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.
I can’t drink coffee. It makes me sober.
I hear ya...
Good because the last time I saw you, you were yelling at a panhandler. :)
My coffee has been described as “condensed evil in a cup”.
I don’t know why.
There is a small but growing coffee survivors club.
You’d think that for being basically double brewed it wouldn’t bes bad.
I just got through working chains at a HS football game and I’m now laying siege to a 5 liter box of wine ($14). It is priced low because they somehow reduced the alcohol to an unacceptable level.
I’m a tea guy. Assams mostly.
Tea wise I stick to Bigelow constant comment.
Steep for ten, three sugar.
( that’s by spoon, not lump)
The antique tea ball doesn’t work well with modern tea kettles.
I only drink coffee at work.
Third shift zombie crawl.
“Is this home depot? My GPS says it is so you have to let me in!”
Merciful coffee, keep me sane and not homicidal *sip* while I try to get this driver *sip* to leave my driveway...
First thought: FR will be even more worth saving if you fo and disappear.
Constant Comment is not tea. It’s potpourri.
Tea should only be steeped for 3-5 minutes. Longer makes it bitter, not better. Find some PG Tips. It’s a caffeine conduit. 2 minutes tops with that one. Milk and sugar.
I order my loose tea from Upton Teas. Tea ball works fine.
The Bat Lady=TBL=TBLshow
Speaking of him, wonder how he’d do on my coffee?
LOL, I don’t remember that.
Was that at the Marriot there in D. C. I vaguely remember something going on during the melee.
Restaurant in Crystal City for the Clinton China thing in Lafayette Park. Great time.
Thanks. I don’t remember it. Oh well.
Take care.
I find the comments informative and interesting. (a lot of the time better than the article)
“I am concerned. I’ve been trying to give them money but their infrastructure rejects my credit card....”
*******************************************************************************
I haven’t heard of that being a problem...did you get your credit card using identity theft? Just kidding. The only improvement I think would be good (at least for me) would be to allow automated monthly donations using direct debit of checking account. But, I guess, there could possibly be potential security problems with that.
What?
Ok, I gave $20 dollars about one mobth ago, then another $100 dollars just about 2 weeks ago. I am also giving way more to some campaigns, and active not just on FR, but other venues and in the street, and in the face of “enemy” et all, I am street tough also and know the way to fight and “play” the “game”, and you know what? I looks to me a lot of FR’ers are pretty action oriented. So I think otherwise. Hope that makes you feel somewhat better.
By the way, this is going to get a lot more ugly as this fight goes into November. Don’t worry, we all know that already.
You live in El Salvador? If that is true then I have no words
Why would anybody buy a zot? It's easy enough to get zotted for free.
OK, let's.
Jim has occasionally said that if regular visitors were willing to pay a nominal amount things would work out.
If enough regular visitors can and would pay a buck a month how much would that ease the quarterly Freepathons?
I have no idea how many Freepers are daily visitors.
How reliable is that figure?
How much of a dent would it put in the budget if 25% of the "membership" actually contributed $1 a month?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.