Posted on 11/11/2008 12:03:22 AM PST by Jim Robinson
A Democrat is poised to take the reins of power in Washington, D.C., and Fresno resident Jim Robinson is feeling a sense of déjà vu.
It was President Clinton's 1992 election that sparked Robinson's political activism, driving him to create a Web site that made him a grass-roots leader among conservatives before Clinton's term was over.
This year, as Barack Obama prepares to sweep into office on another tide of Democratic votes, Robinson and denizens of that Web site, freerepublic.com, are preparing to do battle again. "We'll double and redouble our efforts to fight for what is right," Robinson says. "We've got people just spitting nails."
Free Republic, founded by Robinson in September 1996, doesn't attract much attention from the national press and is not well-known among political experts. Many of its postings have a decidedly fringe feel.
But long before Red State, Daily Kos and Little Green Footballs arrived on the Internet political scene, Free Republic was building an audience -- and becoming a formidable political force among conservatives and libertarians that is admired even by some who disagree with its political philosophy.
In a study last month by the Internet ratings firm comScore, Free Republic ranked fifth among political blogs, just behind heavyweights The Huffington Post, Politico, Drudge Report and Real Clear Politics.
The Huffington Post had more than 4.5 million "unique visitors" -- those who visit a Web site more than once during a specified period -- during the election season, according to comScore. Politico, Drudge Report and Real Clear Politics all had more than 1.1 million unique visitors. Free Republic was fifth with 987,000 unique visitors, according to comScore.
Robinson said Free Republic has more than 300,000 registered users, though not all are active on the site, and its normal 1 million daily page views grew...
(Excerpt) Read more at fresnobee.com ...
ping
Nail spitter, reporting for duty, Sir!
Glad to hear this.
We have our work cut out for us.
Congrats Jim. Now you’ll be (even more) famous!!
“Decidedly Fringe Feel..?”
I’m only a nail biter, does that count?
Who is Cal Evans, and why does he think this is a Muslim bashing site?
See the comments at the end of the article.
Well maybe not...
“Decidedly Fringe Feel..?”
Anything right of the MSMs take on things is “fringe”.
So most of America.
“Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” —Barry Goldwater
lol how did they miss Rathergate?
“We are apt to listen to the sound of that siren, HOPE, until she transforms us into beasts..” — Patrick Henry
What, no mention of RatherGate?? I posted a comment on the Fresno Bee’s site, but it hasn’t appeared yet, just one displayed bashing FR, from a ‘former’ member...
Just WOW, Jim. Good for you and good for us.
Looks like we have been invited to the fight to save America, Jim.
Congratulations Jim! This website is a wonderful resourcethat keeps me sane.
Of course the liberals will call us a “fringe group”. Anything not liberal is a crazy fringe!
I’m so angry I could “spit nails” so you have another one reporting for duty sir!
Considering the Bee’a leanings, they wrote a fairly good article.
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