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?

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so much for the heads up!!!

[roughrider]

It is advisable to research the effects of the McCain/Feingold campaign "reform" law on Internet forums in relation to identification of the forum with a particular political party. This would/SHOULD be just as true of DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND as with FR. Namely, if a forum is identified as supporting one party over the other, is the sixty day rule of silence about the candidates applicable to such Internet forums? There are other legal considerations other than McCain/Feingold and would probably require a specialized legal counsel to provide the advice.

[Alamo-Girl]

Buuuump!

[roughrider]

I believe she is referring to the left "having it right" about what those who vote want. She is advocating that the REPUBLICANS not touch any policies or programs of the left that the 38% of registered voters who actually vote support so that REPUBLICANS can get elected. She can correct my deduction if she finds it to be in error, but I believe this is an accurate accounting of what Torie means by "the Left getting it right."

Any discussion about how to energize the 62% of eligible voters who do not vote or even register is never considered by any of those people. I actually believe they LIKE the notion of a shrinking electorate, as long as it is the voters of the Left that remain the most active, and, with Democrat "get-out-the-vote" tactics, which are quite efficient and successful (Gore did get a popular majority after all) this acceptance of a shrinking voter pool by those people can be seen in the proper light. You see, we have two parties fighting for fewer voters, and a large number of those voters can be swung left. The Democrats start out with at least 40% of that 38%, and the GOP has about the same base, or at least they HAD about the same base. The "game" those people like the parties playing is to fight over the remaining 20% or so of the 38%. No one suggests working on those who have given up on voting at all.

[independentmind]

Good to see you posting again, rr.

[clamper1797]

Thank You Jim ...

[clamper1797]

BTW ... I hereby donate it my motto to Free Republic to be used as you wish ...

Conservative by nature ... Republican by spirit ... Patriot by heart ... AND ... ANTI-Liberal by GOD!"

[Protagoras]

Of course, the problem is that there are moral-liberals here posing as conservatives under the guise of wanting a smaller government,

Of course the problem is that there are immoral people here who desire a radical, violent theocracy posing as conservatives who desire an ever expanding government to implement their JIHAD against freedom.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Excellent!

I'll bump this if you don't mind. I grow tired of the weak, and those that eagerly settle for less.

America's strength was about the greater of good and not the lessor of evil; we were based upon individual strength and dignity not random political views that modify our way of being.

[Duramaximus]

What's the difference between a conservative Democrat and a liberal Republican?

Not much, this is why compromise has positioned the Republican Party where it is today, and why we are seeing the errosion of our society at unprecedented rate.

Compromise opens the door to larger government, the errosion of our individual freedoms, an invasion of illegal aliens, mainstreaming of alternative lifestyles, cities un-fit to live in, etc.

[Kevin Curry]

Of course the problem is that there are immoral people here who desire a radical, violent theocracy posing as conservatives who desire an ever expanding government to implement their JIHAD against freedom.

The problem here is that we have self-indulgent irresponsonsible dope, porn, and sodomy loving libertarian scofflaws who want to freeload on the morality and self-discipline of the social conservatives who are left to clean up the self-obsessed denial-soaked messes of the libertarians after them.

[Consort]

Then stop bitching, moaniong, and whining and help the Conservatives to get control of the GOP party machinery and fix what's wrong and kick some Liberal butt. That's what the Socialists did with the Democrat Party a few yaers back. Starting another third party creates.....just another third party. And while you're at it, keep the Conservative whackos in check for a while. They scare away more converts than they attract.

[fml]

- Don't fix want aint broke... tell the whiners to get a life.-


worth repeating!!

[Sabertooth]

Great post. Thanks.

[Joe Hadenuf]

This is clear.

Not much, this is why compromise has positioned the Republican Party where it is today, and why we are seeing the errosion of our society at unprecedented rate. Compromise opens the door to larger government, the errosion of our individual freedoms, an invasion of illegal aliens, mainstreaming of alternative lifestyles, cities un-fit to live in, etc.

[cherry_bomb88]

Wow, I missed it too, Meekie...thanks for the ping!!!!

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.

I completely agree with you Jim...however, as other posters have said, be careful about labeling this a "Republican" site...we have Libertarians, Independents and others here who, in a national election, agree with you and will vote Republican, but in local politics like to maintain their identity.

Also, not labeling it fosters the free flow of all ideas. Yes, even those of the DU snakes that sneak in here. It helps us see why they are so ignorant and learn how to combat them in the general public! :o)

As for the conspiracy theory people....well...hey, every "family" (including FR) has to have one! ;o)

[Sabertooth]

Sometimes appeasing on one issue, allows one to make progress on another.

Horse tradiing will happen in politics. What's happening with Bush's budgetary policy more reminiscent of an auction.

Government is growing faster under Bush than it did under Clinton, and the Republicans control Congress. This wasn't the result we've been led to expect. Now I see posters in this forum that call for patience until the GOP gets a filibuster-proof supermajority.

I like pies and clear blue skies, but is this the state of realpolitik in 2003?

[cherry_bomb88]

The problem here is that we have self-indulgent irresponsonsible dope, porn, and sodomy loving libertarian scofflaws who want to freeload on the morality and self-discipline of the social conservatives who are left to clean up the self-obsessed denial-soaked messes of the libertarians after them.

BUMP to that!!!!

But remember, there ARE socially conservative Libertarians too ;o)

[cherry_bomb88]

And while you're at it, keep the Conservative whackos in check for a while. They scare away more converts than they attract

Whackos or "extremists" in ANY party (conservatives or liberals) ALWAYS scare people away.

[cherry_bomb88]

Thanks for the ping Unspun!!!