One upside to the emergence of blogs is that many people have come to recognize that there's a certain eliteness to the Washington press corpse. As a result, we're more likely to calibrate our bullshit detectors accordingly when we read reporting and opinions written by those who consider themselves insiders. Over a period of time, it's pretty easy to spot the journalists and pundits who act more as propaganda conduits and stenographers rather than true reporters. Unfortunately, inside the beltway bubble, there are a lot more of the former than the latter.
The annual Correspondent's Dinner is just one example of collegial atmosphere that exists between the elected (and non-elected) power brokers, and those in the fourth estate whose ethics should require them to maintain a professional distance from the people they cover. And this gives rise to an even more dangerous media type: the milquetoast opinion shaper. In other words, the wordsmiths who try to play both sides of the fence. Charlie Cook is one such guy - an insider's insider...