Rush et al, do exactly what Ann Coutler said: They make disparaging remarks about people who put themselves out there as a public figure. They are fair game. Rush et al, do not attack sports figures who are just playing their game without comment. They do not attack mom’s in line at the grocery store. Rush et al, radio talk shows are very safe, because they know the rules.
I think you’re vastly overestimating what the Imus demise means for conservative talk radio. Keep in mind that the Imus show hardly registered on the Arbitrons in some markets; so defending that show against this controversy wasn’t worth it from a business standpoint.
That aside, did you notice how quickly liberals pounced on their fellow liberal and demanded that he be fired? Why was that? Well, I think there’s ample proof that the biggest racists in America are on the left and that they carefully mask their racism with statements of tolerance, diversity and political correctness. So when one of their own — Don Imus — inadvertently lifts the mask and shows the true racist face of most leftists, he must be tossed immediately to the lions. Just a theory...
I do like your Free Republic Radio idea!