My story is much the same, found FR just before the 2000 election mess. It saved my sanity!! Since I'm a FL resident, I was very interested in the election results before 11/7 since all the media pundits were saying we would be the swing state. As I said, I found FR BEFORE election night - thank goodness. I was on the computer reading FR about the results on 11/7, hubby was watching TV. TV folks were reporting one result and I was reading something else on FR!!!!
FR is where I learned all the news about how the DemoRATS tried to steal the election - right down to the names of Gore thugs who put the plan into play before the polls closed. That was when I became an "internet activist". Through FR threads I found media & Congressional sites to blast emails. I regularly send articles, letters, etc. to Congress, WH, FBI, etc. One of these days my hubby expects "they" will come and take me away!! He says not to worry, they have computers in prison!!
The funny thing is this retired grandma used to be an unenlightened Democrat - then I learned the truth. It only took the election of Klinton for me to see the truth!! I may be registered with the GOP now, but because of the folks on FR I think I'm really an Independent -- what I REALLY care about is our country and our freedoms. If the GOP becomes too much like the DNC, then I would have to fight against them too.
What I really know is that FR and the wonderful writers and thinkers here have opened my eyes to what's important - the USA and freedom of it's people. THANK YOU JIMROB and Free Republic.