Good memories...
Like MANY who are here, I first found the site via the link on the Drudge Report in March of 1998. The Monica Lewinsky story was great on many levels:
- It allowed us to debate with our wives about whether a B-J counted as “sex”? (any chance to discuss B-J’s with the wife tends to have good long-term benefits!) and
- It led many people to Free Republic, one of the all-time greatest places for news and comment.
Free Republic was/IS what X /(Twitter) aspire to be; a national counter-top for discussion of current topics. The level of discourse when it first started was incredible. Over the years, it’s ebbed and flowed, but in my opinion, has remained high.
I still find it easier here than anywhere to find a wide range of CURRENT news. And eventually... insightful comment from people with better sources, or different viewpoints. A place where I can easily ask questions and debate points of issue. What more could anyone ask for? Anything that’s not here? I’m probably not that interested in it.
I loved FR from the start, but I came to truly appreciate it when 9/11 happened. As someone stated earlier, FR was just about the ONLY internet site that remained able to provide news for those of us stuck in an office. EVERYTHING else was frozen.
My favorite times here were the real-time commentary we used to have when watching the TV show “24”. It was freaking hilarious. I’ve also always enjoyed the hurricane following threads. Now, I’m actually live back in storm country... eek!
There was a time when I was a routine monthly donor, but I must admit... I stopped it when things got a little crazy here, and when I started working for an ultra-woke European company. I truly felt like I might be fired, just for being a member. I’ve made a few one-time donations since and will continue.
I hope the site is able to outlast me! To this day, it’s one of, if not THE, first site I go to in the morning for news. What a blessing JimRob was able to bring us all with his vision. MANY THANKS to all who are working to keep it going.
“Whitewater File” was the name of the link on Drudge.