Posted on 08/30/2013 9:01:53 PM PDT by The Bat Ladys Husband
My involvement with Free Republic began around 2000 when my wife began her vigil around the Texas governor’s mansion in support of GW against the challenge of Al Gore for the presidency. I generally provided the livelihood for the Bat Lady to be able to protest and surround the mansion against the leftists who were kept at bay across the street. While she was registered in order to post after action reports I was a lurker on the site.
Over the years we have attended rallies and protests and meetings. Other groups of freepers nationwide also held rallies, attended protests, and held vigils- activities that were organized and coordinated through the Free Republic site. After action reports were posted almost daily, report after report from across the country from different freepers describing their activities. Even the term "freeper" came to mean one who actively engaged the left to fight against disinformation. We considered ourselves patriots. While we did not risk our “lives, fortune or sacred honor”, we suffered the slings and arrows of a hostile left in the cause of freedom.
With a few exceptions, the “freeper” of today is merely a couch potato who is content to amuse himself by making snide comments and repartees about current news. Few even support the site monetarily. Free Republic appears to barely be able to keep its head above water and its so-called member freepers are such a non-factor of dissent that unlike in the early year, Rush Limbaugh rarely references the site (although he seldom mentioned it).
Early freeper were the ones who got up off the couch, made their signs and used the leftist tactics of street activism against the left itself. Michelle Malkin, Ann Coulter, and Jonas Goldberg are example of early famous freepers, but Free Republic also had the likes of Basil (Second Amendment Sisters), True black man, Jimmy Valentine’s Brother, Kristin, the entire DC freeper contingent and so many other activists making a difference for conservative causes.
At some point in time, a subgroup, “The Pajama Patrol” arose within Free Republic. What a sad day that was. The mindset of Free Republic turned to the couch potato mentality referred to earlier.
The most current after action report I have seen was my wife’s, The Bat Lady’s report on the May 2013 Tax Day protest. One of the protesters with us was a 90-year-old lady with her handmade sign. If she can do it, why can’t you?
All you new Freepers need to get up off your butt and get out and make a difference. Where are you at the Impeach Obama overpass events? Why aren’t you organizing anti-Syria bombing protest? Why aren’t you marching over Benghazi, the NSA, the IRS or ObamaCare? If you are there why aren’t you posting your reports to inspire and motivate others? You are not the only reader of FR in your city. Find the others and get together. Act in concert. After 13 years, the Bat Lady and I are still in contact with those we met on the front lines.
DC Freepers maintained vigils at VP Gore's house, and prevented code pink from vilifying our troops at Walter Reed every week for years. Freepers once actively protested the left and got Clinton impeached. Some even say we were the Paul Revere of the TEA party,
Is your barcalounger so dear or American Idol so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it Almighty God.
It is time for freepers to rededicate themselves to the vision that Jim Robinson created. All the clever comments you attach to the threads are less than useless. It is time once again to become a large thorn in the side of those who do not strive for the American Ideal and be the activists we once were. If you cannot post an after action report “go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. …May posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.”
“It does not take a majority to prevail ... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.” Samuel Adams
In answer to my own question: yes it is worth saving if its members make a difference.
Yawn.
Been claimed before by bobj and tbl.
Get new material.
That’s real sweet of you, thank you. Have done the ice will check out the pillow thing.
Been going on now for 4 months, terrible.
You are a PE act like one. If your interest is arc flash let me know.
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/*/index
Now that's just plain silly. (And Concerned Troll is... concerned.)
Use the brains God gave you. Use PayPal. Or send a check in the mail.
> Tried to contribute An error occurred during processing. The card was declined. I have tried everything.
No you haven't. I call CRAP. Excuses suck, FRiend.
Ain't nothing perfect in this old world, and messed up is the norm. Find me one period in this nation's history where conservatism was winning full bore. The fact is that right now everyone feels like they're losing, including the lefties. We need to have the mental toughness to stick it out. Tenacity beats brittle perfectionism every time.
I have no idea what he is but sometimes you have to stop reacting and listen a little bit. The post laments conservatives being less activist. Hard to disagree with his concern.
FR is a total rip. Thats why you are still here dipwad.
Now we have your polar opposite opinion — and it’s just as much BS as the OP.
I’m a 30-year IT professional as well — and all things considered, I’m utterly amazed that Jim holds a site with as broad a scope as FR enjoys together for only ~$300K per year, and zero advertising!
Clearly he is NOT in it for the money. Absolutely not.
Question: why are you still here, believing as you do that FR is a rip-off?
I call you a dink.
The post follows huge Tea Party turnouts at public events. JR pointed out that the Tea Party has taken over some of what FR was doing in terms of activism.
I don’t think the evidence is there to show that conservatives are less activist than before.
I don’t know. I see that you have a donation in the process right now but it’s not clearing. I have no idea why. it just says “error, unpaid.” And I see there are some older ones just like it. Sorry, I have no way to make them clear.
But thank you very much.
So being concerned didn’t work.
Quick, deflect.
Yeah? I’m a professional of 35 years’ tenure who’s still in the game. You bought bandwidth lately, bub?
So, I would say don't assume Freepers who post here don't do anything to promote freedom.
For example, I sat at my computer on election day in November and helped election workers solve problems at our polling places all over Texas. I was at every polling place by proxy by sitting right here. A group of us Republicans who knew the voting system did that on a special set up of our computers. I had food made in advance so I only had to walk a few steps to get food and drink and stay at this computer until the polls closed that evening.
So, you see, I am here but I'm everywhere at the same time. I know there are Freepers who do the same, promoting/working for, freedom and individual liberties every day.
Yes, Free Republic is important and helps all of us continue to work to pull our country back from the brink of destruction and we wouldn't have Free Republic without Jim Robinson.
It’s so painful and just when you think it’s getting better, it turns around and gets worse! They also sell those splints at Target, but they don’t last very long. The velcro wears out after a few weeks. I tried special shoes at the Walking Store, all sorts of shoe inserts, and even KT-Tape. The only thing that worked was the splint.
Yeah, love how “It’s like, totally a rip ma’am! Uh, see you next week dudes!” comes out in that.
Quick! Be a dink!
Thank you.
Yes, the last few years I’ve been trying that “Index” function regularly. This is the first time it has worked since 2008.
All others returned a “error” message reporting the search function was not found.
Children have a short capacity for modern logic.
Ah, I see that for once “my card is broken” was the truth.
Next up “my dog ate it” will for once be true.
Still, PayPal does work you know.
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