I love FreeRepublic.com and have met many FReepers and made some great friends here. I am sad to say that I have not been too happy reading some of the other comments on this thread, not only yours. If some people can't see their way clear to send in a donation, for whatever reason, they shouldn't be belittled as "FReeploaders". And those who complain about the thread spam are (from my vantage point) doing so in private communications, keeping their complaints off the public forum. I've read a lot of threads, all of which have at least one "Please donate" message; and I've yet to see a public complaint or insult to the poster of the "donate" message.
Believe me, I know how frustrating it can be to try and do a good thing for the benefit of a lot of people, and not get much $$ help. The Patriots Rally that the DC Chapter organized in April was paid for by a very few generous people; but even the folks who didn't (or couldn't) put money into the kitty were welcomed at the Rally.
My mom told me as her mom told her (and as I've told my kids) that you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. I think she's right ( and correct, too).
Thanks for all you do for Free Republic.com, BadJoe.
However at the same time we were advised to not be so professional that we were sterile.
If you haven't read any of the attacks , you just missed the threads with it on. They were not private. And the private ones were vicious.
All are welcome here . They just are not welcome to bitch.