Champagne Journalism

The most consistent and ultimately damaging failure of political journalism in America has its roots in the clubby/cocktail personal relationships that inevitably develop between politicians and journalists.

--H. S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail '72

The ever-prolific and eminently readable Frank Rich includes the quote in his article on Thompson, "In need of Thompson's savage take."

Tangentially, boy, has has Rich become a one-man crusader (if you'll pardon the expression) for the first amendment lately. Much to the annoyance of some. Go, Frank, go.