When the news about President Reagan's death broke I, like most other Americans began watching the media coverage. I got the distinct impression, initially, that the MSM and various commentators were just "itching" to tear into him, and to deconstruct and rewrite the history of his career and life.
Just as they were working themselves up to full pompous pontification mode, however, they saw something which frightened them: literally millions of ordinary Americans, of all ages, groups, etc., took a deliberate pause from their regular lives to pay tribute and homage to a great and beloved man.
As much as the MSM et al. hated Reagan and as much as they desired to rewrite history and tear down his memory, I believe they saw and instinctively understood that the American people in this instance would not have stood for it, and would have punished them badly for it.
I truly believe that the sight of those millions of ordinary people giving such extraordinary homage and honor to a man the elites hated literally shook them to their core, and cowed them into acceptably polite behavior.
I think you are absolutely right.
For too long, the mainstream media believes its own propaganda. I am so glad that we Americans can stand up and show them what matters to us, when we need to.
I agree with what you said about the Reagan funeral coverage. Although I have to admit during that time I did not have cable so I did not see everything you saw. I remember the day Reagan died was the same night that game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals (thats hockey for those in rio lindo as rush would say) and they had a nice moment of silence for Reagan in addition to it being D-Day as well.