Posted on 09/12/2004 4:54:35 PM PDT by writer33
It all started in 1988. President Ronald Reagans second term was ending, Americans were ready to launch the presidency of George H.W. Bush, and in Sacramento, California, a loveable little fuzzball stepped behind a microphone, replacing Morton Downey, Jr, and giving us his brand of conservative truth. It was astonishing. It was exhilarating. And it was unheard at the time. Before 1988, Americans had been treated with the nightly news from the Big Media.
The Big Media owned the airwaves of our televisions. Every morning, noon, and night we were fed stories, pictures, and commentary from a leftist press. A media content in spreading the truth that served its purpose, giving us little tidbits of salacious information, but not reporting the full story. Facts had been withheld to give the unaware their view of the world and how it should be. Their mission: Save the world by keeping people ignorant of the truth. And just like the song, Along Came Mary, along came Limbaugh.
Limbaugh perforated our eardrums with common sense and startling commentary. His sharp wit and sarcastic humor brought a smile on our faces. His love of country and support of our troops spurred a belief that was held in the majority of Americans minds. America loved it. They loved Limbaugh. They loved the truth. In fact, America loved the truth so much they gave him his own television show in 1992. This opened the door to audiences that had never heard from Limbaugh before. A chance to spread a disease caused by casual contact. A chance to open American eyes to the Big Media. CBS, NBC, ABC, and CNN hadnt seen the like of it. They were in shock and awe. They were furious. They were overwhelmed at the number of stations Limbaugh overtook. They didnt know how to respond to this loveable little fuzzball. So they did what they always do: Manipulate the facts and distort the truth about Limbaugh. Before long, his books were on shelves, spreading more conservative views on topics of interest to Americans, topics such as National Security, Feminism, Abortion, and Liberalism. Now, even more Americans had become aware of Rush Limbaugh. Suddenly, the Big Media had to compete for the attention of the American people. As Rush said before, There wasnt any of this fifteen years ago. I know. I was there at the creation. He was. And we are forever grateful.
Through all of this, a cable news channel was created. Fox News, a channel that reported the whole story. They were young and brash, and in 1996, they gave a young, fire-breather his debut on Hannity & Colmes. Sean Hannity began to slice and dice liberalism on a cable news network. His efforts in broadcast journalism led him to his own radio show on September 10, 2001. Not only does he reach millions on his television show, but is second only to Rush Limbaugh in talk radio with nearly 400 stations across the nation. As conservatives, we were starting to get a stranglehold on the old monopoly of the Big Media. We were fighting mad and it was showing.
And there would be more to follow. More talk show hosts to come. More conservative news, exposing the truth of the spin in the Big Media. There would be the internet, the new age of conservative news, opinions, commentary, and information throughout the globe. Soon, a gutsy, young journalist would risk it all and shake the foundations of the White House from the internet. Matt Drudge risked his entire reputation, career, and livelihood by breaking the Monica Lewinsky story. This no nonsense conservative uncovered what no Big Media would uncover. He would expose the corruption and debauchery under the desk in the Oval Office.
Matt Drudge was the beginning of the internet and the new media. Now, Americans of all stripes of red, white, and blue could access news. In the last year, Drudge has had nearly three billion visitors to his site, which is broadcast every Sunday from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. eastern standard time. Drudge began the wave of the conservative future. No longer did conservatives have to call in to their favorite talk radio program to express their frustration of the liberal media. No longer did they have to sit idly by their televisions throwing pillows at the television while ranting and raving at the blatant media partisanship. Now they had a new outlet. They had a forum called Free Republic.
Through the brainchild of Jim Robinson, a forum was created where Americans of all flavors could rant, rave, and could even continue the pursuit of conservatism while crushing the socialistic tyranny of the Big Media. In a statement on their website, Jim Robinson states, In our continuing fight for freedom, for America and our constitution and against totalitarianism, socialism, tyranny, terrorism, etc., Free Republic stands firmly on the side of right, i.e., the conservative side. And in that statement, sums up the mission of conservatism and Free Republic. Now were dangerous to the Big Media. Now were available to everyone. Were in homes, in offices, and in laptop computers. Weve become an infectious disease that will debilitate the Democratic Party and liberalisms veined effort to garnish power. Were putting a stranglehold on a defunct enterprise known as CBS, NBC, ABC, and CNN.
From Anchorage, AK to Miami, FL, were spread across the United States in search of one crushing blow to end the Big Medias tyranny over the news, to stop the lies, and end the oppression of facts from news commentary, such as 60 Minutes. Were here to mobilize and stop the incestuous relationship with the Democratic Party and their socialistic tendencies. In a nutshell, we are here to end liberalisms final, desperate grip on a media that has become so partisan theyve lost all objectivity. Free Republic, this group of amateurs has put their testicles in a vice and tightened em down.
But the media doesnt know the full power of Free Republic. The media doesnt know it is made of up individuals across the globe. Amateurs of all walks of life, willing to make the leap in refuting liberal terrorism in the press. From housewives to airline pilots, from ministers to talk show hosts, and from architects to engineers, comprise diversity so great that the medias group of so-called experts cant keep up. We even have our own range of military personnel from every branch of service, willing to battle lies and distortions within the media elite. And as much as we hate to admit it, we have lawyers that lurk, lawyers that Freep, and lawyers that make sure no lawsuit is left behind.
From our makeup, we are Americans: Conservative Americans. Americans united in one common goal: We wont stop till the mission is complete. For we are the new media. We are the new truth in America. We are the amateurs that have rocked the status quo. These merry bands of amateurs, known as Freepers, have shown their expertise at exposing the truth. This forum called Free Republic will supercede the admonishment of the liberal media and conquer all those that oppose us. After all, we are the best in the world. Ive said it before and Ill say it again: Free Republic is made up of some of the finest minds Ill ever know. And for that, I am forever grateful for their expertise. I am forever grateful for this new media.
I found him in Austin, TX. I can't remember what station, but I was flipping channels one night and there he was. It was the same episode where he was talking about Clinton's dog when suddenly Chelsea's picture popped up on the screen.
Nice picture.
You're words are far too nice.
I love your piece. I posted this on another thread this morning, but I have to admit that it kind of bugs me when the traditional media keeps lumping us in with all bloggers. There is nothing wrong with a blog, but Free Republic is a lot more than that. It's a powerful interactive news service that runs on the engine of it's members. There is nothing that rivals it and it has proved that news is more than something we just have to read, wring our hands over, and accept. Around here, it's a contact sport
"That one big arrogant eye of CBS has been replaced by a million eyes."
That there's a mighty accurate statement. And thank you for the nice compliments.
Thank you, Grampa. I appreciate it, even if you're a focus group now. :) Hehe!
And you're dead on. This is why we need to keep it funded.
I'm just an observer giving an account.
Thanks. I borrowed that a while back.
Thank you, Aqua Man! And now it's off to the Hall of Justice! We've got liberals to vanquish! :) HA! Just kidding!
Seriously, thank you for the nice compliments. I really appreciate 'em.
Thank you, The_Victor. I really appreciate the nice comments, even if you are from Texas. ;-) Hehe. Just kidding!
Thank you from one Texan to another.
"Son"...You said it well....;)"
Thanks, Mom! :) I appreciate the comments.
"Let the games begin."
And that about sums it up. Of course you know I owe Rush Limbaugh for most of my success. This is a lot of Limbaugh Echo syndrome, but it wraps it up in a nice little bundle.
Thanks for the dittos. Megadittos back at you, VRWC.
I may have started something here!.....;)
Who knew there was ANOTHER contact sport you could do in your pajamas!????
;-D
"Now stories are broken on FR hours/days before the OldMedia can even dispatch a reporter to the scene. Now expert advice is available within minutes of a thread being posted. Now the commentary is brilliant, insightful, and frequently hilarious, and from someone other than a talking head."
Well, said. This sums it up very nicely. This is now what FR is all about. It isn't a bunch of ranting right wingers out for revenge. It's become a far more useful tool and the Old Media is beginning to see it.
Rack 'em up, this party's over. ;-)
Wonder how they'll try to shut us up? They already did, with the excerpting requirements and lawsuits...what villainy is next?
Perfect picture for the essay.
So we can blame you if something goes wrong, then. :)
Here you go, ping!
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