What you need to know about Freepers

[rucky]

they're not all ignorant
they're not all good people deep inside

I know it's more complicated than black & white, good and evil, but while they're freeping, they are indulging a part of their psyche that is dark, violent, aggressive and uncaring. Everybody has this side of them, but most of us feel guilty about thinking those thoughts and do a pretty good job supressing and/or controlling them.

It's taken this hurricane for me to admit that there are some people who are inherently evil. It's not just the Bushies. There's not much debate about their intentions, but for some reason, it's even more unsettling to realize that - if given the opportunity - your neighbor down the street wouldn't do things that much differently. These people exist in places other than the highest offices (disproportionately in politics and other "powerful" positions).

The trauma this country has faced over the last 5 years has given way to an army of functional psychopaths who now have an opportunity to nurture their dark sides. the internet allows them to do this without fear of embarrassment or retribution.

they know their party's policies are killing brown people, poor people and "heathens" of all stripes.

They're ok with this.

They are not interested in honest discussion of the "issues" (talking points) they pretend to be passionate about. They use emotion as a manipulative tool to trump logic.

They won't shut up, or admit they're wrong, because they already know they're wrong. they know all of their justifications for saying what they say are bullshit.

And they're ok with this.

Should battered women leave their abusers or try to reason with them? You don't have to hate these people. Just don't bother with them, or give them the bad attention they crave.

No amount of truth or logic that YOU can give them will change them. They only way people like this can change is through personal experience. They can only help themselves (which also happens to be the way they prefer it).

[texpatriot2004]

1. I knew when the "Supreme Court " put him in office we were in for

some sick evil shit. (I could feel it in my gut) NEVER "vote" for the son-of-a-bush. The "Supreme Court" had no right to do that. I am still pissed. I will never get over it. The "Supreme Court" is riddled with disease.

[Hubert Flottz]

2. The Supreme Court 5 will go down in history as traitors.

I hope that the ring leader is roasting in Hell right now! I'd send him a fan and some $3.50 a gallon gasoline, if I knew his addy.

[texpatriot2004]

3. I thought about that when he passed, not the fan and gas part,

but that he wasn't in a good place going into the next world.

[liberal N proud]

7. When they announced his death, I commented that he was on his

way to hell.
He will be preparing a place for the rest of the bu$h regime right next to people like Hitler.

[ModerateLee]

4. Today, I was thinking...

...how proud I am of our country. I love the United States of America and everything she stands for. I will always regard it as the most fortunate circumstance that I was born here and allowed to be a citizen of the greatest country on earth.

[Hubert Flottz]

5. ?

[OhioChick]

6. .

:popcorn:

[XanaDUer]

11. Let me join you...

:popcorn:

[amber dog democrat]

8. ????

?

[sam sarrha]

9. i feel the same way..but then I break down and cry at what its become in

in the hands of a puppet of the NEOCON's... what it is doing to its citizens and the stability of the world..

I grow Cold with Fear as the dark cloak of Corporate Fascism is drawn over this country to smother the Beautiful democracy and freedoms that made it what it "was"... which it is not any more.

[ModerateLee]

16. I understand!

We just have to keep the faith--and have confidence and determination--that we can turn things around in '06 and '08.

[liberal N proud]

10. ??????

Bring out the kool-aid?

[sam sarrha]

12. Make sure his is the "GRAPE" Kool-Aid......

[amber dog democrat]

14. I had a grandmother that used to say that

This does not mean I don't have similar feelings but I can not support the current political leadership in any way, shape or form.

To a large extent, America is betrayed and has betrayed its self.
I feel like we have Caligula in command.

[Why Syzygy]

15. Yeah

The freepers might agree with you.

[ModerateLee]

17. Wha?

I'm a freeper because I love my country???

[Why Syzygy]

19. Not at all.

Can you just spell out exactly what it is you're proud of at the moment?

It could cheer up alot of us.

[ModerateLee]

21. What I'm proud of:

I saw some programs on TV about 9/11 this past weekend. There was a memorial to the firemen and other first responders. This was not too long after I saw men in their little boats chopping through attics in NOLA so they could rescue somebody who was trapped. I mean, here they were risking their lives--and for people they didn't even know! They were just like the firemen etc. during 9/11. They were so brave, so selfless. I thought about how wonderful Americans are as I saw one act of bravery after another.

I couldn't help but be proud!

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

23. And sometimes they rescue adorable little puppies and kittens too!

[ModerateLee]

26. I can...

...keep it to myself if you, or anyone else here, is uncomfortable with me expressing how I feel about my fellow Americans.

I didn't mean to say something I shouldn't have....

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

27. It doesn't make me uncomfortable in the least

You can also feel free to go beyond stating the obvious though. My impression of most people here is that they feel the same as you (without the exceptionalism) but also want to be responsible citizens and discuss how to improve things that need fixing.

Now that we see what you like about our country, what would you consider to be the biggest problems that we could improve upon?

[ModerateLee]

33. Well...

...two things I could name, off the top of my head, are immigration and social security. I believe we have to deal with immigration quite differently than we have in the past. And I am not at ALL convinced that Bush's social security plan would provide any kind of answer. Actually, I can see people getting ready to retire and not having enough to live on and the government saying to them 'too bad, YOU were supposed to invest your money--so sad it didn't work out, but you're on your own'...and just leaving everyone screwed.

[Why Syzygy]

29. We never do

mean to say something we "shouldn't". Who writes the "shoulds"?

The confusion may have set in when your original post indicated you were proud of the COUNTRY in its present state.

how proud I am of our country. I love the United States of America and everything she stands for.

What does she stand for now? WHAT IS THE MISSION?

Later on in the thread you said NOW you are proud of "Americans".
Not the same thing at this point in time, ya know?
OF COURSE we rescue our own! That is what is so reprehensible about the dog in the Whitehouse.
He does nothing but put us in harm's way. Every day.

Agreed?

[ModerateLee]

34. I draw the line...

...between natural disasters and manmade ones. Bush is not God who controls all things. No matter whatever else he might've gotten wrong, I don't expect him to be able to keep America safe from every single thing that could ever befall us--that's giving him way too much power and I won't cede that to him.

[Why Syzygy]

62. Obviously

he cannot keep 'us' safe from even his own poor judgment and greed.
FEMA created a large part of the most recent 'natural' disaster.
He could have done a much better job there!
He created the manmade disaster of Ira*q.
He could have done a much better job there!

In your opinion, what has he done right so far?

[Just Me]

18. America is being betrayed and abused by evil-hearted men.

It's a damn shame! :grr:

[DemonFighterLives]

20. Well ain't that special!

I suppose you haven't been here long enough to know the truth.
This Country used to be great, but we have fallen a long ways, basically to be despised worldwide.
We can sit back an pretend that all is well, but the opposite is true. Corruption is rampant and the nation is broke.
:freak:

[Why Syzygy]

22. But there are NY Firemen chopping

(not the thousands who have lost their jobs after 911 and thanks to misadministration, which is still ramant) through the roofs to rescue (or locate bodies) as a result of a tragedy aggravated by a ruthless and careless dictator.

So let's go ahead and be PROUD! :patriot:

[DemonFighterLives]

48. I'm glad someone is trying to clean up

Katrina/bush has caused a whirlwind of destruction. I'm fired up right now after going to the VA. There are a lot of deluded hardcore republicans out there. In fact I'm goin to start a thread about my experience.
:dem:

[ModerateLee]

24. But America...

...is not that tiny group of elites at the top. America is all of US and what WE have in our hearts and souls. I would never let some itty-bitty group at the top define MY country for me--or who and what I was!

[Why Syzygy]

28. "itty bitty group"?

They own 90% of the wealth! That is not "itty bitty".

Hon, take a reality pill.

[ModerateLee]

32. I was speaking about...

...those who hold power at the very top--not simply the most wealthy (after all, my hero Kerry is a pretty wealthy man, as is Ted Kennedy etc.) America is not just defined through her wealth, or every wealthy nation would be America, and they are not. I was speaking about the spirit of America.

[DemonFighterLives]

46. Itty Bitty Teeny Tiny Brain Bush has nearly destroyed the country

I could be all mushy and fawn over a few good things, but dubby is the disaster president and he has only contributed to a more unsafe country and world. His great FEMA director who he was so proud of was only a week late at a few billion short.
The b*sh crime family rules the country and steals its wealth and saps its goodwill. dubco and GFY cheney/halliburton are laughing at us as we speak.
:hide:

[ModerateLee]

55. Hmmm...

I think we're stronger than that, stronger than one man's ability to take us down. I have hope in a better future--and I think we're a helluva good country right now!

[DemonFighterLives]

58. He is only the puppet for the vast right wing

Have no fear that I love my country only less so with the fascists in power.
Welcome to DU btw.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

30. I know you will take a bit of ribbing for that

but I agree with you. This is a country of awesome opportunity and strong, vital people. But we are at a crossroads right now.

One thing that still gives ME hope is that while the MSM does keep a lid on many things, we have other legal (so far) forums like this and blogs to keep the light on. And in a country where the jackboots were overtly in control, our recent little "games" of shame and torture in Iraq would never have come to light. So our level of dissent is healthy and I'm personally not afraid of losing my job because of my political opinions.

But we have a long road ahead of us. We are up to it, however.

[ModerateLee]

36. Thank you!

Your post was very reasonable and balanced (Is it our age? LOL!) I, too, was so very glad the Internet has proven such a unique source of news. All those hidden secrets of the past will now be afforded the light of day. It'll be rough for awhile, but we'll be all the better for that type of scrutiny.

[Johnny_GRMI]

43. Internet Schminternet

The Corporate controlled media is already a 4th branch of the Government. We are a just a hair away from losing the internet. Free speech is under attack. What if there were no boards to post on? What if there were no blogs?

This is a fascist regime. Its only a matter of time before they use their new powers (Patriot Act) and methods (Torture, indefinite detention)to curtail dissent.

Does anyone think that this group wouldn't imprison the opposition if they could?

[TallahasseeGrannie]

50. Well, Johnny G

I hear your angst and I hope to HELL you are wrong.

[Occulus]

54. Murdoch bought IGN in recent days.

This includes sites like rottentomatoes.com and gamespy.

Thought ya oughtta know! :grr: (Murdoch makes me itch)

[SpiralHawk]

31. "...everything it stands for..." ? WTF? Go back to sleep, Lee

You are obviously not paying attention.

Maybe while you are asleep you will have a dream locating the WMD in Iraq? That would be an enormous help to the failed + corrupt Bush Admin.

[Puglover]

35. I agree...go back to sleep

I love America too but with the current state of affairs the last thing she needs is misty eyed platitudes about how great she is. American needs the same kind of spirit that made her in the first place. And ignoring the corporate facist climate that is currently installed is IMHO feeding the beast.

[ModerateLee]

40. Uh...

...nobody is ignoring anything here.

[ModerateLee]

39. I'M wide awake.

My country does not 'stand for' finding WMD's in Iraq. That is--or was--a specific military objective that failed. America stands for principles, values, ideas, and freedoms that go way beyond an isolated military objective in one war, one battle, on one day.

[Puglover]

41. My question to you is

why are you posting

Today, I was thinking...
...how proud I am of our country. I love the United States of America and everything she stands for. I will always regard it as the most fortunate circumstance that I was born here and allowed to be a citizen of the greatest country on earth.

in a thread entitled "What you need to know about Freepers" ? Seems to me to be somewhat off topic.

[ModerateLee]

42. Oh...

So you are upset because you feel I posted off topic... Well, I can certainly apologize for that. I do not yet have enough posts to pose a question, or start a thread of my own, so perhaps my comment was simply sandwiched in where it could be.

[Puglover]

47. I guess I can see how one could have a moment

and feel the need to tell everyone how lucky they feel to be born in the US. If that's the case well then as the Aussies say "Good on ya"!
However from my own experience, be careful where you "sandwich" off topic comments. We unfortunately do have our share of disrupter's at DU and if one were suspicious one might think that there could be an alterior motive in posting such a thing. A typical freeper ploy would be to post a comment like yours and when questioned could point out how DUers "hate" the US.
Really glad you cleared that up!
Welcome to DU!
:hi:

[ModerateLee]

57. Nah...

I was just watching some 9/11 footage and got a little choked up...

[TallahasseeGrannie]

51. But

if there is no hope, if we are doomed to fascism, then what is there to fight for anymore? Why bother?

I love my country and the ideals it claims to stand for. If I didn't, I wouldn't be wasting my time trying to make things better.

This might be a generational thing, tho. When I was in my 30's and I assumed we would all eventually die in a nuclear winter, I despised the flag because it was painted on all those missiles.

I have become more pragmatic, probably because I have now lived most of my life.

I admire passion; don't give up.

[ModerateLee]

56. Exactly!

You said it better than I could have. I, too, need to have hope for me to take action (and I think it IS a generational thing--I'm sure I'm closer to your age than others!)

I have tremendous faith in the people in this country. That doesn't mean we won't have difficult times--sometimes we need difficult times--that's how this country was founded.

Shoot, we lived through Nixon--I guess we can live through this, too, and come out the other side!

[Johnny_GRMI]

61. Nixon

This President makes Nixon look like a Saint. Far, far worse and much much more dangerous.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

37. Yes, and...?

[frictionlessO]

49. Good for you because its so hard to be able to come out and say

that without some crazy freaked up theocratic moralist threatening your life, your families lives and the culture that you have always loved and respected this once great country for protecting....

On a even more serious note I have never been more ashamed and frightened of my own country. I fear the die hard bushite cultist (read that as typical pro war anti gay republican)down the street, more than any terrorist on Earth or in the reich wing kingdom of heaven. I find these people arrogant, whiney, and cruel beyond words.

The neocon bushists agenda for people who disagree is simple.

Convert
Incarcerate
Kick Out
Kill.

They wouldn't know compassion and empathy from selfish desire and guilty reaction.

on edit: extra lines.. and some grammar.

[ModerateLee]

53. Thank you!

Thanks for understanding--that means a lot to me. It never occured to me that I'd have to justify or explain any positive thoughts I had about our country, nor did I think, in order to be accepted, that I had to be upset about the same things, and to the same degree, everyone else is...

I'm just getting involved in politics in a deeper way--and I'm still feeling out all the issues. I consider myself a moderate democrat--the ones the party says it wants--I guess we shall see if that is true.

You have a great Monday!

[frictionlessO]

59. See I thought the party was all about moderates?

These days it is very hard to tell who a moderate is because the middle has been moved so far right.

I'm sorry I can't find the joy and pride that you can in this country right now. You earlier talked about being proud of a first responder memorial yesterday.. What good is such a memorial with the perpetrators not only at large but growing their cadre of extremists due to the training ground and recruitment center we have made for them? We are going to have to have more such memorials in teh future thanks to the hubris of hegemony that the empirical whims of this admin and half of the people of this country wanted(though honestly I belive that he had less than half the vote both times, as a moderate do you think both elections were fair?).

We are no longer the best at anything except the effiency with which we can kill and even that was seriously overblown. The rest of the world is disgusted with us seven different ways to Sunday, Peak Oil is here, the environment is almost damaged beyond repair (meaning just a few generations out will need to mutate or die trying), our poor are treated with little dignity (and I mean before Katrina), we torture in the name of liberty, we premptively invade countries and lie continously about it after the fact, our kids are fast becoming some of the dumbest on the planet, civil liberties are going by the wayside in the name of Homeland Security which apparently can't really do what it was supposed to, gays are still treated like second class citizens, blacks and hispanics are treated like third class citizens unless they are in a higher income bracket, the war on drugs fills up our prisons with useless marijuana and mushroom violations while child rapists go free....

Yeah maybe it is just me and maybe i'll find soem way back to being happy with my country, like you all chipper and loving it come rain or shine but I no longer see this as the same country at all that it was 5 or 6 years ago, and like a husband who chnages over time and becomes violent/abusive towards his wife or children I don't think I'll be viewing my love through blackened eyes without acknowledging that he is a complete and total pschopath with intentions to harm irreparably.

I empathize with your rose colored glasses and believe me I want a new pair so bad because my manic psychosis of deperession is getting the better of me these days. But I will not go forward with pride in the name of a failed state of a nation. To not acknowledge this only makes room for worse to come.

Sorry for your negative replies to your posts, give yourself 6 months to a year of being here everyday and you'll probably be even more pissed and upset than most of us. Then again who knows... maybe you'll maintain your happy tone and never feel like everything (including the greatest things about this country) have gone to complete and irreversible hell.

Good luck and I mean that.. no sarcasm at all.

[ModerateLee]

60. I hope things get better for you.

I understand how you feel--and you are certainly entitled to your feelings whatever they are.

For myself--I don't know if it's because I have lived though many presidents and their terms in office, or what--but I AM able to see beyond the next three years, and I DO have hope. I really have to have hope; if I felt as negatively toward my country, I couldn't live there--I really couldn't--and I WOULD leave.

It seems like the future always holds a surprise--things will change, just you wait and see!

[DemonFighterLives]

63. You said that so much better than what I was doing

Good Post!
Being moderate now puts us over in right field. I don't see any righties trying to reach out an olive branch. Sure they'll take us, but if we don't fold they would just as soon kill us.
:toast:

[CanOfWhoopAss]

13. Someone is voting for the NeoCons and their agenda

so... quite obviously they share their beliefs. I wouldn't trust them with small pox blankets or anthrax blankets.

[C_U_L8R]

25. Freepers : Proof that there is Intelligent Design

and then there's Not-So Intelligent Design

[Richard Steele]

44. Maybe the Freepers were "designed" by one of those OTHER Gods....

You know, the ones mentioned in that commandment?

Maybe it should have read:
"...and thou shalt have no other Gods before ME,
For their creations are flawed
and their Quality Control is a joke."

[ComerPerro]

38. Your sig line: Disasters of the Bush administration

Thank you for posting it. I have been looking for a screen capture from that Daily Show episode ever since it first aired.

I notice now that there is no "G" on the list.

Curious.

I love it though.

Thanks!

[Catherine Vincent]

45. I think you may have caught a freeper on this thread.

Good bait!

[Marr]

52. It's very true. This is why it drives me nuts to see a guy like Al Franken

constantly trying to reason with hardcore Bush fans. I just want to give him a slap and tell him to wake the fuck up.

Alot of those people- I'd say most, in fact- are bound only by hatred, racism, greed, and other base emotions. It sounds unbelievable but it really is true. They have alot of code words and phrases for it, like "I'm sick of being politically correct". As if "politically correct" means anything more than civility.

They celebrate their hatred.

[DemonFighterLives]

64. I like Al a lot

and I'm not sure if he will sway any republicans. I think "they" all pretty much wrote him off as a liberal long ago. You can't trash thier idol (rush) and expect them to like you.
You are right on the rest. :thumbsup: