A New Era of Credibility

Tax Relief ^ | September 17, 2004 | Tax Relief

[TaxRelief]

The conservative web group, FReerepublic.com, in its quest for "truth in media", may have accidentally stumbled across the means for unseating the leftists' obsession with "tolerance".

For over a year now, Freerepublic.com bloggers (Freepers) have been publically challenging the "factual information" disseminated in news stories published by the main stream media (MSM). The website's members have picked apart undocumented statistics; they've delved into the partisan semantics of questions on political polls; they've "FReeped" online polls to prove the uselessness of easily manipulated data; they've exposed sub-groups of radical activist organizations like "PETA", which pose as research "think tanks" and "responsible physicians"; they've bombarded news stations with phone calls and emails when the reporting is blatantly one-sided or even false; and finally, as this summer draws to a close, they have begun to publically object to lazy and biased newscasting.

As the analytical members of the conservative website FReerepublic.com have relentlessly challenged the credibility of the MSM, they have also simultaneously proven a theory that our forefathers discussed as they authored the first ten Amendments to the US Constitution; the Freedom of the Press has to be absolute, not just because truth is critical for sustaining a democracy in an otherwise Socialist world, but because truth itself cannot be ordered or legislated; it is the process of discourse, debate and disagreement that leads to true enlightenment.

However, as history has shown numerous times in the past, when "enlightenment" rears it's shining head, "darkness" goes on the defensive. Clearly, the crowd that seeks the truth is in direct conflict with those that "believe" truth is subjective and personal.

In the early seventies, a movement that focused on "prejudice" and "intolerance"--catch words intended to stop random and cruel discrimination against people with different colored skins--ballooned into a social behavior fad that temporarily pushed aside conservative etiquette. As a result, an entire generation of young people has now been raised believing that the concept of "maintaining a good reputation" is a selfish ploy perpetuated by adults who seek to control the scope of their teenagers' sexual activity, that everyone has the right to choose his own moral framework, and that questioning another's reputation is the equivalent of discrimination based on ethnicity.

In the process of subverting social norms, the simple concepts of credibility, honesty and reputation were thrown out with the bath water. A few folks saw what was happening along the way; many had to go through their own life experiences to become aware of the problem, and some have only just figured it out. Regardless of what brought them to this point, conservatives are coming out of the closet in droves, and it seems they are not willing to just "sit back and take it" anymore.

This past week "FReepers" crossed a critical threshold in their war on liberalism. By exposing, Dan Rather, a long-time icon of the MSM, as a man who is, at best lazy and partisan, or at worst dishonest and partisan, they actually were successful in preventing a paparazzi attack on the White House.

The rumbling volcano finally erupted when Dan Rather of CBS news--apparently oblivious to the "New Media"--happily presented some weak, insupportable "evidence" that a sitting president had attempted to shirk his duty as an American by either (a) serving in the National Guard rather than the regular army, or (b) missing 3 months of his 6 years service in the National Guard.

Rather's "evidence" consisted of "testimony" from partisan hacks and misquoted experts, and copies of memos "signed by" a man who died years ago (thereby unseating the commonly accepted theory that "dead men can't tell tales").

A FReeper, "Buckhead", immediately challenged the authenticity of the memos. Within hours, CBS's self-satisfied smiles were wiped off their faces, by the analytical branch of the "New Media".

This may well have been an historical moment; the MSM had probably never been diverted from its modus operandi of accuse-and-attack so successfully in the past. The MSM understandably was stunned to discover that the "seekers of truth" had reached a critical-enough mass to subvert "Plan A", the accuse-and-attack mission plan that had withstood the test of time; and to squash "Plan B": blame "intolerance" for anything that goes wrong. For forty years, the MSM had misused the concept of "tolerance" to cover-up its inadequacy, its laziness and the many, many errors made in haste, all because of a desire to get credit for "breaking the story".

Unfortunately for the MSM--but fortunately for America--FReepers and other rightwing bloggers are calling for a New Era of Credibility. Rightwingers are relying on the age-old premise that each individual is only as good as his honor and his ability to seekout and relay the truth (rather than the leftist theory that each man is only as good as his college degree--whether earned or gifted). The conservative bloggers harken back to the biblically-sound theory that a reputation once damaged is rarely ever recovered.

There may be no greater service that FReerepublic.com can do for the American people than to continue their mission to expose the MSM's poor journalistic practices (like quoting and enshrining of "unnamed sources"; the use of un-authenticated documents; the poor selection of interviewees; personal relationships between editors and partisan hacks; the backroom cover-up games and the rampant plagiarism of blogs and other reporter's articles). Perhaps they will even bring about the demise of the monopolistic mainstream media altogether.

Liberals may have attempted to destroy the value of a good reputation by telling kids not to "judge" others and to be "tolerant", but those same leftists did not eradicate the quest for truth well enough to prevent a powerful force from re-emerging and continuing on with the mission to conquer social misbehavior.

[TaxRelief]

True, plus you can actually comment on and debate news and issues here, while in the old media all you can do is read or listen to some talking head.

And when the articles/editorials are written by FReepers, you can even chat with the writers. :-)

[LogicWings]

I don't remember who it was on Fox or MSNBC today who said that the Democrat Party is not the party it use to be and the truer debate between Americans is between the Republicans and the Liberatarians.

The Democrat party hasn't been the party it used to be for many, many decades. Actually, same can be said for the Republicans.

The watershed year was 1913 and both parties bear fingerprints all over those crimes.

There is a strong, and growing, current of opposition to socialist ideas, ideals and propaganda. That is why this election cycle is so vicious. The left can feel it slipping away and they are desperate.

The counterpoint is "mercantilism" which the Republicans lean towards. A perfect example was Bush's "steel tariffs." Freedom means not favoring anybody, individuals or businesses.

The battle isn't won, but at least it has finally been engaged.

[NetValue]

We are so proud to be able to tell our grandsons, "We rode with the Freepers".

[potlatch]

That's a great image Meek!!

[optimistically_conservative]

Exclusive Interview with [TankerKC] About the Authenticity of the CBS Documents

[XBob]

21 - "The MSM must radically change"

Liberal Mass Media Institutions - CHANGE OR DIE !!

[MistyCA]

Thank God.

[steelie]

Don't forget Jarbidge and MTBE

[LogicWings]

If the political spectrum is lineal, then everything right of center (the wishy-washies, the small government advocates, the constitutionalists, the Bastiat libertarians, the deeply religious, the free marketers) can be considered conservative or right-wing.

You and I are told we must choose between a left or right, but I suggest there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down. Up to man’s age-old dream-the maximum of individual freedom consistent with order or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism.
-- Ronald Reagan

Following this idea, take the quiz: Quiz

Thus, I am neither a right winger or a left winger.

I am an upwinger.

[Between the Lines]

Thanks for the ping Misty!

[MistyCA]

Leave it to Ronald Reagan! Good point!

[LogicWings]

Leave it to Ronald Reagan! Good point!

The question is: how did you do on the test?

Are you a statist or a freedomist? (I think I just coined a word.)

[XBob]

112 - "Years ago when FR had less of a chat room-like atmosphere than it does today, there were a lot more freepers writing (multi-paragraph and multi-page) editorials. Today, these types of posts are pointless one or two line vanities."

I agree - and it has been the thrust by the admin moderators against 'vanities'.

We have lost a lot of our good editorials and editorialists.

[lainde]

BTTT

[lainde]

bttt

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks. I like that one, too. I've been posting it quite a bit
since FR has made front page with the Ra^therGate scandal.
Can't remember who I 'borrowed' that from.

[harpo11]

FREEPERS, BLOGGERS,
RIGHT-WING TALKERS
OH MY...I'M MELTING...
I'm Melting...
i'm me...l...t.ing.

[gitmo]

[TaxRelief]

Thanks, Gitmo. Now if we could only get the MSM to try to "do the right thing".

A touchdown. That is a great compliment.

[Do Be]

As a result, an entire generation of young people has now been raised believing that the concept of "maintaining a good reputation" is a selfish ploy perpetuated by adults who seek to control the scope of their teenagers' sexual activity, that everyone has the right to choose his own moral framework, and that questioning another's reputation is the equivalent of discrimination based on ethnicity.

My sons, ages 14 & 16, have grown up with freerepublic. They understand that here is where the real news is.

I imagine that there are many households where this is true, and this is something that cannot be measured now. It is something that will reach fruition quietly and be a major force.