A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-05-02

Billie, JohnHuang2 and daisyscarlett | John Huang2

[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: Logos, SwedeGirl's hubby, Neil E Wright, FallGuy, 1John, Sneakypete
MIDDLE:  T'wit, COB1, LadyX, Dick Bachert, 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub
BOTTOM:  YankeeinSC, Delta21, JoeSixPack1

TOP:  Bosniajmc, AFVetGal, Archy, A Navy Vet
MIDDLE:  4TheFlag, Aeronaut, 68Grunt, Xinga
BOTTOM:  Codger, AAABest, Clinton's A Liar, Duke809, dcwusmc

TOP:  mc5cents, Norb2569, LBGA's son, VanJenerette
MIDDLE:  Jim Robinson, KJenerette, davidosborne, KG9Kid
BOTTOM:  gwmoore, Equality7-2521, SAMWolf

TOP:  porgygirl, Phil V., MudPuppy, NorCoGOP
MIDDLE:  RaceBannon, OneidaM, rdb3, jwTexian
BOTTOM:  USMC Vet, TheMayor, Vineyard, rhododogma

We now have eleven groups of veterans/active military; we will post each group of three or four twice a week, with thumbnail/links of the remaining seven or eight groups on each thread. Click on any of the thumbnails below to see the group full-size.

         

GROUP 5A: TOP:  spectr17, RightOnline, SERE_Doc, Tet68. MIDDLE:  FutureSnakeEater, RightOnline's wife, CIApilot, Clamper1797. BOTTOM:  usmcobra, onedoug, DiverDave, Joe6-pack.

GROUP 6A: 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.

GROUP 7A: 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.

GROUP 8A: 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.

      

GROUP 9A: 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.

GROUP 10A: TOP: dakine's wife, MeeknMing's dad, Auntbee's nephew, MilitiaMan7, AlasBabylon. BOTTOM:  Joe Brower, Temple Owl, Temple Owl's wife, dutchess' dad, Aomagrat.

GROUP 11A: TOP: ladtx #2 son; DiverDave's twin Don; petuniasevan and husband poorman; Mustard; ladtx #1 son. BOTTOM: AlamoGirl's brother Floyd; AG's dad; AG's brother Jim (inset); WVNan's husband; ladtx' Aunt Eva.

                     

The Saudi Story -- The Sequel

by JohnHuang2

So lemme see if I get this straight: The Saudi Royals suddenly just rolled out of bed Tuesday morning and said, 'gee, we had no idea we were funding the fundies, but let's hold a 'We-Did-Not-Have-Charity-Relations-With-Those-Terrorists-And-We-Promise-Never-To-Do-It-Again' press conference in Washington -- all without White House prompting, right? No behind-the-scenes, 'are-you-with-us-or-with-the-terrorists?', 'get-off-the-fence' ultimatums from the Bush administration, eh? No reading of the riot act, huh?

Well, if you believe that, email me at elhombre63@yahoo.com. I've got some oil fields in Saudi Arabia to sell ya.

Besides, which is it? The 'Bush-Orchestrated-9/11-With-Help-From-The-Royal-Family' conspiracy kooks deny the White House had anything to do with this announcement. Yet they tell us the Royals and Bush are joined at the hips. (For residents of Palm Beach County, the Saudis Tuesday announced a major crack down on terrorist financing, the imposition of tough new rules on charities, creation of an agency to oversee them, an intelligence unit to secretly track charitable payments, among other reforms.)

"It's about helping ... set up systems that are effective -- policies, procedures -- so they can track not only donations that they receive but expenditures that they engage in," said Adel al-Jubeir, foreign affairs adviser to Crown Prince Abdullah, at the Saudi Embassy Tuesday in Washington.

For the anti-Bush zealots, no matter which faction/contingent or bloc, this Saudi brouhaha marks the best of all worlds. There's something here for every cabal. Yum-yum-delicious!

For 'Hate-America-Make-Love-Not-War' flag-burners, the controversy complicates at the most critical juncture anti-Saddam coalition-building for the Bush administration. Washington very much wants Saudi bases available -- or at least overflight rights -- in the event U.N. inspections fail. This dispute, Bush-haters hope, drives a wedge in U.S.-Saudi relations and strengthens the hand of anti-Western, pro-bin Laden hardliners within the Royal family, who want nothing with Washington and will glom onto this and say, 'Ah-ha! We told you so'.

For paranoid, black helicopter crackpots, the U.S.-Saudi fracas fuels their 'Bush-Knew-About-9/11-Before-9/11-But-Did-Nothing-In-Order-To-Protect-Big-Oil-And-Boost-His-Polls' fantasies/delusions.

For the 'Bush-Is-An-Idiot' media, the Saudi fracas gives them a chance to regurgitate pre-9/11 mantras, since discredited: Bush doesn't know what he doing; Bush is in over his head; Bush is too naive, blah, blah, blah.

For al-Qaeda terrorists, a rupture in U.S.-Saudi ties means Mission Accomplished. It would be everything they've worked so hard for. Quick: Why were 15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers Saudis? Hmmm, was it just coincidence, or 'Divide-and-Conquer' strategy by Osama to turn his enemies against each other?

For Democrats in Congress, this rumpus, they believe, gives them an opening to attack the Bush administration knavishly on its strongest issue -- national security -- and guilefully appear to the "right" of Bush. See America? Who said we Dems are a bunch of wusses? Why, we're bigger hawks than Bush! Watch as we beat our chests loudly with our big fists!

It's a way to discredit Bush and discredit the War on Terror, they think.

To death and taxes, add a third certainty in life: D.O. -- Democrat Opportunism. Mention this Saudi hubbub, and liberals, on cue, switch into 'let-me-tell-you-why-Bush-is-no-good' mode. No surprise, of course, for no matter what Bush says or does, if Democrats aren't fussing and crabbing, they're nagging and nitpicking.

Bottom line: Dems, rejected by voters for being too soft-on-Terror, are exploiting the Saudi fracas full-tilt to gain back lost credibility.

But it won't work and the reason is simple: The inherent pandemonium of contradictions.

Compare the Democrats' 'don't-ask, don't-tell' position on Saddam with their stance vis-a-vis the Saudis. It's a maze of a contradictions. To illustrate, Dems will tell you that, on the one hand, acting unilaterally in Iraq is a no-no -- a big NO-NO. 'Build a coalition', they urge Bush. Consult our "allies". Seek U.N. approval. Be careful not to upset Arab sensibilities -- or risk inflaming the 'Arab Street'. Be mindful of Arab pride. Don't look like a bully, or act like you seek world domination. Don't act like a crusader. Don't spread our forces too thin, nor take on too many enemies at once. Iraq only diverts valuable resources away from the hunt for al-Qaeda. Oh, and don't bomb on Ramadan.

Ah, now mention Saudi Arabia, and lo and behold! Instantly! magically! 'See-No-Evil-Hear-No-Evil' Dems morph into "super-hawks". On Saudi Arabia, Dems say, 'to heck with Arab sensibilities! Take action -- now! Be unilateralist! To heck with Arab pride! Who cares about the Arab Street? To heck with consulting allies! To heck with the U.N. -- just do something, Bush! Bully the Saudis! Crusade into all their internal affairs! Oh, and while you're at it, go after Pakistan's Gen. Musharraf, too -- just keep your hands off Saddam!

Now tell me, does any of this make any sense? Imagine how it all looks to the American people. It's why Democrats have not a shred of credibility.

Don't take my word for it. Turn on the Sunday TV gabshows, and chances are you'll find big-talking Democrat Senator Bob Huffing-and-Puffing Graham of Florida lobbing his latest 'Bush-Is-A-Derelict' salvos. Gee, Bob, if your party's so tough, why are Dem trial lawyer fat-cats hankering for release of bin Laden terrorists from Gitmo? Y'all want a big Democrat-al-Qaeda family reunion, I suppose, eh? Behind every 'Bush-is-to-blame-for-9/11 lib, I suspect, lurks a bin Laden sympathizer screaming to get out.

Anyway, that's...

My two cents..

THIS WEEK'S THREADs

12-02-02 nicmarlo
12-03-02 jwfiv
12-04-02 Profile Pages #7

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

Time's Running Out! Get Your Pet Photos to Billie!

[GailA]

Checking in this evening. Found hubby some Red Skelton DVD's out at Wal-Mart for just $9.99. We lived just 11 miles from Vincennes, IN where Mr. Skelton was born and lived.

[MistyCA]

Hi Pippin

[MistyCA]

John...your two cents worth are always worth at least a quarter! :) Thanks for what you do!!! :)

[Pippin]

Hi, Gail!

Guess I'd better check out the Walmarts in my area for the Redf Skelton DVD's! :^)

[Pippin]

HAHAHA! Cute graphic!

Santa better learn to skate! :^)

[dansangel]

Hello all!

Great rant, {{{{{{{{{JH2}}}}}}}}}}}}. You ***always*** "tell it like it is." God Bless you for that!

Sistahs: Happy almost Friday to you. It's been a trying week for me. Will be glad when it's over. I need to win the lottery so I can retire...LOL! {{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}

jwfiv: Hello again! It's always so great to see your smiling face! {{{{{{{{jwfiv}}}}}}}

StLouie1: {{{{{{{{{{{{Louie-Wolfie-Man}}}}}}}}}}}} You have absolutely NO idea how welcome that graphic was. It made me "laugh out loud" all by myself in my office!! I needed that!!!! You're the absolute best!

lodwick: I'm not sure of your role in the kitty graphic, but whatever it was, THANK-YOU!!! heheheheheh
{{{{{{{{{{loddie}}}}}}}}}}}

[dansangel]

{{{{{{{{{Colleen}}}}}}}}}}}

Your snow graphic is so apropos for today! Although we were spared here in Atlanta by the grace of God and one degree, many of my company's locations were closed all up and down the east coast due to the "white stuff."

[dansangel]

Hello {{{{{{{{{knighthawk}}}}}}}}}

I'm so sorry I keep missing you. Hope you ahd a ***wonderful*** day!

[dansangel]

Worked from home today and was very busy but starting to get back to my old self again.

I hope you get back to "your old self" really soon. I'm worried about you!

{{{{{{{{{Mixer}}}}}}}}}}

[knighthawk]

I did. Hope you had a great day as well!!!

[dansangel]

Dadnabbit, youse guys!! I'm always misiing you it seems!

Pippin: Hope all is well by you. Stay safe and warm - enjoy the snow from afar! {{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}

Amy: Hoping you are having a fan-tab-u-lous day! We need to get our acts together and "meet' at the same time at the Finest! {{{{{{{{{Amy}}}}}}}}}}}

[dansangel]

Dadnabbit, youse guys!! I'm always missing you it seems!

Pippin: Hope all is well by you. Stay safe and warm - enjoy the snow from afar! {{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}

Amy: Hoping you are having a fan-tab-u-lous day! We need to get our acts together and "meet' at the same time at the Finest! {{{{{{{{{Amy}}}}}}}}}}}

[dansangel]

Thank-you FReeper FRiend! I made it through another day...I am so glad it's Friday tomorrow! I have a feeling tomorrow will be even better!

{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}

[Pippin]

Hi ((Dansangel)))!

You didn't miss me! :^)

[dansangel]

{{{{{{{{{Meekie}}}}}}}}}}

I hate to say it, but those were funny. Those people definitely qualify for the "Darwin Award."

{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}} to you, Ming and Dad!

[knighthawk]

The best thing about Friday is that I get the afternoon off!

[dansangel]

You didn't miss me! :^)

Kewl!! Something went right tonight then! LOL!

Sorry about the double-post...thought I was correcting a typo and ended up posting twice....it's been a LONG day!

Is the packing going OK?

{{{{{{{Hugs}}}}}}}}

[dansangel]

The best thing about Friday is that I get the afternoon off!

I wish we had "flex time" like that at our company. I work 6:00 am until 4:30 pm every day. I could certainly use the afternoon off on Friday and would still have enough hours in.

Oh well, maybe someday they'll allow it.

[Pippin]

Just a couple more boxes and I'm finished!

I'm getting excited now! :^)

[Pippin]

You get Friday afternoons off?

KEWL! :^)