Posted on 09/10/2013 6:22:13 PM PDT by jobim
10 September 1998 I became the virtual man I have become (ie jobim). That was an eventful year - Paula Jones, Monica, Ken Starr report, impeachment - but more importantly, it was the crescendo of scandals that revealed the flaw that even the towering genius of the Founding Fathers could not circumvent in crafting our blessed Constitution. That flaw was, and oh so woefully is, bad men with their hands on the reins. George Will said that Clinton was not necessarily the worst president, but the worst man ever to be president. But we can wax nostalgic about those days in comparison with the present ones.
And so I extend greetings to all Freepers on this milestone of 15 years.
Highlights (ie Lowlights) from 1998:
Jan 7th - Former White House intern Monica Lewinsky signs affidavit denying she had an affair with President Bill Clinton
Jan 17th - President Clinton faces sexual harrament charges from Paula Jones
Jan 26th - Pres Clinton says "I want to say one thing to the American people I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky"
May 22nd - Lewinsky scandal: a federal judge rules that United States Secret Service agents can be compelled to testify before a grand jury concerning the scandal, involving President Bill Clinton.
May 26th - Date for Paula Jones sex harassment trial vs President Clinton
Aug 17th - Monica Lewinsky scandal: US President Bill Clinton admits in taped testimony that he had an "improper physical relationship" with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. On the same day he admits before the nation that he "misled people" about his relationship.
Sep 11th - Independent counsel Kenneth Starr sends a report to the U.S. Congress accusing President Bill Clinton of 11 possible impeachable offenses.
Nov 19th - Lewinsky scandal: The United States House of Representatives Judiciary Committee begins impeachment hearings against U.S. President Bill Clinton.
Dec 19th - Lewinsky scandal: The United States House of Representatives forwards articles I and III of impeachment against President Bill Clinton to the Senate.
From Wikipedia:
Free Republic seems to have been taken over by a very hardcore group of nearly paranoid administrators and members. Anyone who expresses a genuinely conservative viewpoint that happens to contradict this cult is likely to be "flamed" mercilessly and if that doesn't succeed in driving him away, his "posting privileges will be revoked". There is little opportunity for genuine conservative debate in an atmosphere that resembles more of a cult of opinion.
You mean to say that I have given 15 years of my life to a cult? It was near precisely 20 years prior to my joining FR that they drank the eternal kool-aid on 11/18/78. Oh no! And our leader's name is....Jim!
I was at the March for Justice if that means anything.
June 27 here.
I became a FR lurker on 10-31-1998, first day I got the internet.
Happy birthday to your FR account
Yo.
I’ve been here that long. At some point, my screen name went away and I had to re-register. There were some hilarious moments back then. (Not to imply there aren’t any now)
Been here about 15, yup..! ^_^
I think D28Man and I are. If not, we’re not far behind. We were among the very early Freepers at the Clinton White House with Kristinn and Dr. Raoul.
June 98 here and many thanks to our host.
15 years,just had my 15 year anniversary at work,time flies.
Welcome to the 15 year club :-)
I started about 1 month BEFORE:
Since Jan 19, 1998
Originally we had screen-names but we had to LOG IN, providing a real email address about 6 weeks after FR was “born”, I think.
I believe I have accrued 15 years... give or take.
Just over a year behind you.
Happy 15th!
Doc Savage
Another one here!!
We were there, too. That was quite a day.
I thought about it more, and I believe that FR —at least in the incarnation that I first came to know it— is now about 15.7 years old.
Before that, it did exist, though in some other form, I dimly recall.
When I first came, in a full day there was still just 20 threads or so and EVERYONE more or less “knew” each other.
I don’t really knew how many freeps there are now, only that it’s more than 250,000.
I think many, many more than that lurk dedicatedly.
January 22, 1998..........Doc Savage!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.