Posted on 09/24/2002 10:51:10 AM PDT by Texaggie79
Well, it was a fun ride and I made a LOT of great friends on Free Republic... including one who came to my wedding. But nothing lasts forever, and maybe in a way it's a *good* thing, 'cuz there's no convincing some people that no increase in power makes that power any more pure.
JimRob has drummed me out of Free Republic. Here's the reason he put on the screen that popped up on my end:
Your posting privilege has been revoked.
Reason: Democrat
Now, I'm not a Democrat. Haven't been one since 1994 when I changed to Republican, and haven't changed that (yet).
If JimRob is now banning people because he believes they are Democrats, he's obliterated any credibility that Free Republic has as a *conservative* forum. Conservatism espouses a free marketplace of ideas. A dissenting idea isn't something a conservative tries to muzzle: a conservative will articulate why it that idea is wrong, make his point as convincing as possible, and let the chips fall where they may. It's LIBERALS who shut off people they disagree with from entering into debate.
I've been accused of being a Democrat, an agitator, a disruptor... any number of things. I've done my damndest to promote this site in what meager ways I've been left with these past few years. Hell, I stood for four hours - for the most part alone except for an hour with another fellow Freeper - on a summer day when the mercury hit 102, to protest an UN-Constitutional practice by a nearby city. On my sign was "FreeRepublic.com". My own money, my own principles, and no one ever asked me to do it. I'll wager that that as small a thing that was, it's a helluva lot more than what most people have done in their time on Free Republic.
Today, I presented an idea - one that wasn't Republican or Democrat, or any other party's notion - that is apparently unwelcome on this forum. My belief is this: that we cannot trust a political party - ANY political party - with any great amount of power, because political parties are about nothing but power. Given enough power, the Republicans would become as corrupt and evil as the Democrats. Maybe it was my comparing the Bush-bots to the Clintonistas. Maybe it was my stating that Free Republic is fast becoming as wildly extremist as Democratic Underground. Or maybe it was my admission that, yes, I *will* vote for Erskine Bowles for U.S. Senator from North Carolina. Between the two major contenders, Bowles is the only one who is a real resident of this state... and my sentiments for North Carolina far outweigh the "needs" of any political party.
For whatever reason it was, JimRob banned me... but if it was for the crime of *once* being a Democrat, that demonstrates how shallow Free Republic is becoming. I've no love or loyalty for the Democratic party and the Republicans have given me no reason why my trust should be placed with them.
I suppose there's no room at Free Republic anymore for those of us who see America's freedom as a gift from God's grace rather than man's pride.
Sincerely, Christopher Knight "Darth Sidious"
This schtick only works for Elected Officials. You know ... the sort that gave us our "GOP" Congress and Senate:
Take care, Darth ... all the best and, uh, let's watch the speed through intersections, eh?
I don't know what Jim can do about it.
"Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever. " - Napoleon Bonaparte
Dole HASN'T lived in North Carolina for almost as long as Jesse Helms HASN'T lived in North Carolina.
It is tres difficile to serve in the Federal Government (or if your husband does) from Davidson County, North Carolina. (Or in Libby Dole's case, from Rowan County)
Dawgsquat wonders why they can't be as generous which Other People's Cigarettes! :)
I'm a systems analyst, so I tend to use the word that describes the system.
What we have is 2 parties who both believe in collective solutions to problems.
I believe from a 'functional analysis' point of view, the real battle is individualism (conservatism) v. collectivism (liberalism).
The R pary is liberal. Collectivist. And I have no interest in furthering the cause of the R party, because by doing so you're furthering the cause of collectivism continuing to dominate America.
Unfortunate.
You need to explain this comment to me -- what do you mean Helms hasn't lived in NC?
No more RINO's needed. We have enough of those as it is.
He could always come back with the screename John McCaan.
Which is why, were I a resident of North Carolina, I would excercise my private "None of the Above" choice.
He is a Senator, and has been for about 30 years. When he was elected, he, like everyone else serving in the Federal Government, moved to DC. He may keep a North Carolina residence, and live here when the Senate is not in session, but he spends MOST of his time in DC.
Also, Libby Dole's husband was a Senator for much of the time since she last served in a Federal job. If your husband is a Senator, would YOU live 350 miles away from him, just so you could keep a North Carolina address??
You are indeed a dreamer.
Also a master of sarcasm.
Thanks for number two. It often 'makes my day'. :)
Say what you will of the Libertarians (and I'm not one, BTW). But insisting that there are only two parties - and that your own is inherently "good" - smacks of stagnancy and short-sightedness. Proprietor of this joint though you are, you can't deny that if both major parties haven't run out of steam already, they're about to. And I ain't calling anyone a fool but they're foolish to keep insisting that voting any single party across the board is the best hope for America. Both major parties are corrupted by power - they exist only for power - and there's no justifying a substitution of one for the other.In post # 557 in The Democratic Party is Beyond Corrupt thread
I happen to agree with Darth. The Republican hierarchy is getting to be as corrupt as the Dems. If the Libertarians gained power, it would corrupt them too. That's why the founders tried to limit the size and power of the federal government, in order to limit the amount of corruption that would happen
She didn't stay in DC when Bob went home to Kansas -- she lived in KANSAS with him. I still want to know why, if she was so hot and bothered to be a member of the US Senate, she didn't run for the seat from Kansas, not NC. (Unless it was going to be easier for her in NC, as with Bill's Wife-In-Name-Only and NY).
Now that I understand your comment on Helms, I'll grant you that point. Why I have been a big supporter of the "Cut their pay and send them home" movement. It's disgraceful when elected members of either chamber complain that it's "too inconvenient" for them to go back to the hometown more often than just the month-long breaks and campaign season.
Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. --Lord Acton
Thus the need for a government constitutionally empowered to do a limited number of legitimate things. He struck me as an ex-Democrat, which is something this country needs more of.
Well, I reserved judgement until I got to gratefulwharfrat's post with additional comments from Darth, including the above.
Now I say...way to go Jimrob!
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