Mainstream Media and Superficial Political Reporting

I don't think reporters are allowed the time needed to make their stories any good. They are selling commercials, remember. They don't really care about the facts, just how many people will watch the story. No need to gum it up with facts. That might drive away viewers.

As you said, we do beat up the meadia, but rightly so. The media has been biased against true conservatism as long as I can remember, and politics is where they do their worst. The big three networks were always slanted towards the liberal/socialist. The newer cable news outlets, CNN, FOX, MSNBC, etc... are all liberal elitists. I consider FOX the worst, because they have this insidious pseudo-conservative fascade, while being just as dishonest and liberal as the others.

Political news is usually a pretty subjective thing, even when reporting election results. It's all about public opinion and there's no one better equipped to sway it than the media.