The whole calculus, the mathematics of liberal vs conservative, especially as it plays in the media..reminds me of the mathematics of the struggle against terrorism.
Eg; “...they only have to be right once, we have to be right 100% of the time”.
The MSM and liberals can throw any kind of insult or accusation, and it gets full-spectrum coverage, automatically. There never needs to be any evidence. There is never a shortage of ‘....he said, she said, therefore it’s obvious that...’ Keith Olbermann logic. If it’s wrong, or specious, or downright deliberately a false-plant, there never needs to be even the consideration of an apology.
An apology spoils the effect.