Free Republic's Leader Mentioned in Wall Street Journal

Wall Street Journal On Line ^ | October 30, 2003 | Hal Friedman

[Hal 2004]

To all my new friends in the Free Republic:

Thank you for your kind comments on my comment to the WSJ on right-wing polarization. Unfortunately,nearly all of you have proved my point.

My solution to polarization is to tone down the rhetoric, something which you folks need to do. I didn't question Jim's sanity or loyalty etc. I did not attack him personally. I only pointed out the damage I believe his intemperate comments cause to political discourse in this country. After viewing your comments, I do have to wonder:Do any of you really care about this country or do you just have nothing to do with your time but take out your frustration at your boss, spouse, etc. on those with whom you disagree politically?

I acknowledge that I don't have all the answers to all political questions and that liberals aren't always right or have perfect virtue. We liberals don't have a monopoly on Truth (an oligopoly, perhaps). Are any of you honest enough to make the same admission about yourselves and your views?

Only one of you noticed that I read conservative sources. Only one other, the one who talked about liberal rationalism and the Enlightenment, tried to give me a sensible response to my comment. For the rest of you, are you so unsure of your beliefs that you can respond to criticism only by indulging in puerile, ad hominem attacks?

For the record:

I am NOT an atheist, Marxist, Communist,
fascist,traitor,crook saboteur, a practicing thespian or vegetarian. I AM a liberal Democrat and proud of it! I do NOT regard George W. Bush as the latest incarnation of Adolph Hitler who personally planned the 9/11 attacks nor do I regard the GOP's purpose as instituting a crypto-fascist Christian theocracy. I do not believe Bush invaded Iraq solely to give a boost to Halliburton stock. I do not believe Bush to be a greater enemy to the US than Bin Laden. I love this country just as much as you folks say you do and I have nothing but respect for our Constitution (I've spent years studying it)and our way of life.

I was only a mile from the Trade Centers on 9/11 and
witnessed the second plane hit the South Tower.I then saw both Towers go down. It was a truly horrifying experience. None of you should have to see something like that. I regard Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda as the enemies of humanity and that Islamism is the greatest threat to our way of life since Soviet Communism.

I am writing this response in an attempt, hopefully not futile, to make you folks see that liberal Democrats like me are not your enemy. We may disagree, and, to be sure, we may phrase our disagreements sharply, but, for God's sake, let's NOT treat each other like garbage.

From Hal 2004 in Brooklyn

P.S. I did not use a sentence fragment in my WSJ reply. I used a statement that followed a colon.

[Jim Robinson]

Sorry, but, IMHO, the political party that advances the extreme evil agendas of the abortionists, homosexualists, extreme environmentalists, globalists, socialists, marxists communists, leftists, etc, is contemptible. And the extremist NEANDERTHALS (TM Ted Kennedy) promoting these evil agendas are just as evil as the evil party itself.

By the way, perhaps you should speak to Senators Kennedy, Boxer, Landreiu, et al, regarding toning down the polarizing rhetoric before attacking others. Or did you not watch their DESPICABLE performances recently in the Senate and elsewhere?

[Ciexyz]

Kewl!

[aculeus]

Kewl!

Reply 102 especially.

[aculeus]

I meant 103.

[doug from upland]

They hate Bush because of policy differences. There have always been policy differences. We hate Clinton because he is a criminal. Rape and treason are not endearing qualities of a president.

[Freemeorkillme]

Here, here, Jim!

[Interesting Times]

The key thing, of course, is that you aren't a vegetarian...

This medium tends to lend itself to a certain amount of hooting and chest-thumping, especially among those of us who long felt isolated from kindred spirits. Your side dominated the opinion-forming institutions for so long that we're still getting used to the idea that now we have some clout too. A generation ago there was no Internet, no talk radio, no Fox News. Now, as you have noticed, the establishment take on events has some competition. If at times we're a bit strident, bear in mind that we're up against people who routinely accuse us of being Nazis.

I suspect if you stick around, you'll find a number of freepers able and willing to give you a civil debate...

[Publius6961]

Hal Friedman, of Brooklyn, is obviously one of the very angry current losers.
With an awfully bad memory.

He neglects to mention that all the things he condemns have been "owned" by the left wing progressives for a generation.
It is not until these tools were (finally) used against them successfully that they became "terrible" things.

Payback's a bitch.

[Publius6961]

hey! when did we become a group? I did not get that memo.

And since when did we get a leader?
We don't need no stinkin' leader!

No DNC talking point faxes here...
Freepers all have a mind of their own; or half a mind, in some cases.
Still heads and shoulders above the whining mindless we-need-a-daddy-government type.

[sweetliberty]

"groups like the Free Republic, whose leader recently swore hatred for the Democrats who are "destroying the Constitution" and "setting up a totalitarian state," Ann Coulter accusing liberals of "treason,"

Uhhh.....which one of those statements is untrue?

[Woodman]

None of them, but Jim is more like an Inn Keeper.

[Nataku X]

I do NOT regard George W. Bush as the latest incarnation of Adolph Hitler who personally planned the 9/11 attacks nor do I regard the GOP's purpose as instituting a crypto-fascist Christian theocracy. I do not believe Bush invaded Iraq solely to give a boost to Halliburton stock. I do not believe Bush to be a greater enemy to the US than Bin Laden. I love this country just as much as you folks say you do and I have nothing but respect for our Constitution (I've spent years studying it)and our way of life.

Where I am, you'd be a right wing extremist. But, thank you for such a reasoned response; you do seem to be an intelligent man.

[Publius6961]

Dang it Jim. Quit sounding so damned divisive.

You'll hurt their feelings and screw up all their talking points!

[Publius6961]

I disagreed with Jim a coupla times.

Is that all right?

[EDINVA]

could Neanderthals SWIM ?????????

[Publius6961]

I only pointed out the damage I believe his intemperate comments cause to political discourse in this country. After viewing your comments, I do have to wonder:Do any of you really care about this country or do you just have nothing to do with your time but take out your frustration at your boss, spouse, etc. on those with whom you disagree politically?

And I do have to wonder too...
What planet did you just arrive from?
How far back do you want to go?

You want to talk frustration, mindlessness and feelings of righteous ignorance?
I could start to collect inanities from leftist groups and other idiots at all levels, from the destructive demonstrators to presidential contenders.

All long before the "vicious" right began to counterattack.
Ever read The Art of Political War?

Demagoguery works only so long in an informed society.
Give it a rest!

[nopardons]

Gee Hal, if only you could manage to remove those blinkers and see what your side has said and done, to further the polarization, of this nation, for many decades, perhaps, just perhaps, you might suddenly realize your problem isn't with Jim Robinson, FR, FREEPERS,nor Conservatives of any stripe.

Tell Teddy kennedy, who called some fine people " NEANDERTHALS ", to tone down his polarizing rhetoric. You could tell Chuckie Schumer and Hillary Clinton the same ! And then there's Al Sharpton, whose polarizing rhetoric has managed to be the intrument of DEATH .

And, Hal, after reading your own words, one really has to wonder, REALLY WONDER, if you get your news from anything other than the major networks, the N.Y. Times, the Daily News, CNN, and your local pals...all of whom agree with your stunted, provincial, childish views.

[Publius6961]

Hear!

Even...