A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....10-31-02

JohnHuang2 and Billie | JohnHuang2

[Billie]

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

                     

Mondale's no shoo-in

by JohnHuang2

It was mid-afternoon Friday, the harrowing news had just crossed the wires: A plane crash in northern Minnesota had claimed the life of Sen. Paul Wellstone, his wife, daughter and several campaign workers.

Democrats were in a state of shock, not so much over the tragic deaths as the chilling implications -- for November.

Seeking a third term, Sen. Wellstone had been locked in a tight race with former St. Paul mayor Norm Coleman, a Democrat-turned-Republican widely depicted in the media as Bush's own 'hand-picked' candidate in a bid to retake the Senate, where Democrats hold a 1-vote margin.

Wellstone, though regarded by insiders as highly vulnerable, appeared to have leapt ahead of Coleman after a 'nay' vote on the Iraq war resolution -- 9 points according to Zogby. (Internal GOP polls still had the race a toss-up, with Coleman 2% ahead.) Conventional wisdom, ignoring Minnesota's long history of isolationism, held the vote would hurt Wellstone's chances, particularly after 9/11.

Top Democrats, after prodding Wellstone to change his mind, if only to save his seat, were breathing a sigh of relief.

Then came the news Friday afternoon. As Wellstone's body smoldered, frantic Democrats scrambled for a replacement, trial-ballooning a list of possible substitutes in the media, then settling late in the day on former Vice President Walter Mondale, who retired from national politics after a crushing defeat in '84 by then President Ronald Reagan.

Democrats, while publically mourning the death of Paul Wellstone and mouthing platitudes about his legacy, behind the scenes conducted ghoulish polls and focus groups as election lawyers scoured Minnesota law to see how much the party can get away with.

As these grave-robbers ferreted political advantage, Democrats decided on a four-prong strategy:

1) Cannibalize Wellstone politically, a la Gov. Mel Carnahan; play on voters' heart strings, ride on Wellstone's coattails.

2) Get a jump-start on Republicans now -- mount a full-tilt campaign on Mondale's behalf. Get the media bandwagon going. Don't wait for the funeral. It's the dead body, stupid! Use it.

3) Make the Mondale pick by Party bosses a done deal; get Wellstone's kids to say they back the choice. So what if they barely know him? Winning is everything!

4) Portray any GOP reaction to Mondale's selection as an 'outrage', an abomination, a sacrilege of Wellstone himself, his memory, his legacy. Scream bloody murder, feign indignation, anger and shock; don't worry, no matter how phony, the press will back you to the hilt.

Sure enough, there was CNN's Judy Woodruff Monday on Inside Politics, berating RNC Chair Marc Racicot. She lectured and she scolded. 'How can Republicans be so insensitive, so unfeeling, so inhuman, so cruel, so heartless, Marc!! How dare you criticize what-cha-ma-call it, uh, ummm ... Walter Mondale! You're not even crumbs off the table, compared to him!' (Exaggerating? Yes, but that was the clear insinuation by her line of questioning).

Terry McAuliffe, also on the show, sat there poker face. But over his head, a thought bubble hovered, which read: 'Thanks, Judy, for doing our dirty work! hehehe!'

So, now that the gloves are off, does Coleman have a ghost of a chance? The pincers are closing on Republicans, says the giggling media gleefully. Coleman beats Mondale? Fuggedaboutdit!, elated pundits laugh. Too many hurdles, too many mountains to climb, proclaims Conventional Wisdomism. Pulling Mondale out of mothball was a masterstroke, it's Missouri all over again, say Beltwayers. Mondale will lock the empathy vote, ride a tidal wave of sympathy to victory next week. For Democrats, this election is in the bag.

Oh, really?

Memo to Dems: Ever heard of not counting chickens before they hatch?'

I say, 'thou celebrateth too much.'

Walter Mondale, a washed-up 'has-been' in his twilight years, political prima donna? The notion doesn't square in a state that elected Jesse Ventura for governor, eschews machine politics and prides itself in nonconformity. Minnesota, which relishes the unconventional, is a horse of a different color. Those drawing analogies to Missouri don't know which end is up.

JESSE VENTURA
"THE BEST GOVERNOR
MINNESOTA HAS HAD IN A LONG TIME!"

Moreover, last time I checked, Walter Mondale isn't even a widow -- just a jaded retread who hasn't won statewide office in 30 years. Name recognition? Yes, but Coleman has it too, without the baggage: Norm is no 49-state flameout like Mondale. Name I.D. isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Another factor: The burgeoning Green Party movement in Minnesota. The Greenies were drawing considerable Democrat defections, cutting into Wellstone's support, which made the race all the more tighter.

Will Wellstone voters now rally behind Walter Mondale, now without even a fig-leaf of avant-garde populism to motivate them?

Don't bet on it.

Can Coleman lose? Yes, but don't bet on that, either. (Internal GOP polls have Coleman and Mondale neck-and-neck and less than 50% of Minnesota voters were old enough to vote in Mondale's last Senate race in 1972).

For Democrats nationally, moreover, having Walter Mondale as the Party's most visible face down the homestretch isn't exactly a terrific idea.

As Dem vultures swoop down and feast on Wellstone for political advantage, bear in mind that 'it ain't over till it's over.'

Anyway, that's...

My two cents...

THIS WEEK'S THREADs

10-28-02 Salvation
10-29-02 Patriciaruth
10-30-02 Halloween Party

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.
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     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

[Pippin]

Howdy, MB!

[LadyX]

Billie, it's all your fault.
Yesterday you had Halloween early, causing confusion.
(okay - easy to happen to those over, um, 50-or so)

Thrown off stride, I failed to put out the garbage can last night for pickup early this morning.
Took care of that at noon today..:))

Dear Reader - is there any hope for me?

Is there truly life after Free Republic being down?

Signed: Bewildered in Barnwell

[Pippin]

Hi, LadyX!

Hope you're having a Spooktacular day!

[Mixer]

Awesome midi file...thanks

[Flyer]

JH2, that's an easy 3 cents today.

---

All - I've been to Brenham via Angleton today. So much for work, now I'm off to do some poll watching during our early voting. This feels sort of like heading out fishing, having no idea if I'm going to catch anything or not. I'm a rookie at this and I'm sure my first few will be a little unnerving as I challenge a voter's qualifications. Wish me luck!

Lonestar - I passed through Jasper yesterday morning, on my way to Newton. I hollered real loud - not sure if you heard me.

God Bless America, land of the free, home of the brave. . .

-----

Lake Steinhagen - Tyler/Jasper Counties, Texas

-----

[LadyX]

So good to see you, deadhead..:))
(one of those sets of eyes is so 'you'!!)

Wonderfully intriguing door there!

[Pippin]

I have another ghost story for y'all!

There two men working at the White House, they were gardners and they were working in the rose garden, digging up some of the rosebushes and replanting some.

Now, the rose garden was started by Dolley Madison back when her husband was president so she had always felt the roses were like her "children". In fact after James Madison died, Dolley moved into a place just across from the White House to keep an eye on her "children". This was in the 19th centuary.

When JFK became president, Jackie Kennedy decided she wanted something else to go were the roses were. so, she had the gardners start to move the rosebushes.

Now to continue the story, these two gardners were working when one of them looked uo and saw a woman in 19th centuary approaching them and scolding and wagging her finger in a gesture that said "Get out of my roses". It was the ghost of Dolley Madison, and she was not pleased with what they were doing to her roses.

The two men fled in fear and refused to go back. The First Lady decided not to move the roses and Dlooey Madison could again rest in peace as her "children" were safe!

[Pippin]

I just noticed something about the White House ghost stories, I noticed the ghosts never seem to bother Republican presidents, only Democrats!

Now what do you suppose that's telling us?

[Mama_Bear]

Hello, Pippin FRiend. Got any plans for Halloween?

I still can't decide what to go as.......

A witch?........

Or a candy cane?.......

Or, maybe Little Miss Muffet?........

[ST.LOUIE1]

Hi, Sis!

Lunch is on me. : )

[Pippin]

That's a hard decision! All three are cute!

I like Lil' miss Muffitt!

[ST.LOUIE1]

Afternoon,Pip! : )

[Pippin]

(((((LOUIE)))))

[ST.LOUIE1]

Excellent, King!!!

Happy Halloween!

[ST.LOUIE1]

(((((LOUIE)))))

Love those hugs! : )

And sooooo big! LOL

[Pippin]

The bigger the better!

[ST.LOUIE1]

Cute! : )

Hi, Aqua!

[ST.LOUIE1]

Well, ain't you just tooooo cute! : )

A pumpkinbear! LOL

[ST.LOUIE1]

The bigger the better!

My sentiments exactly!

[Mama_Bear]

That's a hard decision! All three are cute! I like Lil' miss Muffitt!

Thanks, Pippin. Then Little Miss Muffet it will be.......except now I will have to drag that spider around with me all evening. LOL!