Posted on 10/29/2008 5:57:41 AM PDT by IrishMike
In 2006, Mark Halperin, then with ABC News, and John Harris, then with the Washington Post, wrote an astute book on U.S. politics titled "The Way to Win: Taking the White House in 2008."
In one of their more provocative -- and widely noted -- assertions, they wrote, "Matt Drudge rules our world."
They elaborated over many pages, but their point came down to this: "With the exception of the Associated Press, there is no outlet other than the Drudge Report whose dispatches instantly can command the attention and energies of the most established newspapers and television newscasts."
In the two years since the book appeared, much has changed. Halperin works for Time magazine. Harris helped conceive Politico.com, and serves as editor in chief. And with the rise of other leading websites, most obviously Huffington Post, their analysis of the clout of Drudge is much more arguable.
Still, as any blog poster who gets a link on the Drudge page can testify, its influence remains something to behold. So it was with interest that we noted a tidbit today on the website Halperin oversees, The Page.
The item was headlined "Oh, Matt!!!" The tease: "For the second straight day, powerful Internetist tries to tip the flow against (Barack) Obama."
The case is made here. And we're sure we'll be among the many watching to see if Drudge continues the pattern Halperin detected.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimesblogs.latimes.com ...
‘Twas the night before elections’
‘Twas the night before elections
And all through the town
Tempers were flaring
Emotions all up and down!
I, in my bathrobe
With a cat in my lap
Had cut off the TV
Tired of political crap.
When all of a sudden
There arose such a noise
I peered out of my window
Saw Obama and his boys
They had come for my wallet
They wanted my pay
To give to the others
Who had not worked a day!
He snatched up my money
And quick as a wink
Jumped back on his bandwagon
As I gagged from the stink
He then rallied his henchmen
Who were pulling his cart
I could tell they were out
To tear my country apart!
” On Fannie, on Freddie,
On Biden and Ayers!
On Acorn, On Pelosi”
He screamed at the pairs!
They took off for his cause
And as he flew out of sight
I heard him laugh at the nation
Who wouldn’t stand up and fight!
So I leave you to think
On this one final note-
IF YOU DONT WANT SOCIALISM
GET OUT AND VOTE!!!!
LLS
Halperin Memo Dated Friday October 8, 2004
It goes without saying that the stakes are getting very high for the country and the campaigns - and our responsibilities become quite grave
I do not want to set off (sp?) and endless colloquy that none of us have time for today - nor do I want to stifle one. Please respond if you feel you can advance the discussion.
The New York Times (Nagourney/Stevenson) and Howard Fineman on the web both make the same point today: the current Bush attacks on Kerry involve distortions and taking things out of context in a way that goes beyond what Kerry has done.
Kerry distorts, takes out of context, and mistakes all the time, but these are not central to his efforts to win.
We have a responsibility to hold both sides accountable to the public interest, but that doesn’t mean we reflexively and artificially hold both sides “equally” accountable when the facts don’t warrant that.
I’m sure many of you have this week felt the stepped up Bush efforts to complain about our coverage. This is all part of their efforts to get away with as much as possible with the stepped up, renewed efforts to win the election by destroying Senator Kerry at least partly through distortions.
It’s up to Kerry to defend himself, of course. But as one of the few news organizations with the skill and strength to help voters evaluate what the candidates are saying to serve the public interest. Now is the time for all of us to step up and do that right.
Excellent analysis.....
Ok, FReepers, time to “turn to!” All hands on deck! Man your battle stations!!
Friday, October 24, 2008 4:34:27 PM · by Jim Robinson · 460 replies · 9,838+ views
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2114462/posts
As reported on another thread:
“Major Garrett reports from Hawaii 10 minutes ago that David Axelrod the Campaign Manager for Barack Obama says as of this morning the campaign had a meeting in Chicago and according to internal numbers they have “a clear road to victory holding all Kerry states while picking up Ohio, Florida, Colorado, Nevada and Virginia with an excellent shot at Montana, North Carolina, West Virginia, and Indiana.”
They are saying they will get to 400 EV’s election night.”
And I just heard through the grapevine yesterday that McCain-Palin are needing grassroots support in battleground states like Nevada, Montana, Ohio, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, etc.
Can you imagine conservative Republican states going for Obama? No, and neither can I. Obama has the money, the press and the resources. McCain-Palin has the grassroots. It’s time for the grassroots to scramble to action!
Grassroots? That’s us! Time for all Free Republic chapters and members to visit or call the closest McCain-Palin or Republican headquarters, grab some signs, man the phones, walk the precincts, join rallies, spread the word! Don’t let Obama and ACORN steal the election!! Get in their faces!!
We did it in 2000 and 2004, we can do it again in 2008!!
Go to work FReepers and Lurkers!! Get out the VOTE!!
And if you’re one of those hard cases who can’t quite see your way clear to vote affirmatively for McCain-Palin and against the America-hating Marxist Barak Hussein Obama, well, I’d advise you to button up your lip before someone busts it up for you. Free Republic is Mccain-Palin territory!!
You heard it here first!
Go get ‘em FReepers!!
(JimRob)
Interesting -
And what was J Kerry’s lead in the polls the day before the election ?........ 6% or 8% I believe.
Love it! May I use this in an emailer to my friends and family?
Power to the Inernetistas! We will help save the Republic!
“He is certainly not going away soon.”
When Obama looses I’m expecting some Mullah to put out a Fatwa on him. A “Contract” for those in NJ.
Drudge is my homepage. From there I come here to Freeperville. The dems don’t want to give him hits so they send one person out to bring in the news to them at DU. They literally hate Drudge.
“I don’t understand why some people don’t want a little different opinion/view here. We still have an awful lot in common.”
Well said, but some people see disagreement as rejection and they don’t take it well. I personally like a good argument, it let’s you learn something about yourself and others. Almost every time someone has disagreed with me I have learned from the exchange.
Drudge GOT to where he is BECAUSE he lets people know about things that the MSM has chosen to bury.
Funny, I’ve wondered about this as well.
The left will only ad fuel to a fire that not only will burn out of control but in THEIR FACES as well.
Agree.
(Though I could do without the two-headed animal stories. He seems to have a penchant for those.)
Oh my.
Drudge has got LOTS of links to things that Obama would rather not be seen by the public: Palestinians for Obama, the LA Times suppressing the video of Obama with the Palestinians, Obama accepting untraceable donations, Biden opening his mouth about the Obama taxes not being a cut to anybody making under $150K, etc, etc.
“And with the rise of other leading websites, most obviously Huffington Post, their analysis of the clout of Drudge is much more arguable.
How can anyone possibly put Drudge in the same category as that wicked Huffington?
Patience... Out of a gazillion threads each day, it's a certainty that a few will be like that. Its a big world, and this community is a lot deeper than it looks.
By the way, I forgot to mention that this is my home. Y’all aren’t bad mouthing it are you?
Check this currently just posted on Drudge
Obama Late To Hearings
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ah9W24oMIRc
Drudge Headline: Obama always Late To Hearings
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