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

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

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!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

Click on the photo to view the album. To
submit your photo, please contact
.45Man or dansangel
danbh59@yahoo.com
and include Freeper Photo Album in subject line.

[Billie]

This flag is just one frame of a slide show that Rus often posts,
and Aquamarine made the beautiful pledge graphic, knowing how
appropriate it would be to use for today's tribute. Thank you both!

[Billie]

You're invited
To have coffee with The Mayor.

You recognize the purple cup. You see it here every day.
Now come learn more about the man who posts it every day.

[knighthawk]

Seems like I early today.

Hello!

[Billie]

Well, good morning! This is a first - you being first!

I have to leave for a bit - will be back soon. Maybe Rus will bring some donuts to go with the coffee. :)

[The Mayor]

I am absolutley honored to be here amongst such great friends.

Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me." —John 21:22

Resentment comes from looking at others; contentment comes from looking to God.

[Pippin]

GOOD MORNING!!!

I's great getting to know about Teh Mayor

Hmmm!

Maybe he should change his screenname to "The Patriot" :O)

I never knew til a few weeks ago that that pretty purple cup held a different message each time it's posted.

[MEG33]

What a story !Thank you for the lovely layout,Billie.Rus,I am inspired by your patriotism and trying to make a difference.Thank you for sharing.God bless you!

[Pippin]

Hi, Meg! :O)

[knighthawk]

(((Pippin)))
(((Billie)))

[Pippin]

(((KNIGHTHAWK)))

(((BILLIE)))

(((MEG)))

(((TM)))

[The Mayor]

Rus,I am inspired by your patriotism and trying to make a difference.

Thankyou! It's all part of being an American, that's the way I look at it.

I never knew til a few weeks ago that that pretty purple cup held a different message each time it's posted.

It's everydays Daily Bread, not the whole thing, just the highlights..

[The Mayor]

Billie, I Love what you did with the cup.

It looks great, can I keep it?

[MEG33]

Good morning to all!

[Aquamarine]

Great job Billie!

It's nice to get to know you a little better today Mayor. Wish you would have won the election, New York needs patriotic people like you in office.

Thanks for delivering the coffee and scripture to us every day. Just wouldn't seem right without it. :)

[dansangel]

I am so glad to learn more about the man behind the purple cup! ((((((((((Rus))))))))))))) Your patriotism and overcoming the quagmire of Massachusetts/Kennedy liberalism is to be commended. And, your political aspirations will someday pay off - I just know it. The tide is turning.

I've been following the recovery of your friend Russ. The Lord is so good - He listens to FReeper prayers.

What a beautifully designed profile, ((((((((Billie))))))) Thank you for presenting another face and another wonderful member of the Finest!

((((((((((Hugs))))))))))))))) to my other sistahs and to my fuzzy brothah, an extra
[[[[[{{{{{(((((Louie_Wolfie_Man)))))}}}}}]]]]]

[Calpernia]

What a GREAT tribute to The Mayor! Nice to know more about you Rus!

Morning to the Finest!

Stop by to learn more about and support Lt. Col. Allen B. West I spoke to him last night and his lawyer will be sending more information that will soon be posted.

[Billie]

Good morning, Rus! I just went back to yesterday's thread to add the link there to 'today', and read your update on your friend, Russ. Do thank you for keeping us posted on his progress, and isn't it wonderful to know he *is* making progress! May God continue to answer the prayers for him.

Thanks for the donuts this morning. :)

[Billie]

Good morning, Pip. It is very nice getting to know Rus a little better, isn't it? I think "The Patriot" would have made a great screenname for him!

[Billie]

Good morning, Meg. Thank you so much. Missed seeing you yesterday on John's Two Cents - until this morning when I checked in. :)

[MEG33]

Thank you.It dawned on me I had read but not posted!