This site was founded, funded and operated by a handful of individuals and has already served its purpose beyond our wildest expectations. It was never intended to "become something great for the agency". For one thing, simply breaking the "Fast & Furious" scandal and facilitating the media and congressional scrutiny it has received exceeded most of our (the founders') expectations. The recent adverse actions involving top Bureau leadership are icing on the cake, and they are almost certainly just the tip o' the iceberg. You personally may never know what role this website played in the big picture, but I do, and it is not insignificant by any rational measure.Fog has a great point. This site could become something that could be great for the agency.
Really? How would you know? Have you taken a poll? If so, let's see it. Or, do you somehow monitor the Internet usage of all ATF agents? It fascinates me how pompous know-it-alls can claim to speak for an entire group as you have (while simultaneously criticizing others for making unfounded statements). And besides, you're here (or at least, were). Does that make you a "malcontent" or "conspiracy nut"?The reality is most ATF agents don't come here. They look at this site as something for a bunch of malcontents and conspiracy nuts.
I do not intend to argue with most of that, as I happen to agree with much of it. But in any site such as this, there will be those who go off the reservation. The problem is that I do not have the time to keep close tabs on everything that is said and must rely on others to inform me when things get out of hand. That said, you are not the anointed arbiter of what constitutes "unfounded accusations". And finally, calling another user an "idiot" and publicly calling into question his or her personal integrity is not the same as merely, "asking people to be careful of making unfounded accusations".By sticking to fact and calling out the crap, we could move towards something so much more. Seriously, asking people to be careful of making unfounded accusations is not that much to ask for. This website says it is for "Restoring integrity and accountability to the Bureau." Well, why can't the website hold it's self to the same standard. Stick with facts. Be careful of what you say. If we get a crazy conspiracy nut on the site, call him out and tell him - no! No more bull. Again, let's hold ourselves to the same standard we hope to become the standard for all of ATF, including upper management. Wow! I am curious how you argue with that.