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Is Free Republic too "Republican?"
Jim Robinson
Posted on 06/13/2003 1:55:59 AM PDT by 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?
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To: Jim Robinson
If the vast majority of the FReepers want it so, then Free Republic will officially become the newest "Republican wing" of the Republican Party. I vote nay.
To: Jim Robinson
"Is FREEREPUBLIC Too 'Republican'?"
No. I am a Christian, conservative, a registered voter and not a Republican and I post away quite freely, thanks to you, Mr. Robinson.
3
posted on
06/13/2003 2:00:05 AM PDT
by
Cindy
To: Jim Robinson
Free Republic should stay independent of political parties. There should definitely not be an official Republican affiliation. (And I say this as someone who's more Republican than conservative.)
If we get too drawn into "beating the Democrats at all costs," what are we propping up? We have to keep the Republicans honest.
4
posted on
06/13/2003 2:04:12 AM PDT
by
xm177e2
(Stalinists, Maoists, Ba'athists, Pacifists: Why are they always on the same side?)
To: xm177e2
Free Republic should stay independent of political parties. There should definitely not be an official Republican affiliation. (And I say this as someone who's more Republican than conservative.) If we get too drawn into "beating the Democrats at all costs," what are we propping up? We have to keep the Republicans honest. I agree. Independence is a strength.
To: Jim Robinson
I want to defeat the left, and I want to do it as quickly as possible. Now that is beautiful poetry.
To: Jim Robinson
I am surely Republican but I enjoy reading posts of other views too - (as long as I can stand it).
I am middle of the road on this.
I agree - nothing will beat the Democrats except the Republican Party. And, as dangerous as the democrats are - we have to beat them.
So we become a little more liberal - so what? We can also become more conservative too as time goes bye.
7
posted on
06/13/2003 2:08:18 AM PDT
by
ClancyJ
To: Jim Robinson
No....
The libs have - over the years - spun the termonology. They have succeeed in correlating right wing [conservative, Republican] with the NRA, pro-life, anti-labor, anti-popular government programs (social security, education) and the Nazis.
Put me in the column of freedom. Free people, free markets, free press, small government, and republican rule (small "r").
8
posted on
06/13/2003 2:08:25 AM PDT
by
The Raven
(President Hillary? Do you know your State's Secession Plans?)
To: Jim Robinson
Long live Republicanism. Long live the Republic!' Amen. Well said, Jim.
To: xm177e2
Well, I want to defeat liberalism, and not only defeat it, but drive a stake through it's cold, dead heart. I could care less what label they put on me or what tools I use to get the job done. Right now the Republican Party appears to be the only party that can do it. I won't officially change the label on FR unless the vast majority of FReepers want it done, but I'd like to see the whining stop. I announced way back after the 2000 primaries my intentions. Three years and many successes later, we still have some people objecting. If they don't want to be part of the team that knocks out the Democrats, then they should either leave, or at least knock off the crying about it.
10
posted on
06/13/2003 2:11:32 AM PDT
by
Jim Robinson
(FReepers are the GReatest!!)
To: Jim Robinson
Okay, I am in the minority here, but Republicans are the only ones who can defeat the democrats, and I think we all know that, even those who prefer a third party.
The liberal left is the enemy, and we need to use the best weapon against them.
To: Jim Robinson
Keep the "independent" label - and the Republican spirit.
12
posted on
06/13/2003 2:13:12 AM PDT
by
HAL9000
To: Jim Robinson
If the vast majority of the FReepers want it so, then Free Republic will officially become the newest "Republican wing" of the Republican Party. Nay.
13
posted on
06/13/2003 2:13:25 AM PDT
by
lowbridge
(if he hath no sword, let him sell his cloak ,and buy one --Jesus Christ, per Luke 22: 35-36)
To: Jim Robinson
I vote "no". As FR gains in numbers and power it will be too easy, for those on the left, to attempt to discount & discredit us by saying Free Republic is nothing more than the postings of Republican talking points.
And there is always the fear that anyone critical of the GOP not only would be hesitant to post, but could be flamed for posting their thoughts.
Grandpa always said, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it">
14
posted on
06/13/2003 2:18:14 AM PDT
by
PaulJ
To: Jim Robinson
Don't fix want aint broke... tell the whiners to get a life.
15
posted on
06/13/2003 2:21:51 AM PDT
by
sit-rep
To: Jim Robinson
I vote No. I'm quite new to the site, but....
I'd rather fight against wrong issues than a wrong political party. Some issues are clearly "liberal" or "conservative" and there is no middle ground. Whereas the "right" solution for other issues may be somewhere in the middle. But if everyone focuses on "partisan" politics, then there is no attempt to find the RIGHT (proper) solution for each separate issue.
Partisanship causes attitudes of: "I don't care what is right for this issue, as long as it's the opposite of what the Democrats want." That would make us no better than them. We should be capable of critical thinking, and of separating politics from issues. Otherwise, we'd be equally as guilty of stupid-logic and stupid-thinking as "they" are.
So I vote No to assigning "Republican" to the website name/charter.
To: sit-rep
Bump to Post No. 15
17
posted on
06/13/2003 2:29:03 AM PDT
by
Cindy
To: Jim Robinson
Nay
To: Jim Robinson
Can we do a poll thingy that would only take one vote per Freeper? So it won't get Freeped.
19
posted on
06/13/2003 2:32:38 AM PDT
by
oceanperch
(Airbrush Hillary out of Politics.)
To: Jim Robinson
Jim, one of the biggest benefits I've gotten out of FR has been exposure to all the threads wherein the viability of the GOP as a vehicle for conservatism and small government is debated. One side will point to the constant growth of government even under GOP control, the horrible, unconstitutional bills passed and signed by GOP congresses and Presidents, the RINOs who have hijacked the party and moved it to the left, and how our side constantly compromises. They tend to be Libertarians and independents. They have completely lost confidence in the Republican party as a vehicle for conservatism and the constitution.
The other side will cite incrementalism as the way to go. They offer that unconstitutional socialism was put in place slowly, and that, under the GOP, it will have to be eroded slowly. They say ours is a two-party system, and that the lesser of two evils, however evil they may be, is the proper option. They acknowledge its faults, but believe the GOP can be reformed, and that that is the only way.
Well, I have struggled with this debate. I've heard eloquent, reasoned arguments on both sides, and I have bounced back and forth. I supported a Libertarian for my state's governorship. But in 2002, I campaigned for a very conservative Republican running for the state legislature, the dream candidate- pro-life, pro-RKBA, pro-Constitution, pro-small government, and vehemently so. He won the primary and the general election.
Partly because of this experience, and after reflection on all my observations, I just recently registered to vote as a Republican. The GOP is chock full of faults. But rather than abandoning it, I will work from the inside to change it. I just thought this would be a good opportunity to express this, particularly since I have read your remarks on the subject before.
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