d, your read on the situation is exactly correct. Indeed, all pretense has been dropped and the bias is so overtly obvious. I suspect that the media suspects that their credibility is closely tied to this election. With the growth of weblogs, talk radio and even Fox, they feel their survival (of sorts) is at stake. For them, this election is a very selfish high stakes game - and damn the appearance or consequences.
Lando 
Plus the press will be in a real position of power in the lest few weeks leading up to election day. As the new campaign financing law kicks in and prohibits massive TV advertising by the presidential candidates. And their parties I think. Then the real press propaganda can be absorbed without Republican TV counter messages
This is where RAT and Republican surrogate mouth pieces will kick into high gear to work around the new spending rules. As Drudge says....DEVELOPING!!!