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Rachellucas.com: Blogging Against the Tide of Mainstream Media
Sept. 11 shocked thousands of opinionated individuals into publishing their thoughts on the Web. Rachellucas.com is just one example of this new wave of homespun punditry that is captivating casual web surfers and web experts alike.

by Kirk Peterson

"Piquant Rants
& Sassy Imprudence," sponsored by Rachel Lucas.
Rachellucas.com

In the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, Rachel Lucas realized that she had a lot to say. The only problem was that she had no one to say it to.

Lucas, who is self-employed and attends school full time as a communications major, was frustrated with what she considers the liberal bias of the mainstream media, and found no comfort in newspaper or television reporting on the terrorist attacks. She also had no outlet for her rage. "I've never been so overwhelmed in my life, and all I wanted to do was talk about it," recalls the Dallas, Texas based Lucas. "I wanted to tell the world that I was pissed off."

Lucas was not alone in her feelings.

In the days following 9/11, Lucas, like many frustrated by Web-savvy individuals, decided to create a blog, or online journal, to vent her thoughts and feelings. Her site, rachellucas.com, was in instant success among family and friends, who enjoyed her humorous daily tirades. But when Rachel discovered that the Web was crawling with people who shared her often controversial libertarian viewpoints, she decided to expand her site and her readership.

Online, Rachel doesn't hold back. "I have a unique perspective," she says. "There are a few female bloggers who write about how much they love their guns, hate Al Gore, and think [certain] people should stop breeding, and who do all of that in an intelligent and entertaining way. I think that's why so many people have been drawn to my site." And drawn they have been. Rachel's site now averages about 800 unique visitors per day.

Charlton Heston or Saddam Hussein? No, thats Rachel's dog, Sunny!
Rachellucas.com

Although some might find her sardonic comments and unapologetic views offensive, she keeps the tone of her writing light and humorous, and supports her opinions with well-reasoned arguments and appropriate links. This can be seen in Lucas' defense of the Second Amendment after the recent sniper attacks in the Washington D.C. area. "Knowing that all newly manufactured firearms have been 'fingerprinted,' the sniper is not going to use a gun that he bought himself," says Lucas when explaining gun laws to "stupid" people. "There are already millions upon millions of guns on the planet that are not 'fingerprinted.' Which means that people like the sniper will have no problem buying a used gun that isn't registered on the 'fingerprinting' database."

Her critique of Hollywood superstars that interfere in politics is at times fierce, but always hysterical. Of noted liberal Barbra Streisand, Lucas writes, "Oh my god, I loathe her. I mean it, people. I really despise Barbra Streisand. I would like to met her, and tell her, 'Hey, I think you're a stupid, marginally talented singer, and every time I hear your voice I run for my gun range ear plugs. I am so glad that you are a Democrat, because I'd be ashamed if you were on my side. Now shut the hell up and go back to Malibu, you arrogant beeyatch."

Rachel Supports National Ammo Day.
Rachellucas.com

Lucas would like nothing more than to persuade readers and the news media of the wisdom of her daily rants, but she understands the limitations of the medium she is working in. However, she is convinced of the possibility that her blog could cause a domino effect. "Even if only a few hundred people come across something on my blog, they might tell their friends, who might tell theirs, and there you go. In the long run, blogs like mine [might] have some effect."

Although it is difficult to gauge whether the homegrown punditry of bloggers is having any effect on mainstream media, some experts believe that it is. "Weblogs are just starting to impact mainstream media," says Jeff Jarvis, president of the brand builder advance.net and a post-9/11 blogger himself. "I know many journalists who read weblogs, and I've seen a few stories on weblogs that get picked up by mainstream media soon thereafter."

Paul Grabowicz, the director of the UC Berkeley New Media and Communications Program, agrees with Jarvis. "The sites that started up in the wake of 9/11 view themselves as an alternative to the established, liberal media, and I think that community is making an impact."

For Rachel Lucas, the days of having nobody to rant to are over.

Kirk Peterson is a journalism and history major at New York University who is now struggling with libertarian impulses.

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