Why would "fair and balanced" take a poke in the eye? The network is clearly slanted right. The presentation of one show that's off the reservation is a poke in the eye?
Clearly, there are those watching the same network as you that have different views as to whether they are "right, left or middle of the road."
Personally, having a long enough history as a liberal and being able to sniff out bias in either direction, I have felt they were closer to center (mostly right center) than any other network I've seen.