Why would they? Fair and Balanced is just a catch phrase, not a credo. They let Shep squeak once in awhile for appearances sake. Imagine if they let someone rail on Romney for an entire hour like Ratigan or Maddow often do to President Obama. Fox would implode.
I wouldn't pretend that MSNBC doesn't lean left but for all their support of women's equal pay, gay rights, women's choice and other hippy tree hugger material (tongue and cheek)...they're actually allowed to go off the farm for extended periods of time...and guess what?...no one exploded. It's amazing.
I think what they chose to discuss is slanted (msnbc)... But I don't know if they are slanted while discussing the topic..
as you said, I've seen all of them go off on Obama,Clinton,Holder.. healthcare,food stamps,war..
but on Fox.. take today for example.. Obama had another high ranking member of AQ killed..IN Paki again.. there ain't but one guy left in AQ, al-Zawahiri,.. will Fox give Obama credit? or will they have Palin and Dick Morris on to shit all over it? I'm betting the latter, and sadly, since it's Fox.. I'll probably be right..
and that's a huge difference b/t msnbc and fox..msnbc will give the credit.. fox will choke on it 1st.