It just was not sustainable, writes Jack Shafer at Slate, who recalls the sunnier days in that relationship:

This, of course, is the same press corps that adored John McCain during the 2000 race, as this comprehensive study by FAIR shows. The press corps liked his honesty. They liked the access he provided them. They liked his maverick stance. They liked the way he made them feel. And they didn't mind cutting him slack whenever he acted like a regular politician-which he was, most of the time.