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Many, many, many of the good thinkers and great posters are long gone from FR, only to be replaced by “I wear the same shirt as JimRob” people that believe conservatism means not touching when dancing. And yes, many have gone on to different forums including Liberty Forum. Why?

Pick any Arafat thread posted today and the ONLY posts will be from the “Israel can do no wrong” crowd. Haven’t seen any of this crowd showing up on Liberty Forum complaining of being banned from FR. How about the name calling by pro-Bush supporters on threads that, oh my gosh, might question policy from Washington. Haven’t seen any of them on Liberty Forum either. Why doesn’t their name calling get them banned as well? Is this an example of healthy debate? Don’t think so.

I have made significant monetary contributions to this site in the past and I do understand that this is YOUR forum. However, might I suggest that the opening page of FR display the new posting rules:

Those who get booted are usually posters who post racist materials, posters who post anti-Semitic materials, posters who post Holocaust denial materials, those who spread the "Protocols" nonsense propaganda, those who post Marxist propaganda and attempt to pass it off as truth, those who deal in tinfoil hat conspiracy theory, those who condemn others based on race or religion, those who condemn religion itself, those leftists who pose as conservatives or right wingers but constantly trash conservatives or conservative policy, those who call for armed revolution or other violence, those who blame America for 9-11, those who excessively bash our president, our war effort or our military, those who post excessive profanity, those who aggressively engage in personal attacks, feuds and flamewars, those who register two or more accounts and use them as straw men or try to pass themselves off as different posters, those who post vulgarity or pornography, those who continually post off topic items, spammers, advertisers, trolls, liberals, anarchists, skinheads, nazis, communists, defenders of abortion, gun control, gay rights, peta people, etc, etc (Free Republic is not a liberal debating society).

"...those who deal in tinfoil hat conspiracy theory,"

Like black helicopters? (Wait, that one turned out to be true...) Like the fed being involved in the OKC bombing? Like coverups at Waco? Like questions about where the anthrax came from? Who gets to decide what is "tin-foil hat" and what is a topic worthy of debate?

"...those who blame America for 9-11..."

So any discussion that addresses the fact that we TOLD the Taliban (prior to 911) that we were going to make war on them would be forbidden...(we won't mention the fact the the CIA is responsible for empowering them in the 1st place)?

"...those who excessively bash our president..."

It was ok when it was a democrat, but when the Republicans do the same disreputable things, we can't mention it? (Even though the laws the the Republicans pass will still be in effect when the dems get back in power...)
We consider clinton to be a traitor for handing high-tech knowledge and materials to China, are we supposed to give Bush a free pass when he does it too? (Actually it turns out it started with Bush senior...clinton was just continuing the policy.
Under "Republicans are offlimits" guidelines, I'd never have found this out.) Is it any less wrong because a politician with an "R" beside his name does it?

"...our war effort..."

We missed bin Laden, scattered the terrorists, and killed a lot of civilians and we have to consider that a victory? Even though yesterday's paper was talking about how the al Quaeda is increasing it's power?

"...or our military..."

Sorry, but even though the Republicans are in office, the "army of one" being promoted. That entire concept is still ridiculous.

"...those who aggressively engage in personal attacks, feuds and flamewars..."

Unless they are Israel-firsters? Or self-righteous religious posters? Or pro-Republican ostrichs?

"...defenders of abortion, gun control, gay rights, peta people, etc, etc (Free Republic is not a liberal debating society)."

If any of them have something to say, they can't be heard? Why? Are we afraid that we can't counter their ideas and arguments? Preaching to the choir is easy, but doesn't accomplish anything. Preaching is ment for sinners...otherwise it's just masturbation.
Bottom line: If a someone has something to say (for instance on gun control) that has merit and CANNOT be refuted with facts and logic, then he just may be right!
Don't we have the confidence in our position on a variety of subjects (including gun control) that we would have no problem debating someone who disagrees and discusses his rational in a polite and calm manner. We shouldn't be afraid of him or his arguments, in fact, we should welcome them. If we can show him the error of his ways, he will increase our ranks.

Admins should be there to ban jerks (no matter WHAT ideology they support), not non-PC topics. And THAT's what appears to have been happening on FR.

Re: LibertyForum. Sure there are jerks out there, but there are plenty EVERYWHERE -including a few on FR :-). Topics and opinions should stand and fall on their own merits, NOT on whether they are PC (liberal OR conservative PC). That's why some outstanding posters are out there now. They're there to learn and debate the issues, not spend their time at choir practice.