform the Republican Party and reclaim our lost rights I believe FreeRepublic will have saved the nation from the decay that Liberalism is fostering.

I will also point out that FreeRepublic has give voice to a great many Libertarians who I also share many views on different maters. I would hate to see these people leave FreeRepublic because of a mere label.

[Bizhvywt]

As long as the Republican Party stays conservative.

Conservatism is the overiding philosphy. Republicanism is just the vehicle to implement conservative philosophies.

[PhiKapMom]

You are so right! Just like Perot's money help finanace Alliance Airport to land the NAFTA contract and beat out San Antonio yet Perot was Anti-NAFTA.

What Perot said out of his mouth and what he did were direct opposites. Always felt he had a lot of people snowed!

Glad to see you picked up on that! Has a liberal campaign manager in MO and talks conservative and then wonders why people don't believe, as my neighbor used to call him, -- little big ears!

[Torie]

Saber is way to the right of me on many issues, but his read of California politics in the post with which you disagreed is in my opinion correct. I could have written the part he penned about California myself, except that I voted for Davis over Simon, which obviously he did not. Simon's tenure would not have been good for the GOP for a host of reasons, some personal, and some due to the condition of the state.

[firewalk]

.

[GOPJ]

I miss being on your ping list. Could you reinstate me? Thanks.

[tpaine]

budwiesest wrote:

Hey Paine, it just occurred to me that two battles are raging. The first to defeat socialism (which I applaude), the other to reatore America to it's traditional freedoms.
In this last effort I believe Free Republic is indipensible. Defeating socialists will be the larger of the two battles as it has become so ingrained.
Please pass my prescription meds.



Kevin Curry wrote:
Traditional freedoms exist in direct proportion to personal strictness in adhering to traditional morals and virtues.
A morally dissolute or relativistic people will never enjoy traditional freedoms in their most expansive and secure sense.
Morally dissolute people foul and destroy the very conditions that allow freedom to thrive.


Sigh. -- As we can see Bud, your 'meds' are needed by K.Curry.

-- Apparently he considers FR to be fouled by "Morally dissolute people"..
What can be said to counter such ranting?
How can we convince these socialistic zealots that Free Republic is indeed indispensible?

[2nd Amendment]

I generally vote republican, reluctantly. I feel most republicans are too liberal and relativistic. Ronald Reagan was one of the last republicans that inspired true conservatism.

[tpaine]

If we can reform the Republican Party and reclaim our lost rights I believe FreeRepublic will have saved the nation from the decay that Liberalism is fostering.
I will also point out that FreeRepublic has give voice to a great many Libertarians who I also share many views on different maters. I would hate to see these people leave FreeRepublic because of a mere label.
-Pontiac-


Well said Chief...

RLC Liberty Caucus | latest posts
Address:http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/rlc/browse

[carenot]

Allowing extremists, fanatics, conspirators, disrupters, and assorted kooks and wackos into the forum results in major massacres, making it very difficult to maintain control.

Hmmm.... I am a fanatic, conspirator, kook and a waco.
Opps, make that wacko.

[Mustang]

JimRob...thanks for this forum. IMHO, this site, (your site), should remain true to its original tenent...Conservative discussion, thought and ideals. We don't want a "Pubbie or Rat" leaning venue, just a place for clear thinking folks to stop by and share our view of political reality, right and wrong, good and evil,...and the challenges we face to overcome the hurdles ahead.

Mustang sends from "Malpaso News"