[rlmorel]

"...I simply don’t believe these bottom of the barrel reporters think that much alike..."

I know what you mean, but...I think they absolutely do think in this monolithic group-think with variation due to personal differences in temperament and intellectual training or capability.

Even though there aren't necessarily any "talking points" sent out by the DNC or anyone else, there is a huge amount of attitudinal and intellectual cross-pollination that occurs in the media world because they watch each other, and talk to each other. They may be in the same hotels, covering the same stories, waiting with time on their hands, drinking at the same bars or restaurants, and they talk to each other. They know, as liberals, how they are "supposed" to feel, and what stance to take on a given issue.

In an environment that is 85-95% leftist, they commiserate and conform.

[grey_whiskers]

But there *are* talking points. Not only the site called "Talking Points Memo Dot Com," but witness for example Glenn Thrush submitting an article to the Clinton campaign before his own editor; Steve Colbert admitting he got information directly from the Dems / Clinton camp, the woman at one debate, holding *IN HER HAND* as she asked the question, an email entitled "Here is your question," CNN (Donna Brazile) giving the HIllary campaign debate questions, and Podesta having a bunch of reporters over his house for dinner (I think right before the Clinton campaign kicked off)...not to mention this:

New York Slimes Jeff Zeleny asking Obama questions