MSM -- isn't "mainstream" sarcasm?

Some of you leaving comments have suggested that we use a term other than mainstream to describe the establishment news media. I have no problem using "establishment" instead of mainstream, but I have to say that I have always considered MSM or mainstream media to be somewhat sarcastic.

Only people as clueless as Dan Rather could describe the NY Times as middle of the road (as related by Bernard Goldberg in his book, Bias). All the rest of us know better. Using MSM to describe them is just another way to laugh at their cluelessness.