"The MSM dropped the ball big time in this case and the only way for them to save face at this point is to go with the "official story" so as not to appear incompetent."
I respectfully disagree. They didn't drop the ball, they cooperated with the various security agencies early on, but now they're absolutely livid at the thought of ever validating FR and so-called VWRC bloggers again (Rathergate). They'd have some serious egg on their collective (collectivist?) faces then, so it's not going to happen.
As far as dropping the ball I was referring more to the fact that the major news networks didn't send anyone down there to investigate it first-hand - at least to my knowledge they didn't. (o:
You are definitely right though about the whole Rathergate thing leaving a bad taste in their mouths. Perhaps, as you point out that is the main reason they are so quick to put everyone down...
"but now they're absolutely livid at the thought of ever validating FR and so-called VWRC bloggers again (Rathergate). They'd have some serious egg on their collective (collectivist?) faces ...,"
Point taken.