DRUDGE - 5 YEARS AGO: INTERNET ROCKS U.S. PRESIDENCY, MEDIA

Drudge Report ^ | January 15, 1998 | Matt Drudge

[HAL9000]

NEWSWEEK KILLS STORY ON WHITE HOUSE INTERN; BLOCKBUSTER REPORT: 23-YEAR OLD, SEX RELATIONSHIP WITH PRESIDENT

[1Old Pro]

DRUDGE HAS OUTLIVED HIS USEFULNESS.

ELIMINATING THE FREEREPUBLIC LINK FROM HIS SITE WAS THE LAST STRAW.

[newgeezer]

Ahh, we harken back to the days when Drudge was relevant (and the worst thing facing our great nation was in our own White House)...

[cyncooper]

How well I remember this weekend.

That Saturday was the deposition in the Jones matter. I recall the clintons suddenly changed plans for dinner out that evening, with hrc later claiming she was "cleaning out closets". (It goes without saying that the contemptible media duly reported this transparent and ridiculous lie without so much as a raised eyebrow.)

On the other hand, the Jones team conspicuously went to dinner and sat at a table easily seen by the media where they toasted with champagne.

I didn't see the Drudge headline until Sunday morning...and would keep my husband apprised with each new Drudge update.

Finally, Wednesday morning I informed my husband the mainstream media finally was reporting on the intern...And it was none other than George Stephy who invoked the word "impeachment" first, as a possibility.

[rs79bm]

ELIMINATING THE FREEREPUBLIC LINK FROM HIS SITE WAS THE LAST STRAW.

He does still headline stories that occassionally link back to FreeRepublic, such as stories on Rush Limbaugh, etc... In fact I saw one not too long ago. Besides, why would FreeRepublic want any help from anyone? This website is too great and was founded on principles of conservatism., withstanding any help from Matt Drudge or anyone else. So, lighten up and enjoy the ride!

[Cicero]

Speed beat the spin. Computer beat the newspaper. The magazine. The TV show. The staticy radio broadcast, and all the ships at sea.

A small footnote for those who may not remember it. Walter Winchell, the pesky, influential gossip columnist on whose career Drudge has modeled himself (including his fedora) used to begin his radio broadcasts during the Second World War with this signature phrase:

"Good morning, Mr and Mrs America, and all the ships at sea."

[rs79bm]

BTW, this story and headline has got to have former and current Clinton officials fuming! We'll see how many Newscasts this makes it on tonight.. probably none, except for special report, which has a nack for reporting stories exclusive to Drudge.

[HAL9000]

How well I remember this weekend.

Me too.

Drudge was being sued by Sidney Blumenthal. The GOP was on its last leg. Clinton was at the peak of power, on the verge of an unstoppable socialist agenda. We were headed into the Dark Ages.

Then Drudge posted his historic scoop on Saturday night and changed everything.

My in-laws were visiting during that weekend and we were having breakfast on Sunday morning. As we enjoyed our eggs and bacon, the topic of Clinton came up and we were having the usual debate. And I mentioned - by the way, Matt Drudge ran a story last night that Clinton is having sex with one of his interns.

Oh, you can't believe anything Drudge prints, they said. Don't be so sure, I replied.

A few days later, after Pete Baker's article in the Washington Post, they were having second thoughts. Maybe Drudge was right after all.

The amazing thing about Clinton's impeachment was the series of improbable events that led to it. If any one of them had not occurred, he would not have been impeached.

If Clinton had not dropped his pants and wagged his privates at Paula Jones years earlier, he would not have been impeached.

If Matt Drudge hadn't gotten a job at the CBS gift shop in Hollywood - no impeachment.

If Clinton hadn't dripped on his young intern's blue dress - no impeachment.

Clinton did get one lucky break - the bogus Danny Williams story. That helped to save him from conviction in the Senate.

[canuck_conservative]

So true!

Matt has earned his place his history, by publishing stories that the mainstream media didn't want to touch. I read both Isikoff's "Uncovering Clinton" and Drudge's "Drudge Manifesto", and found an interesting parallel description of that whole episode, from both sides. And Drudge continues to be a trusted, confidential "alternative" to the mainstream press, because he treats people squarely - gotta respect that.

[nutmeg]

Ahh... those were the days ping!

Please Freepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent ping list.

[nickcarraway]

The day I first found Free Republic.

[nickcarraway]

One small point: the Danny Williams story was never decided one way or another. President Clinton's DNA was never released except in scrambled form.

[Incorrigible]

Congratulations Matt!!!

You deserve to take a bow.

I discovered the DrudgeReport (and FreeRepublic) 3 weeks before and couldn't believe what unfolded before my very eyes.

I've been a big fan of Matt on whatever media he's appeared.

Best of luck Matt!

[cactusSharp]

folks, come on....what is absolutely Matt's greatest accomplisment to date ? times up. His success, not one story or one story's birth date.
The "DRUDGE REPORT"
is so kicking the networks and cable tv's on website
attendance it is plum silly. But great for us and miised by
you red meat freepers...now what is that ? Simmply this..
the networks and cable outlets LOSE MONEY hourly,daily,weekly,monttly,annually. What ? yep just trying to do three things.......compete with Drudge's time frame for news......filter the content til spinners hit the talk tv venue and compete via ads for existance.
Again, they are losing do rey me's BIG TIME......

and Drudge is still black and white....simple,unfiltered
home based.........having a Drudge report is the worst evemy the liberals ever encountered.

By proxy,evolution,and need the Free Republic was born.
Mr Robinson had an idea, a buring desire and a bandwidth
we uses read DRUDE had a need to discuss,read more,research
and plum compete..........

that is why history was made in the 2000 elections and as well more so in the 02' midterms.....

Rusho,Matt the Hat,Fox News and Freepers rule

[cactusSharp]

sorry for the spelling boo boo's

[Mr. K]

to ALL:
Say what you want, but DRUDGE ignited the fire that led to Clintooons impeachment. His link to Free Republic was a help in FR's success (I never would have found FR if it was not for that link)
His ill-advised removal of that link was bad, but luckily FR was already growing bigger without him.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

[Incorrigible]

My favorite tabloid name for Monica:

The Portly Pepperpot!

[aristeides]

If Newsweek, Time, and other media organs were busy developing Monica Lewinsky stories, it's a dead certainty that the Clinton White House would have been given a head's up by such people as Leonard Downey at the Washington Post and Walter Isaacson at Time. So, how could Clinton have been blindsided by the Lewinsky questions from the Paula Jones lawyers at his deposition that Saturday?

[aristeides]

Clinton did get one lucky break - the bogus Danny Williams story. That helped to save him from conviction in the Senate.

Who says that was a lucky break? Wasn't the Danny WIlliams story run by one of the tabloids owned by the Evercore outfit run by Friend of Bill Altman?