Posted on 03/07/2007 6:57:43 PM PST by Bob J
I have diligently watched the rise in size and influence of conservative websites, including Free Republic, over the last 7-8 years. I have been shocked and concerned over the drop in traffic at the most popular ones over the last year or so. There was good growth up until 2006 but since then there has been a steady downtrend that would crash any other market.
Anyone have any ideas as to what is happening? I'm out of explanations. The deficiencies in alexa.com are noted, but even if the numbers aren't accurate you're still comparing off numbers to off numbers so the decline is consistent.
.....probably more choices to choose from......So many frigging sites any more these days......
Elections
Once the liberals succeeded in getting us to fight amongst ourselves, instead of against them, things changed.
Can you nazme any big ones that rolled out in late '05 or during '06? I can only think of Breitbart.com.
Probably the widening gulf of inconsistency between the stated philosophy and the real-life actions of the Republican Party got to be too much for many people.
That's just it we usually do well in election years but we declined throughout '06.
I'm guessing it's because the news for conservatives has been primarily bad for the last year. Even those who are supposedly on "our side" have betrayed the cause. It's no wonder people are spending time elsewhere.
I think you're right. After a year or so of "Speaker Pelosi", I think the graph will begin to rise again.
What makes you think those numbers are correct?
Just because you saw it on the internet???
Ask Jim if they're correct or not before you go trying to diagnose the "problem."
(PS: I can tell you why Michelle Malkin's numbers are down: it relates to her stabbing other conservatives in the back - maybe just those that are blonder than her?)
Loss of GOP power, disgust at Bush and the dearth of conservative 2008 presidential hopefuls are fueling discouragement among conservatives.
Many don't feel they have a horse in the race anymore.
We've also had a run of milder winters.
All of that means that a "year" a decade ago is simply not the same as a "year" currently.
Going a bit further we now have numerous discussion sites that've gone "private". They are password controlled and there's never going to be any new blood there. We have no idea what they're saying and they don't care. Their share will grow. That's because people get tired of listening to others' uninformed opinions and BS.
¿El partido republicano quizás?
They've all been infiltrated.
Did you notice that most are going up? We are going down. FR has become more chatty as time goes by.
God no, I can't....just speculating.....I read Real Clear Politics, Little Green Footballs, Redstate and Captain's Quarters though....all older then 2005
Political wind is blowing against us. Leads to disenchantment, boredom, purges, etc. Witness the fight between Rudy and anti-Rudy FReepers, exchanges like that tend to drive people away, especially lurkers.
Most of us are in a state of depression. The Republicans we elected 12 or so years ago turned out to be carbon copies of the Democrats they replaced.
I'm sure the bitchy Giuliani hags ragging on real conservatives who don't support pro-abortion, anti-gun candidates have something to do with it.
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