How about joining during the FL re-count vs Gore? That 2000. Work overseas put a large gap and restarted later. At the recount (24 hours plus working to defeat Gore’s little robots, all for a Bush that in many ways now regret- time and facts and learning. But, we couldn’t have had Gore- no way) recall meeting FReepers who had been to the Vince Foster FT. Marcy body location. Intriguing and also... weird.
That’s when I joined. September 29, 2000.
I heard about FreeRepublic on Rush when a Freeper called in to comment.
I searched out this website and the rest is history!