Rush Limbaugh: Leader of the Republican Party?

I remember back in the mid-1990s, when I was a loyal Democrat working my way through graduate school, my father-in-law used to send me Rush Limbaugh books and newsletters. I'm pretty sure I had a copy of The Way Things Ought to Be or some other tome that I never read. I didn't listen to talk radio, and I wasn't that interested in grassroots partisan mobilization, on either side of the political spectrum.

That said, I've never underestimated Limbaugh's appeal to the average folks who populate the conservative base. Those who watched Limbaugh's speech at CPAC on Saturday witnessed the man's brutal ability to inflame the raw emotions of right-wing partisans. As they say, Limbaugh's an entertainer and his first constituency is his own brand.

In any case, Thomas Schaller offers an analysis of Limbaugh as the now putative head of the GOP, in "Rush Limbaugh is the Leader of the Republican Party." While it's true that Limbaugh's generating the most attention right now (by channeling the raw grievances of the conservative base), Schaller makes a point worth noting as we move forward:

Those in the GOP who worry about Limbaugh's outsize influence, and about the tightening grip the conservative elements he represents have on the Republican Party, fear that Limbaugh will become the face of a party that's now lacking in leaders of national stature. (AFSCME and Americans United for Change recently capitalized on this fear with a TV commercial depicting Limbaugh as the person congressional Republicans follow.) But the fear is a bit belated. Limbaugh is no newcomer to national politics. He was named an honorary member of the House Republican Caucus after the GOP's 1994 takeover of Congress. Last year, he signed a new $400 million contract to continue his radio show, which is heard by as many as 20 million listeners per week on 600-plus stations, through 2016. While talk radio has declined as political junkies move online, Limbaugh has managed to retain his audience. And those Republican pols who cross Limbaugh publicly may have to make abject and equally public apologies.

I remember last year Limbaugh generated tremendous attention in attacking GOP nominee John McCain. We're still hearing the notion that the Republicans didn't have a conservative in the race, or not at least until Sarah Palin was picked as running-mate, to the delight of the dittoheads. Such disgruntlement is not going away. Take a look at Wordsmith's post, "Purging the Party to Win Future Elections?," for a case in point.

On a more macro level, I doubt this week's events are going to have as big effect on the Republican Party than what happens with the economy and with the policy effectiveness of the Democratic agenda.

Rush Limbaugh's going to keep doing what he does best: throw slabs of juicy red meat to the hungry crowds. How well his message is received, or is modeled, by the larger conservative party infrastructure is what matters. Other top Republicans, especially the hopefuls for the party's nomination in 2012, will generate more interest as the actual prospect of winning elections concentrates minds and clarifies policy programs. As that happens, a genuine leader will emerge, and one hopes that whoever that is has as much charisma as an overweight, cigar-chomping radio personality with knack for stirring up publicity.

Hat Tip: Memeorandum.

Added: See Reihan Salam, "Sugar Rush":

Limbaugh is enraged by the likes of David Brooks and David Frum and Jim Manzi and Ramesh Ponnuru, conservatives who consort with the liberal enemy. Though all of these writers and thinkers disagree amongst themselves about a great deal, they share a basic belief that the party needs to do more than just promise tax cuts we can't afford. And they recognize that a healthy political movement is always open to new ideas, and to questioning old convictions."