This is an old handle of mine that has since been replaced for professional reasons.
I am in complete support of Jim Rob keeping FR conservative, and not merely Republican.
ping for later reading. I’d like to hear the thoughts of the earlybirds.
Seems like we did more stuff in the beginning, like meetups and protests. Still love it.
The discourse was more refined then...
Mike
Ah yes, the Clinton days. And the “W” primaries, and the Gore debates. Rathergate...
It’s all coming back to me now.
Over the years, the information has kept me here, the ability to dispel some of the BS eliminates a lot of day-to-day frustration and knowing there are others of like mind doesn't hurt. I can even watch a little MSM 'news' now without breaking a TV (or at least being sorely tempted to do so).
I also remember lurking around during the Elian Gonzalez mess and the Janet Reno assault to take him back to Cuba. Also the Black Hawk down in Somalia. Clinton working the crowd somewhere and was chewed out by a conservative woman for allowing our military be put in that situation. the news media wouldn’t hardly carry it but it was all over this website. Those were some sad times, kind of like now and the 70’s No wonder I love the 80’s so much.
I think I’m Halloween, 1998. Doesn’t seem like almost 14 years but that’s what it is if my math is correct.
Well, since you asked...
I’ve been here almost every day for more than a decade. I read far more than I post. FR is far and away the most important web site for me. Nothing else comes close.
Having said that, I would like to see FR financed with ads. I have donated in the past but have no plans to do so in the future. I just don’t like the NPR style of raising funds. Capitalism is good.
Another thing. It seems to me that there are far more overtly religious postings than there used to be. I am not anti-religious, in fact as a former Christian, I still have an affinity with Christianity, especially as it relates to culture and politics. However, I find myself irritated by the growing number of overt religious threads, that, it seems to me, do little more than use up bandwidth.
Having said all that, I fully recognize that this is Jim’s forum and he can run it as he chooses.
Free Republic allows me to make any article that appears on the site mine. I can read it and if I think it is important enough or I have something significant to add I can do so. No other media outline provides this to me.
The news is no longer some impersonal pixulated image on a flat screen backed up by a nice voice and some cool graphics!
Free Republic also tells me that my opinions aren't out in left field somewhere. In fact, the reports from the LMSM are the ones away out in “left” field not me.
1. The Bill Clinton statue I won at the North Texas Freeper get-together at Pappadeaux's in Euless/Bedford many years ago.
2. Sore Loserman: we still have the signs safely stored away.
Anti-Semitism has been against the rules of FR from the very beginning, so all these vermin were in open violation of the rules. JR is very patient with everyone, and while this sometimes lets undesirable elements remain longer than they should, it's better than having a hair-trigger temper and banning people at the drop of a hat.
I think Jim has done everything right. While the site is down from time to time, it's never been hacked and is open to all. Accepting ads may eventually become necessary, but Jim has avoided it because he doesn't want his political positions to be unduly influenced by anyone he might be beholden to.
And I'm personally very grateful to him for putting up with me, a neanderthal troglodyte Theocrat from the Bible Belt who spent most of his life searching for The Truth and when he found it, found it alienated him somewhat from some traditional American concepts. I hope he'll continue to put up with me on the grounds that I am upfront and honest about my "heresies" (and that I alone am responsible for my outrageous opinions) and find FReepers to be the most well-informed and intelligent community on the Web for discussing these things.
May FR endure until it is no longer needed (if such time ever comes), and I hope I will always be indulged by being permitted to post my often outrageous comments here.
We’ve lost a lot of amazing Freepers over the years. I was here during the whitewater years and then signed up Jan 98. Whatever Jim decides to do I trust will be the best.
I also miss quidam. ~snicker~
I send my regrets because I’m too old to attend a reunion this year. You all have a good time and then keep your comments to yourself because I may get a tear in my eye remembering all who have passed on to that great Free Republic in the sky. ;-)
I may even remember a few who were condemned to Zotland Hades.
A long time...
The smell of ozone as the Viking Kitties zot another troll...
Laz hitting everything in sight (”Stand aside, citizen, for I must hit that!”)...
Hugh and series...
SunkenCiv’s GGG and Catastrophism pinglists...
The one thing about this site, aside from the amazing amount of data, that keeps me coming back is the humor.
I remember the Free Republic demonstration in Washington that C-Span somehow labeled “pro-Clinton”.
Late to the party but finally here!
Bush v Gore, 2000
Free Republic is an American original.
Simply brilliant.