My Eyes Beheld

freerepublic.com ^ | 3-30-2012 | philman_36

[philman_36]

I love my job. I love fighting for what I believe in. I love having fun while doing it. I love reporting stories that the Complex refuses to report. I love fighting back, I love finding allies, and—famously—I enjoy making enemies.
Three years ago, I was mostly a behind-the-scenes guy who linked to stuff on a very popular website. I always wondered what it would be like to enter the public realm to fight for what I believe in. I’ve lost friends, perhaps dozens. But I’ve gained hundreds, thousands—who knows?—of allies. At the end of the day, I can look at myself in the mirror, and I sleep very well at night.

My Eyes Beheld

I stumble from my chair
Eyes misted and glazed by the sight,
And seek to slow my heart
Beating fast within my chest.
The rare glimpse that I caught
As it flew threw the night.

No riding off into the sunset
On a strong sturdy horse,
Or idle days of rocking
In a chair on a porch.
A flash across the sky
A comet bright had run it's course.

@In Memoriam: Andrew Breitbart (1969-2012)

@Andrew Breitbart, RIP (1969 to 2012)

@Winning the Culture War: The Legacy of Andrew Breitbart

@What Andrew Breitbart Got About the Internet

@Andrew Breitbart Was Planning Huge New Web Project on Eve of Sudden Death

@Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night, Andrew

@Breitbart’s Last Laugh

[philman_36]

I've posted this so that others may also share in their remembrance of Andrew Breitbart and that I may, in some small way, give my own tribute to a great man. His death is a tragic loss in so many ways!

All tribute articles greatly appreciated.

[Vendome]

Cool.

[philman_36]

Cool.
It's not adequate enough by any means.
Just a small memorial of my own in his honor.

[mylife]

A fair synopsis of his heart and life.

[philman_36]

“Be Breitbart, Baby”Maybe you didn’t think you were good enough…or strong enough…or brave enough.
Maybe you were afraid of what the Tolerant Left would do to you or your family if you got involved.
Maybe you sat back because Andrew Breitbart was already out there doing the heavy lifting.
With him gone, it’s time for you to be Breitbart, baby.

[philman_36]

Thank you for stopping by and commenting.
I hope you and yours are doing well.

[mylife]

We will survive. ☺

[Boogieman]

"Somebody's hurt,
You kinda think it's you.
You hang across the ropes~
That's all you want to do.
Then you look around and see your trainer's eyes,
Beggin' you to see it through,
They say, "Remember,
Big Boy, remember~

Stand up an' fight until you hear the bell,
Stand toe to toe,
Trade blow fer blow,
Keep punchin' till you make yer punches tell,
Show that crowd what you know!
Until you hear that bell,
That final bell,
Stand up and fight like hell!"

A little ditty to rally by, from Carmen Jones. Andy may have heard the final bell, but we're still in the ring, and we've got to FIGHT LIKE HELL!

[philman_36]

Andy may have heard the final bell, but we're still in the ring, and we've got to
FIGHT LIKE HELL!

Fight like hell is all I know.

[opentalk]

Breitbart in Full: The GQ&A

[sauropod]

Appreciate the thread.

I loved Breitbart. He kind of personalized what it means (or what it used to mean) to be a FReeper.

‘Pod

[philman_36]

Thanks for adding that article. I'm surprised that they were actually so gracious being who, and what, they are.
They must have needed a sales boost from outside of their usual demographics by having the interview in the first place.
They'll get it now, for a short time.

[Tainan]

Thanks philman_36...It is very much appreciated.

[ronnie raygun]

One can only hope that he has spawned in America many who will pick up his torch.

[Tainan]

A Good Schiff Interview w/Breitbart

[philman_36]

Appreciate the thread.
Thank you for taking the time to reply.

I loved Breitbart.
Only in a "guy hug" way, I hope. {;^)
No, seriously, so did I. His die hard spirit was infectious and endearing to me.

He kind of personalized what it means (or what it used to mean) to be a FReeper.
You're even more old school FR than I am. You helped shape FR, IMO! I still remember when I first got here and looking forward to reading your replies as you and many others had views and opinions I highly valued. I'm so attached to the past myself, in some ways, that I've still got old @Uncle Bill stuff forever etched in my brain. (I still don't know what ever happened with him getting banned)
Things change, as they always do, and old guys like us have to accommodate a little and yet still try to affect that which is around us as we can. I'm inspired by folks all the time around here. Look at Travis McGee's project. I didn't spend a lot of time on the threads even though I kept up with it, but it rocked my socks off!

We do dishonor to those who have gone before us if we don't keep up and make current that old spirit you love so well. When I'm six feet under I'll give up. (and as long as the Mods don't boot me out {;^) )

Stay safe old FRiend.

[philman_36]

It is very much appreciated.
Just 'my little something' in gratitude as I never got to pay it to him.
I thought I had the time to do it later.

[philman_36]

One can only hope that he has spawned in America many who will pick up his torch.
The torch was already picked up. Carrying it onward is the real challenge.

[philman_36]

Oh well, I’m SOL. I’m not a Schiff Premium Member.

[philman_36]

@Breitbart A Provocateur to the EndAndrew understood that news and arguments change politics if you can get the news and arguments to the people -- and if you don't let those who don't like what you say define you.

Whatever his faults, that was my friend's great and remarkable strength: He never let the bastards get him down. That took away his enemies' greatest power, and they hated him all the more for it.

[philman_36]

@Andrew Breitbart's final message to the leftThe final irony is that truth and compassion come from humility, not pride. Sadly, a cold and cruel left will not grasp this truth from Breitbart's unexpected death.

[opentalk]

The interview was from just after his 42nd Birthday. He really had a passion and great spirit. A few excepts: (from 5 pages)

..Ok. Go back to describing your mission. What is it in a nutshell? It's not just to lay down the counter-narrative of our times. It's to make it so that the majority in this nation have a voice, when their voice has been stifled, systematically. My battle is not just with the left, to demand the other point of view, my mission is to wake up those on the other side. The fight that they're losing is being lost on the cultural front. They'd win it on the political front in a nanosecond if they attempted to fight it on the cultural front.

When you get up in the morning, do you say to yourself, Okay, today I want to fight this battle?
It's so in my blood. Every day I wake up and I'm me. There was a point in the past few years, especially when I started putting my name to these websites, and I now had a growing army, that every single day I got to wake up and look at my wristband and it would say, "What would Andrew do?" And that was an empowering moment.

You have that on a wristband?

No I don't. This is a metaphorical—

You have a virtual wristband?

That's right, I have a virtual wristband that I now get to fight the battles that I want to fight, and now there are people that are marching behind me.

[sauropod]

I remember Uncle Bill as well as a number of others that are no longer here.

FR is not the same place it once was.

There needs to be a trigger that angers and motivates people to hit the streets.

The original one was His Slickness and the intern. Remember those days?

[TigersEye]

This is a beautiful tribute to a great conservative warrior, philman_36. Thanks for posting it. Andrew Breitbart will be sorely missed in the days ahead.

[philman_36]

Remember those days?
Oh, yes. People knew they were being had. They know it now as well, it's just not vocalized.

[philman_36]

This is a beautiful tribute to a great conservative warrior...
Thank you. It's a well deserved tribute and the least I can do. It gave some necessary surcease to my soul as well.

Thanks for posting it.
Thanks for your generous comments.

Andrew Breitbart will be sorely missed in the days ahead.
And yet with heavy hearts for a time we carry on.

[GlockThe Vote]

Monica Crowley had me in a few tears today explaining her first meeting of AB.

B3.

[philman_36]

Monica Crowley had me in a few tears today explaining her first meeting of AB.

If it's online a link to it on the thread would be greatly appreciated.
I'm hoping that others will add links to fitting tributes or articles.
I'm sure there are many things I've missed.

[philman_36]

Personally, I don't like the B3 thing. Are we playing Bingo? Something much better is needed, IMO.
Sorry, that was my first reaction. Carry on as you choose.

[GlockThe Vote]

It was on her radio show in NYC.

Without even knowing her he just ran up to her and gave her a huge bear hug and greeted her loudly in a room full of people.

[GlockThe Vote]

We need something simple and effective.

[Tainan]

Damn...yes...it has changed.
Earlier in the day it was available to all who went there.
Sorry about that.

[philman_36]

We need something simple and effective.
It's here in this article IMO. (worth the read and I'm glad I found it)
@“Let A Hundred Breitbarts Bloom” Max P. FriedmanAs of today, the newly created “Breitbart Brigade” is signing up recruits. Just like in the past, when America was in grave danger, young “Breitbarts” will enlist for the fight we are now engaged in for the preservation of our country. They will not have any identification cards, but you will know them by their voices and their deeds.

But I’ve gained hundreds, thousands—who knows?—of allies.
Hit 'em all at once with a scatter shot of BB's.

[philman_36]

Sorry about that.
That's okay. Thanks any way.

[philman_36]

@PJTV Remembers a True Patriot and Friend

@Afterburner with Bill Whittle: My Friend Andrew

[philman_36]

@How I Came to Admire Andrew Breitbart by Doug Giles (father of Hannah Giles of ACORN busting fame) Finally, if I were one of Breitbart’s enemies I wouldn’t rest too comfortably on my laurels because he passed away. Why? Well, you see, he’s got hundreds of thousands of people whom he inspired by example to be bold in the cause of truth. From the noise I hear on Facebook and Twitter, this party is just getting started. Release the hounds …

[philman_36]

@I Am Andrew Breitbart Video

We are Andrew Breitbart (tributes)

[philman_36]

@Chasing AndrewThen came the emails. And the Follows. 1,000 in about an hour. My jaws clenched, tears blurred my vision as I typed (as they blur them now as I type): My hero is dead. Andrew Breitbart is dead.

Long live Andrew Breitbart.

[philman_36]

Thanks EDINVA for the mention and neverdem for posting it.

@The Breitbart Building

Because he understood the nature of the media’s ideological corruption so well, he outplayed them like a chess master taking on a child.

I thought you might like that comment bayouranger after our exchange @the other day.

[philman_36]

Breitbart Is Here (Chris Cassone and BigFurHat )

[thesearethetimes...]

Great thread.

Breitbart Lives. Bump

May God strengthen our will, to see our way clear.
Tatt

[philman_36]

Great thread.
Just a little something.

Just saw the video above and wanted to add it.