Now that I'm registered I feel the need to debunk a couple of things that were never addressed to my satisfaction in this thread
Drudge Bias and Scoops:
Doing a search on Drudge for rush+painkillers, or rush + drugs the earliest hit I got was Oct. 3, 00:20:04. Searching Yahoo news the earliest hit was AP via Florida Times-Union - Oct 02 1:26 AM. That means Drudge was nearly 24 hours behind the AP. Am I missing something? It looks to me like not only did Drudge not scoop the story he held off reporting it.
Source of Drudges story:
Just by looking at the articles it seems very clear that neither watchblog or Clark was the source of Drudge's story. Here's the relevent paragraph of the blog:
Rumor has it that John Kerry (D) is going to be outed by Time Magazine next week for having an affair with a 20 year old woman who remains unknown. The affair supposedly took place intermittently right up to Kerry's Fall 2002 announcement of candidacy. At present, this is nothing more than a rumor; and after such sordid tactics as the "push polling" that took place in South Carolina in the 2000 elections, can such rumors be credible during campaign cycles? Could this create a Democratic backlash against Republicans for perceived scandalmongering?
http://www.watchblog.com/thirdparty/archives/000780.html
The rest of the article focuses on media smearing and dirty push polling techniques used by 2000. Seems pretty clear he wasn't convinced that the rumor was true at all, he just (accurately)predicts it will be an upcoming big story.
But what's really interesting is looking at the Drudge report:
http://www.drudgereportarchives.com/data/2004/02/12/20040212_182616_mattjk1.htm
A frantic behind-the-scenes drama is unfolding around Sen. John Kerry and his quest to lockup the Democratic nomination for president, the DRUDGE REPORT can reveal.
Who is his source for that? Watchblog didn't say it.
Intrigue surrounds a woman who recently fled the country, reportedly at the prodding of Kerry, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.
Who is the source for that? Watchblog didn't say it.(revealed vs. learned, hmmm)
A serious investigation of the woman and the nature of her relationship with Sen. John Kerry has been underway at TIME magazine, ABC NEWS, the WASHINGTON POST, THE HILL and the ASSOCIATED PRESS, where the woman in question once worked.
OK, watchblog did say the time thing, except it was 6 days ealier and watchblog said specifically the story would be in the time issue with Kerry on the front which had already come out days before Drudge's report. Oops, if Drudge was sourcing watchblog he would have known the blogs source was in error before he posted his story.
A close friend of the woman first approached a reporter late last year claiming fantastic stories -- stories that now threaten to turn the race for the presidency on its head!
Who is the source for that? Watchblog didn't say it. (ctrl-v
)
In an off-the-record conversation with a dozen reporters earlier this week, General Wesley Clark plainly stated: "Kerry will implode over an intern issue." [Three reporters in attendance confirm Clark made the startling comments.]
Apparently one reporter has come forward and said that is untrue, and none else has supported Drudges claim.
The Kerry commotion is why Howard Dean has turned increasingly aggressive against Kerry in recent days, and is the key reason why Dean reversed his decision not to drop out of the race after Wisconsin, top campaign sources tell the DRUDGE REPORT.
Again, watchblog wasn't the source of that.
Even if one were to insist that Clark really did say the "intern" comment it's very clear that Drudge was using other sources for the story. Inserting Clark into the story seems to have been a surprisingly effective way to confuse people over who was saying what. (I forget, is that considered grey or black propoganda . . )
Drudge Bias and Scoops:
Doing a search on Drudge for rush+painkillers, or rush + drugs the earliest hit I got was Oct. 3, 00:20:04. Searching Yahoo news the earliest hit was AP via Florida Times-Union - Oct 02 1:26 AM. That means Drudge was nearly 24 hours behind the AP. Am I missing something? It looks to me like not only did Drudge not scoop the story he held off reporting it.
Source of Drudges story:
Just by looking at the articles it seems very clear that neither watchblog or Clark was the source of Drudge's story. Here's the relevent paragraph of the blog:
Rumor has it that John Kerry (D) is going to be outed by Time Magazine next week for having an affair with a 20 year old woman who remains unknown. The affair supposedly took place intermittently right up to Kerry's Fall 2002 announcement of candidacy. At present, this is nothing more than a rumor; and after such sordid tactics as the "push polling" that took place in South Carolina in the 2000 elections, can such rumors be credible during campaign cycles? Could this create a Democratic backlash against Republicans for perceived scandalmongering?
http://www.watchblog.com/thirdparty/archives/000780.html
The rest of the article focuses on media smearing and dirty push polling techniques used by 2000. Seems pretty clear he wasn't convinced that the rumor was true at all, he just (accurately)predicts it will be an upcoming big story.
But what's really interesting is looking at the Drudge report:
http://www.drudgereportarchives.com/data/2004/02/12/20040212_182616_mattjk1.htm
A frantic behind-the-scenes drama is unfolding around Sen. John Kerry and his quest to lockup the Democratic nomination for president, the DRUDGE REPORT can reveal.
Who is his source for that? Watchblog didn't say it.
Intrigue surrounds a woman who recently fled the country, reportedly at the prodding of Kerry, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.
Who is the source for that? Watchblog didn't say it.(revealed vs. learned, hmmm)
A serious investigation of the woman and the nature of her relationship with Sen. John Kerry has been underway at TIME magazine, ABC NEWS, the WASHINGTON POST, THE HILL and the ASSOCIATED PRESS, where the woman in question once worked.
OK, watchblog did say the time thing, except it was 6 days ealier and watchblog said specifically the story would be in the time issue with Kerry on the front which had already come out days before Drudge's report. Oops, if Drudge was sourcing watchblog he would have known the blogs source was in error before he posted his story.
A close friend of the woman first approached a reporter late last year claiming fantastic stories -- stories that now threaten to turn the race for the presidency on its head!
Who is the source for that? Watchblog didn't say it. (ctrl-v
)In an off-the-record conversation with a dozen reporters earlier this week, General Wesley Clark plainly stated: "Kerry will implode over an intern issue." [Three reporters in attendance confirm Clark made the startling comments.]
Apparently one reporter has come forward and said that is untrue, and none else has supported Drudges claim.
The Kerry commotion is why Howard Dean has turned increasingly aggressive against Kerry in recent days, and is the key reason why Dean reversed his decision not to drop out of the race after Wisconsin, top campaign sources tell the DRUDGE REPORT.
Again, watchblog wasn't the source of that.
Even if one were to insist that Clark really did say the "intern" comment it's very clear that Drudge was using other sources for the story. Inserting Clark into the story seems to have been a surprisingly effective way to confuse people over who was saying what. (I forget, is that considered grey or black propoganda . . )
