Fresnan pioneers Web grass-roots conservatism "[FR] is the granddaddy of all these political sites"

The Fresno Bee ^ | 11/10/2008 | By John Ellis

[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...

[LibLieSlayer]

I am a Patriot so FR is my home. I guess this salient fact escapes "the" liberal mind. I'm with you Jim and I am locked and loaded!

LLS

[LibLieSlayer]

Is it not muslims that attacked the Twin Towers in 1993? Did not muslims come back on 9/11/01 and finish the job as they promised to do? Was it not muslims that blew up the USS Cole and our Kenyan embassies? Is it not muslims that we fight in Afghanistan and Iraq? Is iran not a muslim nation? Who is it that cries out for the destruction of Israel and GOD’s very own people?

Now I do not say ALL muslims are our enemy... for that is clearly not the case... but it is muslims that plot 24/7 365 on ways to kill all of us and we were warned just yesterday by al qaeda that we will get hit again and this time it will make 9/11 look like a cake walk. So tell me... are we incorrect on FR when we point out the truth that even a blind man can see? Do we need to wait until one of our cities lies under a mushroom cloud for truth to come back into vogue?

LLS

[LucyT]

Thanks, Slings and Arrows. Yeah, Mr. Robinson! Good article; good photo.

Ping. [Check out the second page.]

After reading BykrBayb's comment, I'm going to sew fringe onto all my clothing, too. Wonder if it's made in Red, White and Blue.

[villagerjoel]

Us wackos who think that the government isn´t the solution to everything.

[BykrBayb]

Oh yeah, I want red, white and blue fringe on my pajamas.

[wolfcreek]

He's an Obama operative. (and an asswipe)

[tiredoflaundry]

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. .

WTG Mr.Jim!

[StarCMC]

w00t!! It is good to be a FReeper! Thanks Jim!!

[CatoRenasci]

wish we could stay under the left’s radar, keep your powder dry, and your servers well-protected....

[buschbaby]

I guess if believing in the Constitution and individual freedom makes me "fringe" I'll wear that label with pride! Congrats to Jim and all FReepers who make this the place for conservative ideals on the web!

[StarCMC]

Do we need to wait until one of our cities lies under a mushroom cloud for truth to come back into vogue?

Nah -- if/when that happens it'll be our fault for antagonizing them. /sarc

[colorcountry]

As a proud member of the 300,000 registered users at FreeRepublic I say, why spit nails when you can hammer ‘em!

It’s hammer time!

[StarCMC]

http://digg.com/political_opinion/Fresnan_pioneers_Web_grass_roots_conservatism

[x_plus_one]

A denizen is a resident with rights intermediate between those of a citizen and those of a resident alien; in particular:

* by denization, an obsolete process in English Common Law, dating from the 13th century, by which a foreigner gained some privileges of a British subject, including the right to hold English land, through letters patent

* a "free Negro" in the United States before the abolition of slavery

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denizen

I guess it's all good....

[LibLieSlayer]

True... sad but true.

LLS

[iopscusa]

Loved the History Lesson...you da man JRob, the first and best of all sites! “We’ll double and redouble our efforts to fight for what is right,” Robinson says. “We’ve got people just spitting nails.”

[RKBA Democrat]

“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.”

LOL! Not well known my posterior. They know us very well, and routinely lurk here. While I suspect the chattering pundits would like us to disappear, they’re not ignorant of FR.

[netmilsmom]

FRugg!

[Condor51]

[syriacus]

Nice to read about something good in the paper, for a change. Thank you.