A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-13-02

dansangel; Billie

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

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

GROUP 2A: TOP:  Bosniajmc, AFVetGal, Archy, A Navy Vet MIDDLE:  4TheFlag, Aeronaut, 68Grunt, Xinga BOTTOM:  Codger, AAABest, Clinton's A Liar, Duke809, dcwusmc

GROUP 3A: TOP:  mc5cents, Norb2569, LBGA's son, VanJenerette MIDDLE:  Jim Robinson, KJenerette, davidosborne, KG9Kid BOTTOM:  gwmoore, Equality7-2521, SAMWolf

GROUP 4A: TOP:  porgygirl, Phil V., MudPuppy, NorCoGOP MIDDLE:  RaceBannon, OneidaM, rdb3, jwTexian BOTTOM:  USMC Vet, TheMayor, Vineyard, rhododogma

      

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.

                     

sweetliberty Freeper since July 28, 2001

Inquisitional Minds have been demanding to know what makes a right-wing fanatic "tick." After extensive research, I found what I believe to be the perfect subject for dissection. After months of hounding her, sweetliberty finally agreed to this interview. She appears to be congenial and even humbled by the opportunity to be interviewed for The National Inquisition, but don't let that façade fool you. It didn't fool yours truly. Deep within beats the heart of a hardened conservative - cold and without feeling. It is with great pleasure that I bring you:

sweetliberty: The Exclusive Inquisitional Interview

dansangel: I'm so glad you agreed to do an interview with me. As you know, "Inquisitional Minds Want to Know!"

sweetliberty: I hardly know what to say. I feel very honored to have been asked to do this. Thank you dansangel and Billie. It is a privilege.

dansangel: I hope you still feel the same way by the time we're through. Now, why don't you give us a little dirt, er, I mean history about yourself.

sweetliberty: I am a country girl and a southerner by birth and by preference. I was raised in a sleepy little town in rural southeastern Virginia. My daddy was in the navy and was overseas when I was born. My parents divorced when I was 5 or 6 and Daddy moved back to his native Kentucky where he'd been raised on a tobacco farm with 12 brothers and sisters and no indoor plumbing. I loved summers in the country in Kentucky....some of my best memories.

sweetliberty's Daddy

Back in Virginia, I was raised predominantly by my great-grandma until she passed away when I was 9. Everybody called her "Nanny" and as a child, my favorite place on earth was Nanny's garden. It seemed she had every kind of flower imaginable. My favorites were her prize-winning irises, rows and rows of them in every color imaginable. All the way in the back was the vegetable garden with corn, tomatoes, squash, butter beans, snaps, turnips, radishes, cabbage and cucumbers. Nanny had tremendous patience, much more than I ever learned, I'm afraid. One thing there was plenty of at Nanny's was books and I loved books from as early as I can remember, and I can remember VERY early. With her help I taught myself to read and write long before I went to school and reading was always one of my favorite things to do in my spare time. I used to get teased a lot for always having my nose buried in a book, especially on summer vacations.

Nanny

dansangel: What did you want to be when you grew up?

sweetliberty: I had big plans for my life, but as is so often the case, things didn't exactly go according to plan. My dream of raising 7 kids on a farm went downhill when my marriage ended in divorce over my husband's unwillingness to give up his unhappy love affair with Jack Daniels and I found myself raising our daughter, Dawn, alone. That was also pretty much the end of my plans to enter the ministry. Having determined that the lack of order in my own life precluded me from serving as one who would teach others how to order theirs, I dropped out of my second year in seminary and focused my attention on being the best mom I could be. While I know I made mistakes, I must have done something right. She votes Republican.

Recent photo of sweetliberty and daughter, Dawn (top) - Dawn at age 16 (bottom)

dansangel: And you don't count THAT as a mistake? Good grief! Were there any other serious relationships after your first husband?

sweetliberty: I haven't gotten married again, although now that my life is my own again, I certainly haven't ruled it out. I still hope to settle down in the country again and create a little haven where I can recreate some of my own precious memories for my grandchildren.

dansangel: You have grandchildren?

sweetliberty: I have one already, a grandson, Tyler, and it certainly broadens one's perspective. He is 5 years old now and he lived with me for most of his first 4 years. I hope to have more, but at the same time I have great concern for the world they would come into.

sweetliberty's grandson Tyler

dansangel: Well, I certainly hope you aren't going to brainwash HIM into being a Republican.

sweetliberty: I never really bothered myself too much with politics and at times past I often did not even want to know what was going on because I found it too depressing. It wasn't that I was in denial. I voted, but it was more out of concern for specific issues, especially abortion, than it was out of any real political persuasion. I registered as a Republican initially to vote for Ronald Reagan, but later registered as an independent which I remained for years.

sweetliberty "several years ago" playing guitar in Colorado's "Garden of the Gods."

dansangel: "Independent" is certainly more palatable than "Republican." What led you to that mistake?

sweetliberty: My attitude changed dramatically with the Clinton regime and that is one of the things I PERSONALLY hold against him. Suddenly I no longer felt secure in America and no longer trusted that our leaders had our best interests at heart. I was concerned that those sweet liberties that I had always taken for granted would not exist for our grandchildren. I found myself watching the news all the time, constantly flipping from one news channel to another. It wasn't too long before I came to realize that Fox was the only one that really seemed to offer any conservative balance or objectivity.

sweetliberty at age 26 - in curlers!

dansangel: Nothing like a shameless plug for the competition….

sweetliberty: That was when I became familiar with Matt Drudge, who still had his show on Fox then. I had come to detest the Clintons and everything they stood for. During the impeachment I became obsessed with seeing these demons get what was coming to them and every time Clinton showed his ugly face on TV I felt like my home had been invaded. I re-registered as a Republican so I could vote for Alan Keyes in the 2000 primary. I later voted for Dubya in the general election.

dansangel: Were you being influenced by online conservative fodder?

sweetliberty: Until that time, I had not been online, except to go to the library and read the Drudge Report or to occasionally visit Rush's site. With the 2000 election coming up, I decided I really wanted to be online to follow what was going on so I got a computer and was online by mid-afternoon of November 7, 2000. I didn't have a clue what I was doing but I did know how to get to Drudge's site and I also found my way to a political chatroom where I met some incredibly interesting and knowledgeable people.

dansangel: Would that "chatroom" have been that heinous pit of right-wing brainwashing, Free Republic?

sweetliberty: It was at that time that I first heard about Free Republic and began visiting sometimes. It was actually several months and many discussions later, when my first and favorite FReeper friend, PeaceBeWithYou, got me spending enough time there that I signed up and started posting. I was hooked in no time.

dansangel: See? Brainwashed. Case closed!

sweetliberty: I discovered that it is the best source around for news and all kinds of other information and I found the company here to be delightful. It is also the best place I know of, online or off, to relax and unwind, to vent, to laugh, to exchange ideas, to recharge our batteries, to make plans and to make friends. I have found FReepers to be some of the most intelligent and witty and passionate people I've ever met and having so many like-minded people in one place is truly inspiring.

dansangel: More like "scary"…

sweetliberty: I have found that FReepers in real life are every bit as good a company as they are online too, and I enjoy the company of my Hog Wild FReeper friends on a regular basis. While FReepers can be male or female and come in all ages, shapes, colors and traditions and from all walks of life and be different from one another in any number of ways, the common ground we share is something truly unique and the relationships here something I have come to cherish. We make a difference where change is needed.

dansangel: And what makes you think there's a need for change?

sweetliberty: The liberals have done a lot of damage to our country and they have no intention of throwing in the towel any time soon, so I anticipate that their tactics will get progressively more despicable as they get more and more desperate. We cannot afford to let down our guard. We are a force to be reckoned with, and they know it as evidenced by some of the latest attacks on conservative media. I've no doubt that they'd shut us down if they could.

dansangel: That's a might hefty allegation!

sweetliberty: Jim Robinson has done a great service for America by creating Free Republic as have all the FReepers who have made this their "home" and contributed their time and knowledge and resources to make it what it is. I do have one complaint though.

dansangel: Finally! And that complaint would be?

sweetliberty: Free Republic is fattening! I am still fighting to get rid of the 40 or so extra pounds I put on since election 2000. It's coming along but I still have a ways to go. Some genius really needs to come up with a weight-reducing FReeping chair.

dansangel: Not exactly what I had in mind for a "complaint." Anyway, describe some of your right-wing activism.

sweetliberty: As you know, I am very busy lately with an effort to fight voter fraud. To find out more about how I got involved with that, check out the thread, which will be an ongoing effort particularly aimed at impacting the next election. I hope this thread will bring more attention to this important issue and get more people involved.

FReepers Against Voter Fraud

dansangel: Why don't you share some of your conservative beliefs with us.

sweetliberty: I believe there is good and evil and right and wrong and that we should know the difference. I believe in preserving tradition and morality and in protecting the innocence of children. I believe that homosexuality is a sin. I don't believe in "special" status for anybody except the most innocent or the most helpless. I believe in being loving and generous because it is what is in your heart, not because the government requires it of you. I believe in taking responsibility for your own actions, but not in judgment without mercy. I do not believe that the establishment of freedom of religion was ever intended to protect demonic cults. Freedom of choice does not include the slaughter of innocents in the womb. It does not mean "freedom" from religion or "freedom" from being offended. We are a nation built on the laws of God and no one has the right to expel God from it.

I love my country and I love freedom. While I abhor violence, I have come to realize that it is the only language understood by many in the world who would do us harm. I believe that if freedom is to be preserved we have to do whatever it takes to restrain or even abolish those enemies. I believe that liberalism is an enemy within our borders, political correctness is its language and socialism is its goal and as such needs to be treated as swiftly and harshly as any foreign enemy. It has corrupted us from within like a cancer and robbed us of common sense and decency as a culture. It is time for renewal. In order to find balance the pendulum needs to swing the other way. I pray it is not too late.

Please join me in giving another deserving FReeper a warm welcome to FR's Finest...

Today that Finest is
sweetliberty!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 12-09-02 Paul Atreides 12-10-02 Gingerbread House Contest 12-11-02 Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! 12-12-02 Holiday Top-Ten-List Contest

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

[ru4liberty]

High fives for being today's finest! I'm so glad to have you on our side! God bless you exceeding abundantly.

P.S. My daddy's roots are in Kentucky too. We might be cousins! (Note to others: No hillbilly jokes allowed!!!)

[dansangel]

Top o' the Mornin' to you, Fiddlstix!

Thank-you for the ***wonderful*** holiday cheer that you have been bringing to this thread!

I hope you have a fan-tab-u-lous FRiday! :-)

{{{{{{{{{{Fiddlstix}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Coos Bay Coast Guard Rescue Latest Update 0545 PST
Intrepid and 55' sailboat in tow still waiting to cross bar.
They have been circiling the bouy all night.
All crew members on both boats doing ok.
The 2 47' boats will be getting underway around 0645 PST and sit inside the bar.
Bar breaking at 14'+ at 0545 PST Winds picking up.
Please continue your prayers.
Original Thread Here

[Budge]

We might be cousins! (Note to others: No hillbilly jokes allowed!!!)

Well dadgummit, you just spoiled all our fun! I kinda figgered with y'all havin' the same last name, liberty, that y'all might be mor'n cousins! :)

[Fiddlstix]

You're welcome J

[ru4liberty]

Click for more info about Edgerton's trek.

[dansangel]

I also love your profile page....I just visited "Stickdeath.com" because of the graphic you have. I'll have to go back when I have more time at home!

(Just e-mailed .45MAN and told him to go visit!) LOL!!

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

[lodwick]

Arkansas sunrise y'all

[Fiddlstix]

Glad you liked it J

[Pippin]

Good morning everyone!

How's everything going today?

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

BTW; FTH and MUD who won the contest?

Congratulations, SweetLiberty!

GHEE, I wished I had of been enlightened enough to become a Republican back in 1980!

If I'd of known then what i know now, I would have! :^)

[nicmarlo]

We can shorten it to "Her Highness"....I like that! :-)

LOL!

[conservativemusician]

You bet they are!

And we're just the guys to teach 'em!

[conservativemusician]

May I offer my concurrence, EV.

Beautifully illustrated sentiment,sweetliberty. Couldn't have said it better. Congratulations!

Nice work, dansangel.

[MeekOneGOP]

So, dude, yer enjoyin' the batchelor lifestyle?!! You ol' dawg, you...MUD

LOL ! Bad timing, I guess. Dad got well enough in East Texas I could leave him by himself. I get back just in time for Ming's departure. I'll just hafta be patient, sitting at the door watching it, crying like a puppy waiting for her to come through the door....LOL !

[Mudboy Slim]

"Duelin' With Slick!!"
(To be sung to the Eagles' "Duelin' Dalton")

We wuz duelin'...with Bill Clinton!!
Truth shall flow...DemRATS, be shamed!!
Slick loves money and faithless women,
PhatLewinskey soothed Slick's pain....

Come now, Bill Clinton...Let's Fulfill God's Will!!
Fool Lib'rals' Party's DEAD in FReeperville!!
MUD's voice it sings fer Justice, "Slick's a HOOD!!"
Lay down your lawbooks, Slick, yer no damn good!!
Better keep on movin', SlickBoy Willie...
MUD's yer shadow...yer MUD's BEACH!!
If yer fast and if yer lucky,
You might never see that hangin' tree!!

Well, my FRiends, spread out and FReep the Lib'rals stain!!
RATS' Medyuh's filled with fool drones...kneelin' for their King.
Folks, FReepers shall use our backs and use our brains,
Lib'rals shall go stir crazy, Lord, 'cause BigGuv'ment Shall Be Razed!!
Yes, Bill Clinton met Mudboy Slim...
Muddy sung and FReep'd, just fightin' crimes.
Then MUD laughed and sang, "Yer MUD's HO, boy!!"
Re-Impeach Slick...it's OUR FReepin' Design!!

Work in progress...MUD

[FreeTheHostages]

Wow! LOL, Dansangel, you do a *great* imitation of the liberal media! And obviously I already think sweetliberty is a winner! Congrats on your day. "Free Republic is fattening!" Hmm, seems like a possible class action lawsuit . . . .

[FreeTheHostages]

"BTW; FTH and MUD who won the contest?"

You came in second! (Please see previous thread for results -- don't want to steal thunder from Sweetliberty's day in the sun!)

[Pippin]

Alright!

Yippie!

Do I get the calender?

[FreeTheHostages]

Well, people want to know, so I should just mention:

The judges' decision from yesterday's contest can be viewed here. First place: jwfiv. Tied for second: Mixer beats out WvNan for cute photos by a dog whisker, and Pippin ties with Mixer for second. Third: DaisyScarlett's excellent bribes get her third. She looked out for us, so we looked out for her. Numerous hilarious honorable mentions, including lodwick (special award) and balata.

[FreeTheHostages]

We're out of "calenders," but we do I have a "calendar." ;) Just to be difficult. You have your choice of a Clinton Legacy Cookbook or a calendar. Just Freepmail me with your preference and your snailmail address.

'Tis my preference to do such business by Freepmail.

Afterall, Sweetliberty already *won* the first contest so these details she already knows about! I think it's great that she's our Freeper's Finest today. Dansangel, I discovered her too!!