Recommended reading: "
Why Everything Is Politicized Even Though Most Americans Hate It," by Conor Friedersdorf. Excerpt:
If you're a political journalist, and you hear Keith Olbermann or Bill O'Reilly or Lawrence O'Donnell or Mark Levin offend against basic human decency in an attempt to destroy an ideological adversaries,
calling them out, especially if you're seen as "on their side." is
going to make you the target of angry, profane attacks from their fans.
Lackey bloggers are likely to publish blog posts that stop just short of actionable libel.
You'll never be invited on the pundits' shows or possibly even their
network when you've got a book to sell. And for your trouble, all you've
accomplished is speaking up about behavior that people you care to
reach already know to be wrongheaded. I have idiosyncratic ideas
about the importance of a certain kind of public discourse, no ambition
to work for an ideological movement, a social circle composed of friends
who don't give a damn who I criticize, and an employer with the motto
"of no party or clique."
And even I often find it an unpleasant hassle to make these criticisms.
Sounds about right. Whole thing
here.
