A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....10-17-02

JohnHuang2 and Billie

[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:  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

                     

Campaign Odyssey in Baghdad

JohnHuang2

"Whew! We dodged a bullet," a senior aid to president Saddam Hussein confided to me last night, relieved as election returns, which began pouring in at sundown, showed the Iraqi leader had handily won another 7-year mandate.

He meant 'bullet' literally.

"Not that we expected a cliff-hanger," he quickly added. "Iraq is no Florida", he said, smiling ear-to-ear. "We knew he'd trounce that old tired goat." The aid was referring to Boublous al-Dole, nominee of the hapless opposition party. (A plane carrying all 10 members mysteriously disappeared tonight. No foul play is suspected, despite a hundred witnesses who swear seeing heat-seeking missiles flying towards the plane as it cruised over downtown Baghdad. Iraq Aviation Administrator, Fakih Frank Hull Hussein, dismisses the witnesses as Great Satan Conspirators.)

And what a campaign season it's been. "This one's for the history books," crowed a jubilant staffer, firing several shots in the air in celebration. He recounted the story of how, back in February, president Hussein ordered mortar fire and tank attacks on some fledgling all-news TV station in Basra. "I guess you can say it was the opening salvo of Campaign 2002," the aid fondly recalled.

But the assault wasn't just for fun, either. Hussein strongly suspected the outlet, founded by some right-winger named Abdul-Roger al-Ailes, was working for the opposition.

"Our President hated that station with a passion," one senior aid recalled. "He called it Faux News, mockingly. There was this host who would come on weeknights at 8, griping about all the charity money being siphoned off for nukes and presidential palaces. He really hated that guy." That's Bill al-Din O'Reilly, erstwhile host of what was the highest rated show on prime-time. As punishment for spreading infidel propaganda, he got 30 years in a re-education camp. As part of his sentence, al-Din O'Reilly was ordered to read First Lady Sajida!'s, 'It Takes an A-Bomb To Raze a Village', a runaway best-seller. Her book, in fact, has straddled atop the Anthrax Times best-seller list since its publication 15 years ago, easily outselling No. 2, "Between Smoking Dope And History," by Bill Clinton.

"To President Hussein, all cowards and traitors are beneath contempt," intoned a senior aid. "He has zero-tolerance for 'em. Except for Bill Clinton. Now that's a coward and a traitor our president can live with. Our dear leader has nothing but admiration for Clinton."

No qualms that Monica was Jewish?

Shrugging his shoulders, he sighed, "well, nobody's perfect."

As for the campaign, "there were bumps along the road," said one aid, "don't get me wrong. It wasn't all smooth sailing."

For campaign staffers, the biggest scare came on the closing night of the Baath Party National Convention in Baghdad. A major sex scandal had broke, involving Saddam's senior political strategist, Duqaq Dick Musa Morris. Hussein, forced to par his acceptance speech down to 12 hours, saw his approval ratings take a tumble, plunging down to 99.9%.

"Thanks to that moron, I never got my convention 'bounce!!'," yelled an angry Hussein that night.

"But we didn't flinch," said a staffer, "no-one hit the panic button, despite those tense days."

"Our dear leader, scrappy survivor that he is, stayed focused -- like a laser beam. As punishment, Saddam ordered a sex change for Duqaq Morris, his wayward advisor."

I asked him what Morris was doing for a living now.

"Well, after his sex change, he looked so much like Helen Thomas, he now subs for her in the White House press room."

So, where's Helen, then?

"I was told she went to Pakistan, to enroll in the Madrassas. She mumbled something about wanting to understand 'why they hate us so much', 'to feel the hate', or something like that," he said.
"After graduation, then come the big plans."

Big plans?

"Yeah, she plans to marry Yasser Arafat. Rumor has it his marriage is on the rocks."

Scarey.

Oh, speaking of which, there were two other scarey moments.

Tonight, as official election returns rolled him, some exit polls in the south were showing lower-than-expected returns, some a disappointingly low 99.6%. Oh no, not another Florida. cliff-hanger.

Then, magically, the big board numbers roar back up to 100%.

"You'd be amazed at what a few bullets, parked in the right places, can do," remarked a senior official in the Republican Guard.

I poked my head out the window of my Baghdad hotel, and lo and behold, you could feel the jubilation, the festivity. The victory rallies were huge, the air filled with chants of, 'We love Saddam -- and Hitler, too! Down with the Jews! Up with the Waffen-SS!'

Close your eyes, and you swear you're in Berkley.

The difference here, of course, are all the Soviet tanks lovingly aimed at the "festive" crowd. The place was ringed with military -- everywhere.

"No big deal, just crowd control, that's all that is" one senior Iraqi official insisted. "Everyone here is free to speak his or her mind -- so long as Saddam approves."

Curious, I decided to work my way into the crowd, mixing things up a bit.

One reveler caught my attention. "I love Saddam! I love Saddam! Down with Bush! Up with Daschle and the Democrats!', she screamed.

hmmm...a typical Boston voter, I thought.

I asked her why she loves Saddam so much.

"I'm here because Bush is threatening my job, my livelihood!"

I asked what she did for a living.

"I do nuclear weapons research at a Baby Milk Factory," she told me proudly. "I used to do Anthrax, but Saddam promoted me to nukes. That's why I hate Bush -- he's threatening to diss our doomsday weapons! That means I'll be out of a job!"

Oh, I see.

The other scarey moment, you ask?

Earlier, as we were watching election returns at the presidential palace, suddenly vice president Ramadan bursts into the room, "I have a cheerful announcement: Saddam had just received a call from the U.S. president!", he shouted.

Huh?

"Yes! President Jimmy Carter called to congratulate Saddam for his victory!"

Figures.

Anyway, that's

My two cents...

THIS WEEK'S THREADs

10-14-02 Molly Pitcher
10-15-02 Dutchess
10-16-02 Anniegetyourgun, RikaStrom

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

Thanks, Mixer!

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[lodwick]

AArargh - you've found whoever's old joke book. LOL

It must be time for me to move into lurker mode for the evening.

Manana good friends. See ya, with luck. ;-)

[lodwick]

Goodness - can I get the stuff, Indian River OJ, here?

That sounds so good. Thanks. ;-)

[JustAmy]

See you tomorow. Guess I'd better switch to Who's newer books. LOL
I will probably read for awhile so will see everyone sometime tomorrow unless I decide to check back in before lights out.

[LadyX]

There she is - the Music Lady I accused JustAmy of chasing away!

I lived in Indian River country much of my life, in Melbourne, Port Malabar and Ft. Pierce.
During WWII when sugar was purchased with ration stamps, and quite precious, a friend of ours had a processing plant for citrus.

'Tragically,' every now and then a 50-pound sack became damp on the bottom, and of course could not be used.

A lot of it ended up in dinners and desserts in our home - usually in cakes and pies - for Navy pilots who dated my two older sisters - especially at Christmas..:))

[lodwick]

Down, and out guys. Manana all.

A wonderful evening to each and every one.

[Aquamarine]

I'm trying to remember where I bought it...think it was Ingle's so you should be able to get it in your area.

Lady that citrus sugar sounds so good and those dessert's! Mmmmmm!

I just got back from Gatlinburg and caught up on reading the thread...sorry about the absense of music, I'll try to do better...and what is lodwick still doing up this late? :)

Funny story...I called my Mom when I got in and she said she had found a box with my old report cards in it today from elementary school (in Tulsa, Okla) and she said the teachers had written that I liked to read was becoming more independant but wouldn't stay in my seat and talked to other's too much. Now doesn't that sound just like a future FReeper?!? LOL!

[LadyX]

What a great picture!
Good night to you, oh Wordmaster..:))

[Aquamarine]

Good night loddie, you look tuckered out. :)

[LadyX]

Yep - classic Freeper - LOL.

Actually it was just plain sugar, Aqua, used to process citrus into jelly.
Hence the gold mine not usually available.
We also had a friend whose darned cow made too much milk and the woman turned some into butter, also rationed. Kept some in her kitchen for friends to 'take off her hands.'
We left a dollar or two on the table in appreciation of her effort.

[LadyX]

Afraid I am the tuckered one, Aqua, midnight here for you and me.
Will let the West Coasters stand the night watch, and see you later in the new day.
Glad you are safely back.

[Aquamarine]

Oh, I still think citrus sugar sounds good. Maybe we should make some and put it on the Market. he!
The homemade butter sounds good too...did y'all happen to have some biscuits to put that butter on and maybe some orange marmalade?!

[Aquamarine]

See you tomorrow.

[LadyX]

Marmalade and guava butter, and fresh lemon and lime meringue pies and orange cakes, too..:))

See you in a few hours.

[JohnHuang2]

Thank you, thank you, thank you, all! Glad you liked it.

As you know, I'm having computer problems -- but I should have 'em all taken care of by Monday.

Take care, God bless y'all, and thanks again. =^)

[dansangel]

Hi Aqua,

I was way into my dreamland when you hollered at me last night! :-)

Yes, we moved up here from Sebastian which is in Indian River County, FL, Pop. 15,000. All the way here to the "Big City" of Metro-Atlanta, Pop. 6,000,000 (gosh, my head swims with all of those zeroes!!!).

A traffic jam for us was more than three cars at a stoplight!! (LOL)

When the orange groves are in bloom it is the sweetest fragrance in the world. I miss it so much.

Have a great TGIF!!

{{{{{{{{{{{Aqua}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

[dansangel]

I lived in Indian River country much of my life, in Melbourne, Port Malabar and Ft. Pierce.

Wow...we were virtually neighbors!

I spent more years in Palm Beach County FL (Yep, the place where people don't know how to vote!!) and my folks and sister still live there.

But, Indian River County and Sebastian is where my heart lies. .45MAN worked in Palm Bay and I worked at Sebastian River Medical Center. Never realized how blessed we were until we left.

[RJayneJ]

He's a treasure!

[Billie]

I'm glad to hear you're getting the computer problems taken care of. Missed you here yesterday!

Loddy, Meekie, it IS TOO still Friday! Thread's up - Come on over!