Posted on 02/14/2005 6:57:37 AM PST by WorkingClassFilth
“. . .I must confess, my first reaction to having our speaker today at the National Press Club was the same as a lot of other members—was the same as what a lot of other members of the Club have had: Why do we want to give a forum to that guy? Matt Drudge is the31-year-old chronicler of The Drudge Report, an Internet site packed daily with gossip, tidbits and information on everything from the latest scandal in Washington to the latest Neilsen ratings. He scooped the national news media on Bob Dole's selection of Jack Kemp as his running mate and Connie Chung's ouster at CBS [and a hell of a lot more than that but, hey, that’s another post]. But Drudge's methods are suspect in the eyes of most journalists. He moves with the speed of cyberspace, and critics charge he has no time to know his sources or check his facts. Like a channel catfish, he mucks through the hoaxes, conspiracies and half-truths posted on-line in pursuit of fodder for his website. That can have unpleasant consequences. . .”
(Excerpt) Read more at web.archive.org ...
There are a lot of folks here that don't think a lot of Drudge - but I am not one of them. He has my highest respect.....and I would also say that he is an outstanding "journalist" cut from a new cloth
Yeah, I'm aware of some FReeper's dislike for Drudge. I'm also aware of some FReeper's dislike for Rush Limbaugh. On top of that, I'm also aware of some FReeper's dislike for President Bush. Etc., etc., etc.
Like you, I think he deserves some fair measure of respect since he, like Limbaugh, led the way in their respective media domains. I don't like a lot of what Drudge puts out, but that is beside the point. What is significant is the smashing impact he had in his time and what it did to the media establishment. Their remarks and attitudes are there, in the transcript, for all to see.
Say what they will, 98% of Drudge's critics haven't done a fraction of the heavy lifting that he has. As far as I am concerned, the enemies of my enemy are my friends.
I saw it on television back in 1998.
At the time, I had heard conflicting things about him and assumed that some of the worst charges probably had merit and that he was a light-weight at best.
After watching Drudge's Address--and watching the performance of the Washington Press Club members--I realized that Drudge was light-years ahead of them--in everything, including honesty, integrity, and intelligence.
It was then that I began reading the Drudge Report regularly.
My experiences since then have confirmed my convictions about Drudge and the National Press Club.
About the same time, I discovered Free Republic.
I think many people had essentially the same reaction to the Address and all that has transpired since then.
I have seldom seen anything as spellbinding--Matt Drudge's Address, especially, but also the constrasting and disgusting performance of the members of the National Press Club.
I agree with you 100%, although I only read the transcripts when Drudge used to keep on link on his page. We genuinely owe the centerpiece {the impeachment) of krinton's legacy of shame to Matt Drudge.
When Newsweek spiked the story and continued to ignore the ongoing krinton crime spree, Drudge broke the story, minted the blogosphere tidal wave effect and, eventually, wiped X42's claims of innocence off the map. If he hadn't broken that story, we, as conservatives, very conceivably wouldn't be where we are today. There would have been no evidence, no public outcry, no Starr investigation and no charges of impeachment. Heck, we might even be saddled with Algore today.
For those reasons alone, the recent celebratory back slapping over the trashing of Rather and Eason ought to at least include a sincere nod to Drudge.
It was through Drudge's link that many of us first found FR back in '98. He stopped linking FR shortly thereafter and has remained resolute since in his refusal to do so..
"It was through Drudge's link that many of us first found FR back in '98. He stopped linking FR shortly thereafter and has remained resolute since in his refusal to do so..."
That's probably how I first found FR, too, because I lurked for several years before I signed on the dotted line. If he has his nose out of joint because of something said or done here, it doesn't matter to me one way or another nor does it detract from his achievements. Others have come and gone from here in a huff too. Lucianne, TBLSHOW, A+bert and a slew of others come to mind. Drudge can be a prima donna and his critics here can be self-righteous prigs. One of the great things about liberty is that it's elastic enough for all the big heads.
I used to think Drudge did heavy lifting. And he does.
In the light of day, it seems other people do the leg work, then Drudge lifts it and leaks the story early.
I have no doubt he lives on tips, but they wouldn't be coming to him if he was just a slug sitting on a couch. He did the right thing long, long before the term 'blog' was coined and he went into the lion's den (the NPC) and kicked their @sses all over the room (check the transcript). Our current crop of cyber crusaders owe a big debt the the man that made their medium. I simply give the man credit, but I don't worship at his alter.
Drudge made the news independent for the first time. I hate the spyware he uses on his site, but I respect what he has done.
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