Woo hoo!! Closing in on the finish line!! FReepathon thread XXVIII!!

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The battles of Lexington and Concord begin anew today. Prayers for our beloved country and our precious Liberty!!

Posted on 10/29/2009 12:28:45 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
First of all, I'd like to thank all of you for making Free Republic the number one conservative site on the Internet!!
There is no doubt that FReepers have made a difference in American politics. As an example, we FReepers worked closely with Bob Barr and helped him impeach President Clinton. That one's in the history books. The Clintons and the Democrats will never live it down. It might even have been a factor in thwarting Hillary's run for the presidency, though we're now stuck with someone just as bad. And that's only because we couldn't get a conservative on the top of the ticket. Just goes to show how far gone our political world has tumbled and why FR is needed now more than ever! No more RINOS!!
Another example is FReeper chapters turning out in Florida and DC and all around the country protesting and successfully blocking Al Gore's attempted coup d'etat in 2000. And again when FReepers exposed Dan Rather's fraudulent reporting and then pitched in to help swiftboat John Kerry. These are also in the history books.
But we live in a target rich environment. Through outright fraud and deception the corrupt Democrats have taken over the White House and both houses of Congress. Our Marxist-in-chief and his socialist enablers are now working double time to destroy what's left of our free economy and capitalist society. They will stop at nothing short of the total collapse of America if they are not stopped. Anyone who doesn't believe that is simply not paying attention. They have their sights set on the total downfall of America and world socialist domination and they've never been closer than they are today.
Should Obama's plans for taking over the health care industry, "revolutionizing" the energy sector, ie, bankrupting the oil, gas and coal industries, taking complete control over the financial and banking industries, expanding federal control over the entire corporate sector, bankrupting all heavy industry, mining, timber, agriculture, etc, etc, it'll be Katy bar the door. Our economy will collapse and down the drain goes our beloved US of A.
And not to mention his failures in foreign policy and national security/national defense. Obama is without a doubt one of the worst presidents we've ever had if not the very worst. Don't know which will kill us first, his overreaching Marxist economic policies or his bungling/inept foreign policy and piss poor execution of his duties as Commander-in-chief. Obama can't figure out whether he should attack or surrender as our enemy gets stronger and bolder. And if he allows Iran to get nukes, then it's just a matter of time. The entire Middle East is closer than ever to going up in a mushroom cloud and Obama doesn't have a clue. Borrowing from General Schwarzkopf, "he's neither a strategist, nor is he schooled in the operational art, nor is he a tactician, nor is he a general, nor is he a soldier. Other than that he is a great military man."
And who's going to stop him? We are. Not saying FR will do it alone, but we are one of hundreds if not thousands of similar grassroots organizations that are banding together to block this yahoo. We just happen to be one of the larger and older organizations and one with a history of accomplishments. And together we've protested at thousands of grassroots Tea Parties in every city of the land and we just turned out two million patriots to protest Obama in DC. This was probably one of the largest protests ever in our nation's capital. And we're just getting warmed up. The biggest protests are yet to come and then we turnout in historic numbers in 2010 and 2012 to dump the evil Marxist bastards!!
But just like the rest of the country we are currently struggling financially. We don't sell products or services. We don't sell advertising or memberships. There are no fees or dues to pay to use our services or to join our organization. We rely solely on voluntary donations from our readers and participants to support our organization and events and it has always worked very well in the past. I pray it continues.
We appreciate very much your continuing support and dedication to the cause. There is much work yet to be done. If not us, who? If not now, when?
Thank you all very much.
God bless.
Keep your powder dry.
Rebellion is brewing!!

The Press of a Patriot : The Importance of Free Republic
Norfolk Historical.org, Library of Congress, Vanity ^ | 5 January 2008

Posted on 01/05/2008 6:21:14 PM PST by bd476

The Press of a Patriot

Norfolk's first newspaper, the Virginia Gazette, or Norfolk Intelligencer, had a brief but memorable existance. Its first issue appeared on June 9, 1774, and what is believed to have been its last issue left the press on September 27, 1775.

The four-page weekly, the only known copies of which are preserved in the Library of Congress, was first published by William S. Duncan & Company, whose printing office was on the east side of the Parade or Market Square, later known as Commercial Place.

Arbitrary Governance Leading to Suppression of Freedom

In April of 1775, John Hunter Holt became its publisher and the firm's name was changed to John H. Holt & Company. Holt, an ardent patriot and a *son of John Holt, the public printer in Williamsburg, continued to issue the paper until it was suppressed late in September of 1775 by Lord Dunmore, the last royal governor of Virginia.

Mounting Resistance Forces Royal Governor to Flee

Because of mounting resistance to his arbitrary actions on the part of Virginia patriots, Dunmore had fled from Williamsburg in June of 1775 to the safety of the British warships in Norfolk-area waters.

And as Norfolk had a large Tory element, he had made its harbor the base of his operations. This gave Holt his cue, and his paper began a steady, merciless needling of the unpopular governor.

Matters came to a head when Holt's paper of September 27, 1775, presumably contained several pointed reflections on the alleged treasonous actions on the part of Dunmore's father in the Jacobite Rebellion under Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745.

Seizure of Printing Press

This and other taunts spurred Dunmore into action. And at noon on Saturday, September 30, 1775, he sent an officer and a detachment of British sailors and soldiers ashore to "the dirty little Borough of Norfolk" to confiscate Holt's press and printing materials and to capture Holt if possible.

No Resistance Leads to Confiscation and Imprisonment

Meeting no resistance, the landing party marched to the printing shop and seized Holt's "press, tipes, paper, ink, two of the printers, and all of the utensils." Holt's bookbinder, a man named Cumming, was also taken prisoner, but Holt, who according to one account of the fracas was hiding in the building, was not captured.

Witnessing Without Resisting Makes An Unsafe Land

The raid was witnessed by several hundred persons, but apparently no one seemed inclined to do anything about the high-handed action.

And after the landing party, with its loot and prisoners, returned to the boats, the onlookers were "joined by a crowd of negroes" in three loud huzzas.

The account containing this comment, dated Norfolk, September 30, 1775, continues:

"A few spirited gentlemen in Norfolk, justly incensed at so flagrant a breach of good order and the Constitution, and highly resenting the conduct of Lord Dunmore and the navy gentry, who have now commenced downright pirates and banditti, ordered the drum to beat to arms, but were joined by few or none; so that it appears Norfolk is at present a very insecure place for the life or property of any individual, and is consequently deserted daily by numbers of the inhabitants, with their effects."

Immediately after the raid, Norfolk Mayor Paul Loyall protested that it was "illegal and riotous", but Dunmore, who had watched the incident through a spyglass from one of his ships, arrogantly told Loyall that he had done Norfolk a favor by "scotching the printed viper that was pouring its poison in their midst."

Dunmore's seizure of Holt's press caused a hue and cry, and the Williamsburg papers stepped up their campaign against him, even alleging that he had "dared offer violence to the chastity of a poor innocent girl" from the Norfolk Poor House and had also kept a mistress while he was in Williamsburg.

But that didn't effect the return of Holt's press, which was used by Dunmore to print a short-lived paper of his own aboard one of the ships.

Holt retaliated by announcing that he would set up another press in Norfolk, but this was prevented by the burning of the borough a few months later.

Holt then joined the Revolutionary Army, and after Yorktown he was associated with John Dixon in publishing the Richmond Virginia Gazette and Independent Chronicle. He died in 1787.

Norfolk Historical.org

* The Journal was a zealous advocate for the American Revolution. John Holt, the printer, showed his support in his imaginative masthead.

The double coiled snake with its tail in its mouth proclaims on the body,

United Now Alive and Free,
Firm on the basis Liberty shall stand,
And thus supported, ever bless our land,
Till Time becomes Eternity."

The snake swallowing its tail is a symbol for eternity. Within the coils is a pillar standing on the Magna Carta surmounted by the cap of liberty. The pillar on each side is supported by six arms and hands, representing the colonies.

On July 11, Holt devoted a whole page to the Declaration of Independence, using a large typeface and embellishing it with a border of printers’ decorations, the most elaborate printing of a government document up to this time.

Publishing the Declaration of Independence

The above short history of John Hunter Holt rang a bell for me, a liberty bell, if you will. There exists an uncanny echo from yesterday's history to today's headlines.

The importance of a free press and the vitality of independent commentary as found on Free Republic has significant historical roots in the founding and preservation of our great country.

The "sound" of new ideas, conservative activism, critical commentary, intelligent discussion and banter are found right here on Free Republic 24 hours a day, each and every day delivered free over the internet. The discussions on Free Republic are "heard" by those whom we elect to govern us as well as those who would take away our freedoms.

The many parallels found in the history of one printer and publisher to this online conservative forum, Free Republic, spell out the critical importance of keeping Free Republic in working order.

Do not be an idle witness to today's assaults on all Conservatives' freedoms. Become a monthly donor to Free Republic or make whatever contribution you feel that you can afford today.

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1 posted on 01/05/2008 6:21:15 PM PST by bd476

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Get R Done Stanley!