It is funny how these people can clime up the career ladder and become PDs/chiefs! I do agree with J DUB above, good things happens to good people. But, realistically they will make your life a hell and might end ones career. I don't know if there is any good advice to give, other than not giving up and going back to work in a grocery store.
In my case, I have had several clashes during the years with powerful people, a recent one with the head of Urology at our hospital (who is an ass, have had several residents fired, several attendings who resigned, if you look up the word jackass/bully in a dictionary you would se his face just next to these words), the only reason I still am around is that my chief of surgery plus several very powerful attendings (head of trauma, UGI, colorectal, and endocrine) has had my back. I do believe their support is partly due to their believes that I'm a good physician but mostly due to the fact that they know I play fair!
How is your relationship with the chief and the other attendings?