Howard Kurtz publishes one of his patented media mash notes on Monday where he seemingly spins a wheel containing names of (mostly conservative) elite Beltway pundits and decides that that week they're hotter than hot and then collects quotes from that pundit's media pals who couldn't agree more. The whole ritual is rather tired and hollow and high schoolish.

Today, for no apparent reason, it's David Brooks turn to wear the tiara.

And FYI, despite Kurtz's best efforts to suggest Brooks is somehow respected on the Left, which makes his appeal unique, the truth is Brooks is routinely mocked by liberal for being intellectually dishonest. But none of that matters, because the Beltway crowd thinks Brooks is just swell.