Posted on 08/30/2013 9:01:53 PM PDT by The Bat Ladys Husband
My involvement with Free Republic began around 2000 when my wife began her vigil around the Texas governor’s mansion in support of GW against the challenge of Al Gore for the presidency. I generally provided the livelihood for the Bat Lady to be able to protest and surround the mansion against the leftists who were kept at bay across the street. While she was registered in order to post after action reports I was a lurker on the site.
Over the years we have attended rallies and protests and meetings. Other groups of freepers nationwide also held rallies, attended protests, and held vigils- activities that were organized and coordinated through the Free Republic site. After action reports were posted almost daily, report after report from across the country from different freepers describing their activities. Even the term "freeper" came to mean one who actively engaged the left to fight against disinformation. We considered ourselves patriots. While we did not risk our “lives, fortune or sacred honor”, we suffered the slings and arrows of a hostile left in the cause of freedom.
With a few exceptions, the “freeper” of today is merely a couch potato who is content to amuse himself by making snide comments and repartees about current news. Few even support the site monetarily. Free Republic appears to barely be able to keep its head above water and its so-called member freepers are such a non-factor of dissent that unlike in the early year, Rush Limbaugh rarely references the site (although he seldom mentioned it).
Early freeper were the ones who got up off the couch, made their signs and used the leftist tactics of street activism against the left itself. Michelle Malkin, Ann Coulter, and Jonas Goldberg are example of early famous freepers, but Free Republic also had the likes of Basil (Second Amendment Sisters), True black man, Jimmy Valentine’s Brother, Kristin, the entire DC freeper contingent and so many other activists making a difference for conservative causes.
At some point in time, a subgroup, “The Pajama Patrol” arose within Free Republic. What a sad day that was. The mindset of Free Republic turned to the couch potato mentality referred to earlier.
The most current after action report I have seen was my wife’s, The Bat Lady’s report on the May 2013 Tax Day protest. One of the protesters with us was a 90-year-old lady with her handmade sign. If she can do it, why can’t you?
All you new Freepers need to get up off your butt and get out and make a difference. Where are you at the Impeach Obama overpass events? Why aren’t you organizing anti-Syria bombing protest? Why aren’t you marching over Benghazi, the NSA, the IRS or ObamaCare? If you are there why aren’t you posting your reports to inspire and motivate others? You are not the only reader of FR in your city. Find the others and get together. Act in concert. After 13 years, the Bat Lady and I are still in contact with those we met on the front lines.
DC Freepers maintained vigils at VP Gore's house, and prevented code pink from vilifying our troops at Walter Reed every week for years. Freepers once actively protested the left and got Clinton impeached. Some even say we were the Paul Revere of the TEA party,
Is your barcalounger so dear or American Idol so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it Almighty God.
It is time for freepers to rededicate themselves to the vision that Jim Robinson created. All the clever comments you attach to the threads are less than useless. It is time once again to become a large thorn in the side of those who do not strive for the American Ideal and be the activists we once were. If you cannot post an after action report “go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. …May posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.”
“It does not take a majority to prevail ... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.” Samuel Adams
In answer to my own question: yes it is worth saving if its members make a difference.
Some people just assume they do the most. Arrogance. The OP was way off base.
I could name 40-50 here past 13 years....just died
Amazing the attrition rate last couple of years. Some of the most active, who were young or relatively young, left our mortal coil.
We had a meeting of the Mid FL Chapter a few weeks ago, and it was decided that we, who are pretty active, have fallen off recently. I'll let the hostess with the mostest give you a summary...
5.56mm
Harp seal
Andrew
Bko
Raoul
Tonysnow
Billybob
Congressman
Mouth of the south
Jackalopebreeder
Texasflower
Texas cowboy
Kattracks
Lbga....a special lady my folks knew as a girl
Morgans raider
Dix
Bonniebluflg
Tank
Chief negotiator
Apes for evolution
Trapped in liberal hell
Those pop into my head right off
Many more....used to be a list somewhere
Shame
We will end up like the VFW....or a one percenter MC club....hells angels
No young members enough to fill up for those dying off
It so happens that, no matter how they feel about each other, I love & adore both Jim & Bob and am always optimistic that, one day, the wounds will heal.
You can...nevermind...
Sure you do!
When it was pointed out that your posts sounded like the same crap the antifreepers post over at loser central, you shrieked.
As if stung.
Perhaps if you spent less time acting trollish by -as you admitted in post 365- “tossing grenades” in FR?
Funny that.
Plus.. he was a homo.
*Snort* [giggles]
LOLOLOL.
Likely, still is.
And he said that I wear too much makeup, which as you both personally know, I don’t wear makeup at all.
That was the last straw for me. [giggles]
I do have one tube of lipstick. I’ve had it for about 20 years. Other than that, I don’t even own any makeup.
ROTFL.
I didn’t know he said that, but it’s fitting for that total liar.
That homo makes it up as he goes along.
He was a real snake. He’s good riddance to bad rubbish.
I’ve had other anti-FReepers “befriend” me to go on and attack me later, but he, with his lawsuit threats, rambling, incoherent emails, and attempts to buy zots, took the cake.
I have a picture of him with what looks like his boyfriend with the boyfriend’s arm around him. I won’t post it, but he is obviously exactly what Gunner says he is.
He was a gem with friends in high places.
Plus, he was good for long-winded comedy when he got a case of butthurt:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2904755/posts
And just as cute as a bug!
No really, as cute as a bug. I’m thinking, “apple maggot.”
LOL.
I had long forgotten about that thread.
Thanks so much!
I think the mindset has changed over the past decade or so. We used to think we were a majority. I'm not sure about that any more. Also our current government, both parties, have shown themselves immune to the voices of the public. Many of us have moved on to strengthening ourselves in other areas instead of waving signs at communists who are too indoctrinated to change and politicians who are bought and paid for. Do you think all the yelling at those town halls is going to make John McCain become a conservative? Also, the nature of Free Republic has changed. Several large and brutal purges cut the heart out of much of the activism. Not a comfortable fact but the truth.
Oops! I meant to ping you to 394.
Leni
Sorry if many of us do not share rosy views of old bobj.
Especially since he had the biggest hand in starting the anti-freeper crap.
He can take his crap, stuff it, and stay wallowing in anti-freeper sites till hit eyes light up.
And anyone parroting his crap can stuff it as well.
For the record, I know BobJ. I know Deb. I know Jim.
I don’t always agree with them. I look back and don’t always agree with things I have done. I do agree with these people most of the time, in fact almost all the time.
When I have understood what has taken place, I generally find myself agreeing with each of them. When disagreements have broken out between them, and I’m not including Deb in this, it has been painful for me.
I know what Jim has been trying to do with this forum.
I know what BobJ was trying to do to be supportive.
I know disagreements come up. It’s a shame they do. I’m not here to assess blame, because I think the goals of two people can be very admirable, and their intended actions to achieve those goals can be admirable, and yet conflicts can still arise.
I am reminded that during the Founding of our nation, there were heated disagreements concerning which path our nation would take on certain matters. Are we then to be greater men that our Founders? NO! We will be lucky to come even close to those great men. They were not perfect, and we are not perfect.
We will disagree on which paths to take. Some of us on the sidelines of major discussions will observe our friends, wish that things could have been handled differently. We will experience sorrow that partings of the ways take place in life. I know I gain no joy from this.
I have got to say that when I have talked to Jim about certain events in the past, he has defended himself well. I know that when I have talked to BobJ, he has made a case for himself that I have thought sounded reasoned. At the same time I didn’t always agree with everything BobJ did.
Having said that, I am BobJ’s friend. I do not know what he thinks of me, if he considers me to be this friend or not, but I like BobJ. I have witnessed his concerns for doing good things for Free Republic and the expanded role he saw for it.
At the same time, I know that Jim has a vision for F.R. and a vision for how to achieve it. So Jim certainly has it’s best interests at heart.
Sometimes, good men see things differently. Sometimes good friends get tweaked, they act out and there are no real winners when it come to the outcome.
This is not a slam or slap on the back for anyone. It’s just a slice of life that can’t always to the way we wish it could.
Sometimes our friends do things we wish they wouldn’t. Sometimes good friends go on liking people despite wishing they hadn’t done some of the things they have.
I respect Jim very much. I respect BobJ very much.
Over the years I have had very good reason to.
Deb and I don’t always see eye to eye, but I have always tried to let her know that I respected her opinion. She is right to stand behind BobJ. She is right to stand behind Jim.
She is right to think in terms of them patching things over, and being friends. Sometimes our wishes are not very realistic, but then wishes are ours to harbor.
They are ours to share as well. By writing this, I want Deb to know hers is a wish I gladly share with her.
Thank you N E L I
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