That's what Howard Kurtz recently claimed at washgintonpost.com, suggesting reporters and pundits are furious at the McCain campaign: “Whether it's the latest back-and-forth over attack ads, the silly lipstick flap or the continuing debate over Sarah and sexism, you can just feel the tension level rising several notches.”

We had to chuckle since, as County Fair has repeatedly stressed, the press chose to cover the lipstick charade. But now, according to Kurtz, it was as if the press had to pretend the hoax represented news.

We're all for journalists feeling like the McCain camp has insulted their intelligence in recent weeks, because we think it's true. But spare us the notion that the press hasn't allowed itself to be played and insulted.