Free Republic

It's been a VERY long time, but greetings, all. I was a FReeper dating from 1998; active here for YEARS. Life got in the way and I've been away for a long time, but back now. I've missed FR. Big time follower of Q and the truth movement and have remained very active....just not here. I wish to remedy that. I've made a lot of good friends here; friendships that last to this day. What's happening in our country and our world today were pipe dreams in the early days. We've always kicked ass here; I hope to kick some...

Since the November 6, 2012 elections, resulting in significant Democrat Party gains (including keeping the White House), talk of secession has become rather serious. Such talk has been around for years. Travel to Alaska (I admit it's been years since I have been there, but I've visited courtesy of Uncle Sam three times) and you'll see secessionist literature everywhere...diners, wherever people gather. To a lesser extent, this has been true in Texas, as well (lived there for years). Alaska and Texas are admittedly the two most independent-minded States in our nation. Now....such talk isn't relegated to the pioneer-minded, two largest...

OK....a rainy day; decided to go see "The Expendables 2" today with my lady friend and my son. Just thought, for those who haven't seen it and are maybe thinking about it, I'd drop a thought or two here. First, if you haven't seen the original..."The Expendables"...get it on Netflix or rent the DVD. This one won't make much sense, really, unless you see it in the context of the first movie. The films' plots have zip to do with each other, but the characters, etc. need to be understood first. It opens with a serious 'bang'....literally. Very violent, VERY...

Tough times. So many close to me are enduring such hard times. Our beloved country is under attack from so many forces. We deal with so many issues, problems daily.... I merely wish to offer the gift of music to my fellow FReepers. Music is a gift from God. I'm a guitarist of over 40 years; music has gotten me through so much.... Sit back....crank up your speakers.....and listen to one of the most amazing live performances you will ever hear. This is my man, Gary Moore....live, in Stockholm, in 1987 playing "Empty Rooms". If you don't know Gary's work,...

I received this in an email this afternoon.......and it positively made my blood boil. "This one may turn your stomach........ Obama's Wife as Seen by Deaf People Obama and his wife were attending the 9/11 Memorial Ceremony and watched as the Color Guard folded the flag into a triangular shape, according to custom. A video camera caught the two from the sidelines. Obama's wife leaned over and said to him, " All this for a damn flag ?" Obama turned to her, smiled smugly and nodded his head in agreement.How do we know what was said? The video was presented...

Liberals....Democrats. The two terms have become, for all intents and purposes, synonymous. Let's just use "liberals" for the time being. In their heart-of-hearts, liberals know that: - Obama not only was ineligible to run for President, he was ineligible to run for the U.S. Senate...and they just don't care - Obama is utterly clueless; woefully unqualified, and demonstrates this daily...and they just don't care - Obama is a full-on Socialist, if not a Communist, with strong Muslim beliefs...and they just don't care - Obama has nothing but contempt for the very Constitution he swore on a Bible to uphold, making...

Good day, fellow FReepers. I've come to the single best source of information/recommendations online....especially for advice on anything gun-related. Short version: I'm going to purchase an air rifle (aka "pellet gun"). Darned squirrels here have simply gotten out of hand, and it's time to take 'em out. Heaven knows I've tried everything else; little vandals simply don't take a hint. I've done a fair amount of research and, so far, I seem to have settled upon the Benjamin Marauder. Pricey, but reviews of this gun are stellar. Here are my questions, since I've never owned an air rifle: 1. What...

Some of you have already heard of this amazing singing group, but many of you have not. Let's fix that. Here's just a great little musical interlude for your Easter Sunday morning. No, it's not Easter music....but amazing, nonetheless. The group is called Perpetuum Jazille from Slovenia. I've picked three favorites to share with you, two of which are their renditions of songs by the band Toto (done a capella; as you've never heard them before). First, "Africa" (my absolute favorite); a stunning vocal arrangement (turn up your speakers, especially for the beginning "human rainstorm"): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09LQlfMmW7s Second, from the same...

Ronnie Montrose, who is best known for his fiery guitar work as a member of the band Montrose, died Saturday. It is believed that the cause of death was prostate cancer, which he had been battling for the past few years. Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/guitarist-ronnie-montrose-dead-at-64-20120304#ixzz1qgRRM6jk

In light of the recent shooting of young Trayvon Martin in Florida and the subsequent hoopla surrounding the incident, I have finally come to a conclusion. No longer do black kids and their families have to look to professional sports or rap/hip-hop stardom as their sole avenues to success. We have a whole new paradigm; an entire new victimhood industry just waiting to be exploited with explosive growth potential. Allow me to explain how this works, ladies and gentlemen. First...you must be black. No exceptions. You don't have to be married, just have kids (preferably male). Then, do all that...

I won't pretend that there has been any one, single event or occurrence of late that has prompted this discussion. Suffice it to say that I'm absolutely, positively fed up as a Christian, a veteran, and as an American. I'm well into my 50's now, and in my lifetime I have never seen a more open, blatant attack on not only our freedoms as Americans but also our beliefs (e.g. Christianity in all of its forms), our sensibilities, and even our intelligence. There are multitudinous examples of enemies out there who loathe our country, our faith, our founding principles, our...

As we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, as foretold in these opening words of Isaiah 9:6, I wanted to wish each and every one of you and your families a very, very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. God bless you all.

Hey, fellow FReepers. I've seen threads like this over the years but darned if I can seem to find or access any of them, soooooooo..... I'm looking for advice on a handgun purchase. The gun will be a Christmas present for my lady friend who happens to be a professional armed security officer (and supervisor, trainer, etc.,etc.). She currently owns a Glock .40 cal semi-auto (her work weapon) and a pretty sweet S&W .38 revolver. She's a CCW permit holder; well-trained. Since there are SO many FReepers here with scads of experience in such things, I'm looking for some suggestions...

With all of the disgusting news coming from the various so-called "Occupy Wall Street" functions across the country (aka "OWS"), replete with murders, rapes, public copulation, public defacation, filth, stench, attacks on police, disruption of businesses, attacking little old ladies, and various and sorted other examples of mayhem, a thought hit me. IF I was somehow "King of the Tea Party" for a day, I'd be marshaling the forces to ensure beaucoup Tea Party events ASAP. Why, you ask? Despite the ridiculously biased, lying, insipid coverage of previous Tea Party events in the past by the MSM, the contrast would...

[Note to all: I've finally resurrected what was a tradition here for several years on FR....the "Veterans' Check-In". Much has happened since I started this...twelve years ago. Three of my five sons are now veterans, including a Bronze Star-winning Stryker platoon leader in Iraq back during the 'surge' days (FReeper "Future Snake Eater"), a combat videographer who jumped in so young I had to sign papers to allow him to serve, and a 'grunt' from Ft. Polk who just got back from Afghanistan). God bless them, God bless you all. I've included the original text from all those years ago...

To any of my fellow Freepers or lurkers who may personally know Andrew Breitbart, please pass on the following to him. Andrew....love the name of your oranization. RightOnline has noble goals that I support 100%. God bless and Godspeed. I am compelled to add that I am supremely flattered that you chose to name your organization after little ol' me. I mean, I have had this name for nearly 13 years here on Free Republic, so obviously you have been so overwhelmed by the quality of my posts, you deemed it appropriate to memorialize the name. Color me humbled. OK...

This, ladies and gentlemen, was the last thing to go through Osama bin Laden's mind before he died:

If you start with a cage containing five monkeys and inside the cage, hang a banana on a string from the top and then you place a set of stairs under the banana, before long a monkey will go to the stairs and climb toward the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, you spray all the other monkeys with cold water. After a while another monkey makes an attempt with same result ... all the other monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon when another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will try to...

Fox News just announcing.....Sen. Byrd of W. VA. has died.

We've all been watching the video of the Greek riots of late. The coverage, even on Fox News, seems to be clearly implying that the Greek citizenry are angry over upcoming spending cuts due to Greece's horrific financial situation, need for EU bailout monies, etc. In effect, we are being told that this is just a bunch of spoiled brats who are used to sucking off of the public teat and are angry that their cushy pensions, etc. may be cut even slightly. Well, according to a conversation I had this afternoon, this is anything but the case. I have...