From VF's Michael Wolff in the new issue:

Indeed, for 20 years, three hours a day, nothing in radio has so moved the audience to action as Rush: the Republican base both buys the pre-owned cars he suggests ought to be bought and champions the causes he's hot on. Nothing in politics, or the news cycle, is as direct and powerful as this. In seconds, he can move an awesome tide, unleashing e-mail, telephone calls, and scary Web-site rage.

People sure have short memories. Because it was just 13 months ago that Limbaugh led the conservative revolt against candidate John McCain. It was Limbaugh out in front of the pitchfork crowd demanding that McCain not be the GOP nominee for president, saying that McCain wasn't sufficiently conservative to carry the Republican mantle into the general election.

So what did Republican voters nationwide do in response? They awarded McCain with an easy primary-season victory and pretty much handed him the nomination on a silver platter.

Not much of an “awesome tide” there.