Vanity: The State of Dis-Union

2/3/2016 | Kush

[Kush]

My fellow Freepers, I would like to ask a few minutes of your time tonight. I have been a member of Free Republic for almost 18 years now, and in all that time, I have never felt the need to do a vanity post. Truth be told, I don't care much for them, and I never thought that what I had to say was worth all that much bandwidth. But after the last 6 months of coming here and watching the circus that this place has become, I have decided that tonight is the night I step off the perch and get down in the weeds. It's funny sometimes what can set a person off, and this is what did it to me this evening. In the grand scheme of things, a one sentence comment on a previous post doesn't really amount to much, but I feel this comment is endemic of what has been going on here recently. Indulge me if you will.

To bring you up to speed, here is the original post.

Greta lets Trump Smear Cruz Directly without Greta Stating that CNN Announced Carson Exit

And this would be the comment in question

To: mitchell001

Cruz got busted now he is acting all psycho. Very sad.

31 posted on 2/3/2016, 7:24:03 PM by patq [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies | Report Abuse]

After reading this comment, something inside me finally snapped, and I decided the time for silence was over. So I penned a reply to this user, and was about to post it, when I thought, if I reply just to him (or her), what I had to say would end up buried in a post that had probably reached it's useful end. IOW, who would really see this? Probably only the one I posted it too, and that would just kick off a flame war with this one user. And you know what they say about arguing with a fool. But I felt that this message should be see by as many freepers as possible, because, all hubris aside, I felt it got to the heart of what has been so wrong about this site as of late. So I present my answer to patq in full, and I hope it resonates beyond my own furtive mind.

To: patq

Cruz got busted now he is acting all psycho. Very sad.

No, actually what is sad is all you johnny-come-latelys that have been infecting this site with these fifth grade antics of late. In case you haven't noticed, this is not twitter, instagram, or the comments section of yahoo. This is Free Republic, the greatest conservative site in the sorry history of the internet. Just ask Dan Rather. And what your ilk is turning it into is a crying shame. You and your fellow travelers are making this place unbearable with all your childish attacks. Acting psycho, really? Is that what you bring to the table? I can get better insight from talking to a 4 year old.

It is not hyperbole to state that this is going to be the most important election in my lifetime, probably top 3 in the history of the Republic, and I and many others on this site have to wade through these oceans of bullshit flame wars to try and find the substantive arguments over who would be the best possible candidate to guide this country out of the Obama wilderness.

Is Trump your guy? Great, tell me why you think that his sudden appearance as a rock solid conservative, despite 30 years of evidence to the contrary, is to be trusted.

Is Cruz your guy (obviously not in your case)? Great, tell me how someone so disliked by the hierarchy of his own party can make his presidency work.

You like Rubio? Fantastic, now make the case for why a guy who stabbed his supporters in the back on amnesty now deserves our trust.

You see where I'm going with this? These are adult issues, deserving of an adult conversation. Leave the playground taunts where they belong, on the playground. And stop wrecking what was, is, and will always be the preeminent site for conservative thought and discussion on the world wide web. Oh yeah, and have a nice day.

Kush

[spel_grammer_an_punct_polise]

I agree with everything you say. However, I would like to add the following:

The pent up anger that has been festering since 2008 and is now rearing its ugly head, is yet another factor as to why FR has become a place for “I-can-urinate-further-than-you” attacks not only against candidates but against fellow FReepers.

I do know that it is definitely sad and not representative of FR over the years.

[Irenic]

He will make a great president.

Yes, I really believe he will. I'm rather excited at the prospect.

[mrsloungitude]

Thank you for this post. You stated it all very clearly and I agree with all that you said. I sincerely hope it changes some behaviors.

[caww]

I think everyone listened and were amused when Trump first spoke up.....but then it didn't stop...it grew and got nastier...even when some Freepers spoke up he was off base and going down the wrong road...others ignored what was happening here.....but I saw it and so did others.

It's been bad enough with Obama....but now with Trump also it just seems all wrong. It's been expressed as upside down...and off center.....and a host of other things....so whatever it is I'm convinced it's not good....

I don't think Trump has a break....his lose the other night was devastating for him and perfectly to standard he came back swinging....there's a reason it's said he's a poster boy for narcissism....but I will add mostly unrestrained as well.

[Kush]

I do know that it is definitely sad and not representative of FR over the years.

You are absolutely correct. Hopefully we can keep the car from going fully into the ditch. I have a feeling we will be needing the old freerepublic very soon. Let's hope we haven't blown the motor by then. (metaphor much?)

Kush

[Chesterbelloc]

Good post. Completely agree with you. Much worse than the 2012 primary.

[ExpatGator]

Bravo Zulu on a cogent post.

[caww]

John McCain started that “Unlikability of Cruz” his first few months in the Senate when they all discovered Cruz wasn't going to sit still his first year as most did,... nor was he going to play along to get along. And he didin't... .....then they all started using it who opposed Cruz...Pelosi and Reid and the rest of them. Then it's been a sound bite for the news....

So when you say it's out of proportion....it's just one of the many things the Demorats knew if they repeated it enough times it would be believed...they were outing Cruz pretty much from day one.....and here we are.

[caww]

....”Hopefully we can keep the car from going fully into the ditch. I have a feeling we will be needing the old freerepublic very soon. Let’s hope we haven’t blown the motor by then. (metaphor much?)

Kush

Yes indeed.....how nice it’s been to post here tonight....without the bashing of any kind.....what a relief!

[P-Marlowe]

Rubio may *surprise* us, but I don't think he has a chance in the general.

I disagree. I think the way this thing is shaking out, Rubio is the only one who has a chance in the general.

[spel_grammer_an_punct_polise]

“So when you say it’s out of proportion....it’s just one of the many things the Demorats knew if they repeated it enough times it would be believed...they were outing Cruz pretty much from day one.....and here we are.”

That is what makes me laugh.

If he is so unlikable, how in the world did he get elected?

[Paradox]

Its gotten real krazy Kush, and I have been here NEARLY as long as you have been :)

I think what I find so disheartening, is that so much of the infighting here has been so... juvenile, so snarky, intellectually dishonest, and quite frankly, pathetic. I always thought that was the Way of the Liberal, but it seems to infect both sides. I find myself searching for that which really separates the Left from the Right, I wanted to think there was a real qualitative difference, but I am thinking perhaps there is not.

The only thing I am left with, is Principles. I'll run with that...

[Allen In Texas Hill Country]

Thought I’d add another AGREE and bring the class of ‘98 back to Jan. FR is an incredible resource that I’ve added to and used. Hope the crap passes and we can get back to useful communication.

[Zionist Conspirator]

Great post. We’ve got to stop tearing each other apart.

[Delta 21]

[kiryandil]

Yep. Freerepublic has become something of a trash heap of comments since Trump showed up on the scene. People can see that is is this opportunistic blowhard that is creating massive disunity. The timeline is indisputable. Cruz was a hero on this site before then. Now we're polarized. Hillary herself couldn't have planned a better unwinding than what Trump has wrought.

Kush wrote:

Is Cruz your guy **snip**? Great, tell me how someone so disliked by the hierarchy of his own party can make his presidency work.

Your post is Kush's entire point, bolobaby.

Try re-reading the original post. You might learn something. :)

[kiryandil]

Since it is against my religion to vote for Satan, who do I vote FOR?

Cthulhu

Thanks for introducing me to Charles Spurgeon...

[The Westerner]

Kush,
I agree. Been here longer than my screen name says. And remember the stimulating and often raucous discussions on FR. Back then, there were few moderators and a wide variety of political points of view. Some threads were juvenile or off the wall. But many were intellectual. I wish no one would be banned for an opinion, but that's not the policy on the Board anymore, which over time stifles debate. I'm not sure that this election will matter because the principles our country was founded upon are not understood by the populous. Our country is a welfare state on the verge of fascist dictatorship. Is there a politician alive today who is able to say why that's true let alone what must be done to return to a Constitutional Republic? Does anyone say Constitutional Republic or do they say Democracy? Anyway, thanks for trying to elevate the political discourse on these threads.
T.W.

[kiryandil]

I don't know why I came back today but I do think a little sanity may be creeping back onto the site.

No, it's worse today.

[P-Marlowe]

Which candidate is Cthulhu?

Or do I need to write him in?

_{You're welcome. Spurgeon is a jewel!}