Ed,

They can't defend the Fair and Balanced label with a straight face, but anyone watching ought to know that. But just because their viewpoint comes from the right doesn't mean they are wrong on ALL issues. To return to your original point, a free thinker will take into count information from many sources. To not understand the Republican positions is to misunderstand about half the American populace. You might not agree, but you will get information there that isn't always covered in the rest of the media.

For Blockdog,

Both Jon Stewart and All Things Considered slant slightly left, but I'll agree that All Things Considered is an excellent program. They also cover stories not aired in the rest of the media, and they usually take enough time for a nuanced take.

Jon Stewart is an equal opportunity offender, but note that when he cuts down the right, the implicit attack is often a lack of intelligence . . . Deliverance jokes and the like. That subtle bias is typical of both New York and California-based media. The bias clearly works the other way here in Texas with all the derogatory talk about looney San Franciscans and the like.

A lotta talking and not a whole lotta listening goin' on across the Red/Blue divide.