A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....11-07-03....Meet The Mayor

Billie

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

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We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_Bear, dansangel, dutchess, Aquamarine ~

Born and raised in Hopkinton, Massachusetts - home of the Boston Marathon - Rus (The Mayor) credits his maternal grandmother (Nana), a Conservative and a school teacher, for the political blood which runs through his veins.

"I grew up a liberal hippie but was slapped around by Nana when I criticized Nixon. (My step father said that if Nixon won in '68 we were gonna move out of the country.) :)"

"My maternal grandfather was the Chief of Police in Hopkinton. He died of a massive coronary while directing traffic after the Thanksgiving day football game between Ashland and Hopkinton in 1956. I was his first grandson. He was 48 years old when he died; I was only 9 months."

"My grandparents on my father's side lived in Ashland; my paternal grandmother will be 97 this Thanksgiving and still sharp as a tack. We've traced their roots all the way back to the Mayflower..." *

"My paternal grandfather worked for Raytheon-Bedford Laboratories and for Raytheon-Andover Missle Operations. He was also a Ham Radio Operator, and had one of the first licenses issued. When he died we were allowed to go into his work room and found direct links to NASA, as well as little TV sets to monitor the happenings in space. He was on the team that invented the microwave oven, but then it was called the "Radar Range".

1976. It was the year that Rus joined the army. A peanut farmer from Georgia was in the Whitehouse. Stationed at Ft. Devens, Massachusetts, from March 1976 to March 1979, Rus was a cook for the Military Intelligence school.

"My best friends were the MPs, 10 Special Forces Group, and the Medics. We all had the craziest hours - I'd feed them coffee and pastry all night when the mess hall was closed. That's probably why I love to post coffee everyday."

In the 1980 Presidential Election, Rus proudly voted for Ronald Reagan, helping to name him our 40th President of the United States of America.

"Listening live to the swearing in ceremony while the hostages were being released was a very proud moment for this country and for me. I guess I was a Reagan Democrat, but I had no idea where I was politically then."

*John Stearns, one of Rus' ancestors, was a carpenter on the Mayflower; perhaps it's where The Mayor got his talent for carpentry. (Well, Jesus was a Carpenter, too....)

"Wood working is my true love; I just wish I could still do it as I did when I was younger. I would love to own and operate a custom woodworking shop. Build furniture, toys etc..."

"I've lived in Massachusetts, Arizona, California, Virginia and currently reside New York. I've been in the home building industry most of my adult life. I recently built this log cabin in Virginia."

Note: If there was ever even a sliver of doubt about The Mayor's patriotism, one look at the picture above would dispel that. How many builders so proudly display Old Glory on their unfinished homes?

New York! New York!

"In the more recent past I have been very Political. I am a registered Conservative in Liberal Western NY. Where the Rino's roam, I still haven't found a real elected republican."

"For six years I went to every town board meeting and served on the Town Center planning committee. A Director of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce, I was nicknamed a gadfly by the Buffalo News. I took offense to that name; I am not an insect that won't go away - I am a concerned citizen that believes we have Rights to speak up when the elected aren't doing their job."

"At one point, three others and I were kicked out of a town board meeting because - God forbid! - we wanted to be heard. Roberts Rules of Order allows the People to be heard concerning issues that are on the agenda; our town didn't allow it then, but within three months the rules were changed and the people can now be heard."

"I was never afraid to write Letters to the Editor."

"In 2001 I ran for Town Council of Grand Island, NY. I sought the Republican endorsement and was turned down - too much of a threat to the female incumbent. My interview lasted an hour, and the incumbent was present. They drilled me on what I would do to help the town. She wrote down every one of my ideas and tried to put forth as her own. So I ran on the Conservative and Right to Life lines. I didn't win but I sure brought out the issues. (Surprisingly, in the past two years the town has started making the changes I advocated over the years.)"

"This was the Award-winning float my wife designed and we built for my campaign. We loaded it up with kids and supporters, and everyone was wearing a t-shirt that said: "A Vote for RUS - is a vote for US". We had fun that day. The flag is made out of tissue flowers."

"Sept 11th was primary day. (postponed for two weeks after the attack) I was being challanged on both the Conservative and the Independent lines. I was getting ready to go vote when the planes flew into the World Trade Center. I went up the street to a friend's service station and lowered his huge flag to half staff. The next few hours I was glued to Fox News and the threads here on FreeRepublic."

"A day I will never forget, and we as a Nation should never forget. What we are doing is Just and Right."

I have one final picture to add, because when you see it, you will see The Mayor in every face in that crowd, and what a true patriot looks like.

Glen Becks Rally For America in Richmond, Va in March 2003

"I am in that picture somewhere; 10,000 Patriots attended a completly peaceful event. On the other side of town there was an antiwar rally - only 1000 showed up, but there was violence and there were arrests. What a joke those people are."

Thank you, Rus, for letting us get to know you a little better today, and thank you for our daily coffee and the inspirational message found inside that purple cup each new day.

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 11-03-03 Military Monday 11-04-03 S.Dakota - Great Faces, Great Places 11-05-03 FReeper Kitties & More (Calpernia) 11-06-03 JohnHuang Essay

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

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[Billie]

Oh, this is TOO CUTE, Dave!!!!!!!! You do know, though, this is exactly what he wanted - he's managed to hijack this beautiful thread about a really great FReeper and Patriot and make it all about him. LOL!

[The Mayor]

Chicken!

[Billie]

And that was a most marvelous post, Miss Maggie.

[The Mayor]

Thank you, Rus, for who and what you are, and what you bring out in us.
All who enter this room love what Rus has told us of you and your beautiful family.

LadyX, In one post I call you a Chicken, in the next you have brought tears to my eyes..

You all hold a special place in my Heart!

I forgot to show you all my little 'Lady Liberty' This is my little princess Lillian Grace.

[Billie]

WOW! Your little Princess (Lillian) Grace is a beautiful little Lady Liberty! What a sweet picture!

[JustAmy]

Oh .... I love that cute picture. She is a princess!

[Diver Dave]

...little off topic, but just got a phone call from #1 daughter on behalf of #1 grandson. An invitation to a Veteran's Day program at #1 grandson's school to be held in the Chapel (Thank God for Christian schools).

The conversation became a Q & A.

Q. Would you like to come to a Veteran's Day program at Christian's school?

A. You betcha!

Q. Are you gonna wear your uniform... uhh, can you?

A. Will I wear it? Yes. Can I? Yes. I'll wear it partly cuz I can... :)

Might even be a Kodak moment.

[MEG33]

What a darling!

[Billie]

Still missing the wolfie. Hurry and get all better.

((((((((((((((wolfie))))))))))))))

[The Mayor]

I want pictures!!

[Billie]

[Diver Dave]

Y'all must keep yourselves pretty busy sewin' buttons back on after poppin' 'em.

I once had a conversation with one of our pastors. It went something like this.

Ya know, we're instructed not to have a prideful heart. But ya know, that's awful hard sometimes as we look at our kids and grandkids.

Pastor's reply... There nothing wrong with that as long as the pride is directed at God's handiwork.

A beautiful little princess you have there. Another Blessing from Above.

[The Mayor]

I miss Louie too! he liked to argue with Mama Bear over the donuts, he always wants the glazed one, LOL!

[Billie]

A week without Johnny Mac is a week without.........his pretty pictures and pretty words, and we miss 'em!

((((((jwfiv))))))

[The Mayor]

"Another Blessing from Above"

Amen to that Brother!

[dutchess]

I guess that puts an end to all speculation that Billie came from Mars. She is the most 'human' person I know (except for dutchess).

Well TMan...all I have to say is...

[Billie]

Glazed ones are pretty hard to beat, but I sorta like plain buttermilk cake donuts, too - no icing. :)

[Billie]

OMG!!!!ROFL!!! What a PERFECT picture for the occasion!

[dutchess]

Oh...what a darling little girl Rus. You sure must be mighty proud!

[dutchess]

Might even be a Kodak moment.

How very special to be able to spend Veterans Day at your grandson's school. We definately want pictures!