Campaign Desk holds most of the media responsible for not challenging Cheney and Miller on their lies. Slight praise for The Washington Post, however, for an article pointing out some of the misrepresentations. But

This is not the first time the Post has fed its readers spin on page one and an antidote to same on page 17 or 25 or 27; we’re waiting for the day that it occurs to the paper’s editors that they have that formula exactly backwards.

From the AP tonight:

Bush’s acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention on Thursday night brought the nation a collection of facts that told only part of the story

Update: Apologies as I just discovered that I hadn’t posted the link to this AP story.

Note that The Washington Post today has a front page story (finally) on the disconnect between the GOP talking points and reality.

Guess which network had the highest ratings for Zell Miller and Cheney’s speech? Maybe it comes as no surprise that it’s Fox News, but it’s the first time Fox ever had more viewers than any of the networks for a major news event.

CNN was eating dust, beaten by even MSNBC. But rather than decry the polarization of viewers and the loss of appetite for what CNN likes to think is balanced coverage, the powers at CNN should see the opportunity. CNN Headline news can handle the breaking news. Move some reporters to it for more in-depth coverage, say when Bush starts another war. But turn CNN into a liberal version of Fox. Air America has proven that liberal talk can compete. Why not liberal watch and talk? If ratings are all they care about, that’s one way of maybe even beating Fox.

Or I guess they could go the topless route.

Either way, I’d watch regularly.

One exchange I missed last night was between Sen. Zell Miller and Chris Matthews where the ex-Democrat (I’ve kicked him out of the party) said he wish he could challenge Matthews to a duel.

The Chicago Trib has the transcript as well as the exchange I allude to below on CNN.

Thanks to Kos for picking up these AP photos.

Ted Koppel concluded tonight’s (Weds.) show with Jon Stewart, who again proved one of the more articulate critics of the media. Stewart suggested that the media is shirking its duty by publicizing the Swift Boat veterans’ unsubstantiated and now widely discredited charges about Kerry’s Vietnam experience.

Koppel suggested that there was a difference “between fact and truth.” The Swift Boat vets accusations were fact, though false.

I find that a disingenuous argument. The distinction is if the accusers are credible, and in such an important event as a presidential campaign, where does Koppel plan to draw the line? Does every accusation get reported and sliced six ways to Sunday even though there is no credible evidence it is plausible?

Still, I’ve got to Koppel credit for having Stewart on again. It builds his credibility. I have three teenagers who probably get a good dose of their news from Stewart. They could do worse.

My only regret is that by watching Koppel and Stewart I missed some of Lance Armstrong on Jay Leno.

The sacrifices we make.

Joe Klein just called Zell Miller’s speech “ugly” and “wildly inaccurate” and described Miller’s and Cheny’s speeches as “angry inaccuracies.”

I had hoped to comment on Glenn Kessler’s column yesterday in The Washington Post about Mayor Giuliani’s misleading statements in his opening night speech. Fortunately, the Campaign Desk did — and pointed out that misleading comments made the front page of The Post, but setting the record straight was on page A22.

The cross examination of Zell Miller by CNN’s Judy Woodruff, Wolf Blitzer and Jeff Greenfield exposed him for the fool that he is. One of them actually said the buzz is that his angry speech could backfire.

Let’s hope so.

I can’t believe Zell helped the GOP tonight. The hate and venom was not just in what he said but in his face. That has got to hurt him, maybe not with the rednecks that already support him — and Bush, but certainly with independents and probably turned off a lot of women.