Shocked! Actual Sincere Apology To Andy From A Freeper!

[K8-EEE]

I'm posting the following on behalf of the lovely Nakatu X, who quit FR a short time ago (opus-free, I might add):
=========================================

I heard of Andy Stephenson's death early this morning. I was one of the "junior detectives" involved in the story, although I pulled out and had PJ pull my name from the DUFU ping list midway through.

Nonetheless, I did probably contribute no small part to impeding his surgery & certainly contributed nothing to the recovery, and for that I apologize very deeply. Karma should strike me where I am now. It is too late to ask Andy for forgiveness, but please rest in peace, Andy.

Nakatu X

=============================================

Of course this is getting totally ignored at FR but I thought it was rather hopeful to find that at least one of them has a shred of human decency.

[achtung_circus]

1. Link? nt

[K8-EEE]

15. Well Here It Is But I Don't Recommend Going There

Unless you want to get REALLY pissed off because except for the last post this is some of the most vile, mean-spirited, sick posts you'll ever see.

The decent ex-freeper posted a sincere apology and cut them all dead, ended the whole thing.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1439010/posts?q=1&&page=51

[GiovanniC]

33. UGH -- I Know You Warned Me, But...

"We need to start pushing a story about how Andy Stephenson faked his own death for insurance reasons."

:puke:


"I wonder if there will be photographic evidence of a funeral.
Open casket? Will the DUmmies be invited?
Will he need to raise another cash plea to get buried? "

:puke: :puke:


"Frankly I'm of the opinion that Andy is making a run for the money, and his "death" is a ruse."

:puke: :puke: :puke:

[HeeBGBz]

57. That is stupid evil shit

From the foul black hearts of those sick motherfuckers.

With the exception of the ex-freeper apology.

[warrens]

71. I certainly hope Will has their names

I want a piece of those assholes, particularly that scumbag Laz.

[lala_rawraw]

77. OMG

Omg, I cannot this shit. I just cannot stand this crap anymore. Fuck!!!!

[im10ashus]

97. I feel the same way, lala.

It's all just so sick and wrong. I won't give them the sick pleasure of reading their disturbing posts. All I can say about the person who apologized is, it's about fucking time. A conscience is born in freeperville. Who'd of thunk?

[ohio_liberal]

2. Mob mentality

It's easy for some to get sucked into it. I'm glad this person saw the light.

[porphyrian]

3. Maybe it will help him in court, but I'm not holding my breath. - n/t

[HereSince1628]

5. There is a court case?

[blondeatlast]

8. Indeed, many of us wnat to know more.

Please elaborate.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

10. Not yet.

[Jackpine Radical]

17. It won't help in court.

This is just exactly what your lawyer would advise against in a case like this. It's an admission of culpability. It took courage and decency to do this.

[K8-EEE]

21. Courage And Decency Is Why She's An EX-Freeper

Hopefully her eyes are opened.

[Fescue4u]

38. As bad as the smear campaign was

I don't think it rose to the level of crime in the eyes of the law.

[K8-EEE]

43. We Need More Information But There IS Such Thing As Libel

When people wage an aggressive campaign based on lies -- and when the subject of the lies is harmed (as Andy was, not just health wise but in his work and reputation) I wouldn't say there's no case!

They went WAY out of their way, creating websites and planting this shit everythere, not like just casaul comments or wondering about it. This was a campaign to destroy Andy.

[Lone_Wolf]

86. Also consider a "False Light" tort...

n/t

[goodboy]

45. don't be so sure...(nt)

[damnthetorpedoes]

48. Not a crime

And unfortunately bringing a civil lawsuit for libel or defamation will require someone with standing to do so to file the suit. From what I know, there is no such person (a spouse or other close relative) now that Andy is gone.

I'd like nothing better than to see FR get a huge black eye over this, but nothing will come of any legal efforts here.

[no_hypocrisy]

82. Welcome to DU. You may be incorrect.

Andy had family. They could bring a tort under "wrongful death" or "interference with a contract". Both could be an interesting run for the freepers' money.

[damnthetorpedoes]

88. Wrongful death?

No way. Freepers didn't kill Andy, cancer did. The interference with raising funds for his health care cannot be proven to have caused his death, since the rates of survival even with the treatment that was delayed are poor, as are all pancreatic cancer prognoses.

Intererence with a contract is pretty small potatoes. Unless you can show serious *financial* damage it won't fly, and money won't bring him back, and in any case there is no "contract" to be interfered with in a charitable appeal. Dissuading people from giving money is not interference with anything unless you do so by force. Doing so by libeling people brings you back around to libel (or defamation) as the cause of action. But the libeled person is dead, and he's the one to whom the damage was done.

Nope, I think it's a legal wash. It sucks, it's unjust, and I'd personally like to kick a Freeper's ass right now, just to watch him squrim and beg for mercy, but the law ain't gonna be much help, and William Pitt is grandstanding about that part of his anger. I'll be amazed and eat my hat if any serious civil suit unfolds here.

[no_hypocrisy]

95. With all due respect, I disagree. Wrongful death is similar to negligence

If a plaintiff can demonstrate that a person or an entity even contributed to one's harm, then they can be held liable, albeit fractionally.

Andy succumbed to a medical condition. However, Paypal didn't act alone. It was influenced by several who acted in bad faith, who did not honestly believed there was a fraud. In other words, lied. There's your cause of action laid out for wrongful death and interference with a contract.

Okay, I am realtively new, but I've been reading the HUNDREDS of posts about the Andy situation.

In my opinion, I think the people handled it very well. Even if Andy was sick, it's impoirtant to stop scams before they happen when Liberals try to raise money.

The bad thing about the Andy situation is that now the DUmmys know how to raise money quickly. If Andy was scamming people (and I think he was) then it would have been MUCH EASIER to nip future Liberal fund-raiseing efforts in the bud.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1439010/po...

I rest my case.

[damnthetorpedoes]

98. Are you a lawyer?

A wrongful death suit in this case has a snowball's chance in hell. Trust me.

[EFerrari]

91. I am such a person. And I have no problem with filing. n/t

[demobabe]

78. Nah...

Public admission of guilt.

This is a Mea Culpa and I don't buy it. If that guy were truly sorry for what he'd done, he'd take steps to rectify his actions. Send notes of apology to the family he harmed at the very least. Find other cancer patients and bring comfort to them during their suffering - something. Anything.

His public apology is more like the kid who was told not to play ball in the house and did it anyway - only to break an expensive vase, standing in front of his mom saying, "I'm sooooo sorry! I didn't mean to break the vase - you were right about not playing ball in the house." Somehow I doubt this person would have apologized if Andy had not died.

Notice he said "may karma strike me down" - not "I've learned from this and I'm going to make amends for my actions." In other words, he's already moved on emotionally - by just dismissing his part in Andy's death with an "oops! my bad!"

This is a great time to learn a lesson in compassion - I can only hope that some of the freeps see this and know that life is valuable and it's not something to be toyed with - even if it is someone you don't like.

[K8-EEE]

85. But The Person Is An EX=Freeper,

She had a current freeper post this -- she left the Get Andy thing half way through, I believe she is sorry.

[demobabe]

90. Talk is cheap

Actions speak louder than words. If she's truly sorry, then she should make amends. This person may have directly contributed to another person's death. "Gee, I'm sorry" just doesn't cut it.

[bloom]

4. Yes

Maybe it will inspire others to do the same.

It is nice to see an apology from one of the people. (I wonder how many got caught up in their frenzy).

[elehhhhna]

6. Shame. It's a powerful thing.

[Jackpine Radical]

16. Let's be thankful at least one of them is capable of it.

[K8-EEE]

20. The Truth About The "Culture Of Life"

Single cells in a petri dish get crocodile tears from the Freepers. A courageous man battling cancer gets harassment and malicious actions that impede his treatment.

These people are the culture of meanness, thuggery and death. They are about as "pro-life" as the devil himself.

[elehhhhna]

28. I surfed FR last night, read the Andy threads and surprisingly

about half the posts were decent. Maybe there's hope yet for those goobers.

[K8-EEE]

41. HALF?? No Way --

Well the thread I read (linked above) was more like 10% decency level....this being the only Freeper who actually ADMITS /TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS!

Andy's accusers went scurrying under a rock and nobody cares to hold them accountable for their accusations and actions.

btw I think those people saying "may the Lord forgive him" about Andy can go fuck themselves also. Passive aggressive religious BS talk, may the Lord forgive his Freeper tormenters is more like it.

[blondeatlast]

7. May Andy's horrendous fate, all too preventable, never befall another.

The beauty of being a progressive is that as hard as it may be ometimes, I can forgive--and in this case, it's extremely difficult.

I wish him mo bad karma. I hope his confession offers him peace and that he be healthy--and this from someone not terribly far removed from a situation similar to Andy's.

[Wetzelbill]

11. right...well said...

[Media_Lies_Daily]

19. My Dad survived the same surgery and post-op that Andy went through....

...but Dad refused to take the chemo or radiation treatments. I really believe that's the reason Dad's still here almost nine years after his surgery.

But, I've watched my Dad go from a vibrant, active 76 year old man to an emaciated 85 year old that can barely move around on his own. That is an awful, ongoing experience.

[Auntie Bush]

51. Are you saying you are in a serious situation similar to Andy's?

"this from someone not terribly far removed from a situation similar to Andy's"
:shrug:

[blondeatlast]

79. Nonono! But I appreciate the concern, thanks.

I only mean that I have been without health insurance with a chronic health condition; indeed, I thought I had health insurance when I had heart surgery once,--but it turns out I didn't (hubby's employer welched on paying their share of the premiums) and family had to declare bankruptcy,

I never meant to give that impression, but I can see how the phrasing might have implied that.

I'm very fortunate now to have decent coverage; I just got out of the hospital for an angioplasty.

I'm happy to say I feel wonderful right now, but I have been in that very scary predicament of needing extensive medical care and not having health coverage.

[Wetzelbill]

9. that's good

At least, they saw what they did was wrong.

[progressivebydesign]

12. I am impressed by the apology. It's not easy to be honest with yourself..

..especially honest about the role you played in harming another person so gravely.

I try to be open to the idea that so many people participating in the hate (on both sides) are often not bad people at heart, just simply caught up and stirred up by the culture of hate. It's easy to hate faceless people over the internet. Fortunately, some people see the enormity of their deeds against the virtual enemies, and realize it is someone's friend, son, lover, daughter, etc. And it's not a game anymore.

[K8-EEE]

18. I Would Never In A Million Years, Try To Harm A Sick Freeper

NEVER! I just don't understand that. It's the ultimate mean frat boy mentality, very GWB, to kick people when they're down -- you have to be a very sick person to throw as much energy as these people did into it.

[Jackpine Radical]

13. Anyone who can do so, please reach out to this person.

It will cost us nothing, and this may be one of those "teachable moments." I would much rather swallow my bitterness and bring one over to the light than indulge my rage and lose the struggle.

[sybylla]

35. Very thoughtful, Jackpine

Just the kind of thing I'd expect from you. And I highly support it.

[Maraya1969]

40. I would like to do just that but I am banned from the board

[seabeyond]

53. she/he was beautiful to me.

it hurts me not. i am thankful to listen to this person. i posted below. the acknowledgement alone is forgiveness. i hope this person will read this thread. regardless of what life brings, it is how we chose to walk it. this person chose to walk a bad experience in the higher.

[johnaries]

75. I agree completely, Jackpine.

I only know Andy from his posts, but I believe Andy would forgive her and accept her sincere apology.

Although I am still struggling with my own rage over what has been done to Andy, I would much rather accept and embrace those like Nakatu whose eyes have been opened than seek revenge.

Yes, please, anyone who can please reach out to Nakatu and let her see the difference between Acceptance and Hate.

[yowzayowzayowza]

14. Wow.

Wonders never cease.

[No Michael Savage]

22. Nice to see one sane freeper

[flyarm]

23. why do we always learn to late how we hurt others?

we learn too late to say, "i am sorry"

we learn too late to say "do you need a hand"

we learn too late that revenge leads only to sorrow

we learn too late to be kind to those who are different from oursleves..

we learn to late to give all the love we have

we learn to late how special our neighbor is

we learn to late to hug and kiss those we take for granted..those closest to us..

Andy would never hurt a soul..he didn't have that in him..

Andy was a man of joy, of smiles..ahh what a lovely smile..

Andy did not want revenge from thise who attempted to hurt him..in fact just the opposite was the case..


was he hurt by their mean words and deeds?, ..yes a bit, but he did not pay much attention to it all..he had more important things on his agenda..like living...

let me tell you what Andy was to the end..

Andy had a bit of fear going into the whopper of all surgeries..and he had good reasons to be..

it is a tough tough surgery folks...

Andy was thrilled to come out of the surgery alive..
the joy on his face when i first saw him in icu after recovery was priceless..he was so thrilled to be alive...

Andy embraced his life like never before..

Andy was greatful to be alive..so greatful he was the best patient one could ever imagine...he surprised all the doctors with his will and fight to recouperate.

Andy wanted to live..

Andy was life..he was a man of joy...thats the only word i can think of to describe him..is joy..pure loving joy..

Andy didn't have a mean bone in him...he was a teacher of all that is good in man..

Andy taught me what unconditional love is...he was full of it for everyone who touched his life , and even those who didn't touch him directly..

Andy was the ultimate in life...and he fought valliantly for it...

So when you think of revenge, think of the moments of time in your life that you are wasting...

Andy had no timne to waste in it..

Andy breathed the air with joy, pure joy...Andy wanted to live...

not for revenge, but for love...

Andy was a peaceful soul...and all he had in him was love to give and embrace...

one day someone tried to tell him some nasty things people were saying...and he looked at me and said..i don't care...i am alive...

lets treasure his time he was alive and embrace life as he did..with joy and love..

those who would be mean to others ..well they only hurt themselves...

do we become them with revenge or do we embrace whats good in life and fight for this wonderful life we take for granted??

Andy would not seek revenge..he would grab for the golden ring of life...

fly

[flyarm]

26. please let me add.

there are better things to do than be angry at others you can not change..please use your anger to get to help find a cure for this horrible of all diseases..use you anger for the good of mankind..use your anger to help so many who fight daily to survive this horrible monster called pancreatic cancer...help sponser doctors in the field or research..they have bike rides and all sorts of things to bring this horrible disease into the light .. to look for a cure or at least to buy the people who get it ...time....there are many now who even with insurance can't get the meds they need..they can't get the pain meds or certain cancer drugs because it is so expensive..please put your time into good use..there are so many who need our help ..and we proved we can help..there are so many who could use our dilligence and our drive ..to find a cure..

no one should have this disease and not be able to get the meds they need..

use your time to help out a family who has been hit hard by this disease..can you spare an hour a week to help a family who needs a few minutes a week to get a break from the care of their loved one??

please.. that is the legacy Andy would have wanted...not anger or revenge.

volunteer for PANCARE..
go sit with a family going through the surgery..its a long tough day for those sitting waiting the out come of this horrible surgery..a smile is a wonder when you are sitting there...

take magazines to the hospital ..closest to you...

do something positive...use your time with love ..

and give of yourself...let that be the lesson Andy taught you...and taught all of us..

[merh]

36. (((( hugs )))))

Hugs to you fly :hug:

I don't think anyone is seeking revenge, I know I am not. I am, however, very concerned that if justice is not pursued, if the small nucleus of evil folks responsible for the hate are not held accountable for their vile deeds, then they will victimize others. This was sport for them, this was a game and this was evil. Some still doubt our sweet friend and mock his death.

I too had conversations with him, he did not want revenge, he wanted justice. He wanted the folks hurting him to be stopped so that they could never hurt others as they hurt him. No, vengeance is not ours, Andy did not want it, but the pursuit of justice, to hold those responsible for the damage accountable for their hate and envy and the harm they brought him is right and very necessary.

But first, we must allow ourselves the grief that is in our hearts. Some are angry, so angry that the rage cannot be contained. The anger is part of the grief, allow them their grief, understand their anger. You have been aware of the hate that harmed our Andy for months now, some are just now learning how evil and extreme it was, it still is, and they are just now coming to terms with it. Anger and rage is natural after learning of their evil ways. Understand that others are learning of the evil and have the right to their reactions, they have a right to be appalled and angry.

I want justice, I want Andy's causes pursued, for Andy and the nation he loved. One of the things that I would like to see come out of all this is legislation that will prevent the type of cyber stalking that harmed our Andy and that continues to harm others. These people have got to be stopped, for your sake, for Andy's family's sake, for Ted's sake and for the sake of the other potential victims out there. The evil that focused on Andy is part of the evil that is ruining our nation and Andy loved our nation. He would want us to try to stop them from victimizing others.

I pray you understand this fly. :hug: This is not vengeance, it is the pursuit of justice. Andy would want that, imho.

With love & respect & for Andy & for the nation he loved, the nation I love, this evil must be stopped.

:loveya: Andy :loveya:

[no name no slogan]

59. Amen to that

Some say that forgiveness is weakness, and that doing so admits that you have no power over the situation.

This is the farthest thing from the truth. By forgiving the other person (even if s/he does NOT ask for it), you are releasing the hatred that is burdening you. You are saying "I am no longer going to carry this awful, horrible thing around with me; this thing that causes me so much grief and pain". By forgiving those who hurt you, you step out from under this burden and leave it behind.

YOU are the only person responsible for your anger. If you let it go, it no longer controls you-- YOU control IT. Forgive your tormentors, even if they don't "deserve" it.

It's one of the most liberating things you can do for yourself. Forgive your tormentors and your enemies-- but never forget.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

30. Thank you dear Fly for your strong and true voice. n/t

[merh]

62. I don't see pursuing this as revenge, only as seeking justice.

No one is seeking revenge, only justice. If these people are not stopped they will victimize others. I will do my best to see that they are stopped.

Don't confuse the emotions. I don't seek to inject them with cancer cells and mock their suffering as they did Andy, that would be revenge. I do desire to see that they are held accountable in every way possible, for their evil and their hate, for the harm that they caused my friend.

If we do not stop them, they will victimize others and Andy would not have wanted that.

[flyarm]

67. maybe revenge

was too strong a word for me to use..i do believe in holding people accountable for their actions ..but for the right reasons..
and there are very justifiable reasons to hold anyone who attempts to hurt another accountable..through proper channels and with the proper authorities.

many people were hurt by these nasty people, but none more so than andy..i do want them held accountable..

but in the proper way..

i could feel anger right now at them..but honestly i feel sorry for anyone who would have such evil in their blood.i feel pity that anyone could have such hatred for others...it means they hate themselves more..what could be more pitiful?
yes i want them to face justice for what they have done..but i believe justice will be-fall them no matter what anyone else does..

i believe in that saying " what goes around comes around"...just not on my timetable..they will get theres..of that i am sure..

and i would like nothing better than to see them in jail..but they live in their own jail of hatred..

i don't have the answers..i just don't .. i dowant them accountable..i just won't feel the hatred for them ..because then i become what i see in them.

those are only the answers for me..everyone has to do it their own way..i agree...

but their hell is here on earth..and it must be a very lonely empty hell they are experiencing..they obviously have no life, because if they did they could not be so damn ugly and so void of love or caring in their blood.

they will rot in their own vomit.

[merh]

68. You are so right, they live in their own jail of hatred.

For their victims and potential victims we must try to stop them.

Andy would want us to try to shield others from their hate and hurt. :hug:

[zippy890]

49. nice posts, thoughtful

I think revenge is one of the worst of human qualities,
and forgiveness one of the best

why is it so hard to forgive, and so easy for people to justify revenge?

I appreciate your thoughts about Andy, and his views on his life and struggles. I daresay we could all learn from him

[MissWaverly]

70. Thanks, Fly

beautifully written.

It's almost like a poem.

Miss Waverly

[AmBlue]

87. Andy's smiling....

...in heaven right now reading that. What a beautifully written tribute, fly. Your love and admiration for Andy is palpable in that post. :hug:

[blm]

24. This person is feeling the shame that any TRUE Christian would feel and

the horror that others who call themselves christians would perpetrate and excuse such hatred and deceit to harm another.

They will rot in hell for abetting the antichrist.

[Bake]

25. Let's be honest: not all of them at FR are sick fucks

True, most are. But there were several freepers (yes, I waded through the entire thread) who were, relatively speaking, voices of reason. One made an excellent point -- namely, that we here at DU can be just as vile as they are when a neocon falls ill or dies.

I admit I took some delight when Limpballs went deaf. I did not, however, take any delight over the death of Ronald Reagan. Other examples -- death of Barbara Olsen, breast cancer or Laura Ingraham, etc. We have elements here at DU that are all too happy to dance on the graves of our opponents, and then we get bent out of shape when they act the same way.

We ought to be better than that. Sometimes in the heat of politics we get caught up in the schadenfreude (and I'm guilty too). But we ought to be better than that. This is simply another symptom, or perhaps evidence, of the incredible diviseness in "civil discourse" these days.

Honestly. Can't we try to be better? I'll try. I hope others will join me. Somebody has to change the tone. Doesn't mean we don't fight them tooth and nail on policy/ideology. We can and must continue to do so. But let's be humane about it.

And let's do so in honor and remembrance of our departed colleage Andy.

Bake

[crispini]

27. Amen, friend.

Well said.

[bloom]

31. "Let's be honest"

I think it's far different thing to not bow down and say people like Reagan were good people just because they died (which some people around here seemed to expect) and for people to wage a campaign to discredit a seriously ill man and to campaign to (obsessively) get people to turn against him.

There is no comparative campaigns going on any liberal boards that I know about.


Some want to see everyone as equally bad or good - but some people are acting out a lot worse than other people.

[K8-EEE]

42. I Really Don't Agree

First of all a lot of the comments at DU you refer to come from obvious trolls who have suspiciously low numbers of posts. Secondly 90% of the people jump all over them when they say such things.

I saw TWO apologies, one casual one from they guy who did the Andy-bashing photoshop photos, and this one which I believe to be very sincere. Most of them were making jokes or worse. At least on the thread that I saw this on, I didn't look for all the threads though.

[sojourner]

69. truth in what you say...except...I've never heard of a DUer actually doing

harm to a dying Freeper, as the Freeps did to Andy by deliberately impeding his treatment and harassing him as he attempted to recover.

[K8-EEE]

72. They Put An Enormous Amount Of Energy Into It....Very Weird

Can't imagine anybody here doing any of it.

[Stirk]

29. I'm not impressed. A decent human being never would've

considered doing what these people did in the first place.

This person has managed to recognize their own cruelty for what it is, rather than calling it "righteousness". If no one had been permanently hurt, that might even be worthy of something more than a slap.

[Kelvin Mace]

55. Never turn aside honest expressions of remorse

it is rare. To recognize one has done wrong is hard to come by. To apologize without condition harder still.

[progressivebydesign]

81. We've all done things for which we are sorry...

..it is the bigger man that can forgive and accept an apology. I am not programmed to forgive if there is no remorse, but cannot ignore an apology.

[Stirk]

83. We haven't all done something like this.

I've never tried to sabotage another person's medical treatment, and I never would. I don't care who it is.

[Kelvin Mace]

32. I appreciate knowing there is some decency

on the Right.

[baby_mouse]

34. Blessings upon her

I feel we should reciprocate her courtesy.

Sometimes this kind of thing is easily done, Nakatu, if we only listen to one side of ourselves, we've all done it once in our lives.

Not knowing Andy personally it would be self-aggrandising for me to assume any mantle of authority regarding who should forgive whom, and I beg of you only that you remember what has happened and be careful in future.

xx

[Fescue4u]

37. I had my doubts about Andy Myself

I never posted anything, or replied about any of the Andy disbeliever messages, but the unorthodox fund raising activity did raise my eyebrows and I did wonder if it was a scam. Especially with his prior involvement with bbv

But like I said, I never voiced those concerns to anyone because they only rose to the level of suspicion.

Nonetheless, I feel guilty about suspecting the guy now, even if it was only in my mind. My heart goes out to him.

For those who ran the smear campaign and were out to get him....they REALLY have alot of appologizing to do and karma to catch up with.

[oxbow]

39. I think there are others there who feel the same way

but choose not to openly express their regret. It takes a certain amount of bravery to admit mistakes when no one else in your group is, and for that I applaud him/her

[sleipnir]

44. The Nazis tried to apologize, but they were hunted down like dogs.

It seems that the Andy haters have been put on notice by several prominent members here. There will be an accounting, perhaps legal, of the things that have happened.

[Kelvin Mace]

56. Justice and mercy

are what maks is different from the right. Their definition of justice is to be unmerciful. Let us not follow that lead.

[bloom]

60. Justice

can also mean being held accountable in a court of law.

A lot of Republicans are not being held accountable these days. If someone has a case - it makes sense to pursue it.

We have a court system for a reason. Like for when people commit wrongs against others. And so people don't resort to other forms of retribution, seeking their own idea of justice.

[Kelvin Mace]

63. I have no problem with holding folks accountable

But I believe a since expression of remorse should be treated with mercy.

[bloom]

66. I agree with that

there is no sense in stomping on someone's apology.

[Kelvin Mace]

64. I have no problem with holding folks accountable

But I believe a sincere expression of remorse should be treated with mercy.

[checks-n-balances]

80. Yes, I agree with you, Kelvin, and bloom, and others who echo you

After all, ISN'T THIS KIND OF THING WHAT WE'RE HOPING THAT MOST FREEPERS WILL END UP DOING? what I mean is, seeing the light and deciding to change? If not, then someone we must be wanting to keep a fight going, if you know what I mean.

It takes a LOT of guts to make this kind of change of heart. Don't you know that the freepers are merciless toward people who disagree with them? I don't hear anybody really on this thread calling for her head, but if we were to be very un-graceful to her, then where does she have to turn? Giving her the benefit of the doubt, I see this as a new beginning for her, and can you imagine the wealth of info she has awaiting her to learn at DU? Don't we want our ranks to swell?

I am eager to learn more from her and other ex-freeps/ex-rethugs to find out what kinds of things make them tick and what kinds of ways they are most likely to start waking up. That would be valuable stuff for us to know.

Thanks for posting this. I feel horrible about what happened to Andy, and do feel that people should be held accountable, but also feel that we should also take the high road by not mirroring the chronic, predictable & ugly way that freeps/RWers have of showing their butts!

[YDogg]

46. Not all republicans are entirely evil.

Misdirected, perhaps, but not entirely evil. Naive and brainwashed by their church, but not entirely evil. Have a few in my large extended family, and they have their own reasons for voting the way they do. Reasons I cannot understand, but reasons they can justify to themselves. Thankfully, our few political discussions have been civil, although I'm not afraid to say what I think.

Interestingly, a couple of them -- life-long republicans in their 60s and 70s -- have become absolutely disgusted with *, to the point of voting and speaking out against him. Never thought I'd see that.

The family members I am closest to are yellow dogs like me -- the vast majority among the family, and our discussions about all things political are spirited and reaffirming.

[mzmolly]

47. It's about time. Thank goodness SOME of them have a conscience.

To bad it's so few.

[Ilsa]

50. Peace to Nakatu X for recognizing a mistake and

apologizing for it. It says alot about "him" having good character. It also says alot that the rest of the Freeps ignore it.

[seabeyond]

52. acknowledging alone is forgiveness.

it is lite, it is love.

holding hands with this person.

[KyndCulture]

54. Gutsy. Who else over there has the balls???

This is but a droplet in the bucket of slime...

[bigtree]

58. Refreshing. An act of contrition. It's a start.

Now, the poster should take the next step and bring her cohorts to whatever justice they may deserve.

[satya]

61. OT: Dare I ask...what's the "DUFU ping list"? Thanks. nt

[eleny]

65. Okay, so beyond the apology - she needs to help

Apology is the first step. But there has to be a next step for this freeper. People in their midst need to come forward and help put a stop to their deadly, murderous tactics. Otherwise, it will happen again. They'll be energized and empowered by their hellish success.

[Emerson]

73. I have to wonder

if talk of law suits against those involved will be causing these people to "see the light"... At least until the statue of limitations is up...

[K8-EEE]

84. I Believe This One Is Sincere, She Left This "Project" Awhile Back

I can only imagine the creepy private correspondence that was engaged in here -- she must have gotten pretty creeped out, after her initial involvement. She just seems like a decent person to me...

[EFerrari]

92. Oddly, Andy isn't here to protect them any more.

The ringleaders knew we were preoccupied and play that time for all it was worth. Andy's hell is over. Theirs, even in their own minds, begins.

[ReadTomPaine]

74. The first step on the road to recovery is admitting you have a problem

There should be website for recovering FReepers. It would do their community a service as the stories of how people snapped out of it, and why, could help others escape the same trap.

[Hepburn]

76. Thank you, Nakatu X...

...it takes a big person to admit that he/she was wrong. You are a real stand up person for coming out and doing this. Again, thank you!

[orleans]

89. omg--who *are* these people?

i've been reading through some threads and ended up looking on the website scamandy and i can't believe what cold-hearted freaks these people are. i was checking profiles and found this piece of crap that was the website of someone posting: http://www.delilahmused.passcreek.net/

i had no idea this was going on--they're disgraceful and shameless.

and what is their basic drive in all of this? isn't it that they are so married to their president? is that where it all stems from? so completely married to their republican party that they behave with such vile?

unfucking real

[G_j]

93. a sign of humanity

and I think most of us are human. It is good to hear someone acknowledge that.

[Raksha]

94. It's good to know at least one freeper (ex-freeper) has a conscience.

I was hoping for that, but wasn't holding my breath.

[Stockholm]

96. I am sorry

But I have read the posts and threads and visited their sites and I just can´t find it in me to forgive any of them.