If journalists would stop letting Drudge dictate their lives, I’m sure the rest of us would appreciate it

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Clearing security at the Tel Aviv airport is such an achievement that I intend to put it on my resume. But now, as commenter Trifecta put it in an earlier thread, ich bin ein Swamplander.

Some of the reporters traveling with Obama were surprised upon landing to discover their editors in something of a frenzy. The reason: Drudge is using terms like "chaos" and "mob scene" to describe Obama's visit early this morning to the Western Wall. But that's not the way the pool saw it. (When I asked pooler Jeff Zeleny of the NYT about the Drudge version, he was puzzled and conferred with the other poolers and emailed me back: "No mob scene. Not even close.") Here's Jeff's actual pool report:

Senator Barack Obama left the King David Hotel at 5 a.m. and made the short drive in his motorcade to the Western Wall. The visit was unnanounced by the campaign, but dozens of people clearly were anticipating his arrival in the Old City.

It was a brief visit to one of the most sacred spots in Jerusalem, the section of the western supporting wall of the Temple Mount.

Mr. Obama, wearing a white skull cap, made his way down a walkway toward the Wall. He was escorted by the Rabbi of the Wall, Shmuel Rabinovich, and surrounded by many others when he reached the wall.

As the Rabbi quietly read Psalm 122, both he and Mr. Obama flipped through a Holy book on a wooden stand. A clear moon helped illuminate a still-dark sky. The moment unfolded as a lone man standing about 10 yards away yelled over and over, "Obama, Jerusalem is not for sale! Obama, Jerusalem is not for sale!"

After the prayer, Mr. Obama walked a final few paces to the Wall and followed the custom of placing a personal note between the stone cracks, with his prayers or wishes left alongside hundreds of others. Then, he placed his hand on the Wall, bowed his head and stood in quiet contemplation for a few moments.

The heckler continued his chant as Mr. Obama walked away from the Wall. Several other men tried to drown out his voice with chants of, "Obama, Obama, Obama."

Dozens of people cheered and reached out to grab the senator's hand. About 10 minutes after he arrived, his motorcade left the Old City and drove to the Tel Aviv airport.

http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/07..._to_berlin.html

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

editorializing?

[Ban Hammer 12,829]

the zionists have co-opted him - it's another zionist plot!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=...;videoChannel=1

video...

[alienlovechild 75]

I looked at the Drudge Report and there no references to "chaos" or mob" when Obama when to the Wailing Wall. For your entertainment here's what was REALLY on the website:

Obama camp plasters posters at Western Wall

Advertises Democrat candidate's website, official slogan at Judaism's holiest site

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted: July 24, 2008

By Aaron Klein

© 2008 WorldNetDaily

JERUSALEM – Sen. Barack Obama's campaign plastered the entrance to the Western Wall – the holiest site in Judaism – with official campaign posters, WND has learned.

Jerusalem Police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld confirmed to WND posters that adorned police barricades erected at the Western Wall plaza for Obama's visit were distributed by the presidential candidate's campaign.

"These posters were his campaign and not the doing of the police," said Rosenfeld, whose police department coordinated security and provided protection for Obama's visit today to the holy site.

Asked if it was traditional practice for politicians visiting the Western Wall to bring along posters or campaign materials, Rosenfeld replied, "No."

Obama campaign posters can be seen in media footage of the Illinois senator's early morning surprise visit to the Western Wall.

His visit reportedly was not on the official campaign schedule.

The posters display Obama's name in Hebrew. One poster erected on the main police barricade used by Obama to enter the holy site boasts the official red, white and blue campaign "O" symbol and advertises the candidate's campaign's website.

A second poster also displays Obama's name in Hebrew and contains an image of Israeli and American flags.

Reuters posted images of the Obama campaign posters showing a handful of people waiting behind the police barricades.

Reuters images had the following caption:

"Supporters of U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) stand behind banners printed with his name in Hebrew as they wait for his arrival at the Western wall."

The caption implied supporters brought along the pro-Obama material.

But an eyewitness speaking to WND tells a different story.

"The kids waiting for Obama may not even be Obama supporters. No one knew Obama was coming in advance. We saw the police barricades erected. We saw Obama's face on the posters, and some police said Obama was on his way. So a few people gathered by the barricades and waited for Obama," said the witness.

Obama's media relations department in the U.S. did not reply to a WND phone call request for comment.

Obama arrived at about 5 a.m. Jerusalem time. He wore a Jewish skullcap and placed a prayer in the wall he said had written. He bowed his head while a rabbi read a psalm calling for peace in the holy city.

According to media accounts, one worshipper repeatedly heckled Obama, chanting: "Obama, Jerusalem is not for sale" and "Jerusalem is our land."

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The World Nut Daily is entertaining...I agree with that.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Here's some video...

[alienlovechild 75]

Still waiting on the link to "mob and chaos" story. Obama was at the wall today so if there was an article like that it wasn't up long. Just can't trust a Time blog I guess.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Still waiting on the link to "mob and chaos" story. Obama was at the wall today so if there was an article like that it wasn't up long. Just can't trust a Time blog I guess.

Sometimes you gotta dig a little deeper...smartypants.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050337/posts

Skip to comments.

Obama spends only 12 minutes in Jerusalem (chaos, mob scene) ... DRUDGE REPORT... DEVELOPING...)

Drudge Report ^ | July 23, 2008 | Matt Drudge

Posted on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 7:59:55 PM by library user

OBAMA VISITS WESTERN WALL IN OLD CITY JERUSALEM... ARRIVES AT 5:08 AM LOCAL TIME [10:08 PM ET]... SUNRISE... SHOUTING MAN: 'JERUSALEM IS NOT FOR SALE, OBAMA'... MOB SCENE... CHAOS... BOWING HIS HEAD IN PRAYER... PLACES NOTE IN WALL... POSES FOR PHOTOS... LOTS OF SHOUTING... LEAVES 5:20 AM... DEVELOPING...

[alienlovechild 75]

OBAMA VISITS WESTERN WALL IN OLD CITY JERUSALEM... ARRIVES AT 5:08 AM LOCAL TIME [10:08 PM ET]... SUNRISE... SHOUTING MAN: 'JERUSALEM IS NOT FOR SALE, OBAMA'... MOB SCENE... CHAOS... BOWING HIS HEAD IN PRAYER... PLACES NOTE IN WALL... POSES FOR PHOTOS... LOTS OF SHOUTING... LEAVES 5:20 AM... DEVELOPING...

Hey, you can do a little research. I wouldn't worry about since it wasn't a story and "developing" means it was early take on the scene. Happens a lot when the media tries to get a scoop and finds early reports can't be backed up. It's not part of a conspiracy.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

OBAMA VISITS WESTERN WALL IN OLD CITY JERUSALEM... ARRIVES AT 5:08 AM LOCAL TIME [10:08 PM ET]... SUNRISE... SHOUTING MAN: 'JERUSALEM IS NOT FOR SALE, OBAMA'... MOB SCENE... CHAOS... BOWING HIS HEAD IN PRAYER... PLACES NOTE IN WALL... POSES FOR PHOTOS... LOTS OF SHOUTING... LEAVES 5:20 AM... DEVELOPING...

Hey, you can do a little research. I wouldn't worry about since it wasn't a story and "developing" means it was early take on the scene. Happens a lot when the media tries to get a scoop and finds early reports can't be backed up. It's not part of a conspiracy.

Maybe you skimmed this part of the OP:

Some of the reporters traveling with Obama were surprised upon landing to discover their editors in something of a frenzy. The reason: Drudge is using terms like "chaos" and "mob scene" to describe Obama's visit early this morning to the Western Wall. But that's not the way the pool saw it. (When I asked pooler Jeff Zeleny of the NYT about the Drudge version, he was puzzled and conferred with the other poolers and emailed me back: "No mob scene. Not even close.")

The point of the thread was to say that too many journalists rely on Drudge for their up-to-the-minute news.

I don't know how accurate this chart is now, but back in 2004 ...

http://' target="_blank">Top Blogs Cited in Political Postings

The Drudge Report, DailyKos and Instapundit were the top 3 blogs most-cited in political postings.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The comments from the Drudge Report are very telling...

Here's a few...

To: All The big question is: Will the MSM even bother to mention this in their coverage?

I’m strongly leaning towards No - because it doesn’t fit their pro-Obama pandering and promoting.

25 posted on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 8:10:29 PM by MplsSteve [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

.......

To: MplsSteve Well, it’s been headlining on Drudge all night...

32 posted on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 8:11:17 PM by Miss Didi ("Good heavens, woman, this is a war not a garden party!" Dr. Meade, Gone with the Wind) [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

......

To: library user Not sure I remember any US politician being run out of Jerusalem. That’s just funny.

9 posted on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 8:04:29 PM by Domandred (McCain's 'R' is a typo that has never been corrected) [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

.......

To: library user B.H.O. chased off like a dog with tail between his legs.

16 posted on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 8:07:04 PM by Trajan88 (www.bullittclub.com) [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

[alienlovechild 75]

The point of the thread was to say that too many journalists rely on Drudge for their up-to-the-minute news.

I haven't been to journalism school but I'm told reporters should doublecheck their sources by not relying on a single source and your chart prove there are plenty of other sources.

The comments from the Drudge Report are very telling...

Your vivid imagination is more telling. How can anybody post comments on Drudge? I think you're referring to another website.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The point of the thread was to say that too many journalists rely on Drudge for their up-to-the-minute news.

I haven't been to journalism school but I'm told reporters should doublecheck their sources by not relying on a single source and your chart prove there are plenty of other sources.

The comments from the Drudge Report are very telling...

Your vivid imagination is more telling. How can anybody post comments on Drudge? I think you're referring to another website.

Exactly the point that was being made in the OP.

Yes. I was referring to Free Republic's website which reposted there, but that's irrelevant...the comments were made based on Drudge's Report that he posted on his site...unless you see it differently.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Drudge is just a collection of stories.

Don't fear the truth just because you disagree.