As a long timer at this point, I used to come here because there was a decent amount of Right and Left posters. The news stories were varied, and the comments actually debated them and weren't trolling. It made the site a good single stop news shopping experience. I could come here, see all the relevant news headlines, catch up on the comments discussion and get a good blend of what the left and right were both saying and get a full 360 view of an issue to help inform my own opinion on it.
Now though, it's a left wing echo chamber that shouts down discussion if it doesn't reinforce the echo chamber. I still come since it still has a good collection of the days headlines, but it has lost the 360 view. I supplement with other sites, and blend this in for a more far left flavor to the others to keep a balance.
Most of the "direct quotes" were plucked from pretty cordial debates and the quotes used to claim he was saying something quite different than when in the context of the debate. That's not to say I agree with all his takes, but I do think the quotes were used to paint a much darker image of him than he actually was. I don't agree with a lot of his takes, comically though the damning quotes were usually points I had less of an issue with. Fun with quotes