Ummmm...I think to some degree you're playing with semantics to distinguish between an organized conspiracy and a virtual conspiracy--that is, an alignment of interests that produces an outcome based on independent actions very similar to the outcome of organized actions. The difference matters least when it comes to the reaction of the Right: One way or another, They are against you. For all practical purposes, the Right believes in the existence of a conspiracy.

(And I would observe, with due delicacy, that much of conservative ideology requires the existence of a threat or enemy as its rationale; self-portrayal as the protectors of all that's good and decent implies that there's somebody who's trying to destroy all that's good and decent.)

Still, I'll give you a lot of reasonableness points for conceding the possibility that there is no conspiracy, and that people who oppose Bush came to that position naturally and without manipulation or coordination. Thanks for acknowledging our ability to make a considered judgment.

Does this mean that you no longer believe in BDS?

Well, just thought I'd ask, hope springs eternal....

Back to the media and your final paragraph...Yes, I would agree that in practice what is or isn't reported is largely circumstantial. The media must fill a certain amount of space with news, regardless of its absolute importance; news story ranking is always relative. I'm reassured when the news is stupid and trivial--it means that nothing truly bad happened that day.

Sigh...before 9/11 I never watched morning TV news shows. But ever since, each day I start with "Today" or flip through the cable news channel ghetto, just to listen to the tone of voice. If nobody's gibbering in panic, I can face the day. Kinda puts the news into perspective, ya know?