Former talk show host says talk radio is insignificant and immigration enforcement advocates are a small and weak minority:

Friday, February 1, 2008
The Orange Grove: Speak loudly and carry a small stick
Talk radio and foes of illegal immigration are overrated as political forces
By JOHN ZIEGLER
The former KFI/AM talk show host does commentaries on KGIL/AM.
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While it may be inconsistent with our political culture's remarkably short attention span and obsession with the next battle, much can and should be already learned from the roller-coaster ride that has been this presidential primary season. Among the many revelations that have come to light is that talk radio and opposition to illegal immigration are both far less potent political weapons than they are perceived.

Quite simply, based on the results to date it is no longer possible for even ardent conservatives to make the arguments that talk radio is even particularly politically relevant or that strong opposition to illegal immigration is helpful in getting elected to almost anything.

It was only last spring when talk radio and opposition to illegal immigration were inextricably linked as the former was widely, and plausibly, given credit for advancing the latter by fueling the successful resistance to the U.S. Senate's immigration reform bill, seen by many as amnesty. However, seven months later it seems as if that event never happened, or, at the very least, was badly misinterpreted.

Let's first take a look at talk radio itself. The medium's undisputed king, Rush Limbaugh (with whom I agree on most issues and immensely respect as a fellow broadcaster) has been revealed in this primary season to be an emperor with no clothes.

Rush has always had a “ruleâ€