siren song, bob somberby, drudge, journalismism, matt drudge, media, we are all sploid now

"We Are All Matt Drudge Now"

Professional doom-sayer and enjoyably shrill press critic Bob Somerby says he's been at this whole "internet political writing" thing since 1997 and he's kinda distressed that not only hasn't nutty original blogger Matt Drudge gone away, but he still holds sway over campaign narratives! Which he sorta does, though we'd argue not to the extent that he used to, but it is amusing to see all the liberal bloggers taking him so seriously after spending so many cycles trying to discredit and marginalize him. It's sad but true: when Drudge types, we listen. How else to explain the media's non-stop coverage of adorable kitties and killer robots bent on the destruction of humanity? [DailyHowler]

11:05 AM on Wed Feb 27 2008
By Pareene
584 views
20 comments

Comments

The Real JR at 11:09 AM on 02/27/08
Reply by Email
*
Connectedness Index: 176

I already warned the world about the robots.

We're two firmware versions away from SkyNet. F'real.
BettyCrocker at 11:16 AM on 02/27/08
Reply by Email
*
Connectedness Index: 1036

I will give up my Roomba and Scooba when you pry them from my cold, dead fingers.
BooWahBabe at 11:16 AM on 02/27/08
Reply by Email
*

If only you other bloggers mounted as much -- but you don't blanche, you don't!
urnidiot at 11:18 AM on 02/27/08
Reply by Email
*

My good man, what in blazes are you talking about?

Drudge "sorta" holds sway over campaign narratives? He publishes one photo of Obama, insinuates it's being circulated by the Clinton campaign, and it goes straight to the front page of two daily New York newspapers.

Please go back to posting on subjects you know something about, whatever they may be.
Tippy and Bad Girl at 11:19 AM on 02/27/08
Reply by Email
*

Uuuuuugh editorial "we." I've always been curious about this-- do they teach journalists to use the "we" as often as possible?

As far as Drudge goes ... wtf he's a scooping machine yet somehow I know about William F. Buckley dying before he does?
belltolls at 11:26 AM on 02/27/08
Reply by Email
*
Connectedness Index: 209

I imagine that little black cat is hiding out from the LA Pet Sterialization Police. LOL.
BettyCrocker at 11:29 AM on 02/27/08
Reply by Email
*
Connectedness Index: 1036

@belltolls: I Can Haz Mah Hoo-Hah?
Pareene at 11:30 AM on 02/27/08
Reply by Email
*
Connectedness Index: 154

@urnidiot: pls go back to fucking yourself, i am talking about KITTIES AND KILLER ROBOTS
Pareene at 11:31 AM on 02/27/08
Reply by Email
*
Connectedness Index: 154

@urnidiot: j/k you're beautiful, keep it up
mitchel_stevens at 11:32 AM on 02/27/08
Reply by Email
*

Hey, speaking of errie: Sploid semi-exists again.

It's like the fake denton tumblr, but with Denton admitting he saw 27 dresses.
Nick Denton at 11:43 AM on 02/27/08
Reply by Email
*
Connectedness Index: 1764

@urnidiot: Yeah, a point that we made. But here's the question: did Drudge cause the New York tabloids to go with his spin? Or did he merely anticipate them so perfectly because he's basically the internet version of a classic tabloid editor?
Nick Denton at 11:46 AM on 02/27/08
Reply by Email
*
Connectedness Index: 1764

@mitchel_stevens: We're using Sploid as a test site, though I am occasionally tempted to revive it.
raincoaster at 11:53 AM on 02/27/08
Reply by Email
*
Connectedness Index: 337

@Nick Denton: Don't do that. You'd just get another application from me, and we both know how that ends.
Truculent at 12:04 PM on 02/27/08
Reply by Email
*
Connectedness Index: 144

You forgot two important adjectives re: Drudge -- closeted and conflicted.
Mediahohoho at 12:05 PM on 02/27/08
Reply by Email
*
Connectedness Index: 404

Geez, this is such a pointless chicken and egg argument here. I mean, does Drudge exist because political journalists are lazy incompetent hacks or did political journalists become lazy incompetent hacks because of Drudge? After all, when you can just quote a dude with an obvious political axe to grind and no journalistic ethics, not to mention to editors or no editorial standards, isn't that just a whole lot easier that, you know, working?
Mediahohoho at 12:06 PM on 02/27/08
Reply by Email
*
Connectedness Index: 404

@Mediahohoho: Oy: "not to mention editors or editorial standards..." and "easier than..."
mitchel_stevens at 12:08 PM on 02/27/08
Reply by Email
*

@Nick Denton:
turn it into the film blog. and order an intern to attend the quad cinema everyday until their eyes explode.
Jordan Golson at 12:39 PM on 02/27/08
Reply by Email
*

@Tippy and Bad Girl: The Corner posted it at 11:13AM.

Someone submitted it to FARK at 11:22AM.

It hit the AP wire at 11:25AM.

Drudge didn't have it for a while after that, I IMed him a tip about it at 11:32AM.
TedSez at 12:57 PM on 02/27/08
Reply by Email
*
Connectedness Index: 583

Sometimes the juxtaposition of headlines on "Drudge" makes for even better news....

"ABC, FOX CIRCLE: LENO PLOTS TO STAY ON TV; LIFE AFTER 'TONIGHT SHOW'..."

"UPDATE: Don't stop taking anti-depressants, doctors urge"
marc h. at 01:16 PM on 02/27/08
Reply by Email
*

I'm just glad I'm not the only person who reads the Daily Howler every day. Essential stuff, even when you're inclined to disagree with Somerby, as I've found myself doing more than usual the last couple of weeks.