Like I've pointed out, the problem is less about the media spitting this stuff across the airwaves than it is about people who should know better writing it up as facts in newspaper columns, political speeches, and the like.

Still, a bit more due diligence from the reporters wouldn't hurt.

That bit about the mother calling from a nursing home for five straight days in an area where few people had power, let alone phones, stunk right up front, and it's worth noting that, to the best of my knowledge, not one single reporter bothered to go to the mother's son and get the rest of the story.

I see this over and over again. There was a big flap about the commander of the "Bataan" saying in an interview that he couldn't get going until he got orders. This was repeated endlessly in the opinion columns and on the blogosphere as proof that the Federal government screwed the pooch.

I asked one question: Did anybody actually ASK the commander when he got those orders? Of course not.

At some point, the commander had to write a letter to a blog and explain that yes, he couldn't move until he got the orders, but no, the orders were not delayed in any way.

I get the impression that some reporters stop asking questions when they've got the answer they want.