Saint John: Here's the first example I've seen of the great media suck up: WaPo's featurette slugged "Kerry Dots Deliberation With Decision." The story gives only a quick, passing nod to Kerry's reputation for "wanting it both ways" on many issues (although this story spins it as indecision, only briefly noting that his critics see it as political posturing, not some righteous crusade to get all the information before deciding); from there, the story is a puffy, anecdotally based refutation of the criticism. This is old-fashioned water-carrying journalism at its best.

The only thing I can think of that comes close on the other side of the aisle is Bob Woodward's series in the Post (from his book) on the White House after 9/11. But in that case, every meta-media talking head on TV went out of his way to point out that Woodward has a reputation for trading puff for access, and that his "version" should be taken rather skeptically.