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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: notpoliticallycorewrecked
Sorry for the double post. I guess that it's a sign for me to get off FR and do some housework.
421 posted on 01/11/2004 8:27:13 PM PST by notpoliticallycorewrecked
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To: Jim Robinson
BadJoe has been a great friend for many years and one whom I would trust with my life.

Yes, but watch out for his chairs. :)

422 posted on 01/11/2004 8:31:58 PM PST by xJones
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To: Jim Robinson
Dude, congratulations.
423 posted on 01/11/2004 8:35:23 PM PST by searchandrecovery (America - Welcome to Sodom & Gomorrah West)
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To: Jim Robinson
Does this mean that I'm finally going to get a job title and secret password? Or at least the decoder ring! ;)
424 posted on 01/11/2004 8:39:03 PM PST by Fawnn (Former Fair Funkle Fawnn, wOOhOO Consultant, and CookingWithPam.com person)
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To: Pukin Dog
"Oh, and since you have pull with Bush..."

Let him know we don't like his immigration agenda! Let him know we don't like his ...

Let him know he has my vote, 'cause I am not a one issue voter!
425 posted on 01/11/2004 8:44:16 PM PST by GGpaX4DumpedTea
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To: Jim Robinson
George W. Bush, Master of the Universe, also controls Free Republic? Whodathunkit?/sarcasm off
426 posted on 01/11/2004 8:51:36 PM PST by Frank_2001
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To: Jim Robinson
WOW! LOL, can I say "far out" in here?

Congratulations and unbelievable!

{By the way, this does little to help me keep my New Year's Resolution.}

427 posted on 01/11/2004 8:53:32 PM PST by bd476 (New Year's Resolution: Decrease FR online time to 1 hour a day... 23 more to go! *TFR 31st ed.*)
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To: ladyinred
Who is Troy Montague ? How do we find out?

Well, Google shows nothing under the "Troy Montague" byline. There's no author information accompanying the article either. This leads me to believe (low confidence) that "Troy Montague" might be a one-off nom de plume used by someone wishing to remain anonymous.

The misspellings in the article are odd. "alledged" and "alledging," "harrassment," "existence," and "activitys" all appear in the piece, which might mean that the person wrote the article quickly and dashed it off to indybay in a hurry. I suspect that a bit more Googling over time will reveal which "friend" of FreeRepublic routinely misspells those words in their work.

I have a rough idea who "Troy" might be, but I'm not prepared to announce it right now. Only a weasel riding a zeppelin would be silly enough to flush the game at this point.

428 posted on 01/11/2004 8:56:00 PM PST by Johnny_Cipher ("... and twenty thousand bucks to complete my robot. My GIRL robot.")
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To: Jim Robinson
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's all part of Bush's shrewd plan to drum up grassroots opposition to his own immigration proposal.

429 posted on 01/11/2004 8:58:31 PM PST by Sloth ("I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!" -- Jacobim Mugatu, 'Zoolander')
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To: Jim Robinson
Shoot, if they back out, guess I'll have to call James. You know, Carville.

Call him what?

430 posted on 01/11/2004 8:58:40 PM PST by gatorbait (Yesterday, today and tomorrow......The United States Army)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Yeah, right! Does anyone here think that Bush actually chatted with Autry about FreeRepublic??? YES,by mind meld on the planet Endore!
431 posted on 01/11/2004 9:14:21 PM PST by gatorbait (Yesterday, today and tomorrow......The United States Army)
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To: CounterCounterCulture
MI>Wow...they really connected the dots, didn't they? But good!

That would make a great screen name.

432 posted on 01/11/2004 9:20:00 PM PST by connectthedots (Don't come to a tank battle with a pen knife)
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To: JustAmy
mind if I borrow it?

Heck, why NOT! I did the same thing!!

433 posted on 01/11/2004 9:37:41 PM PST by Brad’s Gramma (Donate to Free Republic!! I have SEWING to do!!!!!)
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To: Jim Robinson
My guess is the number of unique visitors per day varies between

And what exactly did you mean by unique?

434 posted on 01/11/2004 9:46:21 PM PST by Brad’s Gramma (Donate to Free Republic!! I have SEWING to do!!!!!)
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To: Brad's Gramma
Well, now that you ask... I'd guess that some are a little more or less unique than others.
435 posted on 01/11/2004 9:49:03 PM PST by Jim Robinson (I don't belong to no organized political party. I'm a Republycan.)
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To: ohioWfan
Brad's Gramma talked me into it

WHAT? NOW what am I guilty of? Sheeeeeeeesh.

I am innocent of all charges. I promise.

436 posted on 01/11/2004 9:49:30 PM PST by Brad’s Gramma (Donate to Free Republic!! I have SEWING to do!!!!!)
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To: Brad's Gramma

LOL! (Quit pulling our legs! Each of us are unique in our own ways, but all alike in things that are important.) Well, it means that is 'Brad's Gramma' visits 3 times a day, there was only one unique visit by 'Brad's Gramma'.

437 posted on 01/11/2004 9:49:45 PM PST by Cultural Jihad
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To: Fawnn
Decoder Rings HERE! Come One! Come All!
438 posted on 01/11/2004 9:50:55 PM PST by Brad’s Gramma (Donate to Free Republic!! I have SEWING to do!!!!!)
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To: Johnny_Cipher; ladyinred
Troy Montague May Be Reached Here!Honest.
439 posted on 01/11/2004 9:52:50 PM PST by Brad’s Gramma (Donate to Free Republic!! I have SEWING to do!!!!!)
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To: Jim Robinson
Thanks. I THINK that answered the question.
440 posted on 01/11/2004 9:54:08 PM PST by Brad’s Gramma (Donate to Free Republic!! I have SEWING to do!!!!!)
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