A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....10-01-02

Billie; dansangel

[dansangel]

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:  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

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

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.

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.

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

                     

mhking Freeper since April 14, 2002

mhking can be found almost anywhere on Free Republic. Mostly, he is looking for news threads that may be of interest to his "Black Conservative" ping list. If the subject matter catches his interest, you can be sure he will speak his mind - eloquently and with a well-placed touch of wit.

When I requested personal information from mhking, he obliged by sending me his bio in his own words:

"I've been described as a true 'Renaissance Man.' I went to both Purdue & Howard Universities, and finished prior to my degree in early '86. I've worked in radio dating back to 1979, and in the computer biz as far back as 1985. I've been a disk jockey, a news reporter, a computer salesman, a retail store manager, a talk show host, a radio station general manager, and a professional curmudgeon. Much of the time, I'm honest to a fault, but I (at least I try to) mean well.

"I'll be 40 the week before Christmas; my now-40 year-old wife (Rachel) and I met in Jr. High, went to rival high schools and started dating in our sophmore year of college (20 years ago this past summer!). We got married in 1985 (our 17th anniversary was just last week)."

mhking, "she-who-must-be-obeyed"
(aka Rachel) and 11-mo-old Lynese

"We've got three kids; Jasmine is 14, a freshman in high school who puts us through her teenaged angst with distressing regularity. My son Mitchell is 9 and is everything I could want and hope for. Lynese is 11 months and runs the entire household (yes, even overriding "She-who-must-be-obeyed," aka Rachel). LOL!

"I've been called plenty of things over time...'Uncle Tom,' 'Oreo,' 'Sellout,' & 'Lawn Jockey' for starters. But now, a new epithet has been tossed my way: 'Bush-bot.'

"Presumably, the name is used to refer to someone who follows lock-step the policies of the Administration and the President in a 'cult of personality.' While I find that I whole-heartedly support the war on terrorism in general and the war on Iraq in particular, to call me a 'Bush-bot' would be furthest from the truth. While I support the Bush Administration on the war, I find a deep chasm between myself and the administration on the issue of immigration. We have no business opening up the borders of this country to illegal immigrants. If we do, the 'trickle' of people who hop the Rio Grande will turn into a torrent that we won't be able to stop.

"I grew up in Gary, Indiana, in what some have considered a disadvantaged community. I didn't see it as such. I have both my mom and dad to thank for that. They're both educators, my father retired, and my mother soon to be. My dad's folks lived across town from us, and also had strong social and cultural ties in the community."

Four generations of King men: mhking,
his Dad Curtis, his brother Rick, his
Grand-Dad Emery and his son Mitchell

"When I was coming up, if you discussed politics in Gary, it was automatically assumed that you meant Democratic politics. In my mind, black equaled Democrat, period. I bought into the mantra that 'liberal' meant good and 'conservative' meant bad, without question. Of course, as a youngster, I thought I could change the world that way as well. We all had that 'invincible power' at that age.

"When I went to college, first at Purdue, then at Howard, I continued to follow 'the party line' as set forth by the so-called black leadership, but I began to question parts of the message that were being presented to me. I didn't think much about it though - my mind was on business and trying to make money. Plus I had other things on my mind: the woman who I currently refer to as 'She-who-must-be-obeyed'."

In 1994, after stints both on local TV and talk radio in Gary, mhking was asked to run a black radio station, WIGO in Atlanta. Finances were shrinking and his family was growing, so he eagerly accepted.

Front: mhking's "Bohemian" sister Courtney, mhking,
Rachel, Lynese and Carolyn (family friend).
Back: Mitchell and Jasmine

As a talk radio host, mhking challenged his black Atlanta listeners to "think outside the box." When he vocally disapproved of the Atlanta Public Schools' decision to contract with a minority business rather than the non-minority lowest bidder, he was soundly ridiculed by his listeners. It was at that point that it was cemented in his mind that he was truly a conservative. He decided to join Project 21 and has never looked back.

mhking sums up his beliefs in this way: "My core beliefs are simple. We all have rights. I don't have any more, nor any less rights just because I'm black. I believe that we must have financial accountability in government. I believe that individuals must also be accountable for their own actions. We must have a strong defense in order to secure our freedoms, and a small government allows us to hold and keep those freedoms. A large, bureaucratic mess does nothing but benefit a small number of people, and those are the ones in power.

"Does that make me a 'Bush-bot?' I think not. Just a dad, a husband, a son, a man. One who is proud to be conservative and proud to be an American."

It's my pleasure to present another of FR's Finest! Today that Finest is mhking!

Take a bow, mhking, the spotlight is yours!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS

09-30-02 dansangel

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

Thanks, Mixer!

     1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
     2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
     3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
     4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
     5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[Mudboy Slim]

"Coming right up! a crab omelette with muenster cheese!"

My mouth's waterin'...MUD

[mhking]

I hope that my birthday wishes don't in any way overshadow our featured FReeper today.

Not at all, Mama_Bear! Happy birthday to you, God bless you and may you have many, many more!

[mhking]

Mary replied, "He didn't hang himself, I put him there to dry."

And once the director closed his mouth, he should have said, "Here's your sign..." so that we would know not to have to depend on Mary for anything crucial ever again...[g]

[Mudboy Slim]

"I have some crab omelettes I could make you if you're interested."

"Now you're talking my language!"

You ever been to the Outer Banks, NC fer breakfast seafood...the best I've tasted, although I hear Maryland and Calibash, South Carolina have a claim in, too.

FReegards...MUD

[mhking]

I've done Maryland, Savannah, and the upper 'Neck area on the Virginia side of the Chesapeake Bay, but I can't say that I've done the Outer Banks yet (and that is the operative word here - "yet"). I'm looking forward to trying it though...

[Mama_Bear]

What a beautiful birthday card you made for me, with my favorite rose! You make me feel special every day. Thank you, my louiefriend. SMOOOOOOOOOCH!

[Mama_Bear]

Fuzzy gets a card too? So cute, you are! You know, I am saving all of these birthday wishes from my FRiends today, they mean so much to me. :-)

[lodwick]

Good grief - thanks for the padded room humor. ;-)

[Mudboy Slim]

"I can't say that I've done the Outer Banks yet (and that is the operative word here - "yet"). I'm looking forward to trying it though..."

There's been preliminary rumblings about a FReeper get-together in the Outer Banks in February or March. Off-season rates are real low, and there's plenty of golf and deep-sea fishing available...plus very good food!!

Congratulations on yer FReeper's Finest, my FRiend...MUD

[ST.LOUIE1]

Happy Birthday, Mama_B, you 29 again?!

Watch out, Mud! Sounds like fightin' words to me.

You don't want to make the 'bear' angry.

Today's her first time round being 29....so she told me. LOL

[Mama_Bear]

I bet she'd like one of your "germ free" hugs. : )

Okay, Louie! I think so too! MB, one germ free hug coming up!

(((((((MAMA_BEAR))))))))

Thank you, sweet Pippin. I am smiling.......especially over the "germ free" part. LOL!

[ST.LOUIE1]

What a beautiful birthday card you made for me, with my favorite rose!

Louie forgets nothing. : )

You make me feel special every day.
Thank you, my louiefriend. SMOOOOOOOOOCH!

*You* are special. Every day! : )

[chadsworth]

What's up with the whackjob that sliced the bus driver's throat?

Hard to tell at this point. The local news indicated the slicer was Hispanic but the throat thing sounds like other stories from 9-11. Don't know for sure but it will be passed off as " another isolated incident" if it was a Terrorist act. There is one still on the loose - id unkown and only a terse description.

Whurs the dog biscuits?

[Diver Dave]

Mornin' folks. It's gonna be a GREAT day with a GREAT FReeper being profiled.

Welcome to FR's Finest... Hall of Fame, mhking. I've enjoyed reading your posts all over this forum. Keep up the GREAT work you are doing.

Angel, your rookie season is over and you've been named "rookie of the year." Good job on your first solo flight. Looking forward to many more. :^)

[ST.LOUIE1]

Fuzzy gets a card too? So cute, you are!

: )

You know, I am saving all of these birthday wishes from my FRiends today, they mean so much to me. :-)

And you mean so much to us. : )

Enjoy your day, 'fuzzy'. : )

[Mama_Bear]

Thank you, my daisyfriend. Such an adorable birthday card. I appreciate you so much! :-)

[Mudboy Slim]

"Today's her first time round being 29....so she told me. LOL"

That's what they all say, ain't it?!

FReegards...MUD

[COB1]

'"My core beliefs are simple. We all have rights. I don't have any more, nor any less rights just because I'm black. I believe that we must have financial accountability in government. I believe that individuals must also be accountable for their own actions. We must have a strong defense in order to secure our freedoms, and a small government allows us to hold and keep those freedoms. A large, bureaucratic mess does nothing but benefit a small number of people, and those are the ones in power."'

Well said, my friend!

This is YOUR day!!

CONGRATULATIONS AND ENJOY!!

[Mama_Bear]

Happy birthday to you, God bless you and may you have many, many more!

Thank you so much. :-)

[xJones]

This is great and a tribute to mhking is so well deserved. He's been here not quite 6 months and I don't know how we got along without him before. I and who knows how many others are on his ping list and it is so helpful. He always finds the most interesting articles that many of us might have missed.

Kimg, what an excellent family! I'm glad that the lovely SWMBO keeps you in line and that you've got three fine young conservatives coming along.

While I support the Bush Administration on the war, I find a deep chasm between myself and the administration on the issue of immigration. We have no business opening up the borders of this country to illegal immigrants. If we do, the 'trickle' of people who hop the Rio Grande will turn into a torrent that we won't be able to stop.

Well said, and that is my big beef, too! I just deleted a long rant on some personal experiences with illegals, they're everywhere, but I'll save it for another thread because this is your day. :D

You're among the very best, King, and greatly appreciated.