Day 6 at Free Republic and sadly my last report.....

[trumad]

First off: Sources deep inside DU have notified me that some members are questioning my recent correspondence from the war-zone known as Free Republic and have gone as far as comparing me to Bill O'Reilly and Brian Williams. This hurts deeply.

I will offer a small Mea culpa to say that a small part of my reporting was obtained from Screen Shots of Free Republic. Other than that, the rest was created with real on the ground reporting.

With that said--

Day 6 and why I have handed in my resignation.

Reporting from Free Republic is Ground Hog day on steroids. Same shit just a different day. Rehashed monotonous cut and paste bile posted by the same characters non-stop. Dare poke them and watch out---their clan comes runnin with a whiny pitch that will make your ears bleed. Sort of the 3rd rail of douchebaggery.

In a nutshell: I've enjoyed sharing my reports from Free Republic to my fellow DU'ers and I appreciate the near unanimous approval of the reports. Unfortunately I find that my IQ has dropped 50 points in the last 6 days and my wife has noticed a small steady stream of drool at the corner of my right lip. Not good!

In closing: I am so glad that I have DU. No clans here---no cut and paste brigades, no trolls, no Freepers, ---and when a lifelong Democrat is attacked, we crush the attacker.

God Bless DU!

trumad
Ex-War Correspondent .

[DemocratSinceBirth]

1. I am going to miss your reporting./NT

[Number23]

71. Me too! This should be a weekly feature. Hell, a daily one

[malaise]

2. ROFL

You made my day

[steve2470]

3. Trumad, you're proof that Florida does not suck!

[Tommy_Carcetti]

5. Oh, we should already know that.

But Trumad certainly helps reinforce that fact.

[steve2470]

6. yes, we already know that :)

My lame attempt at humor

[yeoman6987]

4. Do what you feel is right

Don't let others dictate what you do with regard to OPs. Good luck!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

10. It was satire and was a lot more innocuous than a lot of posting that passes muster here.

trumad's yeoman work will be missed.

[SidDithers]

7. Why do Freepers hate being called Freepers?...

Sid

[betsuni]

14. Ha! Good one.

[voteearlyvoteoften]

8. Hey Trumad

Enjoy your attitude.
Hope you can sleep after visiting Freeperville.

[FSogol]

9. And the jury results.

On Mon Mar 9, 2015, 09:15 AM an alert was sent on the following post:

Day 6 at Free Republic and sadly my last report.....
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026335755

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

This SPAM of GD is over the top, we have no dealt with day after day of disruptive meta posts from this OP. Their only purpose is to use satire to mock fellow DU'ers. Please vote to hide this post as disruptive meta, the hosts won't do their job will the jury do it for them?

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Mon Mar 9, 2015, 09:20 AM, and the Jury voted 1-6 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: You have to be fucking kidding. If you don't like what a mirror held up to you shows, you don't complain about someone holding the mirror.
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: The alert person has lost contact with reality. Really if you dont like trumad - ignore him. I personally appreciate his posts.
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: There's plenty of evidence to support the poster's mockery. I wish there was a way to report the reporter for taking up bandwidth complaining about a long-time DU poster. I see NOTHING wrong with the OP. I have to ask: who's the troll here?
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Somebody call the whammmmbulance, Manny has a sad! To the alerter, thanks for pointing me to this, I plan on rec'ing it.
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I despise these types of threads and have trashed every one of trumad's attempt at humor, but I don't think it should be hidden.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: craziest alert I've ever seen
Juror #7 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

[trumad]

11. Oh I'm framing this one.

6 reports---6 jury reports.... this one is the best.

[msanthrope]

16. You have to frame the alerts of the jury results, too. nt

[Jim Lane]

102. It is, shall we say, artistic license for you to call your posts "reports". (n/t)

[boston bean]

21. too fuckin funny!

Their only purpose is to use satire to mock fellow DU'ers.

[Bobbie Jo]

32. Right?

The unintentional irony of that tidbit struck me funny too.

[boston bean]

63. The cognitive dissonance it took for someone to write out that alert

must be gargantuan! LOL

using satire to mock duers! hahahahahahahahahahahahah

[greatauntoftriplets]

66. The HORROR!

[Number23]

78. Ha!! AHAAHHAHAAHAHAHAHAA!!

haHAHA!

((catches breath))

[Spazito]

26. That is the absolutely best of the jury results of the 6 failed attempts

The explanations are delicious AND right on point!

[Curmudgeoness]

28. There was one vote to hide???

Give me a break! And of course, that juror had no comment, so we can't even begin to determine what their problem was. Maybe they were just too drunk or high to figure this out.

[niyad]

29. I strongly suggest that the alerter become acquainted with the use of commas.

[dixiegrrrrl]

52. and with satire.

and spelling

and humor

[niyad]

54. yes, indeed.

[Hutzpa]

38. If anything this shows me how most people on DU still don't know how

this place works.

Unless there is a chink in trumads' armour?

[Hekate]

47. This is truly precious. Just when I was losing hope for DU!

Their only purpose is to use satire to mock fellow DU'ers.

[Spazito]

48. That sentence alone in the alert is so awesome in it's unintended irony!

I laughed so hard I scared my cat!

[bluedigger]

53. Juror #6 must be a noob.

I've seen lots worse.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

61. Hey alerter, I dare you to claim this stupid alert. I bet you don't. nt

[Number23]

72. Juror #4 for the win!!!

(I'm not Juror #4 but I just love the smell of soooo many people waking up in the morning)

[FSogol]

73. Gotta agree.

[hifiguy]

83. Huh?

trumad, you had better put a big sign up that says "JOKE APPROACHING" if you do this again. Maybe that will serve as a clue.

Boy some people are dumb.

[McCamy Taylor]

96. Are you kidding? Someone alerted on this? The only people it hurts are Freepers...

Oh. Never mind.

[George II]

12. Good job - could you give us your screen name there so we can see your posts?

[trumad]

13. Never

A good reporter would never do that.

Besides---it's classified.

[George II]

18. Okay - did you see the story in your Day 5 thread about my brief sortie into freeper country...

....about 10+ years ago?

[msanthrope]

15. You fought the good fight, Trumad. Your spirit lives on. nt

[samsingh]

17. i too have suffered the horror of being on free republic (through your posts of course)

free republic members are stupid beyond belief.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

20. props!!

[Laxman]

22. This Reminds Me Of....

Supersize Me, the documentary where the guy eats at McDonald's every day for a month. By week 2 the food is making him throw up, gain weight and be lethargic. It's good that you're quitting because there is the danger of actual physical harm.

[underpants]

67. Spurlock's show on CNN "Inside Man" is pretty good too

Not sure when it airs - it keeps popping up on my DVR. I watched one last night on trash - he followed a bag of his garbage, recycling, and an old computer monitor. Very interesting.

His report on "healthcare tourism" was amazing.

[djean111]

23. Bwah! This is like watching a little tiny spin-off of Stephen Colbert - the attempt, anyway.

Some people "got" it, some people did not, and some people realise that this was merely a shot at calling people who do not care to have Hillary as the candidate, and list the reasons why - Freepers.

[deurbano]

80. Quite a few did not.

Colbert was spoofing actual Freepers, of course.

[Caretha]

85. It was obvious to me too

then I wondered why I ever read a OP this pathetic and juvenile.

[world wide wally]

24. Welcome home, soldier

Now, get a fuckin' job.

[randr]

25. Long hot shower, cup of herbal tea,

and a big spliff if you got one should remove any lingering stench from your foray.
Thanks for you brave expedition and reminding us all--The enemy is out of their minds and should be considered armed and dangerous.

[OldRedneck]

27. You deserve a MEDAL

You deserve a medal for venturing into Freeperstan!!!

[niyad]

30. oh my word, trumad!! SIX DAYS in freeperville? are you okay? do you need a drink? a massage?

meds?? delousing???

seriously, thank you for your courage in wading into that cesspool so we don't have to.

[randome]

31. See your local deprogramming professional STAT!

[hr][font color="blue"][center]All things in moderation, including moderation.[/center][/font][hr]

[leftofcool]

33. I am so going to miss these posts!

[leveymg]

34. Egads. I lasted less than 15 minutes at FR after my first post at four o'clock in the morning.

Your camouflage must be superb.

[notadmblnd]

35. Your last paragraph....

that's sarcasm, right?

[Scootaloo]

76. The whole series has been sarcasm

Trumad is using "Free Republic" to refer to DU.

[Hutzpa]

36. It is official, again that

trumad's gut is made of brick.

Well done, man.

[joshcryer]

37. Your reporting the past week deserves a Nobel and Oscar.

It's a shame that the vacuum left over will almost assuredly result in the return of the much lauded apologist for poor MSM style reporting with no substance.

Mind you, they regularly post the same style of stuff on the regular that OP posts but it is lauded and praised.

[NYC_SKP]

39. Since you brought up the cut and paste thing, I've seen a lot of this lately: Hillary on the Issues:

Caveat: HRC has not even announced her candidacy but she's been called a done deal, and from now until the primaries end, it's our duty and our right to vigorously advocate for whomever we support and against anyone we oppose.

Before you scroll though this [link: http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/hillary_clinton.htm|endless mess], take note that the devil's in the details.
Among the "feel good" statements and some good votes are a lot of "gems" that make me go, HUH?
Found randomly (even I can't read the WHOLE THING):

1976 Rose Law: Fought for industry against electric rate cut. (Jun 2007)

Co-sponsored bill to criminalize flag-burning. (Jan 2010)

Voted YES on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. (Oct 2001)

OpEd: Disagrees with progressives on corporatism & military. (Dec 2014)

Supports “Three Strikes” and more prison. (Aug 1994)

Chief advocate for Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). (Aug 2014)

TPP agreement creates more growth and better growth. (Aug 2014)

Does that sound like a traditional Democrat to you?

What did I miss???? Did I miss any that need to be known???

Hillary Clinton on Budget & Economy

We need bankruptcy reform, but we need the right kind. (Aug 2014)
1998: Personally lobbied Congress against bankruptcy bill. (Apr 2014)
The economy is not working for middle class families. (Jan 2008)
Look back to 1990s to see how I’d be fiscally responsible. (Dec 2007)
Balanced budget replaced with rising costs & falling wages. (Jun 2007)
2000: Eight years of a great economy is not enough. (Jan 2007)
Co-sponsored bills totaling $502B in spending thru 2005. (Oct 2006)
Use tax dollars to upgrade infrastructure, not for stadium. (Oct 2000)
Pay down debt & cut taxes within balanced budget. (Sep 2000)
Supports Niagara casino, but prefers job creation strategy. (Sep 2000)
Protect next generation by paying off national debt. (Aug 2000)
We have outlived the usefulness of Bretton Woods. (Jun 1999)
The economy creates consumers but cannot create citizens. (Jun 1999)
Invest in people instead of “smokestack chasing”. (Feb 1997)

Voting Record
Voted to limit credit card interest to 30%. (Jan 2008)
FactCheck: Consistently against making bankruptcy stricter. (Jan 2008)
2005 bankruptcy bill was by big credit cards & lenders. (Jan 2008)
Voted YES on $60B stimulus package for jobs, infrastructure, & energy. (Sep 2008)
Voted NO on paying down federal debt by rating programs' effectiveness. (Mar 2007)
Voted NO on $40B in reduced federal overall spending. (Dec 2005)
Require full disclosure about subprime mortgages. (Dec 2007)
Reform mortgage rules to prevent foreclosure & bankruptcy. (Feb 2008)


Co-sponsored bill to criminalize flag-burning. (Jan 2010)
Op-ed: Sposnored flag-burning bill for centrist credential. (May 2006)
Voted NO on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration. (Jun 2006)
Voted NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (Jun 2006)
Voted YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002)
Voted YES on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. (Oct 2001)
Shift from group preferences to economic empowerment of all. (Aug 2000)
Rated 60% by the ACLU, indicating a mixed civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)
Rated 89% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance. (Dec 2006)
Rated 96% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance. (Dec 2006)
Recognize Juneteenth as historical end of slavery. (Jun 2008)
Provide benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees. (Dec 2007)
Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment. (Mar 2007)
Reinforce anti-discrimination and equal-pay requirements. (Jan 2008)

Hillary Clinton on Corporations
Click here for 23 full quotes on Corporations OR other candidates on Corporations OR background on Corporations.
OpEd: Disagrees with progressives on corporatism & military. (Dec 2014)
Take back $55B in Bush’s industry give-aways. (Apr 2008)
FactCheck: Pushed Wal-Mart for women managers & environment. (Jan 2008)
World Bank should impose rules on sovereign wealth funds. (Jan 2008)
Bush defanged the Consumer Product Safety Commission. (Dec 2007)
FactCheck: Yes, Bush shrunk CPSC; but it shrank before Bush. (Dec 2007)
Outraged at CEO compensation. (Oct 2007)
Stop bankruptcies to get rid of pension responsibilities. (Aug 2007)
Enough with corporate welfare; enough with golden parachutes. (Jun 2007)
Close lobbyists’ revolving door; end no-bid contracts. (Jun 2007)
1976 Rose Law: Fought for industry against electric rate cut. (Jun 2007)
Corporate lawyer at Rose Law while Bill was Attorney General. (Jun 2007)
Corporate elite treat working-class America as invisible. (Apr 2007)
Companies get rewarded with hard-working people left hanging. (Mar 2007)
1980s: Loved Wal-Mart's "Buy America" program. (Jun 2004)
1970s: Potential conflict of interest when GM sued Arkansas. (Nov 1997)
Businesses play social role in US; gov’t oversight required. (Sep 1996)
Family-friendly work policies are good for business. (Sep 1996)
Angry at unacceptable acquiescence to greed in the 1980s. (Jun 1994)
Serving on boards provides ties but requires defending too. (Aug 1993)
Voted YES on repealing tax subsidy for companies which move US jobs offshore. (Mar 2005)
Voted YES on restricting rules on personal bankruptcy. (Jul 2001)
Rated 35% by the US COC, indicating a mixed business voting record. (Dec 2003)

The rest is here: http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/hillary_clinton.htm

[RiverLover]

100. +1

[meegbear]

40. Since you've only been a member here since 2001, you are suspect ...

Good man and thanks for taking one for the team.

[Mira]

41. I did not see the other reports

but this one is hilarious.
You were heroic, and stuck it out.

[Duval]

42. Will miss you, trumad. nt

[Spirochete]

43. I didn't last a day on there

Of course, my visit there was just a kamikaze raid in the first place.
Got tombstoned pretty quick. lol

[crim son]

44. Glad you're home safe. Heh. n/t

[ananda]

45. I don't know how you lasted that long!

I wouldn't have lasted more than a few seconds.

Glad to see you got through it OK, just by the
drool on your chinny chin chin.

[Rex]

69. He is a master at blending into his environment

think Zelig.

[trumad]

74. Yep---I blend in well here.

[Rex]

75. Total mastery of your craft.

No doubt, I tip my hat to you.

[SunSeeker]

46. K & R

[Hekate]

49. Thank you, sir, for bravery under fire from both sides

I want to shake this brave man's hand. After he showers, of course.

[randome]

50. Are you still married? You might want to check.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]"If you're bored then you're boring." -Harvey Danger[/center][/font][hr]

[Vinca]

51. Now . . . off to the decontamination chamber.

[Gman]

55. Those that question your motives

Clearly have no idea who you are.

Good job.

[stonecutter357]

56. K&R!

[democrank]

57. Would you please reconsider your resignation?

I haven`t been to Fox "News" for many years but readily admit to clicking on more than a few Fox headlines here at DU. Good to know what we`re up against, I guess. I expect there will be DUers braver than me who will step up to the cesspool and dive in. So, could we start a fund for you? Wetsuit....flippers....helmet....Hazmat goggles....

[Joey Liberal]

58. I too, have visited Free Republic

Needless to say, it was a terrible experience. Sort of like watching Faux News, lol.

[R B Garr]

59. But Hillary started a war! Obama is a neocon!

Those insights from someone who claims to speak for the American people and most of DU in almost all of her posts. LOL. How ridiculous can you get.

Thanks for the humor, trumad. You fought the good fight with your blog psyops. Duty, Honor, Country.

[90-percent]

60. I've done some "opposition research" posts on DU

and it usually resulted in getting shut down by a jury. and i was accused of promoting Conservative viewpoints surreptitiously.

So I have to craft such posts in a way that doesn't cause such negative results.

And I have an idea about this subject that will actually require work. I interact with conservatives, IRL and on FB, and I marvel at just how far apart the frames are for any given issues depending on whether progressive or conservative. The most recent example is the recent FCC ruling on net neutrality. My take is that I'm overjoyed the Oligarch's will let us keep a free and open and uncensored not owned by corporations internet. I feel our entire Democratic Republic is hanging on by a thread and the only thing left we have that can possibly GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT THE EVILS OF OUR CORPORATE OVERLORDS, so that we can all work for the next thirty years or so to restoring our democracy to something that was more progressive and fair - like the USA in the fifties, except for the sexism and discrimination and prejudice parts. Mostly the 1956 Republican party platform parts.

HOWEVER,

the frame I see with our Conservative friends is that this net neutrality thing is over-regulation and un american and yet another example of Obama overstepping his authority and taking away more of our freedoms. they see it as a power grab by a President that answers to no authority and no laws other than his own dictatorial whims.

Where the hell they get that from is incomprehensible, but it's amazing how twisted any issue can be depending on the frame. Makes me feel like everything I know is wrong.

And, lastly, we are in an age where, contrary to Daniel Moynahans famous pronouncement, these days we all are truly "entitled to our own facts", as it's now possible to substantiate any possible point of view no matter how inaccurate. And thats because we no longer have Cronkite or murrow or Huntley Brinkley journalists that actually practice journalism according to how proper journalism should be practiced, as opposed to the AGENDA DRIVEN CORPORATE PROPAGANDA we are all supposed to accept as news these days.

Which leads to my last question - is there any news source that both sides can agree is fair and impartial and professional in their adherence to the proper and best practices of journalism? All we seem to have is journalism that fits in what ever political bubble is our personal preference. It would be nice to debate issues using the same set of high quality peer reviewed facts like we used to do in the 60's.

-90% jimmy

[calimary]

62. Thank you for making this supreme sacrifice, trumad!

You have a lot more fortitude and high tolerance levels than I do.

Welcome back to the safety and the light. AND the intellect a lot higher than square-root-of-negative-one.

[ismnotwasm]

64. You did well son

I Couldn't be more proud (wipes a tear away)

[underpants]

65. These reports are greatly appreciated

I haven't gotten near the grief (or attention) you have but I also post on what is happening on RW radio. It is important to ID the bullshit coming from the other side.

[boston bean]

68. Hey trumad, would you put back on your fire suit and give us the war reports from

Discussionist??

[kydo]

70. For your valor and courage

We salute you.

For the mental hardships and any wounds they may have caused or might cause in the future we award you with this:

[Number23]

81. I recommend a DU Public Service Pulitzer to go with that purple heart

We all know that only newspapers or news web sites win Public Service Pulitzers but a bunch of DUers have worked so hard over the last few months to convince others (and themselves) that individuals can win it as well.

So for his meritorious service in going to Free Republic and reporting back here in order to spare us from having to see that place's monumental ignorance, sexism, hypocricy and half witted conspiracy theories, I think trumad deserves the first ever DU Pulitzer for Public Service.

We salute you! Huzzah!

[kydo]

84. I second that! So now we need a movie

All The Nutter's Men

Freeper Days Inn

The Killing Fields of Freeper Land

edited to add

That it features new acclaimed reporter making his screen debut .... trumad

[Number23]

87. I like where your head's at!

The Killing Fields of Freeper Land

The Freeping Fields, featuring... Monsieur trumad.

I'd see it!

[zappaman]

77. Kick and rec!

[BainsBane]

79. Jesus. People will say anything

and most of it is nonsense. Ignore them.

[Auggie]

82. Thanks Trumad. Your reports have made my days.

[Dustlawyer]

86. Six days is five too many!

Awhile back I decided that I should round myself out by looking at all sides of the issues. I made it three days before I realized I could stop. I kept waiting for the substance of what they wanted to do and it never came. They put out so much hate and very little substance, probably because their Republican leaders never tell them what alternative courses should be taken on the various issues. The only thing they have is opposition to what we say and do, they have no answers.

[madokie]

88. All I know is you're a lot tougher and braver than I

I can't even get my fingers to type the letters in the right order to get me there, just can't do it

[jaysunb]

89. Pay no attention to that crap ! n/t

[broadcaster75201]

90. Ha! I've played a conservative over there for years (just to stir em up) but ...

had to stop last year because I couldn't handle the sheer, unmitigated ignorance. Calling it ignorance is generous.

I remember the day when they would get 50k replies to a post. now it's a big thread if they get 50+ and down right enormous if they get 100+.

Like you said, it's just same bile, different day. And if Rushbo told them that there were pixies dancing on their lawns they'd swear there were.

[ErikJ]

92. Theyve probably all gone to #tcot on Twitter.

and #ccot etc.

[shenmue]

91. Get plenty of sleep

And make sure to stay hydrated.

[RoccoRyg]

93. I go there every now and then...

I like hearing what the freaks have to say. Makes me feel more confident about my position.

Even though DU juries have shut me down several times for having uncomfortable opinions, I still think this site is the bastion of rationality and reason the Interwebs need. I've had many enlightening conversations here and hope to have many more in the future.

[delrem]

94. I thought it lacked in satire

because it lacked in believability, where you suggested that Freepers would reject HRC for her Iraq War vote, and for her ties to wall street, and that whole third way business.

Everyone knows that is false. What is true is that Freepers hate HRC because she's a social liberal, a 3rd way corporate liberal who believes that if all corporate demands are met, all the demands of war profiteers and banking privateers are met (Victoria Nuland: what is good enough for Dick is good enough for Hillary, and John), there can still be some tokens to throw at issues of social equality. That rubs the tea party the wrong way. And Freepers are tea party thru' and thru'.

[trumad]

98. well aren't you the smart one.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

95. Even VISITING over there bombards you with cookies....

Next thing you know there's stuff in your inbox from Newsmax.

[BumRushDaShow]

97. Rock thrown in pig pen

and the squeals are priceless.

Hope the PTSD doesn't last with the multiple visits.

[RandiFan1290]

99. "when a lifelong Democrat is attacked, we crush the attacker."

Like those of you here that CONSTANTLY attack Dennis Kucinich?

[appleannie1]

101. How in the hell could any sane person read there and remain sane? I have had to take a

shower and sage the house any time I have ever gone there. Anoint your doors and windows with oil and sage your house immediately.