Free Republic

Apparently, he was spying for our most reliable, trustworthy ally:


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-backroom/1680387/posts

So ya want money! OK, I just mailed you a gen-u-wine U.S. Gommermint twenny dollar bill.

If you want more then you're going to have to bring FR back to the quality and stature it had pre-election and pre-September 11th. That means:

1) Subject Veronica, dennisw, BenF and the rest of the Israeli Tag Team disruptors to the same posting rules and sanctions as the rest of us.

2) Permit political criticism of Israel and the Israeli government.

3) Quit promoting Michael Savage; daily plugs for his radio program are a bit too much. Unless, of course, these are paid advertisements which is another issue altogether.

4) Rein in the censors. The moderators appear to cut and slash based on personal whim. Of course we have no way to KNOW this as their power is absolute. Remember Lord Acton's quote?

Finally, do you really expect to be regarded as a serious news forum with threads like "Please Pray for My Cat?"

Yes, I'm a newbie; I registered about twenty minutes ago. I've been lurking since early 1998 (that's when I got internet access at work.) Since I was prohibited from sending data or e-mail I never bothered to register to post before. I do, however, want to comment on this thread.

I was delighted when I first discovered Free Republic. Here was a news source with a conservative orientation and intelligent, well informed analysis. I was flabbergasted with the knowledge that posters demonstrated in responding to news articles; the quality of their analyses; the way they factually discredited the media inaccuracies and lies. I was exposed to an impressive, intelligent community.

Things seemed to deteriorate during the 2000 campaign. There seemed to develop "official" Free Republic positions on issues with less and less toleration of dissent or discussion. I think the Brigadeers, for one, were an example. It was their obnoxious, strident support of Buchannan and the intelligent rebuttal that convinced me he was a loser. Such positions are no longer welcome on FR so there is no longer any opportunity to learn WHY they are invalid or stupid.

I have no firm opinion on Israel. I know Israel is not fault-free yet there is no intelligent discussion of the issues. Big Bunyip hit the nail on the head in #444 - the goal is to silence discussion of Israel related issues and this appears to be Free Republic policy.

The idea of an "Office of Homeland Security" with as yet undefined powers and authorities makes me uncomfortable. Questioning this, however, is "not supporting the war effort."

Criticism of Rush Limbaugh is not permitted and Michael Savage's program is actively promoted with almost daily discussion threads. I can't stand either one of the pompous bozos.

I realize that I've gone on much too long and the opinion of an FNG who never contributed anything to FR is of little value. In a nutshell, I don't get, and Free Republic no longer offers, the quality of information that was available in the past. I believe this is the result of a conscious effort to stifle dissenting opinion. I'm a little ashamed that I recommended Free Republic to friends in the past, and I just can't do it any more.

Regards,

Gordo