Thank goodness someone is withholding the free pass. This administration seems to be advocating more government control than I am comfortable with.

Very bold of you to praise Fox News in public, Z. Good thing you seem to have a pretty thick skin when it comes to criticism because you're going to need it.

Hi, Thanks for the support -- or warning. This is just credit where credit is due, as I see it. And, like I say, I am willing to entertain the notion that it is wishful thinking on my part. But this is too important an issue -- the media role in what's happening in the country today -- to be partisan or timid. I feel like some people on cable TV news think it's all a game. I do not feel that way. Thanks. Z

Wow! Talk about delusional. David, can you repost any criticism you did of Fox during the last 8 years when they gave G. Bush a free pass to ruin this country? As apologists for the Bush regime, Fox is responsible for the mess this country is in today, and you praise them. Disgusting.

Look it up, Jeff. There is a ton of it on this blog and the Web -- Zurawik blasting Fox. Two second Google search will show you how uninformed you are in this comment. Thanks. Z

There is a huge difference between a free pass and using misleading information and hosts that do not check any facts. (Glenn Beck, their top guy said it himself on the view if you want proof)

I think it is great to fact check people that are in charge and ensure they arent pulling a fast one over, but I have to ask where was your criticism during the Bush Admin when FOX was giving them an open forum, way more than MSNBC does for this admin.

You have chosen a selective timeframe in which you make your assessment of "not giving a free pass"

Disagreement and Fact Checking is totally different than propaganda being pushed by paid operatives and loud mouths that dont check facts.

Did you see Glenn Beck's latest guest who advocated a terrorist strike on America by Osama being the best thing for America right now?

Becareful who you praise for being "bold"

Hi hdtv information: Point of clarification, Beck is not their top guy. he's at least two rungs down from O'Reilly and Hannity. the ratings bear that out as well. Thanks. Z

Was Fox News performing a socially important press function during the 8 years of the Bush Administration? It seems they were more cheerleader than muckraker which tells me their new found vigilance seems more about ideology than actual substance. Fox News' advocacy of the so-called "tea-parties" should give any media critic pause before heaping praise.

I am talking about today -- not about the Bush years. And you can go back and read what I said about the tea parties on this blog. I didn't like the way Fox or MSNBC reported the story. But while Hannity seemed an active participant on Fox, the MSNBC folks actually distorted the facts of the turnout calling it the "fizzle in the drizzle." Both get a failing grade. Z

Since Fox cheerleaded the Bush administration, Fox is not peforming the function as governments' watchdog. They are performing the function of the GOP's chairman. The fact of this lack of consistency in its treatment of the last 2 Presidents is proof they are not performing any important social function. If a republican became President tomorrow, you can bet they would be 'watchdog' no more.

As I said, I do not care right now about the motivations or history of Fox. What I care about is that at least somebody on TV is trying to hold the Obama administration's feet to the fire. Let's deal with the reality we have today. Thanks. Z

Say what you want about Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow's political views, but one thing is clear: these two people are intellectual thinkers who are very educated and know a lot about history. Their equivalent doesn't exist at FOX. Their conservative equivalents would be conservative intellectuals like George Will, Bill Kristol, and even Peggy Noonan.

Bill O'Reilly? Sean Hannity? Glenn Beck? These guys are anti-intellectual, and appeal to the lowest common denominator of the American public. All they're appealing to right now is the bigoted, narrow-minded, uneducated far-right fringe.

If Keith Olbermann is your idea of "intellectual thinker," there is nothing more to be said....Z

Keith Olbermann is definitely an intellectual thinker. He anaylzes, he studies, he thinks on his feet, and he is a brilliant writer and eloquent speaker. Whether or not you agree with his political views, you cannot deny any of that.

Your bias is showing, David.

Matt, with every intention of being civil, I have to say I couldn't disgaree more. But I am not trying to unpleasant or rude to you, really. I value your comments and I am happy to have someone as thoughtful and passionate as you reading the blog and commenting. But I just disagree -- and I have to be honest about it. Thanks. Z

I have watched Keith Olbermann and I don't see him as a "intellectual thinker" either. In my opinion Katie Couric is a much better example.

Well sir it's the first time a read anything about you but I must say YOU'RE WRONG!!!!!! to say fox is fair and balance is to say Bush was a great President NOT!!. I had the bad judgement of voting for Bush in 04, and guess what channel I couldn't get enough of, you guess it FOX "NEWS", why? they gave people like me what we wanted to hear!!! And they had me believing all this crap of the liberal media how bad they are for us, nonsense there's no such thing, Hello any body there, absolutely delusional, they just to call people traitors and unpatriots if you disagred in any form or shape with the last administration, so can I call the republicans and their on 527channel= FOX, unamericans, it could only be fair? And maybe you don't care about the motivations behind their "new found cause" but we the Americans are, sir, I would rather see my tax payers money invested in my on country, than in mislead wars and tax cuts that are bankrupting our future, two can play the game, like I said before I watched fox because they gave me only what I wanted to hear. Selective memory comes to mind if I happen to listen to Hannity, O'rreily, Beck, thank goodness I got out of the warp zone that is anything related to republicans and their ILK!!!! Have a good day.

Hi, I did not say Fox News is fair and balanced. Thanks. Z

ChickaBOOMer: FOX News Ratings Slam Dunk
http://chickaboomer.blogspot.com/2009/07/fox-news-ratings-slam-dunk.html

The problem with Fox is that it's driven by partisanship and not a desire to ask the tough questions. I absolutely agree that it's the media's job to challenge government. From the president on down, especially the president. However what Fox does is opposition. Beyond asking the tough questions, they load their panels, guest, hosts with people who don't give the whole answer. And therein lies the problem. While at times they raise good questions, their viewers are fed at poor answers. Additionally when Fox doesn't have a tough question to ask, they make up grievances about the administration. For every thought provoking question raised there's a petty, leading, trivial question asked merely to put the administration in a bad light.

No media outlet that I know has given Obama a free pass and for you to act like Fox is performing a public service is ridiculous. The people at Fox are reacting to Obama like most other conservatives with bitterness, anger, and petty ideological slants. For the most part Obama and his wife are criticized personally and his agenda is denounced regardless of its merits. Let's see how Obama's agenda is working in January 2010 before passing any judgments. It may turn out that the GOP's feet should have been held to the fire instead.

I find your assertion that Fox is doing a public service puzzling. How is misleading, using half truths and spreading lies doing a public service? I agree that all presidents need to be assessed, but shouldn't that assessment be, at a minimum, based on truth, research or heaven forbid the thought...... journalism?

Please don't give them credit. They tell lies to the public, and misrepresent statements. How is this doing a service to the public. FCC should cancel these programs for causing hatred. Hannity claimed the other night that people pick on Palin and yet he constantly picks at Obama calling him the anointed one. He should call Palin the dumb broad and refer to W. Bush as the village (U.S.) idiot. Stop having Joe the P on his show as the class clown.
Bill O'Reilly and GBeck are total bullies and idiots as well. Greta tends to ask questions and not give stupid views (I guess that that's the lawyer in her). But out of all four of these shows, hers would be the least destructive. An RLimbo - did you hear his statement about MJackson. He said that under Reagan MJ prospered and died under Obama. How about the more 3K people who died on 9-1-1 (under Bush) and the over 4K military who have died in Iraq (under Bush). This is another person who should not be permitted to be on the air waves. Then you have that stupid MSteele - who is the Repub (town) idiot.
And now where are their comments regarding Sanford?

Rush Limbaugh is not an employe of Fox News. Thanks. Z

Maybe it's wishful thinking? You're cheer leading for FOX.

No doubt, a large portion of FOX's viewers are the sad and hateful core of resentment junkies that constitute the modern Republican party.

But many watch it for the LULZ. Because FOX's content is often insane. Which makes your critique of "seriously questioning [by FOX]" laughable.

No mater. O'Reily will contiue to issue his fatwahs on his political enemies while Hanity mixes is special blend of stupid.

Cable news is a joke, and FOX is clearly winning the race of -------.

Hello Duane, I deleted the last word because it is offensive. It stereotypes and unfairly demeans an entire class of people. Z

I find it scary that Fox news is rising in popularity. That their Goebbels-esque "Ministers of Hateful Propaganda"(O'Reilly, Beck and Hannity) are flourishing shows a disturbing undercurrent in our society. I have no problem with Fox watching the White House closely. Did they watch "W" with the same verve? We all know the answer to that. Why are they watching this administration so closely and practically praying that it fails? We all know the answer to that also.

Back in WWII, hateful spin was used to horrific effect using only live speech, radio, reel movies and leaflets. In this age of internet, cable and(true or not) instant messaging, propaganda(true or not) is raising its ugly head once again. Fox News may be watching the White House but I ask you, who is watching the watcher?

Fox News is the only news that will give you the truth, the others are not going to ask the tough questions cause they love the Great Messiah and fox has been warning of what is coming our way,"SOCIALISM".I have learned a lot from Bill ,Glenn,Sean and Rush,they really love our country and I love my freedom. I have never seen as much spending on a bunch of crock as I have seen in this presidency

Again, I don't think Rush Limbaugh works for Fox News. Thanks. Z

Fox News is popular because it tells its viewers precisely what they want to hear: "its not your fault!" I am a left-wing leaning hardcore Liberal so its "my" fault(whatever the issue is). I am also a minority(my fault again), a supporter of gay rights and gay marriage..again, "my" fault. And worst of all. A card carrying member of the ACLU. Not only "my" fault but I should be run out of the country or hung by my gonads or tossed in Guantanamo indefinetly!

I've been reading the responses to your article and all I can say is...Wow. The left seems completely fixated on trashing you for assertions you did not make while ignoring the entire premise of your article - that Fox News is the only news outlet challenging the current administration on their propaganda and is reaping the rewards in increased ratings. Every administration since the beginning of time has propaganda. It is simply that group trying to sell everyone on how great they are doing. This may be correct or a complete deviation from reality. The big story here is that Fox News is the only group giving critical analysis right now.

As a conservative Fox News viewer that is being fed "exactly what I want to hear" it always surprises me that the other side of the political spectrum, the side that is supposed to be so much smarter and have the facts on their side, cannot mount an intellectual debate better than what is contained in these posts. Rather telling, is it not?