Free Republic

DollyCali Inauguration 2005 Thoughts n PixWednesday PMWashington Plaza HotelFReeper Social Being late is not anyone’s favorite role. But we were late. Travel companion Vicki from Oklahoma & I (from Ohio) had driven in (thru sleet & snow In ohio & across the turnpike with much of same) to arrive in DC area to see the small fall had about paralyzed the city. I was pretty fatigued as I drove into the DC area after 10 hours of awful-weather driving. My travel pal slept the whole way as she had just driven 18 hours to get to our meeting place....

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world. A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in...

For the first time in my 45 years I attended an inaugural ball. Well actually two on back to back nights. What struck me about my experience is how very different they were.

Parade PicsThe American Sector - Safe Haven for Bush Supporters - No Commies Allowed Buford and two friendly Bush supporters Ironman - on Pajama Patrol A group of Boy Scouts observe the happenings directly behind the American Sector A lurker and a future lurker Unidentified freeper Buford, BlondeKates (daughter of yours truly) and her friends love the color red RaceBannon, PeterKessler, and CongressmanBillyBob - 3 wild and crazy guys kristinn hands out signs Freedom is not free! W2 Inaugural Ball PicsGovernor Huckabee guitar solo SonofHillaryisevil and Sara (friend of BlondeKates) SonofHillaryisevil (a popular guy!) and BlondeKates Me (Shethink13) and my...

SKUNKS AND BLUE BRACELETS AT CHECKPOINT CHARLIEThe 7th Street security checkpoint ("Checkpoint Charlie") for the inaugural parade was closest to the American Sector established by the DC Chapter of Free Republic.  Waiting there, I coincidentally ended up near DC Chapter member, bmwcyle, and Flora McDonald, a Richmond-area FReeper of long-standing. As we waited in the crowd (it wasn't orderly enough to be a line), pro-Bush people mostly tried to stay quiet in the face of some leftists (maybe ten percent of the crowd) occasionally and individually shouting anti-Bush or anti-war slogans. However, numerous Bush supporters and people who just came...

My report, such that it is, of Inauguration Day (as I sit here in snowy MD watching the events of that day being replayed on CSPAN): My daughter and I awoke at 6:30am on Inauguration day, as she had an important date with the Secret Service at the Pentagon. We had been up late the night before, her polishing brass until 2am and me hemming her ball dress and making last minute things for the W2 Ball until 3:30am. I dropped her off at her school at 8:30am and met with Command Sergeant Major John McConnell to discuss last minute...

below are some pictures of the FreeRepublic Inaugural Ball

DATELINE: Washington, D.C. 1-22-05 Doug from Upland 6am Pacific Time was wakeup call in Upland,CA on Jan. 19. The journey began on a redeye flight out of Long Beach, CA that night. Earlier in the day, it was 85 degrees in Upland. That is shorts and Birkenstock weather. I can never sleep on a plane. Never. I can sleep everywhere else, including once while getting a root canal. Yes, I really did. My dentist got a good laugh out of that one, but it was the fastest root canal I ever remember. By the time I got to bed after...

The Free Republic W2 Inaugural Ball was a wonderful, but exhausting time. I'm still wiped out. But, I know folks are waiting for pics and stories. I'll add my observations later, but I wanted to share one thing before I head back to the hotel to see 'Governor' Robinson and his family off.We received a phone call from the White House yesterday. The Office of Presidential Scheduling called to pass along President Bush's regrets for not being able to attend our ball (we had mailed a formal invitation to him and his family.) We were told, "He hopes it went...

2005 Free Republic Inaugural Ball - Gigantor has a wild time!

Where the heck is everyone that went to the Ball? Anyway, let me give me account, and I am truly sorry that I don't have webspace to upload photos into, I will send mine to Bob Wood and he can do them soon hopefully. Anyway,my friend Fran and I arrived at about 12 noon. We were with a couple that I know from Il but they had bleacher seats, so we seperated getting off at different stops on the Metro. We arrived at the Penn 7th and were all fine and dandy, some silly banter going back and forth between...

Ok Ok .. I don't normally do vanity threads But it's now after 3PM Eastern time and still no pictures and reports about the Party last night Where Are They???.... tap tap tapping foot :0)

I haven't edited them yet because I don't have my new laptop set up for everything yet, so here are a few pictures from last night:::

7:30 ET Click on the logo!

Springdale High School junior who speaks out on behalf of veterans is to receive an award today at a presidential inaugural ball. Nikki Mendicino, 16, will receive the Falcon of the Year award from Free Republic, which operates a Web site for "grass roots conservatism." The award goes to a high school student. Mendicino became interested in helping veterans about six years ago after World War II veteran John Kridlo visited her school. She began visiting him and started a Web page dedicated to veterans. Since then, she has given hundreds of speeches throughout the country and has been involved...

WASHINGTON — An organization that recognizes one governor each year for contribution to the arts gave Gov. Mike Huckabee on Tuesday an award for public leadership. Americans for the Arts said the Arkansas governor had earned the award through his support for a bill that requires every public elementary school in the state to provide at least 40 minutes of instruction in music or visual art each week. Effective in June, the level of instruction increases to a minimum of one hour a week, and participating teachers are required to obtain certification in the arts and music. Americans for...

-- On Sunday, Sam and Jan Phillips of Fort Smith will pack into their olive-green Hummer and embark on a nearly 1,000-mile, three-day trip to the nation's capital for President Bush's inauguration. Driven by a deep admiration for the president, the Phillipses began planning their visit the day after Bush was re-elected. "We're just normal people going to something we consider to be special and historic," said Jan Phillips, a homemaker. "I just thought it was the chance of a lifetime to do this."

WASHINGTON -- Self-described homebody David Matheny of White Hall wouldn't make his first trip to the nation's capital for just anyone. But this week, Matheny will take his wife Tammy and son Matthew on their first vacation in two years, traveling nearly 1,000 miles to watch President Bush get sworn in Thursday for a second term. "I'd love to meet the guy and I'd love to shake his hand," said Matheny, 47, an insurance claims adjuster, White Hall alderman and president of the White Hall Chamber of Commerce. "It's not often for us that we have a president that we...

He (hearts) rock-and-roll: Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee won't just be another Republican party animal during inaugural festivities. He'll be part of the entertainment. Huckabee brings his rock band, Capitol Offense, back to Washington this week to play at a ball put on by Free Republic, a conservative news and activism Web site. "We played four years ago," the bass-playing governor told us. "It's one of those wonderful situations where it's rare to be invited the first time and even more rare to be invited back." The band's three-hour set will include boomer-pleasing songs by Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Rolling Stones,...

<p>We're counting the days now until President Bush's second Inaugural this Thursday. Tickets are still available for the hottest Inaugural Ball in D.C. Come join us for the Free Republic W2 Inaugural Ball featuring Gov. Huckabee and his rock and roll band, Capitol Offense.</p>