A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-30-02...Time's Pick for Person of the Year: An Artful Dodge

JohnHuang2; 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: 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.

                     

Time's pick for Person of the Year: An Artful Dodge

by JohnHuang2

I can only imagine the pickle liberal editors at Time, scurrying for their 2002 Person of the Year, found themselves in this time around. Oh, they knew exactly who that Person was all right, but couldn't bring themselves to admit it. Not on their lives.

Wouldn't you love to have been a fly on the wall during all the heated, tortuous, silly back-and-forths?

Yet, all the while, staring right at them, a colossal Elephant standing in the corner of the newsroom. This year's person of the year was so ludicrously obvious, so-plain-as-the-nose-on-your-face unmistakable, it's inconceivable how Time thought it could get away with its risibly dopey selection. Their 'Let's-Not-Get-Our-Liberal-Base-Mad-At-Us' choice doesn't pass even the laugh test.

The Elephant in the Time newsroom? I'll tell you in a sec -- though I know I don't need to tell you, which is, after all, precisely the point.

But first, let me tell you who, for reasons so simple they boggle the mind, wasn't person, or persons, of the year, Time magazine notwithstanding.

GREGORY HEISLER FOR TIME
THE WHISTLE-BLOWERS: Cynthia Cooper, WorldCom; (left to right), Coleen Rowley, the FBI; and Sherron Watkins, Enron

With all due respect to Cynthia Cooper, Coleen Rowley and Sherron Watkins, Time's Persons of the Year 2002, this triumvirate of 'whistleblowers' were not the people with the greatest impact on shaping the year's events -- Time's bench mark. Media celebrity prima donnas, perhaps, but Persons of the year? Ah, don't think so.

Proof? Well, here we are, at the close of calender year 2002, and who, other than voracious news-junkies, even vaguely remembers their names? Take a poll and I'd be surprised if even 5% know who they are.

So lemme see if I understand: Cooper of WorldCom, Rowley of FBI and Watkins of Enron were so pivotal, so crucial, so sine qua non in steering and shaping our world this year, that few of us even recall who the heck they are? Time must think Americans are blithering idiots. Gee whiz, what am I saying? -- Time does.

By what standard, moreover, do cog-in-the-machine bit-players, either complicit or irrelevant in the grand scheme, become glorious world-class "whistleblowers", a la Time?

If corporate/institutional shenanigans framed events 2002, and if Person of the Year had to be a woman, heck why not Martha Stewart, the poster gal of corporate fraud herself?

Time says that "these women," their famed 'whistleblowers', "were people who did the right thing just by doing their jobs rightly -- which means ferociously, with eyes open and with bravery the rest of us always hope we have and may never know if we do."

We interrupt this love-fest to bring you some special facts (which, somehow, seem never to get in the way at Time): Er, Watkins and Cooper were, far from 'whistleblowers', enablers at best, aiders-and-abetters at worst, keeping the lid jealously tight on inside company flimflam/chicanery/theft -- 'creative accounting' shell games which came to light, ultimately not by whistleblowing, but when public disclosure became unavoidable and companies collapsed.

In neither case was law enforcement informed, though the Financial Fraud Detection and Disclosure Act required both Cooper and Watkins to do so, not at a time or a place of their choosing, but at the point of discovery. Cooper and Watkins may fit Time's 'whistleblower' definition, but not Mirriam-Webster's.

As for Rowley, the Minneapolis FBI staff lawyer, beyond a secret 13-page memo to FBI Director Robert Mueller and to members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, not much. Whistleblower, perhaps. The biggest molder and shaper of events in our lives 2002? Get real.

The real 2002 Person of the Year?

No-brainer answer: President George W. Bush. Whether it's shaping debate or global events 2002, no other figure even comes close to this U.S. Commander-In-Chief.

A huge media hullabaloo opened the year, set off by Bush's 'Axis-Of-Evil' State-Of-The-Union Address in January. The 'Bush-is-an-idiot' media elitists -- disparaging, patronizing, demeaning as ever -- rabidly ridiculed inclusion of North Korea in that 'axis'.

'Is Bush stupid, or what?' they sneered. 'What the heck does Pyongyang have to do with Baghdad or Tehran, anyway? Bush is a know-nothing, drooling buffoon, and if this 'axis-of-evil' nonsense doesn't convince you, nothing will!' they raged.

The year closes, I don't need to tell you, with Bush fully vindicated and his adversaries -- frustrated, confounded, perplexed as ever -- wiping the usual egg off their faces.

Bush, nearly two years into his Presidency, still rides on top of the world, a tide of sustained popularity almost unprecedented in presidential history. The midterm elections became, not the mortal body blow his enemies predicted, but a stunning personal and political triumph, a powerful re-affirmation of his 2000 victory over Gore.

The story of 2002, again and again and again, is how Bush, at every turn, decisively out-maneuvers his enemies, who have yet to lay a glove on el hombre de Tejas and continue to mis-underestimate him.

A wave of corporate scandals will, said his critics, sink Bush's presidency faster than Nixon's Watergate. Never happened.

The 2002 collapse of the stock market had, much to Democrat chagrin, zero political effect on Bush's standing.

Reason?

Bush doesn't just react to events, he leverages his vigorous and forceful command of the stage to frame issues and shape opinion with almost unheard of alacrity, leaving foes befuddled and frustrated. Undergirding the dynamism and vigor, the energy and spirit he brings to the presidency is a trust and respect, a bonding and public affection for George W. Bush almost unique in its dimensions.

This President -- confident, unflinching, assertive, impassioned, tenacious -- keeps making history, raising the bar on presidential performance standards, building a mighty legacy future historians will marvel over for years.

When America speaks, thanks to the leadership of George W. Bush, the world, whether it likes it or not, now listens.

How this President, overcoming determined resistance at every level, at home and abroad, managed to bump Iraq to the top of the geopolitical agenda illustrates the point perfectly.

Saddam Hussein, some media pundits suggest, should've been Time's 2002 Man of the year, given the big splash from Baghdad on global events these past 12 months.

They still don't get it: If not for Bush, we wouldn't even be discussing Saddam in the first place.

We've talked a lot about what's been in the news, now let's talk about something that hasn't been in the news (i.e., conspicuous by its absence): Another terror attack on U.S. soil.

Most experts find that surprising. Sometime in '02, they warned, terrorists would strike again -- another spectacular terrorist event was inevitable. Never happened. Imagine had they been right? Think of how different, how grim 2002, looking back, would be remembered.

Now, let's do something interesting: Let's turn Time's criteria around on its head: The absence of another 9/11 is, itself, big news.

But was it just coincidence?

Fat chance.

Bush's dauntless resolve to fight terror and those that sponsor terror -- no matter what it takes, or how long -- has earned him the unflinching trust and confidence of the American people, and it's why Bush's my pick for Man of the Year.

Memo to Time: Next year, save yourself embarrassment and follow this simple rule: When picking your Person of the Year, just remember you ain't fooling anyone.

Anyway, that's..

My two cents..

LAST WEEK'S THREADS 12-23-02 Christmas Music 12-24-02 'Twas the Night Before Christmas 12-25,26,27-02 The Christmas Story

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

[Pippin]

Good After noon, Everybody!

I guess I kinda am a post and run type today, but I have so much to do now the holidays are over for another year. Now I have to get back to unpacking boxes and sending folks my new address and such like that.

I had my "off" time, now it's back to work for me!

And I have an appointment at 5 so I'll be getting off here soon.

Hmmmm? did I see Misty saying something about things getting back to normal?

[Feiny]

Me too Pip....I have been ill for a week! And I have not had the energy to freep. John wrote a great article today so I am glad I stopped by...

[jla]

What the heck's "TIME" magazine?! Never heard of it...MUD

You been livin' under a rock or something??

[Pippin]

i'm sorry to hear you were sick , and during Christmas at that!

Are you feeling better?

I think John's commentary today ROCKS!

[FreeTheHostages]

Er, Watkins and Cooper were, far from 'whistleblowers', enablers at best, aiders-and-abetters at worst, keeping the lid jealously tight on inside company flimflam/chicanery/theft -- 'creative accounting' shell games which came to light, ultimately not by whistleblowing, but when public disclosure became unavoidable and companies collapsed.

Exactly. Watkins is particularly troubling. She was so much a part of it -- a person who COULD have blown the whistle much earlier and save Enron shareholders millions and didn't. As usually, you're completely Right, JohnHuang!

[FreeTheHostages]

What the heck's "TIME" magazine?! Never heard of it...MUD

ExACTly.

[FreeTheHostages]

LOL, re this thread getting back to "normal" -- I've never seen it that way! Good morning friends and thanks for the pings.

Hey, WvNan, I went and saw my niece in Vermont this weekend. God Bless here, she's a TOTAL tomboy!! She insisted I take her to a local hardware store and buy her a "real" toolbox -- one the 4-year old has trouble even lifting -- with real tools!! She's been proudly showing her tools to the neighborhood. Vermont makes strong women!

Apparently, it's bear-hunting season in Vermont. Hey Vermonter, can you verify this? There was this guy in deer-hunting outfit who took time out of shopping for ammo for bear (or so he claimed) to help my little niece get just the right wrench and screwdriver for her tool box. She pretended to have opinions on which tools were best and this hunter played right along with her. I wished I had a video camera!

[Mudboy Slim]

"You been livin' under a rock or something??"

Nope...I just try not to subject myself to meaningless Leftist rags like "Time" and "People"!!

FReegards...MUD

[daisyscarlett]

Hi there, your majesty...Nice to see you so early in the week and thank you for a very fine essay...

Loved this part of your column:

"The story of 2002, again and again and again, is how Bush, at every turn, decisively out-maneuvers his enemies, who have yet to lay a glove on el hombre de Tejas and continue to mis-underestimate him."

Happy New Year, JH2...Look forward to your commentaries next year!!

[daisyscarlett]

Hi Sistahs...I am so jealous, Billie and Lori, that you have your Christmas decorations down and put away....I guess subconsciously I do not want to let go just yet...love all the pretty reds and greens etc....or maybe I am just lazy but mine are still up and that task is ahead of me...sigh...Waiting to hear from Sandy that she has arrived home from Fla and that she has got her computer storage problems solved....

Since we all live in climates that do not provide much snow, we probably cannot relate to this calendar page but others will and it does look like fun...

[daisyscarlett]

[lonestar]

This is fun. Happy New Year!

http://www2.incredimail.com/multimedia/flash/new_year4.swf

[Mama_Bear]

Hi daisy! Well, I certainly don't envy you still having to put all of your Christmas decorations away. It's a job I just dread.......probably because I go way overboard on decorating. I do four trees every year and one of them is a "Hallmark" tree with ornaments that all have to be matched up with their boxes and packed away. Each year I say "I am not doing this next year!" but, I always do. LOL.

I am also looking forward to Dansy's return. Seems like she has been gone a LONG time.

Now, shall we have tea?

[ValerieUSA]

[longshadow]

She insisted I take her to a local hardware store and buy her a "real" toolbox .....

Greenberg's?

[Aquamarine]

So glad you got to spend some time with your grandchildren. They're fortunuate to have you for a Grandma.
Grandma's are so special, both of mine were. :)

[Mama_Bear]

I received this from a friend today in an e-mail. Thought I would pass it on to all of you with wishes for a wonderful New Year ahead.

May you get a clean bill of health from your dentist, your cardiologist, your gastro-endocrinologist, your urologist, your proctologist, your podiatrist, your psychiatrist, your gynecologist, your plumber and the IRS.

May your hair, your teeth, your face-lift, your abs and your stocks not fall; and may your blood pressure, your triglycerides, your cholesterol, your white blood count and your mortgage interest not rise.

May you find a way to travel from anywhere to anywhere in the rush hour in less than an hour, and when you get there, may you find a parking space.

May Tuesday evening, December 31, find you seated around the dinner table, together with your beloved family and cherished friends, ushering in the new year ahead.  You will find the food better, the environment quieter, the cost much cheaper, and the pleasure much more fulfilling than anything else you might ordinarily do that night.

May you wake up on January 1st, finding that the world has not come to an end, the lights work, the water faucets flow, and the sky has not fallen.

May what you see in the mirror delight you, and what others see in you delight them. May someone love you enough to forgive your faults, be blind to your blemishes, and tell the world about your virtues.

May the telemarketers wait to make their sales calls until you finish dinner; may your checkbook and your budget balance, may they include generous amounts for charity.

May you remember to say "I love you" at least once a day to your spouse, your child, your parents, your friends; but not to your secretary, your nurse, your masseuse or your tennis instructor.

May we live as God intended, in a world at peace and the awareness of His love in every sunset, every flower's unfolding petals, every baby's smile, every lover's kiss, and every wonderful, astonishing miraculous beat of our heart.

A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL !!!!!!!!!!!

[Libertina]

Hi everybody! Thanks for the wonderful New Year wishes Mama_Bear! I had to laugh at the traffic one, because a couple weeks ago I had a NO RED LIGHT trip across the city! Who would have thought it was possible?! :) I just now got back home after seeing the Lord of the Rings part 2 - Two Towers. WONDERFUL, but very long. I needed an intermission! Also, so surprised to see so many young kids there. What are their parents thinking? Really scary bad guys!

[Libertina]

Another lovely photograpg, Valerie! Wow!

[LadyX]

All right, Madam - - step away from that keyboard and answer the front door.

It is a response by the Police Department to my 911 call relating whomever you are - you are not our Libertina.

She is a quite 'colorful' person, and would never post in plain and blah black letters.

The jig is up, and you soon will be wearing prison orange, Missy ~ ~ ~