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I subscribe to Forbes' e-mail alerts to keep up on things to bring you the latest news possible. I wouldn't suggest our readers do it since i get dozens of e-mails that have nothing to do with cars daily. But the headline of "Dumb and Dumber" certainly got my attention this morning. Jerry Flint's "Backseat Driver" column takes the LA Times Dan Neil to task for being mean-spirited. Are you serious? The teaser is "Dumb and Dumber!" Flint have you been reading the venom being said about GM before this column? Asking for a leadership change at GM in a newspaper column is not earth-shattering. Flint defends GM on a number of fronts, pointing out that GM can't fix everything with a snap of their fingers like pushrod engines and 4-speed transmissions. It would cost too much and they don't have the money. Well if they put 5-speed transmissions matched with better engines maybe they'd sell more cars and make more money Mr. Flint. But the most disturbing part of Flint's column is the fact that people think they need to defend Lutz and GM and to criticize a member of the media. As a professional writer I can tell you two things: First, the media is supposed to be a watchdog and say things that might spark thought among readers. And second, Lutz and Wagoner make so much money that if they're this insecure from a column they should be fired. I can guarantee you when a newspaper writer gets canned he does not get the same package Lutz will get. It's like a pro football coach suing a sports columnist that says he doesn't know what he's doing. The fact that Neil is right on a number of points doesn't seem to matter. But Mr. Flint shows off the real reason for the column and unkind words for Neil. It's his age. He took umbrage with Neil pointing out Lutz' grey hair. You see Flint and Lutz are the same age. Hmmm…