“If you have been around since 2000, you should know that when the time comes we consolidate around the front runner in effort to defeat the Democrats. It hasn’t always worked out, but that is what is needed.”
Are you serious? Wasn’t Romney the front runner? I don’t recall to many people here rallying around Romney. In fact, if you supported him with to much fervor you were banned. The original poster is right. Free Republic is nothing but a shell of it’s former self. A lot of very good, thoughtful people were run off simply for disagreeing.
That consolidation was delayed, but it did happen before the general election. At one time I actually believed Romney could win. I still think he was a better candidate than Rick Santorum or Newt Gingrich, who would have been beaten like rented mules.
Judging by the hundred day FR caucus Trump is a lot more popular with conservatives than McCain or Romney (early in 2008 there was a FR poll showing 90% of freepers opposed him!), so he won't lose as many conservative voters as they did. We can win this one, the time to consolidate is now.
There is a difference between consolidating our efforts around the front running and actively campaigning against him. Many of those banned were #NeverTrump or trashed Jim.