Why Do We FREEP? OR, Eight Young Men in Ties.

Vanity | 11/4/2002 | Frank D. Francone

[ffrancone]

I am working the Colorado 96 Hour Team. I have had the privilege to share the last few days working with a cross-section of Coloradans walking precincts. I want to share a little bit of that experience, and some personal reflection, inspired by your article.

Like me, almost all of my 96 hour teammates are working on their FIRST election. In 96 Hour Team downtime I have asked each of them to tell the rest of us what it was that made them take time off work, or to send their kids to Grandma for four days, so they could walk precincts in 18 degree weather while it is snowing.

Everyone has a story. For some, it was the Wellstone Memorial rally. For others, it was a "news" article in the Denver Post slagging Wayne Allard. The list goes on and on.

For me, it happened this way. I have been a lifelong conservative Republican. I had usually voted; but (since high-school) have never been involved in party politics. Eight young men in ties in 2000 in Florida were my inspiration. I was watching TV when a ruckus broke out over the Democrat officials trying to take the ballots off into a room where there were only democrats. We all know that, had they succeeded, Al Gore would be running the [non] War on Terror.

But those eight young men wouldn't let the dems thru that door into the isolation room. It wasn't a peaceful demonstration. Fists were swinging. Doors pulled violently shut in the dem's faces. They caused such a rukus that the TV cameras rushed over. As soon as the dems saw the cameras, they gave up. Those ballots never disappeared into that room. Most burglars have to work in the dark and those eight young men put a spotlight on them.

I realized at that moment that the most important fact about my actions is that those eight young men were in Florida--and I was not. I was watching TV. They, not me, were fighting for our Republic. At that moment, I turned to my neighbor and told him conservatives--specifically me--have to get off our butts if we want our country back. I do. So I did.

Let's work this year, and then again in two years and then again . . . . Until we get this great Republic back from these people.

[ffrancone]

I am posting this as a separate thread at the suggestion of Ragtime Cowgirl.

[TonyInOhio]

Well done!

[ConservativeDude]

good work!

now kick some ass and get Allard in there!

[Issaquahking]

BTTT for a freeper of action!

[Cicero]

Yes, I remember that incident. It was a real turning point.

[MissAmericanPie]

Very inspirational.

[ffrancone]

Now kick some ass and get Allard in there!

My feet are so sore after walking precincts for three days that kicking is almost completely out of the question. Perhaps some other semi-violent assault on RATANATOMIES would do? :)

Seriously, our internal tracking polls, which have a pretty good record in the past, have Wayne up 5-6%. With the unprecedented GOTV effort here, there's a lot of cautious optimism flying around.

[ffrancone]

I'd be interested in hearing other FREEPER's stories. What made you get up and act?

[MissAmericanPie]

When I was young, I got to meet a realitive that was married into the Goldwater family. She influenced me even though we lost touch long ago. Peggy was Barry Goldwaters wife and my relative was married to her brother.

So naturally, being a truth junkie, and a conservative, I have always voted Republican. I've always been interested in politics and always voted Republican, even though I am a registered independent.

I use to lurk on FR, but really got involved because of my outrage over the Presidential election. So I have been here causing trouble ever since.=o)

[bluesagewoman]

Peaceniks! They got me off my butt.

[CyberCowboy777]

A Bump for the Patriots!

My first year as a voter was '96 (I was 19), and I saw the loss to Clinton. A very disheartening and alarming occasion. How could Clinton win again!

I realized then that I had to do more than vote, I had to spread the word, the truth. I had to be active, persuasive and I had to have the facts. Finding Free Republic in 2000 was a great tool in gaining the latter.

This year I worked on the Zarelli for Congress (WA 3rd District) campaign and though he may lose, I know I did my part this time. He will at least make a good showing. I also did some work for some local campaigns, one lost in the primary and most others will win.

I look forward to the next cycle and the furtherance of Conservative values.

[strick68]

I remember the Floriduhh debacle all too well. Like you I had never been involved in party politics until the 2000 election. I had moved to Louisville after leaving the Army
and I had just married my wife. I'd met some folks from the River City Republican Association at a Bush campaign rally and had gone to a couple of their meetings. Then came
Florida. Our Association staged demonstrations on the Jefferson County courthouse steps for five Sundays in a row
and got lots of media attention here in town. It was at that time I knew that to help prevent that mess again I had to do my part. This year I worked the polls during the primary and my wife is joining me as a poll worker tomorrow. This past weekend we both walked precincts as part of the Louisville Victory 2002 72-hr. "Get out the vote" Task Force. And when I got off work today before I
went to school I threw on my "Anne Northup for Congress" T-shirt, grabbed a sign and stood at a busy intersection to
personally try to get out a few more votes. The smell of Victory is in the air and we WILL re-take our beloved Republic for our party, our citizens and our God!!

[ConservativeDude]

my feet are on a foot massager now, as they were this time last night....keep fighting the good fight

[ladyinred]

BRAVO!

[LibertyInOR]

Back in the 70's I became aware of subversive (federal government) activities, which have since been declassified. At the time, I felt completely overwhelmed by the breadth and scope of the malicious deception perpetrated against U.S. citizens. It seemed to me that nothing I could do would have any effect on something which went unseen, and unheard. I watched as the monster grew, for over 30 years, virtually unopposed.


On July 4, 2001, a small group of unarmed farmers took a stand against it, at the head gate in Klamath Falls. I knew the time had come, and there would be no turning back. That same monster now shamelessly presents itself with glowing green eyes and promises of protection and security for the population, against threats which have been carefully designed by, and for, these very purposes.


We are now being herded into "sustainable" (translated controllable)urban population centers. New, and constitutionally devastating "Acts of law" empower the monster to "take" anything from anyone without warning or legitmate justification. Propaganda is rampant and unyielding, demonizing small segments of the population, and manipulating the masses.


This should sound familiar to anyone who ever read a history lesson... and MUST be stopped.

[San Jacinto]

We've got our fingers crossed and we are pulling for you. Your efforts are not just appreciated in CO, but throughout the nation. We'll be watching those returns come in tomorrow, and there will be many silent "Thank-You's" coming your way.

[ffrancone]

Strik: Sounds like our experience is similar. It was a rush yesterday poll watching. Each time I called a Repub who had not voted and they said "geez, I forgot, I'll go right over and vote now," I realized just how important personal, local contact is.

We have taken our Republican voters for granted, up until this year. The party needs to establish a direct, personal relationship with them. The way you do that is thru local workers who stay in touch.

Yesterday was my first time poll watching. What a great experience. We have such a great Republic and such a great people. But as Thomas Jefferson said, "now you have your Reublic, let's see if you can keep it." (paraphrased). That job is up to us.

[ffrancone]

Thanks for your kind words. I was one guy in a sea of red shirts. We had between 2,000 and 3,000 statewide. Our governor, Bill Owens, is a organizational genius who made sure the effort happened. Our President and the RNC funded the effort. Our state wide leaders, Allan and Adam, the county leaders like Jason and the team leaders like my wife (and the hottest team leader in JeffCo:) were tireless.

Even before the returns started coming in, it was one of the most personally rewarding four days I have ever had.

We have resolved as a family to take four days, every two years, and do this again. My boy is two and I figure he will be walking precincts in about four years :)

God Bless the United States of America.

[ffrancone]

my wife (and the hottest team leader in JeffCo)

What was I thinking when I wrote that? What I meant to write was: "my wife (the hottest team leader in the Country}." My fingers must have slipped :)

There, now when my wife says, "Oh, so you thought that blond team leader from Adams County was cute, huh?" I have at least a lame response. :)