PATRIOTS RALLY FOR AMERICA IV ON C-SPAN TODAY, 1:05 P.M. EST, 3/02/03

C-SPAN ^ | Sunday, March 2, 2003 | Kristinn

[kristinn]

Shiver along with the D.C. Chapter, FReepers from across the country, other patriotic Americans and Iraqi exiles as C-SPAN broadcasts the Patriots Rally For America IV today at 1:05 p.m.

Recorded yesterday at the cold, fog-shrouded, snow-covered grounds of the Washington Monument, the rally held to support our troops, President Bush and the American policy on Iraq features former Rep. Bob Dornan, Aziz Al-Taee, Blanquita Cullum, John Armor, James Parmelee, Kevin Martin, Adam Ramey and yours truly.

Also featured are singers Cullen Martin, Stephanie Souders and, from Nashville, Lowell Shyette.

The program, if shown in it's entirety, should run three hours and fifteen minutes.

Get some hot chocolate ready, pop some popcorn, put on your red, white and blue sweaters and get ready to root for the home team: the men and women serving in our Armed Forces.

EAGLES UP !!!

[sauropod]

Cool....

Next on 'Pod's acquisition list is a Strat with Jumbo Frets and perhaps ebony fretboard. May have to get one made...

[FreeTheHostages]

Yeah, what JVB said. You have a beautiful voice and you added a lot. It was great to meet your boyfriend, Stephanie, who mysteriously said that he knew all about our curious relationship, LOL!! : ) Frustrated Citizen, sorry I was so busy, but you know I did the next best thing by you guys -- food! ;)

[FreeTheHostages]

Um, Mudboy, LOL, re your 4 a.m. posting: Sober up and come back with a better attitude and seriously consider apoligizing to FTH fer yer being soooo bitterly hateful rant. LOL, couple of points:

jmstein7 and I already have a DMZ zone between us, like the Koreas;

I'm not big on the forced apology and don't feel the need for one, having, um, err, already gotten even at the risk of turning this thread into a food fight; and

"It's all good."

[Mudboy Slim]

"Not Yours To Give"
Col. David Crockett
US Representative from Tennessee

Originally published in "The Life of Colonel David Crockett," by Edward Sylvester Ellis.

One day in the House of Representatives a bill was taken up appropriating money for the benefit of a widow of a distinguished naval officer. Several beautiful speeches had been made in its support. The speaker was just about to put the question when Crockett arose:

"Mr. Speaker--I have as much respect for the memory of the deceased, and as much sympathy for the suffering of the living, if there be, as any man in this House, but we must not permit our respect for the dead or our sympathy for part of the living to lead us into an act of injustice to the balance of the living. I will not go into an argument to prove that Congress has not the power to appropriate this money as an act of charity. Every member on this floor knows it.

We have the right as individuals, to give away as much of our own money as we please in charity; but as members of Congress we have no right to appropriate a dollar of the public money. Some eloquent appeals have been made to us upon the ground that it is a debt due the deceased. Mr. Speaker, the deceased lived long after the close of the war; he was in office to the day of his death, and I ever heard that the government was in arrears to him.

"Every man in this House knows it is not a debt. We cannot without the grossest corruption, appropriate this money as the payment of a debt. We have not the semblance of authority to appropriate it as charity. Mr. Speaker, I have said we have the right to give as much money of our own as we please. I am the poorest man on this floor. I cannot vote for this bill, but I will give one week's pay to the object, and if every member of Congress will do the same, it will amount to more than the bill asks."

He took his seat. Nobody replied. The bill was put upon its passage, and, instead of passing unanimously, as was generally supposed, and as, no doubt, it would, but for that speech, it received but few votes, and, of course, was lost.

Later, when asked by a friend why he had opposed the appropriation, Crockett gave this explanation:

"Several years ago I was one evening standing on the steps of the Capitol with some members of Congress, when our attention was attracted by a great light over in Georgetown. It was evidently a large fire. We jumped into a hack and drove over as fast as we could. In spite of all that could be done, many houses were burned and many families made houseless, and besides, some of them had lost all but the clothes they had on. The weather was very cold, and when I saw so many children suffering, I felt that something ought to be done for them. The next morning a bill was introduced appropriating $20,000 for their relief. We put aside all other business and rushed it through as soon as it could be done.

"The next summer, when it began to be time to think about election, I concluded I would take a scout around among the boys of my district. I had no opposition there but, as the election was some time off, I did not know what might turn up. When riding one day in a part of my district in which I was more of a stranger than any other, I saw a man in a field plowing and coming toward the road. I gauged my gait so that we should meet as he came up, I spoke to the man. He replied politely, but as I thought, rather coldly.

"I began: 'Well friend, I am one of those unfortunate beings called candidates and---

"Yes I know you; you are Colonel Crockett. I have seen you once before, and voted for you the last time you were elected. I suppose you are out electioneering now, but you had better not waste your time or mine, I shall not vote for you again."

"This was a sockdolger...I begged him tell me what was the matter.

"Well Colonel, it is hardly worthwhile to waste time or words upon it. I do not see how it can be mended, but you gave a vote last winter which shows that either you have not capacity to understand the Constitution, or that you are wanting in the honesty and firmness to be guided by it. In either case you are not the man to represent me. But I beg your pardon for expressing it that way. I did not intend to avail myself of the privilege of the constituent to speak plainly to a candidate for the purpose of insulting you or wounding you.'

"I intend by it only to say that your understanding of the constitution is very different from mine; and I will say to you what but for my rudeness, I should not have said, that I believe you to be honest.

But an understanding of the constitution different from mine I cannot overlook, because the Constitution, to be worth anything, must be held sacred, and rigidly observed in all its provisions. The man who wields power and misinterprets it is the more dangerous the honest he is.'

" 'I admit the truth of all you say, but there must be some mistake. Though I live in the backwoods and seldom go from home, I take the papers from Washington and read very carefully all the proceedings of Congress. My papers say you voted for a bill to appropriate $20,000 to some sufferers by fire in Georgetown. Is that true?

"Well my friend; I may as well own up. You have got me there. But certainly nobody will complain that a great and rich country like ours should give the insignificant sum of $20,000 to relieve its suffering women and children, particularly with a full and overflowing treasury, and I am sure, if you had been there, you would have done just the same as I did.'

"It is not the amount, Colonel, that I complain of; it is the principle. In the first place, the government ought to have in the Treasury no more than enough for its legitimate purposes. But that has nothing with the question. The power of collecting and disbursing money at pleasure is the most dangerous power that can be entrusted to man, particularly under our system of collecting revenue by a tariff, which reaches every man in the country, no matter how poor he may be, and the poorer he is the more he pays in proportion to his means.

What is worse, it presses upon him without his knowledge where the weight centers, for there is not a man in the United States who can ever guess how much he pays to the government. So you see, that while you are contributing to relieve one, you are drawing it from thousands who are even worse off than he. If you had the right to give anything, the amount was simply a matter of discretion with you, and you had as much right to give $20,000,000 as $20,000.

If you have the right to give at all; and as the Constitution neither defines charity nor stipulates the amount, you are at liberty to give to any and everything which you may believe, or profess to believe, is a charity and to any amount you may think proper. You will very easily perceive what a wide door this would open for fraud and corruption and favoritism, on the one hand, and for robbing the people on the other. 'No, Colonel, Congress has no right to give charity.'

"'Individual members may give as much of their own money as they please, but they have no right to touch a dollar of the public money for that purpose. If twice as many houses had been burned in this country as in Georgetown, neither you nor any other member of Congress would have Thought of appropriating a dollar for our relief. There are about two hundred and forty members of Congress. If they had shown their sympathy for the sufferers by contributing each one week's pay, it would have made over $13,000. There are plenty of wealthy men around Washington who could have given $20,000 without depriving themselves of even a luxury of life.'

"The congressmen chose to keep their own money, which, if reports be true, some of them spend not very creditably; and the people about Washington, no doubt, applauded you for relieving them from necessity of giving what was not yours to give. The people have delegated to Congress, by the Constitution, the power to do certain things. To do these, it is authorized to collect and pay moneys, and for nothing else. Everything beyond this is usurpation, and a violation of the Constitution.'

"'So you see, Colonel, you have violated the Constitution in what I consider a vital point. It is a precedent fraught with danger to the country, for when Congress once begins to stretch its power beyond the limits of the Constitution, there is no limit to it, and no security for the people. I have no doubt you acted honestly, but that does not make it any better, except as far as you are personally concerned, and you see that I cannot vote for you.'

"I tell you I felt streaked. I saw if I should have opposition, and this man should go to talking and in that district I was a gone fawn-skin. I could not answer him, and the fact is, I was so fully convinced that he was right, I did not want to. But I must satisfy him, and I said to him:

"Well, my friend, you hit the nail upon the head when you said I had not sense enough to understand the Constitution. I intended to be guided by it, and thought I had studied it fully. I have heard many speeches in Congress about the powers of Congress, but what you have said here at your plow has got more hard, sound sense in it than all the fine speeches I ever heard. If I had ever taken the view of it that you have, I would have put my head into the fire before I would have given that vote; and if you will forgive me and vote for me again, if I ever vote for another unconstitutional law I wish I may be shot.'

"He laughingly replied; 'Yes, Colonel, you have sworn to that once before, but I will trust you again upon one condition. You are convinced that your vote was wrong. Your acknowledgment of it will do more good than beating you for it. If, as you go around the district, you will tell people about this vote, and that you are satisfied it was wrong, I will not only vote for you, but will do what I can to keep down opposition, and perhaps, I may exert some little influence in that way.'

"If I don't, said I, 'I wish I may be shot; and to convince you that I am in earnest in what I say I will come back this way in a week or ten days, and if you will get up a gathering of people, I will make a speech to them. Get up a barbecue, and I will pay for it.'

"No, Colonel, we are not rich people in this section but we have plenty of provisions to contribute for a barbecue, and some to spare for those who have none. The push of crops will be over in a few days, and we can then afford a day for a barbecue. 'This Thursday; I will see to getting it up on Saturday week. Come to my house on Friday, and we will go together, and I promise you a very respectable crowd to see and hear you.

"'Well I will be here. But one thing more before I say good-bye. I must know your name."

"'My name is Bunce.'

"'Not Horatio Bunce?'

"'Yes

"'Well, Mr. Bunce, I never saw you before, though you say you have seen me, but I know you very well. I am glad I have met you, and very proud that I may hope to have you for my FRiend.'
"It was one of the luckiest hits of my life that I met him. He mingled but little with the public, but was widely known for his remarkable intelligence, and for a heart brim-full and running over with kindness and benevolence, which showed themselves not only in words but in acts. He was the oracle of the whole country around him, and his fame had extended far beyond the circle of his immediate acquaintance. Though I had never met him, before, I had heard much of him, and but for this meeting it is very likely I should have had opposition, and had been beaten. One thing is very certain, no man could now stand up in that district under such a vote.

"At the appointed time I was at his house, having told our conversation to every crowd I had met, and to every man I stayed all night with, and I found that it gave the people an interest and confidence in me stronger than I had ever seen manifested before.

"Though I was considerably fatigued when I reached his house, and, under ordinary circumstances, should have gone early to bed, I kept him up until midnight talking about the principles and affairs of government, and got more real, true knowledge of them than I had got all my life before."

"I have known and seen much of him since, for I respect him - no, that is not the word - I reverence and love him more than any living man, and I go to see him two or three times every year; and I will tell you, sir, if every one who professes to be a Christian lived and acted and enjoyed it as he does, the religion of Christ would take the world by storm.

"But to return to my story. The next morning we went to the barbecue and, to my surprise, found about a thousand men there. I met a good many whom I had not known before, and they and my friend introduced me around until I had got pretty well acquainted - at least, they all knew me.

"In due time notice was given that I would speak to them. They gathered up around a stand that had been erected. I opened my speech by saying:

"Fellow-citizens - I present myself before you today feeling like a new man. My eyes have lately been opened to truths which ignorance or prejudice or both, had heretofore hidden from my view. I feel that I can today offer you the ability to render you more valuable service than I have ever been able to render before. I am here today more for the purpose of acknowledging my error than to seek your votes. That I should make this acknowledgment is due to myself as well as to you. Whether you will vote for me is a matter for your consideration only."

"I went on to tell them about the fire and my vote for the appropriation and then told them why I was satisfied it was wrong. I closed by saying:

"And now, fellow-citizens, it remains only for me to tell you that the most of the speech you have listened to with so much interest was simply a repetition of the arguments by which your neighbor, Mr. Bunce, convinced me of my error.

"It is the best speech I ever made in my life, but he is entitled to the credit for it. And now I hope he is satisfied with his convert and that he will get up here and tell you so.'

"He came up to the stand and said:

"Fellow-citizens - it affords me great pleasure to comply with the request of Colonel Crockett. I have always considered him a thoroughly honest man, and I am satisfied that he will faithfully perform all that he has promised you today.'

"He went down, and there went up from that crowd such a shout for Davy Crockett as his name never called forth before.'

"I am not much given to tears, but I was taken with a choking then and felt some big drops rolling down my cheeks. And I tell you now that the remembrance of those few words spoken by such a man, and the honest, hearty shout they produced, is worth more to me than all the honors I have received and all the reputation I have ever made, or ever shall make, as a member of Congress.'

"Now, sir," concluded Crockett, "you know why I made that speech yesterday. "There is one thing which I will call your attention, "you remember that I proposed to give a week's pay. There are in that House many very wealthy men - men who think nothing of spending a week's pay, or a dozen of them, for a dinner or a wine party when they have something to accomplish by it. Some of those same men made beautiful speeches upon the great debt of gratitude which the country owed the deceased--a debt which could not be paid by money--and the insignificance and worthlessness of money, particularly so insignificant a sum as $20,000 when weighed against the honor of the nation. Yet not one of them responded to my proposition. Money with them is nothing but trash when it is to come out of the people. But it is the one great thing for which most of them are striving, and many of them sacrifice honor, integrity, and justice to obtain it."

Good History, mi amigo...MUD


156 posted on 09/24/2001 3:00 AM EDT by Mudboy Slim (Where ya been, ol' timer?!)

[Mudboy Slim]

consider apoligizing to FTH fer yer being soooo bitterly hateful rant. LOL

[maica]

Like one lady, a nurse from Baltimore, MD, said to the Washington Times in our fantastic press coverage there: "I don't think you can say you're supporting President Bush if you're just sitting in your living room."

Uh, that was yours truly talking to the Washington Post reporter.He had asked me why our turnout was not higher. I also added that I represented the sentiments of my large extended family (of supporting President Bush and our troops) and probably everyone present at the Rally was representing a large number as well.

Believe me even halfway on the drive from Baltimore to DC I was still having to 'self-talk' in order not to turn my car around. The weather was miserable.

Deb, from some of your recent posts about the awful anti-American TV coverage on European networks, I appreciate how disappointed you must have been to see our lack of a throng. Just think how the dedicated DC Chapter folks must have felt. But, they forged ahead. They provided a platform for B-1 Bob and the others to speak to the crowd, to the C-SPAN camera, and to the visitors to the Washington Monument who were given the bonus of his rousing words while they were waiting for their tours to start.

[Mudboy Slim]

"Life Uncommon"
(To be sung to Jewel's "life uncommon")

Don't worry Grandma...it'll be alright...
And don't worry brothers, say your prayers and sleep tight!!
It'll be fine, sweet wife of mine...MUD'll be just fine!

Lend your voices only to sounds of FReedom!!!
No longer bend Right's strength fer that which you wish to be FRee from...
Fill your lives with Truth and Bravery...
And you shall learn the Right's not Monsters.

We've heard Left's anguish...
I've heard Left's hearts cry out!!
Right is tired, we are weary, but we aren't worn out!!!!
Set down your chains, until only Faith remains...
Set down Left's chains!!

And lend your voices only to Songs of FReedom...
No longer lend your strength to that which you wish to be FRee from...
Fill your lives with Truth and Bravery...
And We Shall Build a World of Honor!!

There are plenty of Sheeple who pray for peace...
But if praying were enough our dreams wouldda come to be.
Let your words enslave no one and the heavens will hush themselves...
To hear our voices ring out clear...with Songs of FReedom...Songs of FReedom!!

Come on, you Lurkin' FReepers...join in and come play!!
There is a Good Army coming and we are armed with Faith...
To live, we must give...to live!!

And lend our voices only to Songs of FReedom!!
No longer lend our strength to that which we wish to be FRee from...
Fill your lives with Truth and Bravery...and Right shall lead...
Lend our voices only to Songs of FReedom!!
No longer lend our strength to that which we wish to be FRee from...
Fill your lives with Truth and Bravery...and Right shall Prove that we got Honor!!

FReegards, my Jewel...MUD


225 posted on 09/25/2001 4:21 PM EDT by Mudboy Slim (Just a first draft...the Final Recording promises to be special.)

[Mudboy Slim]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/855932/posts

Why the US Shouldn't Wait for UN Approval
3-3-03 | Bob J

Posted on 03/03/2003 1:54 PM EST by Bob J

We shouldn't even be in Iraq. Right now, Iraq could be a fully functioning democracy with constitutional liberties and human rights guaranteed to it's citizens. Right now, Iraq could be a leader in identifying and eliminating terrorism in the militant Muslim world. But it's not, because of the UN.

When the US military was knocking at Baghdads door and could have easily eliminated Hussein and ended his bloody regime, it do move forward because that authority had not been granted by the UN. To do so would have been a violation of UN protocol. Oh my.

If the US had done what it knew was right instead of falling over itself to avoid insulting the world's most expensive and least effective deliberative body, not only would the current engagement be unnecessary, but it is possible with the resources gained through an Iraqi alliance that the rise in power of militant Islamism might have been curtailed and the kind of horror experienced on 911 might have been avoided.

The era of negotiating and compromising with worldwide despots, murderers and terrorists who are committed to the destruction of western civilization, is over. No matter what the burden in their removal or elimination, one by one if necessary, one thing is certain. If we wait or do nothing, the cost of that inaction will be much greater in the future. Do we desire to leave to our children a world that is held hostage by threats of biological, chemical and nuclear annihilation from the insane ?

The UN is a political body that gives aid and comfort to the most decicated enemies of freedom and democracy. It is made up of three kinds of people. A very small number of friends, a larger number of enemies who daily plan our destruction and the murder of our citizens, and an even larger number who are so jeaolous of our prosperity they wish more people had died in the twin towers.

Like communism, the UN is a idea which begins with high ideals and lofty promises, but never delivers. Through it's incessant hand wringing and low brow back room political intrigue, the UN has stood by while millions have been slaughtered in Rwanda, Bosnia and Kosovo. Through it's dithering and inaction, it is partly to blame for these atrocities as it is for the rise of militant Islamism and despots like Saddam Hussein.

It is foolish for the US to believe it must wait for the UN to wave it's tainted sceptor prior to protecting and safeguarding it's citizens. The US should ignore the UN, invade Iraq and remove Saddam Hussein, and then immediately start planning the next operation. Freedom loving people will never be safe as long as the Saddam Husseins and Osama bin Ladens of the world have access to weapons of mass destruction.

1 posted on 03/03/2003 1:54 PM EST by Bob J

[FreeTheHostages]

Ah, that was you! :) Hi! I liked your points.

The weather really WAS bad -- the leftists even cancelled there rally.

[FreeTheHostages]

LOL! What were YOU drinking last night?

[stanz]

Thanks. I just saw this. Maybe they'll run it again.

[Mudboy Slim]

Fight the fight fer FReedom...help force Clinton down...
Righteous Lord shall guide us through...PROSECUTION NOW!!!
RIGHT must fight fer FReedom...tear Left's Stonewall down...
Countrymen, Right calls on you...DEMAND JUSTICE NOW!!!!

FReegards...MUD

[Mudboy Slim]

"Stand!!"
(To be sung to Jewel's "Hands")

If I could tell the World just one thing...
It would be...that "We'll be OKAY!!"
Don't get discouraged 'cuz Courage is Vital...
And priceless in times like these...WE MUST EXACT JUSTICE!!

We shan't stop with bin Laden's head!!
We must gather ourselves around our Faith...
Fer Right's what the [Med'yuh/Fascists/Leftists/Lib'rals/Cowards/Nazis/Commies] most fear!!

My hands are gnarled and rough...
But they're not yers...nor what they've sown.
Yes, we're...the Right!! This is OUR home...
And we shall not be broken!!

Zealotry...felled the Silver Twins...
We must remove Left's cancer!!

Yes...heartache came to visit me...
But I KNEW WHAT I WUZ DOIN' AFTER!!!
We'll fight...we know we're Right!!
For someone must stand up 'gainst Left's blight.
'Cuz where there's a man who has no voice...
There OURS shall go singin'!!

My hands are gnarled and rough...
But they're not yers...nor what I've grown!!
It's Justice Time...you've bombed my home!!
Now, you've...gone provoked US!!!!

In the End, only the Truth matters...
In the End, only Justice matters!!
I will get down on my knees, and I will pray...
You should get down on yer knees...yes, you should pray!!
Allah? The planes went down...four buildings...soul-lessly razed!!

My hands are gnarled and rough...
But they're not yers...nor what I've smoked.
Now you've riled us...attacked our home!!
Folks, we shall not be broken!!
Right shall not be broken!!!

We are God's eyes...God's hands...God's mind.
We are God's eyes...God's hands...Allah's heart.
We are God's eyes...God's hands...God's eyes...
We are God's hands... RIGHT...MAKE YER STAND!!!

Mudboy Slim (9/18/01)


5 posted on 09/18/2001 5:11 PM EDT by Mudboy Slim (Ev'rythang happens in 3's!!! Ever notice that?)

[Mudboy Slim]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/620413/posts

[Republic]

Everyone-Thank you all.

I am still on a high from the weekend. Just home, late afternoon, Mon., after a stop over in Ohio to visit with family.

This was a loooooooooong thread to wade thru, lol!

My admiration for the DC Chapter has gone thru the roof-you are all-and I mean ALL-just terrific human beings. The best. The very best!

Just meeting so many new, wonderful FReepers, (on top of the marvelous Freepers I have met previously) would have made the drive worth it- but to hear such deeply convicted people speak at the rally made it more than worth the time spent. I was right where I wanted to be-at all times-my heart was full and my tummy was pretty happy, too! (Good folks, good food, deep patriotism and the martini's weren't too bad, either! :^)

I assume from this thread-that channel 7 chucked the interview they did with moi in favor of Kristinn's-LOL-now I wonder why that happened? hehe!

Jimmy-I will gladly send you your pic from the Wash Times if you would like to have a copy for a scrapbook-it was terrific! Thanks to Free's suggestion, I was able to pick up a Sunday Times before I left the city. It was soooooooooo great to see the large spread of our rally!!! HooooooooooYahhhhhhhhh!

Loved seeing Clinton's a Liar again-her energy and tireless work is not only inspiring, but catching!

And that goes for all of you-Angelwood, TgslTacoma, Taxman, Jimmy, Kristinn-and on and on and on!!! You all knock me out with your dedication and passionate love for our nation!

TrueBlackMan-when you run for congress-and win-our nation is going to be elevated by your ability to cut to the chase with great passion and humor.

Pippin, ChicagoLady<--- Free Republic's snow artist extraordinaire :^), Leadpenny, and so many others....I loved meeting you and standing with you for our troops and President!

And Free-thank you for looking out for moi, for your dedication to the DC Chapter and for providing (hehe) the best meal I have had in ages! < oink! oink! >. I confess-you almost had me rolling on the floor with laughter (I'm quite sure my mascara was rolling down my cheeks!) -all of us were convulsed! Perhaps I should switch from sipping martini's to shirley temples? Ha! Will be waiting on that book-and looking forward to the section on leaf burning! Hehe! Thanks again, all, what a wonderful time it was!!

[Pippin]

Hi, Republic!

FreeTheHostages said you were from Indianapolis. Yippie! Another Hoosier!

I was born in Marion, Indiana, but left when I was 6. but I still feel I'm a Hoosier!

[Taxman]

I am very glad that you were able to get down here for the Rally. Thank you for blessing us with your presence and your songs.

[TAdams8591]

Your private comments were even nastier than my own. Be very grateful I won't post them. When the conversation turns to obscenities, I do not respond which is why I didn't answer your last letter.

We've barely had any public support from Free Republic or elsewhere in over two years, and we can live without yours. My public comments stand. If I had known folks on our side were going to make an impossible task all the harder, I wouldn't have taken on the burden of our battle.

Oh, BTW, it would take a whole lot more and a do mean a whole lot more, than the little criticism I posted on this thread and one private disagreement to turn on anyone. If you withdraw your support that easily you weren't a true friend or supporter in the first place. Or perhaps you don't believe in free speech? Fortunately, we shall continue in our efforts for justice at great personal cost, so that we may ALL enjoy the FREEDOM of speech protected by the first amendment which includes YOUR right to protest.

[Taxman]

We were delighted to have you here with us this past weekend, which of course, includes FTH's "leafletting" events on Thursday and Friday, and the bazillion course Chinese dinner Thursday night.

So glad you enjoyed the Rally and Luigi's. I am convinced that out-of-town FReepers come here mainly to break bread with the DeeCee Chapter at Luigi's and only incidentally to FReep!

Luigi's is a great place to finish off a FReep, isn't it?

Please join us again, Republic. Now that you know Taxman's Hotel/Motel Fancy FReeper Flophouse is OK, you have a place to stay next time.

I probably already thanked you, FTH, but thanks again for the food and the entertainment. Republic's post reminded me how much I enjoyed both!

[FreeTheHostages]

"I probably already thanked you, FTH"

LOL, like 6 time. *Enough* already! It was so sweet seeing Trueblackman and Taxman hug on stage: two obvious friends, there. But if you think you're going to get Republic to stay at *your* place rather than mine next time, I have to warn you I'm going to fight for her!