Sure the "liberal media" is a myth, but that doesn't mean TO has any responsibility to dispel it by going centrist.  As you point out, there are too few news outlets representing the left.  Many TO readers like me are glad to have a place where we can speak the truth, and damn the consequences.

If you think that Smythxd's comments came complete with a valid point, I am here to tell you that you are wrong.  Additionally, he certainly didn't come here for any sort of intelligent discourse.  His comments were riddled with sarcasm of the neo-conned kind and I am sorry you missed it.  

Had he wanted conversation or had he wanted to make a point, he would have given us just one good example of the media demonizing the President and administration.  However, he didn't.  Instead he did just the opposite by citing the Dan Rather case.  It served as a snickering reminder in all our faces that the "liberal media" has been called to order and Dan Rather served as the example for anyone else who cares to demonize (either rightly or wrongly) the President and/or any of his administration officials.  He reiterated the potential threat that looms over ANYONE's head that dares to speak out or against the actions of the President.  

Nope, he came he not because of the conversation or sharing of information but to incite flame wars and illicit emotional responses.  Unlike you, though, I find people like him and their continued support disgusting and our reaction, both emotional and more tame and tactful, human and normal.

for anyone to expect anything other than strong emotion which may erupt into some tongue lashings and name calling over these types of shit and run visits from these types of people is absurd.  While it would be nice if we could all immitate Ghandi and Buddah and the Dali Llamma in our reactions, most of us have not evolved that far yet, we are just regular human beings trying to deal with the presence of people like that as humanely as possible under the circumstance.  

It is rather difficult for most people here to deal with these kinds of people on a respectful, tolerant level when the truth of the matter is, it is their support which has enabled and allowed that which we stand in very strong opposition to.  I mean for Christ's sake Observer, if these people would not continue to support and oblige those leading our country and representing all of us, just think what we could effectively end.  As far as I am concerned they are just as guilty if not more guilty for the war crimes committed, the unecessary bloodshed of untold tens of thousands (TENS OF THOUSANDS) of innocent people; Lies, decept and the list goes on.  For God's sake, because of people like this, people are being tortured, some to death.  WE are talking TORTURE and your disgusted with us?  We are talking about unecessary blood shed of children, women and men in two different countries and the bloodshed of our own sons and daughters and loved ones in the military , not theirs but ours.  We are talking election fraud, the evaporation and eradication of our personal freedoms and civil liberties right on down the freakin line to our inalienable rights.  We are talking about whole American cities drowning and thousands drowning with it but not before they spent three days begging for help and waiting for that which never came and we are talking the blatant indifference displayed by our leaders.  I am the one who is disgusted, it makes me want to puke and I will be GODDAMNED if I will be nice to them....it is NOT okay what they do and the behaviors they support.  Their bloody hands are leaving prints eveywhere they go and they don't even see it.

And I admire your lasting hope about changing minds with the simple truth and the right information presented in the right way and I also despise your willingness to blame the media for thier choices.  While the media is definately guilty of swaying the minds initially, I don't believe they can go past their responsibility into each and every one of us's own personal responsibility for the information we receive and what we choose to believe.

Their ain't no more people on the fence, there, my friend.  With very few exceptions everyone is where they are and there is little to nothing that any of us can do about it.  We can package the truth up and give it to them in the most seductive paper and bow and guess what, they won't open it.  They won't hear the truth and they won't see the truth because they have CHOOSEN not to.  They aren't looking for the truth, they are looking for validation.  It's too late in the game and too many facts have come to smack everyone of is in the face despite the special game the media plays.  They are where they are because they want to be, not because their poor little souls were conned by the so called "liberal media" or anyone else.  Taht excuse has run dry a long time ago.