Sometimes one must overreact to make a point when the holder of an opposing view refuses to pay attention. Thus "too harshly" may, in fact, be just harsh enough. Likewise, your generous characterization of media bias by the left as being an undercurrent is seemingly, to me, a riptide. A riptide may result in your eventual drowning if you struggle directly against it. If you swim as close to perpendicular to the tide as possible then it is more likely that you will regain the shore alive. Ann's book puts us perpendicular to the riptide by using its force to give us all a chance to regain the shore.
I agree that ten years ago that I felt rather isolated and impotent in the face of liberal rhetoric.There were no obvious outlets to vent an opposing opinion to the mainstream media. You are also right in identifying talk radio and the internet as the counterbalance to that trend. Thank God for that.
As far as the lesson on the origins of Mrs, Miss, and Ms--- I have never been inclined to argue with an experienced editor on such matters. However, I feel compelled to point out that the origins of Ms may have no rational origins but common usage has given it a popular context equal to the historic context of the other abbreviations.