When I first came here (-1997), the forum consisted of two primary constant themes. Investigating the RUMORS about Bill Clinton, and incredible FLAME WARS between Dole and Kemp supporters who were still mad about the primary election. I only lurked because there were some serious headhunters on here if they disagreed with you. Eventually settled on my handle because Eagles Up was the sites battle cry when an infiltrator was about to be crucified. Now its cats and zots but were still aggressive.
My point is the site has always been edgy. Freedom Underground was an offshoot of original posters but the name is still representative. Ill agree that we dont have nearly the same level of hard nosed investigators of our own, but the interest is still there. And there are a lot more other sites feeding us potential information than just Drudge, which is all we really had back then...
These articles are not being proffered as rumor, nor are they discussed as rumor.
In both proffer and discussion they are treated as fact.
And my memory of the early days was not the discussion of Clinton rumor, but of unreported fact/testimony from named persons, on the record.