We do our best as volunteers working hard at what sometimes feels like and occasionally is, up to 20 hours a day each. What you actually see us do is the tip of the iceberg for what goes on back here.
And that is actually the tip of the iceberg for what our boss Jim Robinson has done since the beginning. He continues to work hard every single day, without regard to himself but out of strong love and respect for our country, and conservative values.
John Robinson gives his time, his talent, his skill and his energy relentlessly to Free Republic, with small mention, very small credit considering the yeoman's job he does and all because of these similarly held beliefs.
It's a sacrifice for Jim Robinson, for John Robinson and for all of us Mods, but it is a sacrifice that we gladly make if only to provide a place of encouragement for conservatives, for grass roots activism, for patriotic encouragement and belief sharing.
Thank you Gretchen. Your comments mean a great deal to us and are most encouraging.
To the mods, all I can say is I don't know how you do what you do to keep up with this place. The traffic on this forum dwarfs anything out there I can imagine.
Here is an analogy for comparison and clarification. I belong to a couple of militaria collecting forums - a small hobby that I enjoy. The membership is very small compared to FR, yet some members are totally out of control on one site - attacking each other and posting garbage. In contrast, on another site there is a moderator with a god complex who stifles any debate he wants, and deletes posts where "newbies" are trying to sell their items (that they know little about) where he contacts them off line to buy them for 10 cents on the dollar.
FreeRepublic is my hero and a model of effectiveness and wonder on the net. It has been for years.
Jim - you are absolutely correct. The posts were removed very quickly and that is a testament to the job you and the mods do. It is amazing that FreeRepublic has been at the crux of so many major political and social debates over the last 10 years. Really amazing. I am so fortunate to have been a part of it, and my hats off to this site you built and to the mods.
There are times I get frustrated too, and there are about 100 posts I wish I never made. Sometimes things are said in the heat of a debate that you later regret. But, reading them in hindsight reminds me I am a sinful man, and I look to God for mercy and grace.
There will never be an opus on this forum from me. I am not casting stones at those who do post their reasons for leaving. I think it is appropriate for them to do so if they feel they have to give a reason, and I support that. If things ever change for the worse where I feel I will quit, I'll quietly leave because I owe this site that. It has given me more than I have ever given it. For now, there is nothing that can outweigh Free Republic out there, and the mods are doing yeoman's work still.
P.S. - I still love President Bush, and he is still wrong on immigration.