I suspect that the Limbaugh types will join the cheerleading team before November even if McCain is the nominee. Most of the talk show types like Limbaugh don't have the guts to be out there on their own without a party. Limabaugh didn't even have the guts to endorse a conservative in this election.
Is there room for two or three more Michael Savage types? I don't think so, unless they want to become short wave talk show hosts in Idaho or some such.
The Hannity and Limbaugh types will stay mainstream.
I think you’re correct. As to Savage, he’s a niche market. He’ll always have listeners, but mostly on the fringes of political thought, and they’re used to losing elections.
Limbaugh supported Bob Dole even though he knew, just like we all did, that Dole was a spectaculary weak candidate. I believe candidates are transparent when they have to pretend to be more conservative than they are so as to avoid losing the base they desperately need.
Most of the talk show types like Limbaugh don't have the guts to be out there on their own without a party.
I've never been that much of a fan of Hannity, although I like his politics. I have enjoyed listening to Rush since he became a tsunami, not that my views matter that much. To do what these people did from the beginning takes incredible guts. To do it day after day takes both guts and a serious dose of discipline.
There have been too many instances when they broke with the Party puppeteers (despite well meaning advice to the contrary) to suggest they do one thing or another out of fear of losing "their" Party foundation.
Limabaugh didn't even have the guts to endorse a conservative in this election.
He never has. Ever. Not until a nominee has been picked. I suspect he does realize, though, as does Hannity and Levin and Kimball, that the Republicans didn't lose in 2006. They forfeited. They forfitted when the vast majority of elected Republicans of the DC persuasion went out and groin kicked their base, and did it with extreme prejudice. I didn't know it was over until Tom Delay went ON the Rush's show and actually defended that bunch of DC Republican clowns despite Rush attempting to lob to Delay a few ephus pitches that should still be in orbit.
If the Republican Party nominates a liberal, you may see a House of Representatives with 435 Democrats next January. That many conservatives will stay home in shear disgust.
“...I suspect that the Limbaugh types will join the cheerleading team before November even if McCain is the nominee....”
I don’t think there’s a chance in hell that Limbaugh will “cheerlead” for McCain. He might haltingly announce he’s voting for him, but that’s about it. McCain has stabbed too many conservatives in the back to have any cheerleaders among us. I would not vote for him under any circumstance but I know some conservatives will and I will understand why. But Rush jumping up and down for McCain—??? As the Duke once said, “That’ll be the day.”
There is no conservative to endorse.The Republicans running are Democrats with a defense tendency that is anathema to organizational Democrats. Other than on Defense these guys are all Democrats.