Now living in Fairbanks Alaska FR is my only real contact with the outside world. I have always loved the news digest part of the site gathering daily news paper articles from all over the US and abroad -- it has given me much more of a sense of being on the nations pulse -- and at the head of cutting edge issues.
I was there when MOJO, RebelYell, Inspector Calahan, and others of their ilk were going crazy trying to disrupt the site posting hundreds threads to prevent people from reading news articles and others posts. There was also others who resorted to personal attacks causing near riot amoung the ranks they were also thankfully kicked Once these people were kicked as well as the dozens of persona they used to reinfiltrate the site and disrupt FR once again became a peaceful issue oriented site once more.
Don't bring them back lets not revisit all this trash from the past.
I was there along with the Scotsman when Bob Evans Free Republic's first congretional candidate ran writng daily aricles on FR, writing ad copy for Bob as well as asisting as much as possible to campaign funds for him on FR.
I remember when the washington post and a hoard of other papers filed suit against FR and we all banded together around Jim and the site refusing to die or give in. Those were heady days
When Clinton escaped the impeachmenthearings scotfree. At the time I was almost beside myself feeling that so called republican moderates had sold us out. I was livid!
At which time I regret having stopped posting and actively participating at FR. Instead I retreated sitting back and reading the FR news digest.
In recent months with all the events I have felt the need to post a few times but the people the audiance has vastly changed -- (I can't over state that. very few of those that posted and chatted here 2 years three years and even five years ago still do so.) I feel now sort of like a stranger - several people have hammered me as if I were some first timer.
In reading Jim Robinson post I sense somewhat of that feeling from him. Many of those who we began with whom I dare say we have the fondest memories of are now gone. Perhaps like myself they became lurkers -- or perhaps disgusted at the failures of the impeachment proceeding and/ or republican capitulations to the left they have pulled the plug altogether.
This is in no way the disparage the bright up and coming class of new voices carrying fother the issues of the day --perhaps I'm wrong but once in a while you just have to pause and look back -- you wish (If you have any heart at all) that things or at least certain thing could be made right. Poor choices forks in the road wher you and others departed company.
You wish you could be friends again with those who you shared those lonely dark hours with -- but life goes on. For Jim where FR was once a tight closeknit group most of whom he could probably name by their handle -- now FR has become big -- frightfully big -- and sadly largely impersonal with thousands of new members joining the ranks -- few of whom you ever truely know.
Jim Robinson -- Rush Limbaugh of the Internet. A modest man who has never sought fame for himself or to be a star in the public eye now finds himself looking at life as a king.
JIM this army has assemble around you and your vision -- that thing that gave birth to FR in the first place --forget not the vision in the night -- never give up never surrender -- the full power of this group has not yet been realized -- you're a little afraid of what you've created and that is because your afraid to take this sword into your hand and wield it.
In the time since this site has been created you have asked nothing for yourself. You have If anything you nned to become more proactive -- and articulate regularly the vision of FR. In doing so you will gradually feel more confident and take on the role as this sites leader.
God Bless you Jim
Rocketman aka Richard Schurz
Citizen of the Savage Nation made an excellent case against charging user fees. FreeRepublic is dynamic because it is free.
Jim Robinson, if you aren't enjoying it anymore, then close up shop. But if you still are, I hope you're taking a big salary so that you live really, really well and want for nothing. Thanks again for giving us FR.