A Few of Fr's Finest...Every Day....01-30-03...Our Union is Strong"

JohnHuang2;Billie;Dutchess | JohnHuang2

[dutchess]

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.

                     

President Bush:

"Americans are a free people, who know that freedom is the right of every person and the future of every nation. The liberty we prize is not America's gift to the world, it is God s gift to humanity."

"Our Union Is Strong"

by JohnHuang2

Some speeches are merely adequate to the task -- a memorable line here or there, maybe, but, beyond that, not much. Other speeches standout as above average caliber, those that rise to the occasion and beyond, marked by defining lines and phrases of exceptional quality and brilliance which won't easily be forgotten.

But the words and performance from the well of the House Chamber this week went beyond merely adequate or sufficient -- beyond merely *above par*, or superior, even.

Transcending expectations even of the President's staunchest supporters, what we saw and heard tonight was a vaulting tour-de-force of unparalleled splendor, unriveled clarity and authority, a sweeping political magnum opus of watershed dimensions, a torrent of passion and conviction, certitude and hope only a confident leader with vision and clearness could deliver convincingly.

This was more than a speech, more than a lively pageantry of elegant words, which, however kindling and inspiring at the moment, the spur fades swiftly, leaving no deep or lasting mark, no thrust over the grander human narrative, the course of history itself.

By contrast, this State of the Union Address, Bush's second, will be remembered not merely for choice phrases, polished words or classy lines, but as a momentous, rousing call to history, a crucial and decisive fork-in-the-road for the nation.

As a leader, Bush is exemplary, a man of unshaken faith, steely instincts, unflinching resolve and purpose, yet shrewdly circumspect and judicious, careful to weigh repercussions from policy well ahead of the pack, a knack which drives Democrat foes -- bewildered, baffled, befuddled -- up the wall in frustration. The number of times political rivals have mis-underestimated el hombre de Tejas could, quite literally, fill whole libraries.

Indeed, leading-up to tonight's address, the mis-underestimators, true to form, were at it again, describing the President as 'adrift', 'flagging', 'lethargic', 'on defense', 'under pressure', needing urgently to 'reassure' a skeptical public increasingly 'doubtful' of his leadership. The flurry of dour assessments seemed stubbornly immune to facts -- pre-SOTU polls showed overwhelming majorities giving Bush extraordinary high marks on leadership, management, decisiveness, vision and ability to make tough decisions. But implacable Bush-haters -- Washington Post "reporter" Dana Milbank springs to mind -- will not be deterred by mere facts.

So acute was the media desperation over the President's seemingly bullet-proof popularity that celebration greeted a recent Gallup survey pegging job approval at 58% in January, a 'devastation' 'collapse', a 'catastrophic' 'tumble' from December's 61%. The much-heralded 'collapse, never mind, fell well within the poll's margin of sampling error. Oh, facts are such stubborn things!

Another Bush trademark that sticks in liberal craws: A frank, straightforward honesty, a candid, down-to-earth genuineness and reserve rare in politicians, endearing traits which, much to elite chargin, has won him the trust and confidence of Americans across party lines -- a mystic bond defying all precedence.

Bush, his beliefs and personal strengths deeply rooted in experience, his values and virtues the outgrowth of a life rich in vicissitudes -- twists and turns, tests and challenges -- brings to the Presidency a soundness of judgment and horse-sense, a level of wisdom and insight, far beyond Bush's years in politics.

George W. Bush is living testament to the fact that, in a leader, Character Counts most of all.

Bush enters the 2nd half of his term unequivocally in total command of the stage, the agenda and issues framed primarily on his terms, a crippled opposition mired in muddle, floundering after stinging defeat at the polls last November.

Across the full range of issues, Bush spoke with ringing clarity and eloquence, a crispness and energy as only he can deliver, building his case forcefully, girding the nation for possible war.

Projecting from the dais tonight, a portrait of strength, triumph, resilience, confidence, hope -- defining traits ingrained in each of us, the things which make us uniquely American.

President Bush:

"In all these days of promise and days of reckoning, we can be confident. In a whirlwind of change, and hope, and peril, our faith is sure, our resolve is firm, and our union is strong."

Never has a President embodied the mettle and grit, courage and verve, sparkle and spirit, compassion and optimism of America and her people quite like George W. Bush.

Bottom line? What we heard this week was history-making, galvanizing, visionary -- greatness befitting a great leader.

Great job, Mr. President.

Anyway, that's...

My two cents..

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 01-27-03 Aquamarine...A Gem of A Freeper 01-28-03 "The Taxman Cometh" 01-29-03 snippy_about_it

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

[GailA]

[Billie]

Whew! It's all there, and it's all formatted, and YOU DID IT!!! Tell me now, Sistah Dutchess, you're 'getting it' and you're 'loving it', aren't you? Just one more week, and BillieBlue is gently nudging you from the nest....you must test your wings on other things. (But not to worry, if you fall to the ground, you have a large family who will rush to pick you up and dust you off and soothe you - we won't let the big bad cat get to you first.) :)

John, every time I read one of your essays I think your words can't get any better or more 'right on' - you have such a gift, and I hope you know how much we appreciate that you share it here. Your admiration for this President is strong and deep - like so many of us here - and it shows in the way you pen your words. Thank you for being here - thank you for changing your essay at the very last minute.....FRiends, John sent another essay on Monday night for us to use for today, and he and Dutchess talked via FReepmail after the speech, and he wrote this immediately after. So, thank you BOTH for a wonderful thread today!

[Pippin]

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY!!!!

((((PIPPIN HUGS))))!

TO EVERYBODY!!!

[mountaineer]

Something to think about:

"Time and time again over the 20th century, the West learned that the scale of crimes committed by totalitarian regimes was far worse than we even knew. It was not until those brutal regimes fell and their victims documented the full extent of the monstrous abuse that we learned the truth.

"We saw it in Hitler's Germany. We saw it in the Soviet Union. We saw it in Cambodia, and eventually we will see it in Cuba. And once Saddam fails and falls, the Iraqi people will shock and disgust the world by revealing the full, ghastly scope of Saddam's oppression."

— House Majority Whip Tom DeLay, Texas Republican, speaking from the House floor this week, quoted in the WashTimes

[firewalk]

Thanks for the ping Dutchess

& Good morning (-:

[LadyX]

Aha, dutchess! I was suspicious when you were lurking in the wee hours when WVNan and jwfiv and I were having fun. Waited until I turned down the lights in the Room and left so you could tiptoe in to post, I see.

Another A+, John, for your essay on the President's State of the Union speech.

Yes, indeed - f-a-c-t-s are the boulders Democrats stumble over when they try to lay out their Obstacle Course for the Day.
Their pratfalls become our amusement-for-the-day, as a consequence, proving over and over they are their own worst adversary.

We have every reason to be proud of both the speech - and the manner in which it was delivered.
No laying out of stones uncommon to the Normandy Beach into a cross for the camera - no sudden biting of lip at a funeral to hide his laughter, realizing the camera was upon him.
No Applaud Me sign held up at intervals.

Our treat was purpose, composure, dignity, resolve - and his acknowledgement of and willingness to carry the heavy mantle he bears at this somber moment in history.

[LadyX]

Glad to see you here again, Radix.
Love your comments..:))

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody !! Happy Thursday !

Have a cup while you FReep !

For those who prefer hot chocolate.....

[LadyX]

"the words vacuous, vapid and vomitous come to mind..."

Nothing like a nice plate of alliteration for breakfast, jw..:))

By the way - nice socks you're sporting today..:)))

( joke from last night, folks ~ ~ )

[Budge]

Great, JH2!

One word, "GRAVITAS!"

[LadyX]

There is Carlsbad Carl - my very favorite Caveman, with the much-needed coffee - hooray!

[dutchess]

You left JFKerry out of the picture of the Dims!

Yes I did....and I remember downloading a perfect one of him! Will try to post it later!!! Thanks for stopping by!

[jwfiv]

Thanks, LadyX...that sure looks like me...as you can tell, I'm a slave to fashion...)

[dutchess]

Hi sistahs! I FORGOT TO DO THE LINK ON YESTERDAYS THREAD! oops! I know Billie...time to "nudge me along" LOL The montage is a hit...can't believe I forgot to send you one of Kerry...HillarysLovelyLegs posted a side by side of the pic and Frankenstein, I think on the live thread. The resemblence was uncanny!

[LadyX]

"as you can tell, I'm a slave to fashion...)"

Forced into slavery, eh, by those memory lapses.
Still can't find the argyles, I'll wager.... LOL

[dutchess]

Hi JW and LadyX. Great to see you today! Yes, John's essay hits the nail on the head. We can be so proud of our president...It's so frustrating though...I heard a teany tiny soundbite that eight Europeon countries have issued a letter publically supporting Bush's stand on Iraq. But what's the BIG NEWS in the media???? Wimpy France and Germany (AND Susan Sorandon) GEESH!

[dutchess]

Thanks for the coffee and yummy food! Sure hit the spot today!

[dutchess]

Love your touchup on Daschle. He is so fun to "morph"!

[Billie]

Hi sistahs! I FORGOT TO DO THE LINK ON YESTERDAYS THREAD! oops! I know Billie...time to "nudge me along"

Then go do it! Go do the link - don't any of you Sistahs do it for her 'cause she knows how!!!!LOL!

Gosh! I wish we had the Kerry one, too - he looked like a zombie (or Frankenstein - close enough) :)

[dutchess]

Hi soon to be grandpa again! You must be beaming! (and continued prayers for your boys!)

It looks like Teddy will tumble over any seconding. LOL!