F*ck the Heathers

Nick Confessore hits the nail on the head with regard to Dean's "teflon". That is, the phenomena of Dean's star rising any time he is criticized in the press:

In part, this is because Dean -- wisely -- has completely ignored the Washington press, much as George W. Bush did in 2000. (Al Gore, by contrast, paid way too much attention to the Beltway press, constantly reacting to its provocations. It really hurt him.)

The Washington press really is nothing more than a bunch of Heathers. But you know what is worse than the Heathers? Those who are desperate to win their favor. They earn the respect of neither the Heathers, who use them as the butt of their jokes, or the rest of the populace, who rightly look down on them as cloying clowns.