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!

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[lodwick]

Breaking news from the Moose

[JustAmy]

Good Morning, Everyone. How goes it today?

[lodwick]

Sample Iraqui Ballot

It's five stars here in CenTex - thanks. ;-)

[jwfiv]

We are moving into the realm of the absurd, keeping a sense of humor about this is, I hope, gonna keep me sane but...damn, I'm losing patience with PC law enforcement.

[Feiny]

I think you have some competition here.

[lodwick]

Amen. It's either laugh or cry at this situation in the DC area. As Miss Marple observed on the ATRW thread yesterday, the Moose should seriously consider immediately hiring a mouthpiece.

[RikaStrom]

LOL, excellent column John.

[lodwick]

Newsmax.com, ^


Posted on 10/17/2002 11:08 AM Central by Retired Chemist


Another – unnamed – federal law enforcement officer tells me the inside scuttlebutt in the FBI and other police agencies is that comments made by Ari Fleischer may have sparked a terrorist wave.


On Oct. 1, Fleischer told the White House press corps that "one bullet" into Saddam's head – "if Iraqi people take it on themselves" – would be an easy way to avoid a war with the U.S.


On Oct. 2, the day after Fleischer made this sensational comment advocating Saddam's assassination, the sniper first struck, killing James D. Martin as he crossed a supermarket parking lot in Wheaton, Md.


Since then, the shootings around Washington have had a terrorizing effect, paralyzing economic and social life around the Beltway.


Still, the police and government officials have been loath to mention the "T" word.


WOW - I had not seen this before.

[Mo1]

Congrats John for being FR's Finest

[lodwick]

A snack for everyone

[jwfiv]

Never thought of connection between Ari's statement and the sniper...I think maybe it's time for the DC police to clam up...no more clues, no more cues...just find this bastard and kill him. Easy for me to say. All involved have my sympathy, especially Chief Moose, who seems in a bit over his head.

I should say, my sympathy has limits, and the bureaucrats who insist on the PC bug hunt get none from me.

[jwfiv]

Just under the wire, I wanna wish you dear ones a good morning before the meridian passes...)

[dansangel]

Message sent, Mama_Bear. What a terrific idea!

Love and {{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}}

[JustAmy]

A man is driving with his wife at his side and his mother-in-law in the back seat. And the women just won't leave the poor guy alone. His mother-in-law says, "You're driving too fast!" His wife says, "Stay to the left!" After several more orders from both of them the man breaks down and barks at his wife, "Who's driving this car - you or your mother?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TA DA

[dansangel]

....just got the keyboard cleaned up!!!!

Ppffftttttt....I know how you feel!

Hope you got to feeling better!

{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}}

[JustAmy]

A resident in a posh hotel breakfast room called over the head waiter one morning and read from the menu. "I'd like one under-cooked egg so that it's runny, and one over-cooked egg so that it's tough and hard to eat. I'd also like grilled bacon which is a bit on the cold side, burnt toast, butter straight from the freezer so that it's impossible to spread, and a pot of very weak, lukewarm coffee."
"That's a complicated order sir," said the bewildered waiter. "It might be quite difficult."
The guest replied sarcastically, "It can't be that difficult because that's exactly what you brought me yesterday!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hey Loddy ...... I'll take your breakfasts any day and everyday. They are perfect!

[lodwick]

Thanks - we try harder. ;-)

[LadyX]

JustKeep us laffin, JustAmy..:)))

[lodwick]

Posted on 10/17/2002 12:04 PM Central by Living Free in NH


A Delta flight has landed at Logan after a passenger reported hearing a beeping sound coming from an overhead storage bin. All the passengers were evacuated safely. Emergency personnel checked the overhead bin, and removed a pair of sneakers which investigators are now examining

[JustAmy]

Two buddies Bob and Earl were two of the biggest baseball fans in America. Their entire adult lives, Bob and Earl discussed baseball history in the winter, and they pored over every box score during the season. They went to 60 games a year. They even agreed that whoever died first would try to come back and tell the other if there was baseball in heaven.

One summer night, Bob passed away in his sleep after watching the Yankee victory earlier in the evening. He died happy. A few nights later, his buddy Earl awoke to the sound of Bob's voice from beyond. "Bob is that you?" Earl asked. "Of course it me," Bob replied.

"This is unbelievable!" Earl exclaimed. "So tell me, is there baseball in heaven?"

"Well I have some good news and some bad news for you. Which do you want to hear first?"

Earl excitedly replies, "Tell me the good news first."

"Well, the good news is that yes there is baseball in heaven, Earl."

"Oh, that is wonderful! So what could possibly be the bad news?"

"You're pitching tomorrow night."