Greg's post over at The Horse really made me think.

While I love the idea of cross-spectrum debates, that really isn't journalism.

This feeds into the "Republicans say" and "Democrats say" style of reporting. Doesn't matter which side is being truthful, so long as they get a quote from each side.

Now, I'm a younger guy, but if the Republicans say that the surge is working, and the Democrats say that it isn't, I assume the media's job is to say "but here is the truth."

Our political system has become which tastes better, Coke or Pepsi. Whoever has the coolest ads wins the race.

The media is supposed to say yes, even though Coke tastes better, it is made from baby seal brains. Would that not change your opinion a bit?

Instead, we have one person saying Coke is made from baby seal brains, while the other side says it is not, and it ends there.

Note: I prefer Coke to Pepsi, and have no evidence that it is made from baby seal brains.