E.J. Dionne: "Limbaugh desperately needs a Democratic president. Another Clinton would be perfect."

[flpoljunkie]

The Rise of Kos
By E. J. Dionne Jr.
Friday, August 3, 2007; A15

Perhaps you missed it, but Wednesday was the 19th anniversary of Rush Limbaugh's radio show. Limbaugh was celebrating his ripe old age, in media years, in the same week that liberal blog fans were trekking to Chicago for the YearlyKos convention. Therein lies one of the most important stories in American politics.

<>The greatest gift to Limbaugh was Bill Clinton's election as president in 1992. Talk-show hosts are much better on offense than defense. Limbaugh was unusually hesitant about Pat Buchanan's challenge to the first President Bush during the 1992 Republican primaries because their fight split Limbaugh's base. With Bush dispatched that fall, Clinton brought conservatives together in rage, and Limbaugh stoked it. He deserves major credit for the Republicans' 1994 landslide.

Democrats and liberals realized they needed a mobilizing force of their own but could not match Limbaugh's reach on the radio. Enter the Internet, and Markos Moulitsas.

<>George Bush and Dick Cheney have heaped praise on Limbaugh ("Well, Rush, you've got a great show, as always," Cheney said during one of his many interviews) because he's an effective organizer for the right -- even if Limbaugh has, of late, become disenchanted with some of Bush's policies. Limbaugh desperately needs a Democratic president. Another Clinton would be perfect.

Democratic candidates know they owe a debt to Moulitsas. They're paying homage to him because he has started to beat Limbaugh and O'Reilly at their own game. No wonder O'Reilly is so annoyed.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/02/AR2007080202023_pf.html

(I would say Markos' Daily Kos is one facet of the power of the internet, albeit with his stated 1 million unique visitors daily, but that his Yearly Kos Convention has been a brilliant marketing tool for Markos. MoveOn will be there, along with HuffingtonPost, VoteVets, SEIU, People for the American Way, DCCC, DSCC, Center for American Progress, AFL-CIO--for starters. Quite a coup. All the Democratic candidates ae scheduled to speak at the Convention.)