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There are a few other things I've thought of since my last post.

First, Free Republic has quite possibly the largest knowledge base on the web. I do hundreds of Google searches every week, many unrelated to politics or conservatism, and Free Republic threads always come up somewhere. The information generated here is interesting and useful, and will continue to be. That said, someone does have to pay for it.

I know people love the fact that we don't really have banner ads, and that payment is purely optional. But if you can't meet your bills the way we're doing it, there have to be some other options. Here are a few ideas:

1. Banner ads
2. Flat monthly payment
3. Some kind of posting/bandwidth tariff
4. Solicitation of big-money donors, by FR management and/or members.

I think #3 has definite possibilities. The Madison chapter of the College Republicans does a Wisconsin fundraising mailing every year, not all that large, and comes up with a few thousand dollars. Something on a larger scale could be more successful. (There are also several high-net-worth conservatives who might be generous).

Anyway, if it needs to be done, we should do it. I think right now, it really seems like down-time on FR, even with 9/11 stuff. The utility of this site will be unparalleled in the 2002 election cycle. (Maybe the GOP would send some money?)