What's Happening to Conservative Websites?

vanity | 3-7-07 | Bob J

[Bob J]

I have diligently watched the rise in size and influence of conservative websites, including Free Republic, over the last 7-8 years. I have been shocked and concerned over the drop in traffic at the most popular ones over the last year or so. There was good growth up until 2006 but since then there has been a steady downtrend that would crash any other market.

Anyone have any ideas as to what is happening? I'm out of explanations. The deficiencies in alexa.com are noted, but even if the numbers aren't accurate you're still comparing off numbers to off numbers so the decline is consistent.

[IronJack]

Cogent observations. The war isn't being waged only in the halls of Congress; in fact, that may be the least significant front. We've got to win this one on the hearth. And frankly, I'm not sure we can do that. It's always easier to sell license than discipline. And the Left is superb at absolving people of consequences -- at lest superficially.

[Cacique]

bump for later

[L.N. Smithee]

No, Bush isn't my ideal leader, but instead of piling on him like others, I choose to stand by him.

Fine. YOU stand by a policy that allows anyone who can crawl across the southern border to enter the country years after national security supposedly became the priority of the government. YOU stand by the nomination of an utterly underqualified crony with a law degree over known, established, tenured jurists to a lifetime appointment on the Supreme Court. YOU stand by silently as people who reach out to embrace you in the spirit of bipartisanship stab you in the back. YOU stand by as shady characters from your political opposition are given a pass on federal crimes while every misdemeanor of folks on this side is celebrated as if it is worthy of capital punishment. YOU stand by as rock-solid, tax-cutting, government-shrinking conservatives are shunted aside as RINOs like Richard Riordan and Lincoln Chafee are promoted.

Meanwhile, I will be demanding more, mindful of the old adage that if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything.

[sr4402]

One should put this along side with Liberal Media as well. I agree, the number of blog sites is rapidly increasing and spreading the wealth. The only thing, I think, is underreported is how well or poorly liberal blog sites are doing.

[jwh_Denver]

And you play the victim card? WAFI

[jwh_Denver]

Most people don't really get it do they?

[mike_9958]

Keep it up... rant, rave and scream about how bad everything is, how some conservatives aren't conservative enough for you. And if you can persuade enough people to see the world exactly as you do I will applaud. But if you can't, and you succeed in only fragmenting us and losing us a major election out of apathy or anger you will be lumped into the extremists who lost us an election.

My fear is that McCain will run as an independent and spoil / split the conservatives like Perot did, because Conservatives will fragment. (I'd hate to think of another Dem president).

I often wonder where the line is between a Leftwing extremist is that says the Bush is bad and Rightwing extremist who says Bush is bad. I'll stand by the guy I voted for - thanks

[phillyfanatic]

Competition, too many blogs to review, Talk Radio all deal with many of the same subject as conservative sites. That is fine. Air America could not last and neither will many leftist pacifist socialist sites because lots of Americans are more pragmatic than many conservatives think. Those pragmatists realize that conservatism is not as wrong, ugly or nutty as the Left and the Dems push.

[BARLF]

Mark

[conservative in nyc]

Part of your post got picked up in the Chicago Sun Times:

Right on
Is the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy Becoming Half-Vast? (cont'd):
• • The conservative Web site Free Republic at www.freerepublic.com notes, with data and graphs, that "there has been a steady downtrend" in traffic at conservative Web sites in the last year "that would crash any market."

I'm still not convinced your hypothesis is correct. Liberal sites are down much more in the last 3 months. And I'm not sure that I trust Alexa.

[vox_freedom]

bump to read entire thread later...