Was this a server crash, or something like a DNS hack?
Keith from Iowa said that Jim had stated there was a database issue.
Apparently, if FR is not available, for something comparable, one can go to
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freerepublic2/
or to
http://www.freedominion.ca
Corrupted database, as I understand it.
For a while there, the homepage was available, but nothing else.