[FlipWilson]

I disagree with this article somewhat. The author misses something, namely, what exposed Rather and promoted the Swift Boat vets in 2004, namely, the alternative media. The Republicans are not running against the MSM, they are running against the dems. That is where their focus needs to remain. Taking on the MSM allows the dems to skate on having absolutely NO agenda. The problem with having no agenda is that it allows your opponent to define you. So be it, the Republicans should be going negative and defining the dems asap. In the meantime, they need to get their heads straight and put forth a conservative agenda.

As for the MSM, its support of a party that has no agenda, its overt and obvious anti-Bush bias are its undoing. What makes the alternative media's job so damn easy is that the MSM is blind to the fact that more and more people see through its agenda. Let the MSM continue to beat its drum to its own demise. I would argue that the NY Times outing of secret programs used to prevent terrorist attacks is the Rathergate of this election cycle.

[msnimje]

Considering Jed Babbin's background and knowledge of these things, I doubt he misses the points you mentioned.

They simply were not the focus of this article.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson sponsored competing newspapers in which to conduct their partisan battles.

I think that their newspapers were essentially the start of the poltical parties. And there is no reason to suppose that they should be any different now. Now they have openly opinionated editorial pages and op-ed pages whose function is to "position" the rest of the paper as being objective - but they do not and cannot change the fundamental fact that newspapers are free, under the First Amendment, to operate for fun and profit.

They can promise us objectivity - heck they can promise us wisdom if they want - but the bottom line is that they will deliver what they want to deliver.

"It is acquired wisdom and experience only that teach incredulity, and they very seldom teach it enough." - Adam Smith, The Theory of Moral Sentiments

"Half the truth can be a very big lie." - Winston Churchill

The issue to me is that although we cannot regulate the newspapers we can consider that Broadcast Journalism is Unnecessary and Illegitimate.

And there is no reason that fraudulent production of forged government documents (the Texas ANG "memos") should not be prosecuted.