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Even if Rush is the smartest man in the world (which he's not), his radio program does little to advance conservative thought. John Derbyshire does a good job of laying out the weaknesses of conservative talk radio here. His point -- which is well-made -- is that talkers like Rush appeal to emotions and immediate audience reaction. It's quite certain that we cannot rely on talk radio to rebuild the intellectual foundations of conservatism.

IT DOESN'T MATTER! IT DOESN'T MATTER! IT DOESN'T MATTER!

When the hell are you people going to wake up? The viability of talk radio, Rush's foibles, the appeal of other conservative writers and talkers ALL DON'T MATTER!!!! The issue is the ability of the government, along with their MSM cohorts to be able to take on an individual because of what he represents. PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!!

That's what's at stake and that trumps the viability of any other media, any other individual at this time. You have to fight the battle you've been given and right now that battle is this attack on Rush Limbaugh.

Oh, and if Rush isn't that smart, and his program "does little to advance conservative thought", then why is he being singled out? Hmmmmmm? Why isn't John Derbyshire? Why isn't Rich Lowry? Why isn't [insert name here]?

You people have your own foibles and one of them is Rush Limbaugh. And the fact you can't overcome them and see just what's at stake is as disgusting as it's revealing.

IT DOESN'T MATTER! IT DOESN'T MATTER! IT DOESN'T MATTER!

Yes, it does. It matters a lot more than a fight that Rush is more than happy to keep alive.

You've got your loudly-expressed opinion -- and it's justified. But it's a simple fact that the more time Obama spends fighting individual media personalities, the more damage he's doing to himself. Rush will be just fine.

Let's be clear. Rush is a talented entertainer who knows his audience, and who knows exactly how to play to conservatives' emotional responses. That's not an intellectual basis for anything. Rush's format does not permit him to spend time on anything other than a narrow set of topics, shallowly addressed. It's fine for what it is -- but it will never enable another Reagan-class political revolution.

That will serve Rush very well: he's blessed by his enemies in this case. Just as a debate would be conducted on a ground of Obama's choosing, this little flap is being conducted on Rush's home turf. Obama cannot compete there, and he's a fool for trying to do so.