Mainstream outlets love it when Republicans knock their own, don't they? Sunday's opinion section of the Los Angeles Times (March 12, 2006, called "Current") devoted no less than four articles to a Bush-bashing feature called "Conservative Crackup." The theme? Because of President Bush, the GOP faces an "identity crisis" and "discomfort." Oh, yeah. And Iraq has been "an astonishing flop."

"Bush is not a conservative. He has bushwhacked the term. He is a right-wing ideologue," spits Jeffrey Hart ... "Democrat Bill Clinton's administration is looking more and more like the 'good old days'," writes Bruce Bartlett ... President Bush has "made the Democrats look like a credible alternative," claims Daniel Drezner.

How about problems in the Democratic Party and among liberals? Gee. Nothing here today. Will the Times soon splash a similar multi-article feature focusing on the parade of problems on the left? Don't hold your breath. NewsBusters has logged several instances of the Times flat-out ignoring unflattering portraits of Democrats (here, here, and here) and downplaying good news for the Bush administration (here and here).

Is there some debate among conservatives and Republicans these days? Sure. But four articles on a "Conservative Crackup" from a newspaper that is already regularly and openly hostile to conservatives? Please ...

How about a little balance and something new for a change, Los Angeles Times?