Also I have to comment on “but compromise is not a dirty word” with a quote:

Security is not a dirty word Blackadder, crevice is a dirty word. Leak is a positively disgusting word.

I think you are being a bit unfair here. I think Stallman is well within his rights, and has been entirely consistent in his personal and professional approach to the question of intellectual property. Just because he does not compromise does not stop others (and indeed him) fighting against ACTA etc. You are wrongheaded here to think that what a movement needs is unity, rather a diversity of opinions – even ones you may not entirely agree with – which are critical to prevent the movement of free culture becoming a legalistic or compromised movement. Whilst some advocate partial compromise (e.g. Creative Commons) and the dangers of co-option that that necessary raises (and CC has gotten into bed a bit too often with multinational media corporations for its own good) you also need some people on the sidelines reminding everyone what the original fight was about.

I am therefore not sure who the ‘We’ is that you speak for. I think ad hominem comments about ‘swivel-eyed fanatics detached from reality’ (which by association reads like a criticism of Stallman) are unhelpful. I think you should re-read Lessig’s ‘Free Culture’ where Lessig accepts that Stallman’s steadfast position is more important than you give him credit for. (Also as a plug you should check out my book ‘Copy, Rip, Burn’ where I discuss this substantive issue in a great deal of more detail)

Best

David

ps. glad your blog is back up..