[TLBSHOW]

PS

And don't forget to check out the source and stop in and say hello to the fine FReepers over there.

[jlogajan]

Sometimes I like FR -- sometimes it p*sses me off, like the fact that JediGirl got banned. That's lame.

[hispanarepublicana]

I wanted to watch Bush beat the socks off of Gore. I new it was going to be a great night. Little did I know I would never sleep that night or for the next 5 weeks.

Ah yes---the great votus interruptus/sleepus interruptus/exercisus interruptus of 2000. I should have purchased stock in Hanes Fleecewear that night, because by Christmas I would venture that most of us could only fit into something elasticized and stretchy.

I appreciate the opportunity that FR provides me to have witty and clever interchange with folks who can say more to me than "Hold muh beer 'n watch this."

[InvisibleChurch]

i used to get a lot more done around the house

[Cold Heat]

Well,.......LOL!...........Crap..........Hmmmmmmmmm//.....

I don't shoot at my TV anymore and I think my wife will keep me.

[Brett66]

You discovered the sight around the 2000 elections too. I was looking for conservative forums with google and Freerepublic showed up. This was in October, but with the election fiasco, this and Rush Limbaugh became my only major news sources.

[Fester Chugabrew]

FREE REPUBLIC: Beats local news by 24 hours in time and 24 tons in substance.

[Howlin]

I remember the night you first got here; we had to beat your butt to straighten you out! :-)

[Humidston]

Back in 1998 I was listening to a local radio talk show and heard a woman who was planning to protest Bill Clintoon, who was coming to town for yet another fundraiser.

Long story short: I ended up helping her - doing TV interviews, etc. It grew and grew due to lots of media coverage (KPRC and Jon Matthews). We named it the "Black Beret Rally" and we urged women to wear blue dresses, black berets and knee pads.

About 750 worthy and wonderful Houstonians showed up to protest - with about 100 women in "uniform!!!!"

That day I saw a group of people hugging and laughing as if they'd just met their long-lost relatives. I walked over and asked them what the deal was. (I remember this is when I met my dear friends Gracey and Katy Kelly and BuffyT.)

Anyway, they told me about FR. They were already FReepers and invited me to log on for the ride of my life. I've been here since and wild horses couldn't drag me away!

[The Wizard]

Rush and FreeRepublic.com probably saved my life over the years, and that's no joke, that's a fact.....

Without the truth broadcast by Rush and FR to meet with a hero and his friends, and to be a part of that, well....And then Came Fox news and Brit and everyone, and America was starting to be restored to her birthright.....And it made my wife's life a lot better, if you catch my drift...

[jwalsh07]

Well, I got banned from the NY Times website because of my diatribes against Clinton but a guy had mentioned Freerepublic there and voila.

It was akin to stepping through the looking glass and finding the truth because at the time, the Clintons were on everybody's sh$t list, libertarians, conservatives, Paddies and the rest here on Robinsons Island.

[ladyinred]

Seems we found FR at about the same time. I also logged on during the after election fiasco. I would not have made it through that nightmare if not for this place! Here we could all air our frustration, and learn the latest before it was on the local news!

I have met some terrific people here, and made new friends both in my area with the fabulous Fresno Freepers, and across the country. I have the opportunity to show my support for the troops every Friday night with JimRob and company.
To conclude, this place is the very best, and TLBSHOW, I always enjoy your posts, you are a breath of fresh air and always make me smile!

[Clinging Bitterly]

I think more than a few of us came on board in that post election fiasco.

Dave in Eugene of all places signed up 2000-11-25 (and has been similarly addicted, as the FR homepage clearly warns).

Been curious, what is the meaning of your screen name?
I think mine is easy to figger out.

[RandyRep]

I found FR back in 1997 just before the Billyboy/Lewinsky story was breaking. I read the Drudge release the night it happened, and told my wife about it in bed. She thought I was crazy, then was amazed that I had the news before the newspaper came.

I joined in early 1998, and have been lurking and occasionally responding ever since. I tune in to FR as my first news source (then Neal Boortz), and rarely watch the network newscasts any more. I don't watch any CNN news but doi watch a bit of FNC. I also frequent Opinion Journal, Newsmax, WND, TownHall, etc. I subscribe to the MRC email so I can see how the network readers have twisted the news to an anti-Pubbie slant.

[hole_n_one]

FreeRepublic: How it looked in 1996! 1997! 1998!

[Aracelis]

I've met some really wonderful people here. Thanks, Jim!

[Lancey Howard]

In January of 1998 my wife woke me up on my birthday and directed my attention to the TV where Jackie Judd was talking about some big scandal involving Clinton and an intern at the White House. The name Matt Drudge was mentioned and I had a vague memory of hearing that this guy Drudge had a web site specializing in political news and rumors.

So that morning I went on-line and found Drudge. Sure enough he had a headline about a new Clinton scandal and when I clicked on the Drudge headline it took me right to a Free Republic thread. Back then the forum was called "White Water". I immediately bookmarked the site and have been here 20 or more times per day ever since, just trying to keep up with the world. I have almost never watched network news or the Sunday morning programs since 1998. I don't read the papers much anymore either.

That summer of 1998 was un-freaking-believable. Every day brought a new scandal, a new revelation. I told my kids many times that summer that I was watching the downfall of a presidency, right there on my computer monitor. I never thought in a million years that the scumbag would skate.

So yeah, in many ways Free Republic "changed" my life. Jim Robinson is a gutsy genius, in my opinion.

[tet68]

There was life BEFORE Freerepublic?

It was all a blur, the only hideous memory was the words,
"Clinton elected".

[Northeast]

Ah, a Nostalgia Thread!

I found FR after the first Monica news hit, and tracked down the Drudge Report. I was combing his links and found the WhiteWater link that went to FR. From there, the rest is easy to understand.

That was in March, 1998, and I come here for all news since.

I post seldom now. That's a result of the Patsy/McCain/Bush/libertarian vitriol that preceded the 2000 election, and issues at home (Hey, I have a life!).

But, no question, FR has assured me that there are kindred souls out there. And working together, we can turn the tide. If we all whip off in different directions, then our voice is muted. And that goes especially for the Libertarians/McCaniacs, etc.

The democrat party chipped away slowly to get where they are, we have to chip back. Standing up and screaming for Howard Smith and saying "I'm voting principal" is throwing a vote away.

Vote Republican, and change the party from within! Long Live Free Republic!

Regards
Northeast

[Varmint Al]

I remember when it was a group of FReepers who banged on the door and prevented the vote recount in Florida from going behind closed doors so they could count the votes for the Democrats. FReepers really saved the election! Here is one of the many links of that time....

http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3a1353bc5034.htm

FReepers helping to save a Nation...

Good Hunting... from Varmint Al

[chnsmok]

Thank you Matt Drudge for sending me to Free Republic. I just passed on a trip to Cabo San Lucas because I wasn't sure they had internet access.