A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....11-21-02

JohnHuang2, Billie, daisyscarlett | JohnHuang2

[daisyscarlett]

A Few of FR's Finest.....
......Every Day

FR is a Treasure Trove of talented, compassionate, patriotic, wonderful people who gather every day to discuss the latest news and issues; salute and support our military and our leaders;  tell a few jokes;  learn a new word;  write poetry;  pray for those in need;  and congratulate those who are deserving. Thank you, Jim Robinson, for giving us the vehicle in which we can express ourselves.

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   I can remember lurking when there were only a few regulars who posted, and now there are over 60,000 who have registered for posting privileges. The forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest November 11, 2001

So many people have written me since my original Veteran's Day Tribute, asking how they, or a loved one, could be included in that tribute. Since I can no longer add the photos to the body of the thread, I've been including them in additional posts as I received enough to make another collage.

Still that doesn't seem to be enough. I think there's never been a better nor more appropriate time to keep the faces of our own Veterans and Active Military in front of FReepers--every day! That's why I wanted to do yet another Daily Thread .....ABOUT FReepers .....and FOR FReepers. But not only about our Military FReepers; for all FReepers! Wouldn't it be nice to get to know a few of the other FReepers as well? That's why, in addition to seeing FR's Finest Military Personnel every day, I thought it might be fun to feature a different FReeper (or FReepers) each day. If you would like to be pictured, or know someone who would, please FReepmail me and we'll turn the spotlight - on YOU - for the day!

And do let me know if you'd like your picture added to the groups of Veterans/Active Military below. I will keep this page updated, and continue to add them to the comment section of the original Veteran's Day thread as well.

TOP: Logos, SwedeGirl's hubby, Neil E Wright, FallGuy, 1John, Sneakypete
MIDDLE:  T'wit, COB1, LadyX, Dick Bachert, 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub
BOTTOM:  YankeeinSC, Delta21, JoeSixPack1

TOP:  Bosniajmc, AFVetGal, Archy, A Navy Vet
MIDDLE:  4TheFlag, Aeronaut, 68Grunt, Xinga
BOTTOM:  Codger, AAABest, Clinton's A Liar, Duke809, dcwusmc

TOP:  mc5cents, Norb2569, LBGA's son, VanJenerette
MIDDLE:  Jim Robinson, KJenerette, davidosborne, KG9Kid
BOTTOM:  gwmoore, Equality7-2521, SAMWolf

TOP:  porgygirl, Phil V., MudPuppy, NorCoGOP
MIDDLE:  RaceBannon, OneidaM, rdb3, jwTexian
BOTTOM:  USMC Vet, TheMayor, Vineyard, rhododogma

We now have eleven groups of veterans/active military; we will post each group of three or four twice a week, with thumbnail/links of the remaining seven or eight groups on each thread. Click on any of the thumbnails below to see the group full-size.

         

GROUP 5A: TOP:  spectr17, RightOnline, SERE_Doc, Tet68. MIDDLE:  FutureSnakeEater, RightOnline's wife, CIApilot, Clamper1797. BOTTOM:  usmcobra, onedoug, DiverDave, Joe6-pack.

GROUP 6A: TOP:  g'nad, AgThorn's son Justin, SLB, AgThorn's son Brett. MIDDLE:  fish70, razorback-bert, CheneyChick, Leroy S Mort, Mark17. BOTTOM:  Terry's Take, Taxman, DinkyDau.

GROUP 7A: TOP:  ValerieUSA's son Grant, SK1Thurman, kd5cts, RangerVetNam, dansangel and .45man's son-in-law Tony.BOTTOM:  rangerX, Old China Hand, Trish, Howlin's dad, Mustang.

GROUP 8A: TOP: ohioWfan's son, MamaBear's father-in-law, MamaBear's dad, ladtx. MIDDLE:  The Mayor's niece, M.Kehoe, Beach_Babe's son-in-law. BOTTOM:  deadhead's dad, HiJinx, Severa's hubby, viligantcitizen's granddad.

      

GROUP 9A: TOP: Q6-God, Scan59, Mama Bear and JKPhoto's son, ofMagog. MIDDLE:  Big'ol_freeper, JustAmy's great uncle, Prodigal Son. BOTTOM:  JustAmy's husband, JustAmy's brother-in-law, JustAmy's brother.

GROUP 10A: TOP: dakine's wife, MeeknMing's dad, Auntbee's nephew, MilitiaMan7, AlasBabylon. BOTTOM:  Joe Brower, Temple Owl, Temple Owl's wife, dutchess' dad, Aomagrat.

GROUP 11A: TOP: ladtx #2 son; DiverDave's twin Don; petuniasevan and husband poorman; Mustard; ladtx #1 son. BOTTOM: AlamoGirl's brother Floyd; AG's dad; AG's brother Jim (inset); WVNan's husband; ladtx' Aunt Eva.

                     

Another Red-herring

by JohnHuang2

Maybe I'm growing mellow or something. Or perhaps it's my 'compassionate conservatism.'

Whatever it is, I can't help but feel pity for the wretched Democrats.

I kid you not.

C'mon, take a look at the poor dears, then tell me you're not touched -- even a tad.

Have you ever seen a more miserable, pathetic bunch?

Imagine the gnawing grief, the bitterness, the vexing agony of dashed expectations as triumphant Republicans, against all predictions, swept to victory November 5, seizing control of both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.

Oh, and the horror of it all -- imagine blubbery Rob 'Meathead' Reiner, pale as aches, running under his bed; Alex 'Stone-Henry-Hyde-to-death!' Baldwin fleeing to Cuba as Jessica 'I-hate-Bush' Lange curls up in fetal position.

At DNC headquarters, the mood pendulum swings between gloomy and all-out despair.

At the 'Barbra' Streisand 'Truth Alert' page, the air of glumness is so thick you can almost slice it.

Morale at the network newsrooms hit rock-bottom. The milieu there resembled a funeral, while Jennings, Rather, Brokaw and Woodruff, draped in sackcloth and ashes, gloomfully mourned.

Mention November 5, and Aaron Brown would burst into tears.

"Oh, what a pity!", he'd wail, wringing his hands. "Alas! How could this happen? I thought it was always the economy, stupid! All of our work, the millions, no hundreds of millions worth in daily free media for Democrats -- all to no purpose!"

MSNBC's Jonathan Alter was especially distraught. He spent every waking hour, if not tearing his hair out, laboriously scouring old stacks of Carville memos/DNC faxes, combing for clues -- any clues -- for what went wrong.

But lil' Jonathan wasn't the only one flipping his wig.

Meet Eric Alterman. Deep in denial, he wallows in a time warp, blissfully unaware November 5 came and went.

"Now that the Democrats have taken Iraq off the table," he says, "the economy becomes the central issue. There's still time. Elections are still a week away, and -- in politics -- a week means an eternity."

More than a few loose tiles, wouldn't you say?

Wild-eyed and drooling, he sees upsets for Democrats in Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

"Erskine Bowles and Ron Kirk are surging! Say bye-bye to Liddy Dole!"

Poor fella.

Over at CNN, Wolf Blitzer, weary and haggard, was mulling a long sabbatical. "I need time away from this stuff, the heartbreak is just too much to bear," he said, drooping, Bourbon bottle in hand.

Then, suddenly, along comes the Tape -- THE TAPE.

Liberal hearts were all aflutter over the release last week of a chilling audiotape which intelligence experts believe is authentic.

A tape of Al Gore? No, Osama bin Laden.

Don't be ridiculous -- next to Bubba, nothing warms the cockles of liberal hearts quite like the voice of Osama. Poor Al can't hold a candle to Mr. Terror Mastermind.

For Democrats in Washington, the alleged re-emergence of Osama sugar-coats the bitter Midterm pill somewhat. Amid the gloom and doom of defeat, it gives Daschle and his ilk something to hang onto, however flimsy.

Are we sure it's the voice of Osama bin Laden?

Well, no -- but it's become conventional wisdom, you see.

Questioning the tape's authenticity has become taboo -- a sort of litmus test, as it were. You either believe it, or else.

Here's the deal: On November 5, Bush won big -- bigger than anyone expected. His victory was historic: Never before had a White House recaptured control of either House during its first off-year elections. November 5 was a watershed.

Basking in the afterglow of triumph, Bush saw his popularity -- already stratospheric -- soar even higher, bumping up in a post-election Gallup poll to near 70% job approval.

But the media, stung by the voters, out-flanked by the White House, wasn't about to give Bush any honeymoon.

Indeed, their greatest fear, aside from losing control of the Senate, is how a very popular President can prod Congress to go along -- to do his bidding. White House judicial appointments, energy and tax initiatives were lost in Senate limbo, after Daschle's palace coup 18 months ago.

From the survey data, Bush's enemies know a big part of his election upset was how voters perceive his steely performance in the War on Terror, giving him extremely high marks.

Many commentators note how terrorism has transformed the political landscape profoundly, producing a Cold-War-esque reprise, with war and security issues rising to the fore -- issues Republicans hold commanding advantage on over Democrats. The old Anti-Communist alliance is back. The new menace? 'Convert-to-Islam-or-else-we-will-kill-you' Islamo-fascism.

Hence, for the media, the strategy was to find something -- ANYTHING! -- to shake up that environment, put a chink in Bush's armor, raise 'doubts', get the public to think we're losing the war and hopefully knock his approval ratings down a notch or two. Lower approval ratings = a weaker President = less influence on Capitol Hill.

For Democrats, the Osama tape was an I-told-you-Bush-is-too-dumb-to-be-President godsend.

The media seized on it as a damning indictment on Bush. To wage war on terrorism effectively demands focus -- Bush has lost that focus, say the handwringers. He's too preoccupied with Saddam! Hands off Saddam!

Ah, but wait....

In this cynical strategy, I see two itsy-bitsy problemos:

1) The media may see Iraq and al-Qaeda as separate battles, but not the public. Voters see the two as one and the same: Saddam is a terrorist, Osama is a terrorist -- kill 'em both.

2) To the public, the Osama tape is a dud. Their reaction: Osama's alive? Well, duh. We already knew that. Polls -- even before the recent tape -- showed the same thing.

In short, the tape, fake or not, is politically useless. It's no 'bombshell' in "flyover country", given it merely confirms what people already knew.

The public isn't fooled by Judy Woodruff, they know this war is far more complicated than that. That catching Osama bin Laden -- while desirable -- isn't the be-all and end-all of a war that can not be won pell-mell overnight.

But most importantly: The American public, unlike the media, wants to win this war, and they're behind our President -- the Commander-in-Chief -- 1000%.

Memo to the media: Nice try.

Anyway, that's...

My two cents..

THIS WEEK'S THREADs

11-18-02 Outrageous Outtakes
11-19-02 The Holidays Are Coming
11-20-02 Grumpster-Dumpster

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

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[Pippin]

GOOD MORNING (((((DIVER DAVE)))))

[Pippin]

GOOD MORNING ((((RU4Liberty)))))

[Pippin]

GOOD MORNING, (((jwfiv))))

I'm giving out hugs to everyone posting on FR's Finest this morning, :^)

[Pippin]

GOOD MORNING, (((Aeronaut))) and (((.45man)))!

[Pippin]

GOOD MORNING (((MEEKIE)))) and (((BIS)))

[Aeronaut]

Helllllooooooo Pippin!

[firewalk]

Good morning

Hugs????

[lodwick]

Another home run - bttt!

[lodwick]

bttt! LOL

[lodwick]

Major props to # 35 - keep rolling them out for us. ;-)

[lodwick]

Caffeine bumps - thanks.

[lodwick]

[ladtx]

In memory of my fellow Vietnam helicopter pilots who were killed in that war the following were lost on NOV 21. God bless them all.

1967 WO1 Michael J. Utter (USAR) -- A/1/9 CAV 1 CAV, Age 22, Davenport, Iowa
1968 WO1 Martin G. Given (USAR) -- 119 AHC, Age 20, Northfield, Massachusetts
1968 WO1 Gerald M. Ortego (USAR) -- 198 BDE 23 INF, Age 30, Simmesport, Louisiana
1968 WO1 Robert L. Storey (USAR) -- 119 AHC, Age 22, Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota
1968 1LT Clifford K. Welding (USAR) -- B/7/17 CAV, Age 27, Roca, Nebraska
1969 CW2 Donald R. Boyles (USAR) -- 4 INF DIV, Age 30, Stigler, Oklahoma

In memory of WO1 Gerald M. Ortego -- 198 BDE 23 INF: KIA, Quang Nam, South Vietnam.
Thank You Uncle Gerald
Uncle Gerald, I want to thank you for the sacrifice that you made for your country and your family. We know that you went to Vietnam willingly and that you served honorably. Thank you for what you meant to us in your life and for what you gave so willingly. I was only fifteen months old when you died but I have always felt a special connection to you. I love you and I miss you. You are my hero!
Jay Estes -- nephew

The OH-23 "Raven", the type of aircraft WO1 Gerald M. Ortego was flying at the time of his death.

IN THE SHADOW OF THE BLADE

SCOUTS OUT!

[GailA]

Morning ALL..great piece as usual John. I noticed that they have dredged up the homeless again. I thought that algorebatross and slick willie FIXED that problem?

I brought Blueberry Muffins this morning for our coffee.

[Aquamarine]

............Rush Limbaugh made me do this!

[Molly Pitcher]

Good morning daisy!

John, that is an excellent essay. You given us lots to think about, tied a number a things together in one thoughtful package. Thanks!!

A beautiful day here in n.e. Ohio, at least til the rain arrives....

[grumpster-dumpster]

Good morning all!

Great essay!

Thanks to everyone for yesterday... sorry I couldn't have stayed around longer.

These threads are great! I wish each of you a wonderful day and hope to see you later this evening!

Sincerely,
-grump

[Aquamarine]

Click on the pic

[lodwick]

Good stuff with the wav! Thank you.
Wav's rule - midi's....;-)

[Aquamarine]

Thanks. I noticed the wav site I used in the past was back up again last night...finally!!!