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]

Sent you another mail last night. Wish I could work through these problems on my own. I do sometimes if you can believe that. lol

I DO believe that! (Pinged you, dutchess, because you had a problem Tuesday night that you worked through by yourself, too!) We're here for you - I KNOW that Lori will help you any time, too!

[The Thin Man]

Kudos to you Mr. Mayor for your work in promoting conservatism and a special thank you to your grandma for knocking some sense into you. :)

[FreeTheHostages]

[FreeTheHostages]

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? Isn't that GREAT!!? Very good point.

The Mayor -- I'm LOVING your letters to the editors, especially "Where are the parents?" I'm back to read some more.

Happy to hear you're moving down around these parts, too. I wasn't at the Richmond Rally for America -- there was one in DC that day too -- but I heard it was huge and wonderful!

[The Thin Man]

A happy Friday to you, Billie. I think this is one of your better efforts even though you misspelled missile (missle), links to previous threads are off center and I think the "topper" is missing (whatever that is). :-)

[FreeTheHostages]

It Seems As If You're Always Given US Coffee!
Please allow me to pour on your day of honor.

[FreeTheHostages]

I think the "topper" is missing (whatever that is)

If you're not real careful, Miss Billie just might show you what a missing topper is . . . .

[The Mayor]

your political aspirations will someday pay off - I just know it. The tide is turning

New York is a tough state and Erie County is worse. The tide seems to be turning here a little, maybe one day I'll run again..

Thankyou

on them
Massachusetts/Kennedy liberalism

[Temple Owl]

Great job! I get more enjoyment from FReep posts than I do from the daily newspapers. Keep it up guys!

[The Mayor]

Thankyou Calpernia and Thank you for pinging me to the thread last night. He deserves a Medal.

A Prayer for the Troops and all those wh lost their lives from the 101st Airborne.
God Bless them all!

[The Thin Man]

If you're not real careful, Miss Billie just might show you what a missing topper is . . . .

She wouldn't dare!

[Billie]

Morning, Meekie!

[The Mayor]

"The Patriot"

Cool!

[The Mayor]

See y'all later. Got a couple more tests today (I've studied real hard). :)

Thanks Dave and Good Luck on your test.. : )

[Pippin]

Glad you like it! :O)

[FreeTheHostages]

[The Mayor]

special thank you to your grandma

I wouldn't be me with out her influence, she was a great Lady.

[dutchess]

Good morning Rus....so glad to REALLY get to know you. You are all that I expected and more. Thanks for putting up the good fight. We're very involved in local politics...fortunately for us though our county and elected officials are extremely conservative. You would be a welcome addition (hint hint)

Billie...beautiful job as always....Jumping in and out...another busy day but TGIF. Back later!

[FreeTheHostages]

Billie...beautiful job as always

I don't even bother to say that anymore! I think "Billie" means "Beautiful graphics" in Malaysian or something . . . .

[The Mayor]

You are all that I expected and more.

Wow, Thanks!

Gotta run and file for unemployment, bummer, I hate to do that.