Origins of Free Republic

Self

[festus]

So how far back does the Free Republic archive articles and how can I go back and find some of the first threads that started the whole thing off ?

It struck me I've hung out for a while and it was well established when I joined.

Be fun to see what we were focused on day one. For me anyway.

[ByDesign]

Strange person that CGEB was!

---

I rememebr that poster!

I came here from Alt.politics.clinton.whitewater (which i was led to from the early politics chat rooms on AOL, when you could count the number of chat rooms on your fingers and toes, yes, that long ago), where I learned how to fight in the trenches of the Internet, and much enjoyed the civilized debate here much more. My original screen names are lost in history, and I don't even remember what e-mail accounts i used the couple of times I created accounts. I could claim an early number, probably, but it's okay, I don't put much stock in that kind of thing.

I just thank Jim and the others, and urge everyone to keep donating!

I don't know how I could have gotten through clinton winning the Presidency, the whoel saga of Whitewater, 9/11, and the war without this site. It was and still is the only source of sanity in a world gone barking mad, and while my faith in politicians and Washington in general is dismal, I still find hope here.

Thanks everyone!

(And now I gott check my number, lol, okay, I'm curious when I created this account)

[Cincinna]

Aha!

OWK... One Who Knows. Thanks for reminding me.

[Lewite]

Reply to post #11

same here, I printed every thing about the corrupt Clinton's and their administration. Eight volumes I still get out and read from time to time. I must have used ten packs of paper, and a lot of cartridge refilling.

[Cincinna]

Of course we remember dear BKO, but who was BCM?

There was a guy who died and there were lots of tributes posted, 1998, I think. Had a Latin (ancient Latin) kind of name.

[MARTIAL MONK]

BCM was a firefighter and freeper who died in the WTC.

[Always Right]

But what I do remember is how you had to be vigilant about your html tags. If you left your tags open at the end of the post, the entire thread font from there on would be in italics, or white, or size 8, or whatever, until someone would correct it ("bold OFF!"). And of course there were those enterprising individuals who found ways to really screw up a thread with that technique.

The old days when tags had to be turned off or they would continue on to the next posts. After some people would turn text white and no one could read the following posts, they finally found a way to automatically end tags. Some html coding had to be banned because of abuse.

[GRRRRR]

Original member of the WhiteWater Prodigy BB here...
I remember the crapola we had to put up with Prodigy when they pulled many of our posts from the papers...then I heard about a new fangled thing called the {innernet?} and everyone disappeared!

[DCPatriot]

I didn't mean that Sinkspur's absence was the reason things are different around here.

I meant that he was fun to read...how he handled the hordes of one-issue morons.

He was quick witted and biting...my kind of Freeper.

[corlorde]

That's pretty cool. You learn something everyday (re: member number).

[Richard Kimball]

IIRC, she was actually a he that posted as a woman. Used to do some great goofs on people.

[Richard Kimball]

People are more "snippy" now, but I think the site used to be more bombastic. The old Buchanan Brigade guys could heat up a thread quickly.

[aculeus]

A flower for the grave of mrspike.

[an amused spectator]

I thought FR didn't even begin until late 1997.

We didn't actually p*ss anybody in power off until late 1997.

They REALLY didn't like having to dig up M. Larry Lawrence...

[basil]

There was one more guy--he said he was a lawyer. I can't think of the name he used, but he was a real mess! He used to drive us all wild!

He agreed to meet us in the Sportsbar of the hotel where most of us stayed during all 4 rallys we held in DC. It was the last rally that he agreed to come to the bar and meet some of us.

Anyway--this guy was a real piece of work. I think JimRob was banning him all the time, but then he'd let him back after a while. I don't think he was one to change his name much--but I could be wrong about that.

If I close my eyes, I can see him--he had on a dark avocado sportscoat, nice tie, dark pants--kind of a non-descript face and body--just a very smug, arrogant demeanor. He wore gold rimmed glasses--was a bit short and had a bit of a pot belly, as I remember .

As I recall, JimRob spoke with him--but maybe I'm wrong about that. I do remember that several freeper guys went up to the bar and talked to him.

I'm almost sure this wasn't Ash--but I'm drawing a blank right now on who it was...maybe some of you guys can help....

[an amused spectator]

Eschoir

[basil]

BINGO! Give that freeper a prize!

Thanks--I was going nutz trying to think of that guy's name. Wonder what ever happened to him.

[boomop1]

You are right abbout that, you nust be 100 or less.

[boomop1]

I forget it use to be in you properties, someone else put it up.

[boomop1]

I knew I was 500 some poster looked it up 522 it use to list in in your name properties.

[toros]

what, someone knocking on my screen?