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What's Happened?
Self | 03-28-2018 | The Citizen Soldier

Posted on 03/27/2018 1:00:28 PM PDT by The Citizen Soldier

My journey with Free Republic began in late 1998. It was near the end of the Clinton Presidency, and there seemed to be a new wave of hope and a sense of renewed patriotism as we gathered to defeat Al Gore and elect George W. Bush. But, on the whole, we lacked a platform, a vehicle, whereby we could gather together and speak with a common voice.

Jim Robinson provided that platform, utterly unique at the time, a place for conservative voices to sing out, to proclaim their views, to unite, and to encourage one another that we were not battling alone.

I would meet FRiends when I traveled to Washington D.C. in January 2001 to attend the inauguration of George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States. I’ll never forget the joy and the celebration of that day; a new day, a new hope, a new opportunity.

Along the way I lost my Free Republic password, and there was no way to recover it. And so I started anew as The Citizen Soldier on November 26, 2002. Over the past twenty years, Free Republic has been my go to site to confirm conservative stories, to read thoughtful and insightful conservative comment, and generally “lurk.” Actually, evidenced by my relatively few posts over the years, I would categorize myself as a life-time lurker at Free Republic.

In 2016, in the run-up to the election of Donald J. Trump as the 45th President of the United States, I began to detect the seeds of dissension and disharmony at Free Republic, ala the “Never Trump” crowd that emerged. Less and less, I frequented the site because it seemed that every thread was a mini-battle, not with liberals and socialists—I would have welcomed that—but with ourselves; conservatives and libertarians taking off the gloves, continually entering the battle royal.

Oh, I participated now and then, but I tired of fighting our own side, and found new online homes where I could find more consistent support for our new President. Through it all, Free Republic has remained bookmarked and like a magnet it has continually drawn me back. I lurk again and again. But lately it has all become too much. Every move our President makes is scrutinized and criticized, often with the reminder, “I’ve always been a never-Trumper,” either voiced or implied. The thought of a Hillary Clinton Presidency, and the CERTAIN destruction of our great nation that would have brought, makes me cringe to this day, now into the second year of the Donald Trump's Presidency. But I feel like a voice in the wilderness, as the criticism of Donald Trump and his administration escalates week by week.

I’m not leaving. I’m 70 years old now, and I’ve moved from California to Arizona to enjoy the “sunshine years” of my life. Recently my 46 year-old son visited and before he left he said, “Dad, please don’t ever stop fighting.” And I won’t. But, my dear FRiends, Free Republic must recapture the spirit of independence and conservatism.

As a Christian, I end my comments with a paraphrase from Bob George’s, “Classic Christianity.”

“The answer is not simply calling someone wrong or proving yourself right. The real issue is what answer can we give to those who desperately need to hear the message of conservatism?”


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: change; softopus; whatsup; worship; zot
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To: The Citizen Soldier

I’ve loved Free Republic for 20 years. It has always been the place I go to for insight on issues, and is a refuge for those of us who despise and distrust the liberal media. Is it perfect? Of course not, but it beats anything else out there. Freepers are also some of the funniest people I know! I don’t like the infighting, but I know that we share the same core values.


81 posted on 03/27/2018 2:44:36 PM PDT by Freestate316 (Know what you believe and why you believe it.)
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To: Responsibility2nd; lavaroise
There is a Bircher that has been here for a long time under at least 3 names - factfinder, ernie1241 and searching123 by his own admission.

His latest posting on this thread as searching123 didn't work out very well for him thanks to FReeper lavaroise identifying him in this post - so I expect him to return next time under a new handle.

His writing style is very easy to identify, so he won't get far next time either.
82 posted on 03/27/2018 2:45:00 PM PDT by Garth Tater (What's mine is mine.)
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To: ifinnegan

It was loads of fun toying with these fools.


83 posted on 03/27/2018 2:45:34 PM PDT by arrogantsob (See "Chaos and Mayhem" at Amazon.com)
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To: Rocky
... during the time leading up to the primary election... the pro-Trump crowd was absolutely brutal to anyone supporting any other candidate.

My take on that period is this...

There was a high amount of distrust of the GOPe at the time, including delegate fixing (where Trump won the primary but Cruz got all the delegates locked up) and RNC convention organizers making "rules" pronouncements suggesting that Trump could be disqualified on the floor.

People were reaching the point of wanting such an overwhelming victory that the "establishment" couldn't overturn it with disqualified delegates and floor fights, that talk of Cruz or Rubio or Kasich hanging on despite no path to victory in the hopes of a convention "Hail Mary" was seen as splitting the remaining primaries or depressing late state turnout to deny Trump a mandate going into the convention.

People wanted a unified party going into the general election against Hillary Clinton, and expected the likes of Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan to go wobbly and limp in support of Trump. People thought that Cruz was being played by the GOPe to be the convention spoiler, after he was Public Enemy #1 in the Senate just the year before. Cruz didn't disappoint, when he refused to endorse Trump on the convention stage after graciously being given a speaking slot. Trump was seen in the wings, just in case Cruz chose to bury the hatchet and unite the party. It didn't happen.

So the anger towards Cruz lingered throughout the general election, much of it self-inflicted in my opinion. It was very touch and go right up to 9:00pm on election night. Many of us here who studied the polls daily knew that the MSM was cooking the samples and that things were much closer than they appeared, but we would have liked a more unified Republican effort after the convention.

-PJ

84 posted on 03/27/2018 2:47:19 PM PDT by Political Junkie Too (The 1st Amendment gives the People the right to a free press, not CNN the right to the 1st question.)
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To: central_va

It is good to know that there are people like you in this forum who know everything already.

The book of Proverbs has a word for people who are not prepared to learn from others, in this instance because of a party or philosophical label.

I’d love to see the poll results of FReepers who were adamantly pro-Iraq war and pro-Bush ten years ago, vs now. LOL!


85 posted on 03/27/2018 2:48:09 PM PDT by SecAmndmt (Arm yourselves!)
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To: Responsibility2nd

They were given cover by Rush’s ranting. I stopped listening to him for a few days and still find him tedious.


86 posted on 03/27/2018 2:48:56 PM PDT by arrogantsob (See "Chaos and Mayhem" at Amazon.com)
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To: Greenpees

I was never big on Trump. I liked Cruz. However, I was/am a never ever Hillary.

I’ll criticize Trump. Don’t like the omnibus. Really don’t like that he’s been unfaithful, but I’m pleased with many of his actions as president.

And every day I am thankful that Hillary was not elected. We dodged a bullet.


87 posted on 03/27/2018 2:49:08 PM PDT by luckystarmom
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To: palmer

Guiliani would have been a great president, his faults then would be tolerated now. We were warned about McCain.


88 posted on 03/27/2018 2:55:03 PM PDT by arrogantsob (See "Chaos and Mayhem" at Amazon.com)
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To: Political Junkie Too

A logical and analytical summary! Excellent, thank you.


89 posted on 03/27/2018 2:57:11 PM PDT by longfellowsmuse (last of the living nomads)
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To: Garth Tater

I subscribed to The New American for some time. After reading about a year’s worth, I found it to be very repetitive in content. I let it lapse several years back. No interest in joining them. I have no reason to believe that the grassroots members were anything but old-fashioned patriots, though.


90 posted on 03/27/2018 2:57:47 PM PDT by SecAmndmt (Arm yourselves!)
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To: central_va

The idea of “Free Trade” did not get stated until 1776. It wasn’t an alternative theory to live by. The Founders also knew that tariffs were a tax paid by the taxpayers.


91 posted on 03/27/2018 3:00:33 PM PDT by arrogantsob (See "Chaos and Mayhem" at Amazon.com)
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To: thoughtomator

Agree. I was accused of being an ISIS/AQ supporter for not accepting the official Newtown narrative.


92 posted on 03/27/2018 3:01:19 PM PDT by SecAmndmt (Arm yourselves!)
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To: The Citizen Soldier

I have been here 20 years in November after lurking for six months.

things have changed.

Seems like we lose more than we gain.

but am glad you are here.


93 posted on 03/27/2018 3:01:36 PM PDT by Chickensoup (Leftists today are speaking as if they plan to commence to commit genocide against conservatives.)
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To: Drago
Note, I wasn't speaking for anyone else, just me. I wasn't criticizing the content, just the broad brush.

I find myself skimming TOS also.

94 posted on 03/27/2018 3:02:31 PM PDT by gogeo (excellent!)
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To: The Citizen Soldier

I see nothing different at all. There was a lot of contention over Bush, a lot of contention over McCain and a lot of contention over Romney. The nature of politics is contentious.


95 posted on 03/27/2018 3:02:49 PM PDT by TigersEye (This is the age of the death of reason.)
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To: Buckeye McFrog

As do I.
If there is no discussion, NOTHING is learned or absorbed.
Today’s world is not conducive to these any longer. At some point in time we’ve forgotten how to communicate in agreement as well as disagreements.
JM2c


96 posted on 03/27/2018 3:05:16 PM PDT by V K Lee (Anyone who thinks my story is anywhere near over is sadly mistaken. - Donald J. Trump)
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To: SecAmndmt

Guilty. I was critical for not telling the people it would take 25 yrs to finish the task. But expediency won out.


97 posted on 03/27/2018 3:06:51 PM PDT by arrogantsob (See "Chaos and Mayhem" at Amazon.com)
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To: Responsibility2nd

I just responded to one a few minutes ago


98 posted on 03/27/2018 3:07:59 PM PDT by CodeToad (The Democrats haven't been this pissed off since the Republicans took their slaves away.)
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To: The Citizen Soldier

Glad you’re sticking around even if only to lurk


99 posted on 03/27/2018 3:09:18 PM PDT by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: SecAmndmt; lavaroise
The grassroots members of many organizations frequently have no idea of what the leadership is up to.

From lavaroise's post that outed Bircher searching123:


100 posted on 03/27/2018 3:18:09 PM PDT by Garth Tater (What's mine is mine.)
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