Fundraiser Frustration

Folks, I'm having fundraising frustrations. For the past week or so, I have been looking into the funding of left wing extremist organizations such as ANSWER, among many others. One thing is clear: these organizations have some serious sources for funding their communist agendas.

On the other hand, Free Republic relies on the generousity of it's members. This is great, considering the fact that FR can raise $65k in just under a month from member donations. However, from what I understand, this simply covers operating costs. As far as I am concerned, this is not enough.

The leftist extremists have many, many thousands of dollars to push their agendas. We need the same.

Obviously, I am not able to personally write a check for several grand to FR (but if I could, it wouldn't take a second thought to do so). What's more, I am only one person DYING to do something to raise some serious money for FR. Unfortunately, limited resources makes that hard to do.

So, here is what I am going to do this fundraising quarter (and I'll have to come up with something else next quarter):

I am going to eat for FR. Here's the deal - There is a local Chinese buffet that serves mussels. I LOVE mussels. In fact, I once ate 75 of them on a dare.

How does FR fit in? My goal is to eat as many mussels in one sitting (approx. 30 - 45 minutes) as I can. And I am challenging fellow FReepers to pledge a donation amount for every mussel I am able to eat. Pledge amounts are up to you, so don't be afraid. If a penny a mussel is what you feel you can afford, do it. If you can spare a dollar per mussel, fantastic!

The eat-a-thon will take place Feb. 8 at 1 pm at the Chinese restaurant at North Avenue & 28 road in Grand Junction, Colorado. Colorado FReepers are urged to attend, as someone will be asked to judge the outcome, to be sure it is fair and impartial. I will also be dragging along the video camera & digital cam, so photo's will be posted after it's all said and done with.

So, make your pledge today right here. When I'm done eating, I'll let you know what the outcome was. Then, you send your pledge directly to Jim.

Have any questions? FReepmail me or email me at davidware2002@yahoo.com. C'mon folks...join the fun & raise a little money for FR.

On a serious note, I can assure you we are ahead of the game, referencing this comment from your post from your post #77, the email from Ed Evans, MGySgt., USMC (Ret.) :

I will not forget the Clinton administration equipped Islamic terrorists and their supporters with the world's most sophisticated telecommunications equipment and encryption technology, thereby compromising America's ability to trace terrorist radio, cell phone, land lines, faxes and modem communications.

A few months ago I went to a tech company, and was shown their "warm room"

This is a room that is kept at 120 degrees and has numerous computer components in it. These boards are designed for high tech applications, and are kept in the warm room so they know they will function in the deserts of the Mideast.

They are capable of many things, some of which are scrambling satellites and various other applications.

They are designated for our Intellegence agencies and one foriegn country...Israel.

My freind at the company tells me when they ship to Israel, and it is interesting the things that happen soon after.

We are on top of this IMO.

But what Clinton did will take a long time to undo.

...Did you find them guilty?

Well, it was a different kind of trial. I've served on both civil and criminal cases. This was a competency hearing. Here is my story as posted on another thread earlier, thanks. It was an interesting experience for me...

Alright ! Here is the jury duty adventure yesterday.

I've been called into the Dallas County jury system about a half dozen times - about THREE times the last 5-6 years. I have the routine memorized...

Dallas uses the 'one day/one trial' system. You report for duty and if you aren't picked that day, that's it - you are dismissed. If you do get picked, you serve that one trial. I think Dallas instituted the system and others followed later?...

Anyway, my number was 765 and I played the old 'hurry up and wait' game I learned so well when I was a kid and Dad was in the Air Force, lol ! I got there at 7, way earlier than the 8:30 report time they scheduled. To get downtown, I always leave early to beat traffic. Even at that time, it was backed up. This gave me time to get a breakfast in the courthouse cafeteria. They have pretty good grub, too, actually. I also was able to overhear the morning conversation of the Sheriffs deputies while I had breakfast. It was kind of interesting, but that's another story, lol...

Finally around 11:30, they posted my number/group to report for a Competency hearing/trial. The trial was to begin @ 1:30, so we were free til then. Lunchtime!

There was a 20-25 minute delay getting started, however. We were left hanging in the hallway. I'll explain the delay shortly.

Finally we are called in. The judge explained that the DA and the Defense attorneys were in agreement on all the issues..."so you might ask, 'why do you need us here then?'..." He explained that Texas state law requires a jury for ALL competency hearings, regardless. Basically, it sounded like this is to protect from folks being put in mental institution without the peoples consent. (Oh, both of the attorneys were very competent lady attorneys too, btw).

This gets a little involved (long-winded) so this is gonna be the 'nutshell' version...

The defendant, a Mr. Rhoades (not sure of the spelling since I never saw them write the name) was charged with a felony crime, but there were some problems proceding with the case. He was being held in jail, and was being given his prescribed medicine for his psychiatric disorders, but he was refusing to take it, or wasn't taking the full amount. As a result, his problems were not getting better, but were getting worse. In the jail they cannot MAKE you take your meds, the judge and the attorneys explained. So they were unable to procede with the case because this guy refused to take his medication. It's kind of a Catch-22 situation. The guy had stopped taken his psych meds and commited a felony crime (detail of that was not given), landing him in jail. His psychological condition was not such that he could even talk to his attorney about the case to help her to help him. His speech, in short, was gibberish and communication with him was impossible. He refused to take his meds so the trial couldn't begin because of his impaired psychological/mental condition...

Well, as I said earlier, both attorneys were in agreement that the defendant was incompetent to stand trial and would not get better without getting him on board again with his meds. This was related to us by testimony from an expert psychiatrist that gave us background info on the guy. He had been treated for psychological problems by MHMR prior to the felony. It was his opinion that with being admitted to Vernon (a local Dallas mental treatment facility), he would be given attention he needs and they could give him the necessary doses of medication to get him stabilized 'within the foreseeable future'. This would enable him to gain his mental function again. He described the defendants' behavior in some detail. He described his condition as a type of 'schitzophrenia'. Mr. Rhoades was very incoherent in his speech, making it difficult to communicate with him, etc. Mr. Rhoades believed he was "God and the devil" all at the same time. It was strange. He had attempted to assault one of the police shortly after his arrest.

Anyway, that is the basic stuff. Regarding the delay now...

When we first got into the courtroom, the two lady attorneys were at their respective tables, with the chairs on this side and facing the prospective jurors. Next to the defending attorney was an empty chair, also facing us. The judge gave us the background of the case, and explained about the empty chair. He said that the reason for the delay was due to the defendant having caused somewhat of a disturbance prior to us being called in. Mr. Rhoades was in a room next to the courtroom and he could hear what was going on. They felt like if he were to be present in the courtroom that he was very likely to cause a disturbance then as well. I have a feeling they were right, too !

After we heard the testimony from the expert witness, the attorneys on both sides urged us to rule on verdict #3. The choices were:

1) The defendant is competent and should stand trial.

2) The defendant is incompetent and is UNlikely to regain competency.

3) The defendant is incompetent and is likely to regain competency 'in the foreseeable future' with psychiatric care.

Well, the whole process of the above took right at one hour from the time we walked into the courtroom, seated a jury and came to a verdict and were dismissed. Oh, yeah, once we were sent to deliberate the case and come to a verdict, we discussed the case for about 10-15 minutes and we were unanimous with verdict #3.

'And that's my story and I'm stickin' to it', lol ! Thanks for listening!

Now back to our regularly scheduled program !...

even though i proofread this, it's likely there are errors. apologies in advance...

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