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ZOT: Breaking Hard!!! Bush orders settlement to conservative GOP website by City of Fresno
IndyBay via Liberty Post | Troy Montague

Posted on 01/11/2004 1:58:50 PM PST by Jim Robinson

And this just in from our You Gotta Be Kidding Me department:

Bush orders settlement to conservative GOP website by City of Fresno

by Troy Montague

Saturday, Jan. 10, 2004 at 11:03 PM

Settlement funnels money to local conservative website on orders of president George Bush. Rightwing website "FreeRepublic" to recieve large settlement from City of Fresno.

This is urgent-read and call the attorney general's office as soon as you can. We must stop this criminal give-away to GOP activists at taxpayer expense.

The City of Fresno has announced it is paying a large settlement to the "FreeRepublic", a right wing conservative website/forum to settle a lawsuit filed by Freerepublic alledging defamation and damage of reputation. Some background on the case:

The case FreeRepublic vs. City of Fresno stems from a bulletin sent to Fresno Police by Fresno Human Relations Commissioner Debbie Reyes regarding an event planned on sept. 13th by the Fresno chapter of FreeRepublic Network. This event, billed by Freerepublic as a picnic/rally was a subject of concern to Reyes as she had been made aware of possible counter-protests to the picnic/rally by activists critical of FreeRepublic Network's harrassment of anti-war activists and general right-wing extremist nature. Ms. Reyes faxed a notice to police that there might be possible conflicts at the event and notified them that FreeRepublic was well known as an organized hate group disguising themselves as patriotic americans. This notice and resulting publicity resulted in the lawsuit naming City of Fresno, Debbie Reyes, and Mayor Alan Autry as defendants. They alledged Reyes fax resulted in defamation and filed suit seeking $1,000,000 compensation.

The very very strange thing in all this is George Bush met with Fresno Mayor Alan Autry on 10/15/2003 and there is good reason to believe this lawsuit by the FreeRepublic Network was the main topic of conversation between the two. The FreeRepublic online forum is a darling centerpiece of the GOP party, the largest and most highly trafficked GOP oriented website in existence. Progressive activists have long suspected FreeRepublic receives under the table covert funding directly or indirectly from the GOP party. So it is quite likely and plausible that when Autry met with Bush and discussed this with him Bush told him to pay off these good old-boy conservatives and get some funds into their hands so they can continue their fight against the left and all things progressive.

It is clear that before any settlement is paid to FreeRepublic an investigation into ties between Mayor Alan Autry and FreeRepublic should be undertaken. He has been supportive of their activitys to a suspicious degree and it is apparent he was very interested in arranging for the city to settle out of court on the lawsuit and quickly get some money into the hands of his fellow patriots at FreeRepublic.

Did Fresno Mayor Alan Autry work at the suggestion of George Bush to supply a large cash settlement to FreeRepublic at taxpayer's expense? Demand an investigation.

Contact: California State Attoney General (916)322-3360

News Release

Daniel G. Hobbs, City Manager

November 14, 2003 Contact: Matt Otstot, Public Affairs Officer: (559) 621-7777

Mayor Autry Commends President Bush for Homeland Security Funding

FRESNO, CA (November 14, 2003) Mayor Alan Autry applauded President George W. Bush and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for releasing over $7 million in grants to the City of Fresno. This grant will be used to fund and improve overall security and preparedness of the City’s Public Safety Departments.

“I commend President Bush not only for providing these much needed Homeland Security funds, but also understanding that as our first responders, local public safety agencies must receive these resources directly,” Mayor Autry said.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge announced the release of these funds yesterday. A total of $675 million will be funded directly to urban areas across the Country. The areas funded were chosen based on several factors including critical infrastructure, population density, and credible threat information.

Sept 12, 2002 - Letter from President George W. Bush

(September 11, 2002) Mayor Alan Autry today announced the creation of the Fresno Citizen Corps to bring additional volunteer resources to the City's public safety and emergency response agencies, as well as support other civic centered efforts throughout the community.

http://www.fresnocitizencorps.org/president.pdf

But on the way out to the facility, Alan Autry, was traveling with me, the great mayor of Fresno, California, and I appreciate him being here today and I thank him for his friendship. (Applause.) http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/10/20031015-14.html


TOPICS: Free Republic; News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons
KEYWORDS: allyourbase; bds; bushhaters; conspiracytheory; darkshearesfault; dontblameme; fantasy; freerepublic; fundraiserisnowover; ididntdoit; insanityrules; kooks; leftwingnuts; leftykooks; lol; loonyleftist; paranoidseverywhere; rovedidit; tinfoilhat; vrwc; weareyouroverlords; zot
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To: ladyinred
HURRY! There's a LIMIT on them.
281 posted on 01/11/2004 5:50:56 PM PST by Brad’s Gramma (Donate to Free Republic!! I have SEWING to do!!!!!)
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To: Jim Robinson
Congratulations Jim!
282 posted on 01/11/2004 5:51:33 PM PST by freeangel (freeangel)
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To: Jim Robinson
is a fail-yur to co-moonicate.


LOL...... Maybe on your part to him but he's co-moonicating a plenty.......

THE GIFT IS IN HIGH GEAR
283 posted on 01/11/2004 5:51:48 PM PST by deport (..... DONATE TO FREEREPUBLIC......)
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To: Jim Robinson
As long as you're in so tight with the ultra-radical-extreemist-neo-cons who are running this country, I have a small favor, Could I have Grand Marais Mn.? I'd be ever so grateful.
284 posted on 01/11/2004 5:51:59 PM PST by Valin (We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.)
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To: notpoliticallycorewrecked
We have vays of getting youze to convess you know! We neo-nazi's of the VRWC!
285 posted on 01/11/2004 5:52:44 PM PST by ladyinred (W/04)
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To: Jim Robinson
This almost looks like a babelfish translation. What poor use of language ---

4. To: bunnyrabbit (#1)
An RNC/ dummy org payoff of a couple of 100,000 would be a GREAT investment and makes sense politically.. It also would explain what is happening there on many levels.

As far as the settlement goes, it could be true. Stranger things have happened in our corrupt city govts.

All I know is that the FR name and network is worth millions. There is no way in hell that the owners are slaving away there as a 'contribution' to the country. The idea of that is absurd.

FR's independence is an illusion necessary for its success amongst conservative minded people. The allure is its independence.

Since JR is compromising that with the censorship, the payday must be big.

Jablonski posted on 2004-01-11 03:17:29 ET Reply Trace

286 posted on 01/11/2004 5:52:50 PM PST by doug from upland (Don't wait until it is too late to stop Hillary -- do something today!)
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To: Jim Robinson
Oh good grief, I followed your link in #4 and found it was another Toddler babbling. Picking on Todd isn't kind, he's not all there and everyone knows it except Fred Mertz. Poor guy, if he could buy an inflatible Ann Coulter doll, he'd never post on the internet again. The real live Ann Coulter would have a fit, but hopefully she'd never hear about it.
287 posted on 01/11/2004 5:52:55 PM PST by xJones
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To: Jim Robinson; ladyinred
Okay, okay, I do have something in my past. My grandfather had the opportunity to buy Signal Hill in the Long Beach area before the oil was discovered.

Now I feel better... If he had I would have been a rich little brat. So we all know that didn't happen, well at least the rich part.
288 posted on 01/11/2004 5:54:10 PM PST by notpoliticallycorewrecked
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To: Peach
"If that isn't the definition of a pathetic life, I don't know what is."

"If that isn't the definition of a pathetic NO life, I don't know what is."

Fixed that error for you.

289 posted on 01/11/2004 5:54:53 PM PST by sweetliberty (Even the smallest person can change the course of the future. - (LOTR))
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To: Brad's Gramma
There ain't no limits on someone who has had her hand in the very pockets of the President of these United States!!!! :-)
290 posted on 01/11/2004 5:54:58 PM PST by ladyinred (W/04)
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To: Jim Robinson

"Mr. President, the progressives at libertypost are onto your public-funding of FreeRepublic, but good!©"

291 posted on 01/11/2004 5:55:36 PM PST by Cultural Jihad
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To: tpaine
Personal Attack. 5 yard penalty, loss of down. Run the clock.
292 posted on 01/11/2004 5:55:39 PM PST by Lead Moderator
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To: AAABEST
Hang in there, Bubba - the way the lady from Place de Peyton is going, the SW Florida conservatives will also strike it rich.

Too bad we didn't think of litigation when that walking, talking, rectu-cranial inversion was on the local talk show.

Nice to hear that R is getting some funding. We's endowed!
293 posted on 01/11/2004 5:55:58 PM PST by GladesGuru (In a society predicated upon liberty, it is essential to examine principles - -)
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To: AAABEST
Hang in there, Bubba - the way the lady from Place de Peyton is going, the SW Florida conservatives will also strike it rich.

Too bad we didn't think of litigation when that walking, talking, rectu-cranial inversion was on the local talk show.

Nice to hear that R is getting some funding. We's endowed!
294 posted on 01/11/2004 5:56:31 PM PST by GladesGuru (In a society predicated upon liberty, it is essential to examine principles - -)
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To: Brad's Gramma
You know what, I'll seriously think about it. I haven't contributed before. If I do, I won't announce it. I was impressed that FR went to the trouble of installing a spell checker. God only knows how guilty I am of flying fingers and how many times my adversaries would ignore the content of my reply and pummel me with insults about my occasional typos.
295 posted on 01/11/2004 5:56:45 PM PST by nmh
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To: Jim Robinson
Tell Rove I want a pay increase or I'll write an expose that will make O'Neill's look like a love sonnet!
296 posted on 01/11/2004 5:57:51 PM PST by Lead Moderator
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To: Jim Robinson
Now who can you sue for slander regarding their false charges against FR and Bush being in cahoots regarding funding and pressure on Fresno to pay off?

I hope you keep burning them so bad that they finally learn to put a cork in it. I'm serious, this is slander and requires another law suit doesn't it?
297 posted on 01/11/2004 6:00:01 PM PST by MissAmericanPie
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To: Jim Robinson; hchutch; Luis Gonzalez
Woo Hoo!!! The GIFT is to see the TRUTH!!

I thought the gift was to see the TROUT.

298 posted on 01/11/2004 6:02:31 PM PST by Poohbah ("Beware the fury of a patient man" -- John Dryden)
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To: Victoria Delsoul





Ma'am, do you have a fire permit for those skyrockets?


299 posted on 01/11/2004 6:02:34 PM PST by Sabertooth (Eighteen solutions better than any Amnesty - http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1053318/posts)
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To: Lead Moderator
Just got off the phone with Karl and George. They say you can expect a doubling of your pay forthwith.
300 posted on 01/11/2004 6:02:36 PM PST by Jim Robinson (I don't belong to no organized political party. I'm a Republycan.)
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