GOP’s new favorite website: The Huffington Post
posted at 8:36 pm on May 22, 2009 by Allahpundit
Understandable yet repulsive. No political site has a greater reach (their traffic dwarfs ours) and, with the possible exception of TPM, no political site is read more avidly by a lefty media that’s already known to consume blogs mainly from their own side of the aisle. If you want to put your message out on the Internet, HuffPo’s the logical megaphone. Never mind that it’s one of the most rabidly liberal sites in America.
Needless to say, the thought of Republican congressmen asking a hard left site for access says all you need to know about how badly conservatives are trailing online right now despite certain people’s best efforts. Ahem.
Arianna Huffington, who co-founded the eponymous site four years ago this month, said that increased Republican engagement “is a reflection of our traffic, our brand, and the fact that we are increasingly seen … as an Internet newspaper, not positioned ideologically in terms of how we cover the news.”…
“HuffPo and [Talking Points Memo] really are the assignment editors for many in the Washington press corps — particularly the cables,” said Brian Rogers, who was a spokesman for Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign. “That’s not just a Republican hack saying it — that’s speaking as a press guy fielding calls and e-mails daily from the MSM that start with, ‘Did you see this thing on Huffington Post?’ They were effective and they wasted a lot of our time.”…
“The reality is that at the end of the day, like them or dislike them, sites like The Huffington Post, Plum Line, Salon, and others can drive news,” said Brad Dayspring, press secretary for Cantor. “For that reason alone, being responsive and even proactive — especially on wedge issues — has become more prevalent as political communications has evolved.”…
Even veterans of the conservative movement seem to want a piece of the liberal blog action.
Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform, said that he’s been approached to write for The Huffington Post and intends to do so in the future. It can be useful, he said, as a way to turn the tables on Democrats who claim the Republicans aren’t offering any alternatives to their policy positions.
I’m torn about this. On the one hand, I don’t want to carry water for the GOP by lending them Hot Air’s platform. On the other hand, instead of playing ball with the left-wing press by posting only to the sites they frequent, Republicans could force them to broaden the scope of the sites they read by giving exclusives to righty blogs. Exit question: What’s an insecure blogger to do?
Blowback
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Thats,
Huff-Puff!!
canopfor on May 22, 2009 at 8:37 PM
you do a service to our cause Allahpundit… conservatism has a friend in you and I for one thank you.
Kaptain Amerika on May 22, 2009 at 8:39 PM
“dwarfs ours?”
I posted during the campaign the Huffington Post elevated Obama to hero worship level and never allowed one negative article. While another site linked to every anti-Sarah Palin article it could get its hand on.
Marcus on May 22, 2009 at 8:40 PM
Well,look on the bright side,Conservatives rule
the AM Radio AirWaves,jus sayin!!
canopfor on May 22, 2009 at 8:40 PM
Why can’t Hot Air both run an independent blog and simultaneously provide a platform for the beleaguered GOP?
promachus on May 22, 2009 at 8:41 PM
HOT AIR AIN’T NO WATER-CARRIER, BABY.
No, seriously, it’s a fair point.
Allahpundit on May 22, 2009 at 8:42 PM
Hot Air,the lone rightsphere politically verbal warship,
that ply’s the political waters of the net!
HuffPuff,Liberal backwaters,unsafe and treacherous
harbour,sail at your own political peril!! (Snark).
canopfor on May 22, 2009 at 8:45 PM
It is a case of funding. They recently got a couple of million to help their cause which of course allows them to pay folks which is going to attract talent.
It is so easy to write liberal talking points that if the money was right I might be tempted. Arianna’s name and her circle of friends gives them access that those of on the right have not managed, except in a few rare cases.
I do agree though that I would rather be free of owing one party or the other something in exchange for the access.
To thy own self be true–said by some smart guy
Just A Grunt on May 22, 2009 at 8:46 PM
Speaking as a reformed liberal media junkie with the a few remaining liberal leanings, I LOATHE HuffPo. It’s an echo chamber of epic proportions. If you dare say anything with even a hint of dissent, you’re banned. And Arianna has set the bar so low for content that Donatella f’ing Versace blogs on there and Candy Spelling is a regular contributor.
I’d rather get beat up on here for being left leaning that sit in that cesspool any day.
/soapbox off
SnarkVader on May 22, 2009 at 8:48 PM
It doesn’t surprise me in the least that the Republican party is pandering to the Huffington Post considering that both parties are racing each other to the left.
FloatingRock on May 22, 2009 at 8:49 PM
Just go with it. Conservatism and Liberals CAN NOT co-exist on these sites for very long without something nuclear occurring.
Eventually – they end up kicking the Conservatives to curb (which we’ll exploit like hell) … or a “singularity” develops in the center of Planet Vulcan and everything falls into the Black Hole.
Leaving Allah as the “last man standing”.
HondaV65 on May 22, 2009 at 8:51 PM
Seriously, if you want Hot Air to grow, you should hire more bloggers. Green Room is just a start and not sufficient. There should be more investigative reporting, just like Huff Poo reporting on the bitter-gate story. Deliver more partisan red meat. Have different section for News, Entertainment, Media, Politics etc. Copy Huff Poo if you must but grow the blog. This blog hasn’t changed since it was started.
promachus on May 22, 2009 at 8:52 PM
I’d rather have conservatives posting over there than over here. Really, we don’t need it. Conservatives will win if we can have a true battle of ideas – there’s a reason Obama prefers strawmen so much.
kc8ukw on May 22, 2009 at 8:53 PM
Also, the Right lacks good writers. They always repeat the same talking points endlessly in a robotic manner. They can’t do humorous, can’t do sexy, can’t set the terms for culture. Except for Ann Coulter or James Lileks, there are not many other interesting writers.
promachus on May 22, 2009 at 8:55 PM
(Pss… what about Steyn? Not that I’ll see him at HuffPo anytime soon.)
kc8ukw on May 22, 2009 at 8:57 PM
Relax…….
…… I don’t know what your traffic is, but Rush, Sean Hannity, Roger Hedgecock, et al, refer to Michelle Malkin and Hot Air in particular, on a regular basis. Between them all, you have to be getting the occasional curious visitor, but you limit comments to your “Terms and Conditions” by registered commentators.
Does the Huffington Post, or can anyone just jump on in, defecate, then leave?
When they mention the Huffington post, it is more to point out the errors in logic and point out the lies……
………. the MSM is the MSM, and I would bet good money that groups like Soros, knowing the power of the Internet, have set up “Un-Think Tanks” that sit around on our dime, and spend the day pushing the stories that they want to run the day and get into the pop-culture.
Keep what you guys and gals are doing……..
……… it is making a difference.
Seven Percent Solution on May 22, 2009 at 8:58 PM
Eh, what can it hurt? A few Repubs will post something reasonable and measured, and the unhinged Huffers will reply with vile, vicious, paranoid, profane personal attacks. It can only make the Republican poster look good by comparison.
Rational Thought on May 22, 2009 at 8:59 PM
Got a few hundred thou you’re willing to lend us?
Allahpundit on May 22, 2009 at 9:00 PM
I hear tell that the GOP was thinking about making Hotair their numero uno website but then someone expressed concern that at any time now Janet Napolitano could well put it on her Enemies of the State list, so they decided that
their lack of vertebraprudence required that they go with HuffPo.MB4 on May 22, 2009 at 9:00 PM
Pay to play?
Blake on May 22, 2009 at 9:03 PM
You’ve got a bunch in the Green Room. Give it more prominence rather than practically hiding it. Have an open registration for the Green Room only. It wouldn’t take much code change.
MB4 on May 22, 2009 at 9:03 PM
Have a stiff drink and think of the party…was it like this for Michael Huffington when he had to service Ariana on Saturday night, or did he let the help do that for him?
Mr. Joe on May 22, 2009 at 9:04 PM
Create a special section for writings from Republican office holders and officials. Set your own standard for who gets placement. Those posts that seem to be getting traffic, or you want to promote, pull down into the regular blog, as you do from the Green Room.
Don’t have a suggested name yet.
The Lincoln Room? Nope. No Bed.
The Teddy Room? Too cuddly and The Rough Riders Room is definitely out.
Independence Hall?
Loxodonta on May 22, 2009 at 9:04 PM
Stop linking to HuffPo, of course!
eforhan on May 22, 2009 at 9:08 PM
I like your idea of open registration for a Republican Section. It would attract more readers to the whole site as well. The only problem will be the amount of added moderation required.
Loxodonta on May 22, 2009 at 9:08 PM
An open link to the Green Room and making it more accessable is a good idea.
If you do it right it will actually promote the main site.
Mr. Joe on May 22, 2009 at 9:11 PM
You mean we are being moderated?
Oh my! I will have to watch what I say now.
MB4 on May 22, 2009 at 9:11 PM
The HuffPo is the clearest example of what human beings are generally about: vicious, disgusting hate filled verbosity truly pulls them in…not only to read the trash, but to add to it. It takes a truly disgusting person to host hate, lies and abuse. The GOP needs to get its act together….DO NO GIVE THEM a platform. Unlike the Uberfascist HuffPo, I would like to think we are better and evolved more.
sharinlite on May 22, 2009 at 9:12 PM
+1
It would be nice if all the most recent Green Room headlines were listed somewhere on the main page. The current Headlines section is too small, I think, to handle all of the Green Room content.
FloatingRock on May 22, 2009 at 9:12 PM
I believe this is true.
And look at this compliment.
Loxodonta on May 22, 2009 at 9:14 PM
They are listed on the right hand side bar. Perhaps down too low, but the higher advertising pays bills.
Loxodonta on May 22, 2009 at 9:15 PM
I say to hell with the GOP. Let them post at the Huff Post.
Zorro on May 22, 2009 at 9:19 PM
Um… oh. :)
FloatingRock on May 22, 2009 at 9:21 PM
You can be Grumpy if I can be Dopey.
Allahpundit is Bashful.
Loxodonta on May 22, 2009 at 9:21 PM
Can’t tell me that there wasn’t some DNC money or otherwise Dem associated money backing HuffPo. Schultz was bought and paid for to give a liberal voice on the radio and I am sure the GE contracts for green technology etc had something to do with MSNBC taking a sharp swing to the left. You sure can’t explain it by their ratings.
I wouldn’t suggest selling your soul but guest posts from prominent folks is a step in the right direction and if some influential folks who are getting their buts burnt by the Obama economic debacle want to throw some cash your way, I think it would be well spent.
msmveritas on May 22, 2009 at 9:22 PM
It really is an appropriate place for them. Besides, Allahpundit is probably too much of a right-wing extremist for their tastes. :)
FloatingRock on May 22, 2009 at 9:23 PM
Give it time AP. Obama will motivate the other half of the net to grow.
toliver on May 22, 2009 at 9:23 PM
Thanks for the snark, sparky but seriously Arianna liaises with a whole lot of people from fashion to politics. You need to reach out and draw people too. I remember Hot Air did a few videos with a security guy, he was cool, why not draw him in with a blog about security issues? Why not offer Joe the Plumber or Tito or that lady who talked back to that awful CNN reporter? Why not draw in all those spontaneous tea party organizers and see if they can do some good writing/reporting? Instead,we let the tea party stuff fizzle out without any future agenda and serious networking.
One thing I’ve noticed though is through blogging the progressives have built their agenda. Many progressives were rallying against Sarah Palin even before she was on national ticket and bombarded her with conspiracy theories/ethics complaints. Once she was on national ticket, the filthy stuff they spewed got world wide attention. They basically cribbed a storyline from Desperate Housewives and used it to max. effect. I am impressed by their stamina and discipline.
If I learnt one thing from them, it’s the lesson that we need to go local. Start a folder on your local Democratic politician and make sure you have enough info. If we’d done that, Obama wouldn’t have been so big today.
Another thing I noticed is that there’s minimal interaction between bloggers and right-wing think tanks. It’s only recently that the Corner has started inviting all these people from think tanks to post, which is good, but they should have been doing it much earlier. There’s hardly any conservative stuff on foreign policy and yet we wonder why keep losing battles there like on Paul Wolfowitz or John Bolton? Why doesn’t Hot Air contact prominent global warming skeptics and offer them a platform? They don’t need to do regular blogging but if you bring an array of experts on various issues and ask them to blog as they see fit, you still have a bigger site.
I think C4P is doing that. They started pretty small but now they’ve grown really big by recruiting bloggers from commenters and other bloggers and they are having an effect in what they are doing. Seriously, the people who started that blog were commenters here and I remember them specifically asking for a platform on this site to set the record straight. You ignored them and they went and built a fine site. It’s small but its effective. That’s they way to go.
Seriously, you can accomplish a lot, but only if you chuck that convenient veneer of pessimism.
promachus on May 22, 2009 at 9:25 PM
half the stories are hollywood entertainment, hardly a “news” site. I go there to see what the freaks are up to, not for any substance.
ctmom on May 22, 2009 at 9:29 PM
Zorro: You recognize that famous sign?
Old Man: Si senior. It is a Two.
Zorro: That is a Z!
Old Man: But in the school, that is how they teach my granddaughter to draw a Two.
Zorro: *I* say it is a *Z* – for El Zorro!
Zorro: You recognize that famous web site?
Old Liberal Man: Si senior. It is Huffington Post.
Zorro: That is Hotair!
Old Liberal Man: But the GOP tells my granddaughter it is Huffington Post.
Zorro: *I* say go to Hotair – for El Zorro!
MB4 on May 22, 2009 at 9:32 PM
Sepukku
broker1 on May 22, 2009 at 9:32 PM
They do 6,000 hits a day. On a good day, we do 700,000. Are you joking?
Allahpundit on May 22, 2009 at 9:33 PM
Pay no mind to RINOs reaching out to leftists. Quality beats quantity. Don’t sweat it Allah!
The Typhoid Mary of Islamophilia? Irrelevant.
Feedie on May 22, 2009 at 9:33 PM
Get Diana West, to cross-post anyway. Beg her if you have to.
MB4 on May 22, 2009 at 9:35 PM
And what is your goal?
Loxodonta on May 22, 2009 at 9:36 PM
conservatives cannot dominate it all. conservatives have an advantage when it comes to cable news and talk radio. Liberals own the internet
money2 on May 22, 2009 at 9:36 PM
Offer free porn!!
That always works.
TimeTraveler on May 22, 2009 at 9:39 PM
If the GOP wants to go to HuffPo, then let them. I come to this site for an independent take.
Seems that a place like RedState should be more worried about this.
WisCon on May 22, 2009 at 9:39 PM
I could be wrong but it just seems that the Dkos and Huffpo style of Blogs work. Diaries, mountains upon mountains of guest bloggers or whoever wants to make one.
Not saying that should happen here, it just seems to work. I mean the only site I could think of is RedState, and would even they let just anyone post?
Imagine if conservative congressman knew that they could post here at anytime they wanted.
Second look at teh Fred!
broker1 on May 22, 2009 at 9:41 PM
You need to follow the HuffPo model more carefully: Marry well, divorce better, betray everyone and everything.
CK MacLeod on May 22, 2009 at 9:41 PM
Watch the GOP die a deserving, slow death.
King of the Britons on May 22, 2009 at 9:42 PM
Maybe so but I think inviting more guest bloggers is a good idea, including from right-wing think tanks.
FloatingRock on May 22, 2009 at 9:42 PM
Some tips:
1)If a conservative gets into news like Joe the Plumber or Carrie Prejean, get in touch with them and ask them to blog at least a little. That drives traffic.
2)Also, if someone is in news, like Liz Cheney, why not contact them and ask them to blog and explain their viewpoint?
3) With all the layoffs in the newspaper/magazines, I am sure there are a few out of work journalists out there who’d appreciate a blogging gig. Network with those few conservative reporters who are there and offer them a chance to blog.
4) Get in touch with the marketing agents of any conservatives who are out with books or shows and ask them to blog. Like Mark Levin. OK, he’s big but why not ask the Roger Kimball’s authors to toot their own work and also blog about the issues they care about? This is synergy.
5) Why not give space to defenders/promoters of each of the 2012 contenders like Sarah Palin or Mitt Romney? Even better extend it to people like Rubio and Mcdonnell etc.
6) Why not ask Treacher, Stoat Weasel and Manly Rash and others who have developed a following here to start blogging more frequently?
Pajamas Media does this to a certain extent but they are staid and uninteresting. Hot Air has a certain pizazz and charm which is lacking in other conservative sites and that’s important to retain and extend. A lot can be done but it depends on your will and what you want to do for the cause.
promachus on May 22, 2009 at 9:44 PM
How many hits does Huffington get?
FloatingRock on May 22, 2009 at 9:44 PM
Liz Cheney on Huff Post. Regular Column. Stat!
RedRedRice on May 22, 2009 at 9:44 PM
Wealthy Republicans better wake up and open their wallets and start investing in their own new media infrastructure. They have to start thinking about ROI in different terms, namely preservation of all of their capital and the system that helped them make it.
Detroit just came back from a 3 goal deficit to tie Chicago… Red Wings are one great team. Wow.
TheBigOldDog on May 22, 2009 at 9:45 PM
You may have thought the United States was at war in Afghanistan to “defeat” the Taliban and win one for our loyal ally in counter-jihad, the Afghan people. But even that pipedream is beside the point. The latest concern-turned-obsession of the United States is eliminating as many as possible, if not all, “civilian casualties.” If we can only do that, according to brain-trust, top-brass, fairy-tale thinking, we will surely win the hearts and minds of the Afghan people. If we can’t, Afghan hearts and minds will go to those globally recognized humanitarians, the Taliban.
Indeed, there is something wrong with this picture. That is, if the Afghan people were really with us, they would be, well, really with us — not constantly on or past the brink of “alienation.” But who wants to admit this? It would necessarily mark the end of the Bush and now Obama Islamic nation-building fantasy that began seven years ago with the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in Operation Infinite Justice. Come to think of it, we hurriedly changed that operation name also for — guess what? — fear of alienating Muslims. Tacitly accepting the Islamic position that only Allah dispenses “infinite justice,” the U.S. government launched Operation Enduring Freedom and “won” its first battle against Muslim alienation. Chalk one up for dhimmitude.
“We strongly condemn the Taliban for their brutality in deliberately targeting and using human shields,” a U.S. military spokesman said. Which is precisely what Mullen and Eikenberry should have said, praising our forces for a job well done. If that “alienates” Afghans, good riddance. But meanwhile, an apology is owed here — to the U.S. military.
MB4 on May 22, 2009 at 9:47 PM
I’m curious, do they ban commenters for opinions, like I hear they do at LGF, or do they only ban them for bad behavior like here at HA? I guess what I’m trying to ask is, do they allow conservatives to comment freely at HuffPo?
I don’t read HuffPo because I’ve always thought I wouldn’t be allowed to comment there. Could I make the same sort of comments there that I make here, without being banned?
jaime on May 22, 2009 at 9:47 PM
When they started they had 300 hits a day. Now they are at 6000 per day and they grew to that extent by recruiting from ordinary citizen commenters. All in all, for people with no background in media, that’s a good achievement. They’ve also started producing original content like their satire of Romney which went viral.
BTW, I am not talking about their numbers but their method.
promachus on May 22, 2009 at 9:47 PM
Fixed
Mark1971 on May 22, 2009 at 9:47 PM
It would be mighty convenient to have a winning political party that can win and govern with the shared views of the various camps of the conservative base, many libertarians and some moderates. Without such a party actually governing, or providing effective opposition when out of power, we will all go down the Obamadrain.
We must all hang together, gentlemen…
else, we shall most assuredly hang separately.
– Benjamin Franklin
Loxodonta on May 22, 2009 at 9:49 PM
Newsman : well this link on the HuffPo said…
GOP legislator : HuffPo? How about you talk about a site that doesnt ban all right wing dissent? HuffPo isnt credible, next question.
Thats how you defuse it.
Grow a pair GOP.
Opportunity Costs on May 22, 2009 at 9:50 PM
Prior to the election, none of my comments would get posted on there. After the election, I guess their work was done and they figured alternate viewpoints would only serve their purpose in driving up traffic. I can’t speak for anyone else but I know I had all my comments deleted before but not now. I rarely comment there though, the people are so vile.
msmveritas on May 22, 2009 at 9:51 PM
I completely agree. Obama will eventually spin himself into a crisis. Somebody needs to take advantage of it.
sherry on May 22, 2009 at 9:53 PM
I think that’s all very worthwhile advice.
And I would add, have a Hot Babe thread every day. It wouldn’t hurt.
Loxodonta on May 22, 2009 at 9:53 PM
It would be so very easy to create a successful conservative competitor to Huffpo. So very easy. All it takes is a few million. A pittance in the scheme of things. In a year you’d be in the ballpark.
TheBigOldDog on May 22, 2009 at 9:53 PM
Here’s an idea: Hold an auction. The highest bidder get to have lunch and get their picture taken with you, Allahpundit. Film the entire thing like a reality TV show and post it as a Vent on HotAir. Maybe even charge people to watch it and finally learn what you look like.
Then all you’ll have to do is figure out a way to come up with another 199 thousand! LOL! :P
FloatingRock on May 22, 2009 at 9:54 PM
Your message would be well heeded by the actual Republican Party. Most people who have given up on the Republican Party tried to hang with the party for a long time, all the while repeatedly getting bent over and given the business. Even today, in its horrid state of ineptitude, the party insists on telling conservatives and liberty lovers that it is us who are the problem with the party. Screw them!
King of the Britons on May 22, 2009 at 9:55 PM
Using an old dot com term, Puffington has a high “burnrate”
they burn millions and every once in a while she announces getting another 20 million to go on. She is attached to Obama like a pimple. If he gets squeezed in popularity, she will pop.
I suggest posting rebuttals to their snarky posts. As Liberals, they hate facts used to confront their drama and emotionalism.
seven on May 22, 2009 at 9:56 PM
Also, don’t sneer at the lesser folk. Did anybody hear about Mayhill Fowler? She was just another blogger at Huff Poo until she caused a sensation about the bitter-gate. So, don’t sneer at C4P or other modest blogs. You need to join forces with them, not sneer at them from your Olympian seat.
If there’s one thing good about Ariana, it’s her networking ability. She has an eye of a diamond prospector. I’m gob smacked because she offers space on her gig for liberals of all stripes, from liberal reporters in India to ditzy fashionistas. That’s the extent of her reach. Unless you are willing to liaise and network and take chance like that, you’re not gonna grow.
promachus on May 22, 2009 at 9:56 PM
That shows Huffington is lying when she claims:
jaime on May 22, 2009 at 9:58 PM
Force who, how? The left-wing media won’t read, no matter who posts here. They have their story and they’re sticking to it. Huffington not only feeds into their narrative, it writes it for them when they’re lazy.
Blacklake on May 22, 2009 at 9:58 PM
AP, the Green Room was a great idea. Why don’t you start a Red Room for GOP’ers to post when they want. It would be a great place for the up and comers to get some recognition and if you focus more on the challengers rather than the veterans, the your pail wouldn’t be seen so much as holding GOP water.
Heck invite some blue dog Dem challengers, too. I think there will be a lot of them in the next few years.
Dusty on May 22, 2009 at 9:59 PM
They are extremely quick with the ban hammer. They also let a TON of antisemitic and racist comments go unchecked. It’s ridiculous.
SnarkVader on May 22, 2009 at 10:00 PM
Kudos to AP, Ed, and the newly-minted Green Room stars. The writing on HA is always provocative, well-reasoned, and humorous. Surely HuffPo can’t match it.
KS Rex on May 22, 2009 at 10:01 PM
Also, the right is always meek about causing controversy. until we have some real good flamethrowers and until those said risk takers are not eaten by our own side but cultivated and used against the other side, we’ll lie here haplessly.
More tips:
Create controversy.
Promote the bombthrowers. Don’t be squeamish.
Sell your soul to the Devil. Unless you do, you can’t win.
promachus on May 22, 2009 at 10:01 PM
What is Bryan Preston doing these days……..
…….. does he have a few minutes to add to the traffic?
Seven Percent Solution on May 22, 2009 at 10:02 PM
Sort of makes you want to track down the server farm where the Huffington Post is housed and take it out with a tactical nuke.
Seriously though what in the hell is wrong with the GOP leadership? Why would they intentionally go out of their way to increase the traffic of a site that spends the better part of its time deliberately trying to push an extreme left wing progressive agenda? Aren’t there enough right wing or conservative blogs and media sites like this one that GOP politicians can get their message out on?
I mean the stupid thing is that by posting at the Huffington post all they are going to is is help increase the wealth and political status of the likes of Ariana Huffington who will just turn around and use that wealth and status to attack the GOP and support the progressive movement.
The reality is that if the GOP want to stake a strong position for themselves on the Internet they would be better off creating it themselves rather than trying to co-opt one of the most dangerously progressive and liberaly iased entities on the the internet. Its like that movie Feild of Dreams “If you Buid It they will Come”.
Dreadnought223 on May 22, 2009 at 10:04 PM
It would help if Republicans could put a message together that they could promote on all media platforms.
RedRedRice on May 22, 2009 at 10:04 PM
Puhleeeze, she can’t be serious about not being positioned ideologically, give me a break. I can not understand how anyone claims no bias frankly. Just choosing what to report reflects some bias. Tapper is at least one reporter who tries to cover the news without bias but he is a lone wolf in journalism anyway.
msmveritas on May 22, 2009 at 10:04 PM
I understand your anger and frustration, But I’m sticking with the GOP until there is a viable alternative. And also, what about a stockholders’ takeover? A bottom up takeover?
Loxodonta on May 22, 2009 at 10:05 PM
The more hot babes the better! :)
promachus on May 22, 2009 at 10:09 PM
All I have to say is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5exRkVwazU
RightWinged on May 22, 2009 at 10:11 PM
If HotAir wasn’t effective………..
…….. the trolls wouldn’t bother.
Seven Percent Solution on May 22, 2009 at 10:11 PM
Allahpundit,
I’m not as down on print media as most. I’ll bet even libs are tired of preaching instead of news in newspapers. Is there some way to make an arrangement with existing print media to get some blogger material into print?
There’s a lot of people who don’t do computers. How about some kind of best-of-blogging weekly newsletter? Of course that costs money and risk to start up. :-\
Maybe others can toss out some ideas like this.
Feedie on May 22, 2009 at 10:14 PM
Drink more.
Works for me!
JetBoy on May 22, 2009 at 10:14 PM
“The only problem will be the amount of added moderation required.
Loxodonta on May 22, 2009 at 9:08 PM”
There’s moderation here? I see more f-words (or thinly-veiled versions thereof) on this site than on any other I visit. :-( Of course I’ve never been to HuffPo.
KS Rex on May 22, 2009 at 10:15 PM
Seven Percent Solution on May 22, 2009 at 10:11 PM
This is true. Though with nice343 and getalife gone, it seems kind of empty with just benny to kick around.
FontanaConservative on May 22, 2009 at 10:15 PM
But you protest too much, no? This is sort of an easy one, Allah. You open the HotAir door to the conservatives, no question. They need the platform and access to us, if they have the balls to speak directly to us.
Clearly, no one can credibly question your independence from GOP talking points – your biggest critics are all commenters here.
Jaibones on May 22, 2009 at 10:16 PM
And I understand your loyalty and your fear of losing everything if there is no viable GOP or third party. I think we are at the point of the chicken or egg argument. There will never be viable third party until those who are sick of the GOP are willing to take the risk. I for one, will no longer support a party that doesn’t represent me or my views, or even respect them anymore. The GOP is worthless and as despicable as the Dems IMO.
King of the Britons on May 22, 2009 at 10:18 PM
Excuse me for being so stereotypical, but liberals are like sheep being herded by wolves. Republicans are like cats being lured by catfood (campaign contributions), tummy rubs (from the MSM), and warm comfy chairs (that they kneed with pork).
Yes! We must have a vision that expresses the American spirit. And then we need to actually work together to get a lot of hard work done. This is a tough thing for independent minded, passionate and stubborn people to do, but we’ve done it before, so we can do it again.
Loxodonta on May 22, 2009 at 10:19 PM
Ha! Good one. Hot Air is the place!
Zorro on May 22, 2009 at 10:20 PM
1. Going by the admittedly rough figures from Alexa, HotAir is already fairly competitive with dKos and TPM.
2. HuffPo is much larger, but gets about half its traffic from non-political content. It has contracts with a bunch of content providers, and has outright stolen entire pieces from other content providers. For all of that, it is not self-sustaining. The MSM takes its cue from HuffPo and TPM based on its bias. If HotAir or some other righty blog had exclusives, the MSM might well ignore them.
3. That being said, I have long thought that the Right should invest more in original reporting, as it is not a sure thing that the MSM could ignore those stories, esp. if picked up by talk radio and Fox. On the Left, TPM managed this organically, but it may be the exception. HuffPo had the “Off the Bus” project, but that ultimately involved cooperation from J-school types who would not be interested in cooperating with the Right. Natl Review has an offshoot that does some internships, but you would think that some of the right-leaning think tanks would be investing in alternative journalism.
Karl on May 22, 2009 at 10:27 PM
AP – the problem is PR. Arianna has the contacts and celebrity names that helped draw attention. She’s tits-deep with MSNBC/SNL and flush with enough capital to mix all the elements together and hit at the right time.
The problem for HA is the problem for the entire center-right movement; everyone wants to be the solution so nobody works together. If HA merged/partnered with Big Hollywood, NRO or Reason then struck some kind of deal with Beck or Hannity, you would be on equal ground. As of now, only Drudge and Breitbart have the clout to put something together independently, but those two seem more interested in their own companies than the larger movement. It’s the current bane of capitalism versus collectivism; social networking lends itself to collectivism because it’s ideologically-driven foremost. As Spock and Kirk argued – the needs of the many outweighing the needs of the one or the few, whereas the right sees it in reverse. Until major players are willing to work in concert, the left will own the politicial-web spectrum.
And for God’s sake – you do not need anymore anonymous bloggers. Diluting the central voice only weakens the sites identity.
The next headache is HuffPo is going into “investigative journalism”, which in Arianna-speak actually means tabloid dirt-digging on anyone who opposes the progressive agenda.
budfox on May 22, 2009 at 10:29 PM
I bet Ted Rall would get some hits.
Seriously some blue dog Dems could be good but the membership gate would have to be opened to rational independent commenters.
Its good to go hit lib sites, keeps you honest.
Speakup on May 22, 2009 at 10:30 PM
According to MSM:
HuffPo = non-partisan newspaper
Fox News = right wing noise machine
That’s not a surprise. But when the GOP goes to HuffPo and slobbers over Arianna, it makes it hard to dispute that narrative.
angryed on May 22, 2009 at 10:30 PM
Just when I successfully forget during the day that Megatons’ Dadda was the nominee; I am reminded. Meh.
As far as Huffy Pooh; been there like 3 times and never follow the links. Already know what the leftists think and spew; no need to spend time with their drivel ~ time I can never get back.
Branch Rickey on May 22, 2009 at 10:32 PM
Somebody already said it, but you can both be independent and let some GOP members on occasionally.
In fact, I’m not sure I see the argument against. Which of your customers are you going to run off by doing this? The liberal trolls? Who are you going to hurt your independent street cred with by doing this? Anyone who gives you any cred anyway?
You get to decide who you let on. You don’t have to let McCain come post as a Republican.
And you can always cover the posts with disclaimers.
Seems to me like it’d do nothing but help your traffic.
Who’s the crazy conservative Congresscritter? Get him first.
misterpeasea on May 22, 2009 at 10:33 PM
The GOP essentially dissed the Conservative blogs all during the presidential election campaigns last year, eventually even McCain, who at first seemed to be eager to engage them.
Now the GOP is schmoozing with high volume Lefty blogs? Screw ‘em! If their priorities are that upside down, including the fact that many of the Congressional GOP’ers are still adding tons of earmarks to every piece of legislation they can piggyback onto, then we’ve, the Righty base, have a helluva lot of work ahead of us to get rid of the old guard and get some people elected who are solid in foundations of putting America first, and honoring the Constitution.
Disheartening and daunting, for sure, but not incurable.
KendraWilder on May 22, 2009 at 10:34 PM
Ask RedState. We all know they are not independent. Look at their traffic.
jaime on May 22, 2009 at 10:39 PM
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