JimRob dead - TOS

[Idiot]

@Luis Gonzalez
@Cyber Liberty


Well, you'll notice the quarterly FR Freepathons always follow a predictable arc ... way behind, thousands of dollars short, begging for money or else they might have to (sob) shut down, then miraculously in the last 2 days, they always reach their target. Every. Damn. Time. Rinse & repeat.

Curious, huh? "Keep those donations comin in, folks!" lol

(somebody had to say it ...)

They won't need near the donations since there is one less to support.

[Luis Gonzalez]

You mean, that classy green eyed blonde wasn't who I thought she was? Perish the thought!

That wasn't the only one... by far.

[AllThatJazzZ]

@Cyber Liberty

I was class of 98, and if you PM me your old handle I won't tell anybody. Not even Boss Lady!

I'm going to enjoy my new anonymity here at TBR. I have since changed my mind on Trump, and voted for him in '20 and '24. And, no, I did NOT vote for Hillary in '16. I did a write-in. In those days, I believed a Trump presidency would be equal to a Hillary presidency. Turns out I was wrong, so I've put those notions behind me.



@Bigun

I signed on at FR in March of 98 and spent many happy years there. I made friends with many people I would otherwise never have encountered. And then JR let the mods turn it all to $%*t! I left of my own volition around 2010, bounced from pillar to post until I signed on here in May of 2012. Still here and happy about it. My screen name has not changed since the old BBS days. Maybe we met in person somewhere along the line @AllThatJazzZ as I was very active with the Houston FR crowd for a long time.

No, I didn't get to participate in any activities in those days because it was when I was the lone caregiver for my beloved father before his passing. I was tethered to the house for a few years, so my only "life" was online. The one activity I did get to attend was a ladies' lunch at a Mexican restaurant in the Montrose area where we got together with Joyce "Rejoice" Smith of Hope Ministries. It was a fun afternoon, and all those ladies were FReepers, but I can't remember any of their names. Joyce is the one I remember, and it was a blessing to meet her.


------------------------------------------------
 

It's fun to see what people remember about FR. I don't remember the Armstrong thing. I remember some kind of dust-up between JimRob/FR and FR's lawyer (?) in San Francisco. His name was everywhere ... until it wasn't. Now I can't even remember it. I remember Ash Alerts and DITHF and Buckhead when he blew the CBS hit piece on GWB wide open. Also, the time when someone deliberately and mischievously left the HTML color font tag open so that all font was in white and therefore invisible. 'Twas a mystery for a while until someone figured it out. The code was corrected so that couldn't happen again, but I have to admit that it was a funny prank.

A handful of us branched off to spend some time in a chatroom someone created (on the Homestead platform) where we could have real-time conversations. It was called The Alley and it was great fun. I've wracked my brain to remember the names of the regulars there. Here are some of the ones I can come up with: Navigator (I think he created the chatroom), FReeping Beauty, quidnunc, Cynicom, Uncle Daddy, Landshark, Mulder, AlleyCat, Wordkraft*, Uncle Sham, Canuck, bruinbirdman, Art Deco and several more that I just can't remember. Some of the names can no longer be found at FR because they received the left foot of fellowship, but in their day they had high visibility.

*Fun factoid: Wordkraft appeared on Win Ben Stein's Money and won! I recorded it but deleted it after that jackass Kimmel was so disgustingly vulgar. It put a cloud on my friend's victory, and I didn't want any part of that. But I was so happy for WK. He was smart and funny and kept us in stitches in the Alley.




Thanks, everyone, for allowing me to reminisce!

[Bigun]

There was a time when FR was *the* forum with the likes of Hannity, Limbaugh and Tony Snow posted at...not sure what happened...but I think they got too big and couldn't control it especially when the crazies got even crazier...Of course Hannity and Limbaugh didn't want any part of that...and little by little a lot of people left or were purged for not accepting group think.

There were people posting there whose real names would get your immediate attention if you heard them. Many very powerful at the time and some still are. Sadly, JR let the mods blow it all up.

[Bigun]

That wasn't the only one... by far.

You can say that again!

[Bigun]

@Cyber Liberty

I'm going to enjoy my new anonymity here at TBR. I have since changed my mind on Trump, and voted for him in '20 and '24. And, no, I did NOT vote for Hillary in '16. I did a write-in. In those days, I believed a Trump presidency would be equal to a Hillary presidency. Turns out I was wrong, so I've put those notions behind me.

There was a time when I considered Trump to be nothing more than a stalking horse for Hillary and said so very loudly. Refused to vote for him in 2016 even in the general election. His actions in office have proven me wrong and I'm happy to admit my error. I would have crawled over a mile of broken glass to vote for him in 2020 or 2024.

@Bigun

No, I didn't get to participate in any activities in those days because it was when I was the lone caregiver for my beloved father before his passing. I was tethered to the house for a few years, so my only "life" was online. The one activity I did get to attend was a ladies' lunch at a Mexican restaurant in the Montrose area where we got together with Joyce "Rejoice" Smith of Hope Ministries. It was a fun afternoon, and all those ladies were FReepers, but I can't remember any of their names. Joyce is the one I remember, and it was a blessing to meet her.

Darn! I was hoping we had met somewhere. There was a fairly large group of Freepers in Houston at one time that got together frequently.

Joyce Smith is an old friend from KSEV radio days. I have conversed with her many times on the radio and in person. SHE is an absolute delight and, believe it or not, still active well into her 90s. I hear her all the time on the Michael Berry show. @AllThatJazzZ


------------------------------------------------
 

It's fun to see what people remember about FR. I don't remember the Armstrong thing. I remember some kind of dust-up between JimRob/FR and FR's lawyer (?) in San Francisco. His name was everywhere ... until it wasn't. Now I can't even remember it. I remember Ash Alerts and DITHF and Buckhead when he blew the CBS hit piece on GWB wide open. Also, the time when someone deliberately and mischievously left the HTML color font tag open so that all font was in white and therefore invisible. 'Twas a mystery for a while until someone figured it out. The code was corrected so that couldn't happen again, but I have to admit that it was a funny prank.

I had never heard of the Armstrong thing before yesterday. All that must have occurred after I was gone.

I remember the lawyer, and his lady friend very well but cannot come up with their screen names for the life of me now. I had quite a few encounters with them back in the day.

I remember the great whiteout too! It's phunny now but had everyone hopping mad at the time.

A handful of us branched off to spend some time in a chatroom someone created (on the Homestead platform) where we could have real-time conversations. It was called The Alley and it was great fun. I've wracked my brain to remember the names of the regulars there. Here are some of the ones I can come up with: Navigator (I think he created the chatroom), FReeping Beauty, quidnunc, Cynicom, Uncle Daddy, Landshark, Mulder, AlleyCat, Wordkraft*, Uncle Sham, Canuck, bruinbirdman, Art Deco and several more that I just can't remember. Some of the names can no longer be found at FR because they received the left foot of fellowship, but in their day they had high visibility.

*Fun factoid: Wordkraft appeared on Win Ben Stein's Money and won! I recorded it but deleted it after that jackass Kimmel was so disgustingly vulgar. It put a cloud on my friend's victory, and I didn't want any part of that. But I was so happy for WK. He was smart and funny and kept us in stitches in the Alley.

I guess I missed out on all of that and there are only a few screen names I remember from those days. Sounds like Wordcraft would have been someone to know for sure.

Thanks, everyone, for allowing me to reminisce!

And thank you for the memories!

[Lando Lincoln]

Last night I clicked on TOS and saw Registered and Buckhead posted on JR’s thread. Each were famous for their own reasons. Registered’s last post in 2010 was to JR and it was scathing.

[mountaineer]

The dust-up between JR and an attorney may have been this (unless, of course, there were many such dust-ups): https://freerepublic.com/aldridgeinjunction.htm

[Bigun]

The dust-up between JR and an attorney may have been this (unless, of course, there were many such dust-ups): https://freerepublic.com/aldridgeinjunction.htm

There were more than one for sure. Cannot recall what this specific one was about but it looks like doxing might have been involved.

[Lando Lincoln]

Earlier, I said I was done posting about JR so I lied. A little.

Anyway, it was 2007 and here is Regustered’s post to Jim Rob:

https://freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/1875960/posts?page=59#59

Okay, that’s it. Probably.

[catfish1957]

Earlier, I said I was done posting about JR so I lied. A little.

Anyway, it was 2007 and here is Regustered’s post to Jim Rob:

https://freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/1875960/posts?page=59#59

Okay, that’s it. Probably.

Were you able to get your account deleted?  I asked 5 times and was ignored.  Suspected JR was wanting the numbers, and didn't care how many inactive or suspended accounts resided.

[Lando Lincoln]

Were you able to get your account deleted?  I asked 5 times and was ignored.  Suspected JR was wanting the numbers, and didn't care how many inactive or suspended accounts resided.

My account is still live.

[Bigun]

Earlier, I said I was done posting about JR so I lied. A little.

Anyway, it was 2007 and here is Regustered’s post to Jim Rob:

https://freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/1875960/posts?page=59#59

Okay, that’s it. Probably.

I don't know what happened to Jim but I know something did. 

[bigheadfred]

I don't know what happened to Jim but I know something did. 

$$$$$$$$

[Lando Lincoln]

I don't know what happened to Jim but I know something did. 

Tragic, actually. He had the rarest of opportunities.

[Cyber Liberty]

Earlier, I said I was done posting about JR so I lied. A little.

Anyway, it was 2007 and here is Regustered’s post to Jim Rob:

https://freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/1875960/posts?page=59#59

Okay, that’s it. Probably.

So that's what happened with Registered!  I had always wondered.  Too bad, I liked his work!

[Timber Rattler]

Were you able to get your account deleted?  I asked 5 times and was ignored.  Suspected JR was wanting the numbers, and didn't care how many inactive or suspended accounts resided.

Several of us have long suspected that he either sold or rented dormant accounts to make more money.

[Free Vulcan]

I don't know what happened to Jim but I know something did. 

He seemed like one who got a rare rush of power and notoriety and just couldn't handle it. Not the first time I've seen it.

[Bigun]

He seemed like one who got a rare rush of power and notoriety and just couldn't handle it. Not the first time I've seen it.

Possible, but I think there is more to it than just that. @Free Vulcan

[Free Vulcan]

Possible, but I think there is more to it than just that. @Free Vulcan

Well there were times @Bigun  it seemed that FR when it was more influential, it was used by JR to be a sink to diffuse conservative activist energy. That was what I was referring to when JR seemingly just waved his hand and all of what was building just died. Eventually other things rose up like the Tea Party but I feel like he held things back a good five years at least, time in retrospect the movement really could have used.

What really got to me was when Obama was elected and he shut down nearly all criticism against the guy. That really bugged me. I wasn't in the inner circle and had no idea what was going on behind the scenes, but it made me wonder sometimes if someone got to JR and he was compromised.

[catfish1957]

Well there were times @Bigun  it seemed that FR when it was more influential, it was used by JR to be a sink to diffuse conservative activist energy. That was what I was referring to when JR seemingly just waved his hand and all of what was building just died. Eventually other things rose up like the Tea Party but I feel like he held things back a good five years at least, time in retrospect the movement really could have used.

What really got to me was when Obama was elected and he shut down nearly all criticism against the guy. That really bugged me. I wasn't in the inner circle and had no idea what was going on behind the scenes, but it made me wonder sometimes if someone got to JR and he was compromised.

TOS long ago, was often cited by the likes of Tony Snow and Rush Limbaugh.  Then the bottom drooped for the reasons you listed.

[Free Vulcan]

TOS long ago, was often cited by the likes of Tony Snow and Rush Limbaugh.  Then the bottom drooped for the reasons you listed.

I can't recall, was JR military, Special Forces, Military Intelligence or something like that?

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

JR did not reflect well on conservatives IMO. Unless you think a guy taking your money and then treating you like garbage is "conservative". Just MO. Not a great salepitch for the ideology.

[Cyber Liberty]

What really got to me was when Obama was elected and he shut down nearly all criticism against the guy. That really bugged me. I wasn't in the inner circle and had no idea what was going on behind the scenes, but it made me wonder sometimes if someone got to JR and he was compromised.

JR's Mods went on a tear to stamp out all perceived racism.  It's how I got tossed in the cooler for calling Michael O'Bastard a Wookie.  To his credit JR lifted my ban as soon as I sent him a private email, but by then I had already decided to leave FR because of the Moderating. 

I hope I've done a better job of Moderating here, we have a great team!

[Cyber Liberty]

I can't recall, was JR military, Special Forces, Military Intelligence or something like that?

Navy, I think.

[Free Vulcan]

JR did not reflect well on conservatives IMO. Unless you think a guy taking your money and then treating you like garbage is "conservative". Just MO. Not a great salepitch for the ideology.

Nope. And I'll make it clear I didn't like JR and that was why. At the time I was part of a big network of people trying to turn Iowa red, I was even fairly high up in the Republican party, enough to be spending some time in the smoky back room with Governors, Senators, Representatives and officials at various levels, etc as things tend to happen at that point of activism.

Then JR comes along acting like he's the big dog player in IA politics and you're what he wiped his butt with 10 minutes ago. He's the kind of high school peacock punk thug that needed a good beat down in the street.

Sorry folks, had no use for the guy. I give my condolences to his family, because they are family, that's all.

[libertybele]

JR's Mods went on a tear to stamp out all perceived racism.  It's how I got tossed in the cooler for calling Michael O'Bastard a Wookie.  To his credit JR lifted my ban as soon as I sent him a private email, but by then I had already decided to leave FR because of the Moderating. 

I hope I've done a better job of Moderating here, we have a great team!

Indeed! 

[Free Vulcan]

JR's Mods went on a tear to stamp out all perceived racism.  It's how I got tossed in the cooler for calling Michael O'Bastard a Wookie.  To his credit JR lifted my ban as soon as I sent him a private email, but by then I had already decided to leave FR because of the Moderating. 

I hope I've done a better job of Moderating here, we have a great team!

But that was the thing - why didn't he ever reign in his mods? They were destroying what he built and he just sat back and let it happen. Again, another thing that really bugs me.

[Cyber Liberty]

But that was the thing - why didn't he ever reign in his mods? They were destroying what he built and he just sat back and let it happen. Again, another thing that really bugs me.

I figured he was afraid they would all quit if he tried that.  I would have told them to go ahead and quit, TBH.  Forum integrity comes first!  It matters.

[Timber Rattler]

TOS long ago, was often cited by the likes of Tony Snow and Rush Limbaugh.  Then the bottom drooped for the reasons you listed.

Heck, Tony and Mark and other prominent Conservatives used to post there regularly and engage with us until the nutcases and conspiracy theorists took over.

I can't recall, was JR military, Special Forces, Military Intelligence or something like that?

He was in the Navy in the 1960s, fleet sailor I believe.  Nothing special inside the service.

[BobfromWB]

But that was the thing - why didn't he ever reign in his mods? They were destroying what he built and he just sat back and let it happen. Again, another thing that really bugs me.

The mods still rule and still play favorites - protecting Russian trolls who like to doxx women posters, say the most awful things to destroy debate, and admittedly try to get others kicked while they do their utmost to destroy a thread [ like posting comments made days or weeks ago in one huge conglomeration.

If there is an interesting article, once the Russian troll crew finds it, it becomes unreadable.

[Free Vulcan]

He was in the Navy in the 1960s, fleet sailor I believe.  Nothing special inside the service.

Thanks, I couldn't recall for sure. Sorry I love our Special Forces and particularly back then there were many good ones in intelligence, but I don't have alot of trust those that come out of that then go into the public eye in a prominent position. Too many plants and provocateurs in that crowd, and I'm glad at least that doesn't seem to be the issue here.

[Timber Rattler]

I figured he was afraid they would all quit if he tried that.  I would have told them to go ahead and quit, TBH.  Forum integrity comes first!  It matters.

Here at the end, there are only two mods left I believe-- a "good" one who covers the evening shift and a "bad" one that "rules" during the day.  And think that JR himself was the Sidebar mod because his posts were always unnecessarily mean and nasty, just like JR's PMs.

[BobfromWB]

Who the Hell is Martin Armstrong?

Links below - follow the links for more information


Martin Armstrong Socrates Scam: Exposed: Armstrong Economics in The Free Republic Forum
https://armstrongecmscam.blogspot.com/2024/02/exposed-armstrong-economics-in-free.html

Martin Armstrong Socrates Scam: Martin Armstrong Inner Circle Details
https://armstrongecmscam.blogspot.com/p/martin-armstrong-inner-circle-details.html

[Free Vulcan]

I figured he was afraid they would all quit if he tried that.  I would have told them to go ahead and quit, TBH.  Forum integrity comes first!  It matters.

Which is sad, because if he had stayed on the original path, he would have been 10X bigger. I would have said 'street, curb, find it.'

[Bigun]

Well there were times @Bigun  it seemed that FR when it was more influential, it was used by JR to be a sink to diffuse conservative activist energy. That was what I was referring to when JR seemingly just waved his hand and all of what was building just died. Eventually other things rose up like the Tea Party but I feel like he held things back a good five years at least, time in retrospect the movement really could have used.

What really got to me was when Obama was elected and he shut down nearly all criticism against the guy. That really bugged me. I wasn't in the inner circle and had no idea what was going on behind the scenes, but it made me wonder sometimes if someone got to JR and he was compromised.

I was in the inner circle to a degree but lots of things that happened during that period befuddled me to no end. Still do in fact. I personally think someone with lots of $$$ got JR but have no way of proving it. All I know is that the place went from one thing to another practically overnight.

[the OlLine Rebel]

JR did not reflect well on conservatives IMO. Unless you think a guy taking your money and then treating you like garbage is "conservative". Just MO. Not a great salepitch for the ideology.

I never contributed.  As of some 10 years ago I'm glad.

But honestly - 6-digit quarterly needs?  Come on.

[Bigun]

But that was the thing - why didn't he ever reign in his mods? They were destroying what he built and he just sat back and let it happen. Again, another thing that really bugs me.

Me too! That's what got me banned. I begged him to stop it but was completely ignored. Someone else had his ear at that point and I still don't know who it was.  BobJ is a prime suspect.

[Timber Rattler]

BobJ is a prime suspect.[/size]

The irony being that BobJ himself fell out with JR, quite spectacularly, and was zotted from TOS right here.

https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/2570904/posts?page=43#43

[Free Vulcan]

What people have got to understand was that we really could have used a central hub for political organizing back then. I was hard core activist then and all we needed for a national network was a proper catalyst. There was no social media to speak of or anything else that could served as the platform like today...except for FR. JR had lightning in a bottle and he himself put the boot stomp on it.

We could have been 10 years farther down the road if he hadn't done what he did - and again that really bugs me as to WHY. He pissed away what he had for kooks and nutjobs. Makes no friggin' sense.

[Bigun]

The irony being that BobJ himself fell out with JR, quite spectacularly, and was zotted from TOS right here.

https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/2570904/posts?page=43#43

That explains a lot and makes me feel a lot better about a guy who I once considered a good friend. Thanks @Timber Rattler

P.S. Lawfare obviously didn't get invented for Trump.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

The irony being that BobJ himself fell out with JR, quite spectacularly, and was zotted from TOS right here.

https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/2570904/posts?page=43#43

I recall there was an "Exodus" in 2011 to TBF and BobJ was there... was he dressed in like a Monica costume or something in one of the "Freep a thons" or something?

Edit: yes i believe it was him and it was Pinnochio he was dressed as.

[Bigun]

What people have got to understand was that we really could have used a central hub for political organizing back then. I was hard core activist then and all we needed for a national network was a proper catalyst. There was no social media to speak of or anything else that could served as the platform like today...except for FR. JR had lightning in a bottle and he himself put the boot stomp on it.

We could have been 10 years farther down the road if he hadn't done what he did - and again that really bugs me as to WHY. He pissed away what he had for kooks and nutjobs. Makes no friggin' sense.

  Every word true!