Update on “LFV denied convention press credentials”
Today, only one day after LFV was denied press credentials for the Libertarian Convention, I discovered that Last Free Voice is the “Featured Blog” on WordPress for the Libertarian Convention and that it appears multiple times in the Google Top Ten search results for the Libertarian Convention.
In fact, we are the only blog on all of WordPress being featured for covering the Libertarian Convention, and we are featured repeatedly. We are also the WordPress Featured Blog, as well as being featured repeatedly, for covering the Libertarian Party.
Furthermore, we appear not once, but twice, in the Top Ten Google search results for “libertarian convention”. The WordPress “Featured Blog” page is also in the top ten for the same search term, effectively placing us in the top ten Google search results not once, not twice, but three times, out of a total of 316,000 search results. With regard to the search term “last free voice”, which is not at all an uncommon phrase, we are the number one search result out of a total of 16,200,000 hits.
Clearly, we are far more influential than Andrew Davis and the LP would like to believe. When people google “Libertarian Convention”, they are going to find Last Free Voice immediately and repeatedly; and not the blogs which the LP, in its infinite wisdom, deemed important enough to actually get those credentials. Our potential audience for what we write about the convention is therefore untold millions, since Google users won’t even know the other blogs exist unless they decide to go through multiple pages of search results (which, as we all know, most people will not do).
At this point it is becoming more and more clear that Andrew Davis just made up his excuse for denying our credentials, since a simple Google search would have revealed all of the above.
Tags: Andrew Davis, Libertarian Convention, press credentials
May 18, 2008 at 2:23 am
[...] I have done my own research, and in only minutes discovered that Last Free Voice is hands-down the most popular site on the internet for covering the Libertarian Convention, appearing multiple times in the top ten Google search [...]
May 18, 2008 at 2:23 am
[...] » OTB News wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptToday, only one day after LFV was denied press credentials for the Libertarian Convention, I discovered that Last Free Voice is the “Featured Blog” on WordPress for the Libertarian Convention and that it appears multiple times in the Google Top Ten search results for the Libertarian Convention. In fact, we are the only blog on all [...] [...]
May 18, 2008 at 2:51 am
haha!
You just owned Mr.Davis
May 18, 2008 at 2:56 am
How many LFVers are delegates?
In the course of our regular politicking, we should spread the word about how the top Libertarian political blog was barred from covering the convention based on anti-Barr sentiments.
Let’s throw these neocon bums out.
May 18, 2008 at 2:58 am
Wish I were. I may go to the state convention though.
May 18, 2008 at 3:14 am
Did Davis give a reason? Since the LP should be on the edge out there in Freedom of the Press land one would think everyone is invited.
MHW
May 18, 2008 at 3:34 am
I’m a delegate, but I don’t think it would be as easy to make headway with Andrew Davis, who is staff. It’d be easier for you to show your disgust by voting in a new LNC.
May 18, 2008 at 4:24 am
Somebody should send this to Andrew Davis. I’d like to see what excuse he comes up with next.
May 18, 2008 at 4:26 am
Hi, Michael. I actually had to chase him down to get an answer. He claimed that we don’t get enough traffic, even though he has given credentials to other blogs; yet those blogs are nowhere near as influential as LFV, by all conventional measure.
Hi, Jeff. Delegates should print out the LFV articles exposing Bob Barr and distribute them at the convention, as protest against the LP’s attempt to censor LFV. That will send a crystal clear message about attempted censorship, which the LP will not soon forget.
May 18, 2008 at 4:47 am
“Hi, Jeff. Delegates should print out the LFV articles exposing Bob Barr and distribute them at the convention, as protest against the LP’s attempt to censor LFV. That will send a message about attempted censorship, which the LP will not soon forget.”
Be sure and include the website address http://www.LastFreeVoice.com on the hand outs.
May 18, 2008 at 4:55 am
Thanks ElfNinosMom maybe I should have read previous posts. Sad isn’t it. I keep telling myself it is darkest before the dawn. I don’t know what good that does, but at least some is talking to me.
MHW
May 18, 2008 at 5:06 am
Good point, Andy. The url needs to be on the handouts, so the LP knows exactly where they came from.
May 18, 2008 at 5:16 am
Prediction: Jeff won’t think that’s a good idea. He doesn’t think LFV deserves press creds either.
May 18, 2008 at 7:51 am
ElfninosMom,
Please contact me when you get the opportunity. I just sent you an e-mail.
May 18, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Per usual, great investigation ElfNinosMom! You certainly make valid points. I think we should send this info to Mr. Davis again and see if that gives us any headway. I really would like to see LFV cover the convention, and now I think it’s even more important due to LFV’s web domination for the term libertarian. When you really think about it, LFV is a new kid on the block as far as blogs go, and despite excellent reporting, it really does lack proper credit, probably because of the blunt honesty by many of the writers (which I find to be beautiful by the way!)
I think we can still get press credentials. Don’t give up.
May 18, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Jeff Wartman is very naive about what goes on at National and how many non-libertarians actually run the show there. But then again look who he’s supporting, someone who thinks pro-lifers are domestic terrorists and that the Federal Reserve is legit.
May 18, 2008 at 5:24 pm
We also need someone like Chris Bennett on the LNC. I’m still bummed he dropped out of the VP race.
I’ve never interacted with Chris beyond blogs, but if he decided today that he was going to run for president in 2012, I would volunteer my services. I have so much respect for you man, thats the truth.
May 18, 2008 at 7:26 pm
I’m usually accused to being in the same camp; I often hear the charge that I’m trying to turn the LP into “Republican-lite”. I guess the contraction of the party seems to be the goal of some.
I’ve always been very open about the fact that I AM pro-life.
I disgaree with George on a lot of issues. I disagree with nearly everyone on many issues. It’s called having an open mind.
I would be the first to call for abolishing the Fed if we won. You can’t expect to agree with candidates on everything.
May 18, 2008 at 8:25 pm
No, you can’t agree on everything, but calling the opponents of in-utero butchery “terrorists” and championing the monetary engine of Fascism are not exactly small issues.
You don’t get it. No one wants the party to be smaller. We want the party to present a real alternative, and let the people come to us. They’re not going to come to us when the only difference between us and the D/Rs is that we want to cut taxes by 0.125% or slow the growth of government form 20% a year to 19%.
May 18, 2008 at 8:38 pm
I’m pro-life, but the bombing of abortion clinics is not a way to move policy. That’s what George was referring to.
We’ve done that in the past, and it’s been a MISERABLE failure. Politics must be proactive.
May 18, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Sell out our principles to get 3% of the vote instead of 1%? Is that what you mean Jeff?
I agree we should be more pro active. However that does not mean we should sell out our principles to do so.
May 18, 2008 at 9:23 pm
With all due respect, I think you are both missing George’s point. It doesn’t matter what group he used in that statement. George could just as easily have replaced “anti-abortion activists” with drug gangs, or outlaw bikers, or skinheads, or some other fringe group within the US which engages in violence. He was merely using the group as an example, to make a point.
That point, which is an excellent one, is that homegrown terrorists are far more dangerous to us than foreign terrorists.
May 18, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Angela Keaton said she will talk to Andrew about issuing a press credential for G.E. tomorrow. If anyone can get things resolved it’s Angela. Thank goodness we have her on our side:)
May 18, 2008 at 9:45 pm
G.E., spoke to Andrew. Call me at the Keaton Compound. Email me for the number. (my first name) A T liberatedspace Dot Com.
May 18, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Not at all. Any one of you at knows me knows that I would never sell out my principles of liberty. But, we’ve got to be aware of complicated issues.
I’ll use one example.
Many claim to not want to see us sell out libertarianism for a couple percentage points. While I agree that we should never sell out our principles, we’ve got to be aware of political realities. The difference between 1% and 5% is huge in many areas. In some states, that difference means automatic ballot access. There are a plethora of reasons why a couple of percentage points do matter, but those gains are in vain if we sell out our principles. On this we agree.
We libertarians have a reputation of bringing each other down. We should all band together and realize that despite little specific differences, we all believe that we need to stop the fascism of the right and the socialism of the left. Despite arguments and disagreements, I’ll be the first to band together with G.E. to fight for liberty.
May 18, 2008 at 11:45 pm
“That point, which is an excellent one, is that homegrown terrorists are far more dangerous to us than foreign terrorists.”
The average Democrat and Republican are far greater threats than foreign terrorists.
May 18, 2008 at 11:48 pm
I am a delegate and a blogger on LFV.
May 19, 2008 at 6:25 am
I will be giving ass passes in Denver. Think Yank! Vote ASS!
May 19, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Get ‘em mom!
May 19, 2008 at 8:03 pm
UPDATE: Tom Knapp had his TPW credentials yanked after Stephen Gordon sold the site (and his soul) to Richard Viguerie.