On the presidential races, my analyses have been tracking closely--no surprise--with those of Discovery Institute colleague and nationally prominent talk show host, Michael Medved. But this week, in his Townhall column, Michael has done a remarkable thing. He has taken on virtually all his conservative fellow hosts for weeks of trashing two of the Republican candidates, Mike Huckabee and John McCain. http://michaelmedved.townhall.com/blog/g/6dee8f0b-a7a5-40c6-b670-c0637d945de1

I myself would hesitate to criticize such a powerful group, but I have to say that I, too, have been wondering how it is that the bulk of conservative airwave warriors have not yet seemed to stop the two candidates they targeted. Maybe it is because in a field of five or six candidates it is hard to damage one or two unless you have one that you openly advocate, and the talk folks don't have that one. They can't decide between Romney and Thompson, so assailing McCain and Huckabee doesn't really provide much help for either of the preferred alternatives. This could change. It may be that the talk jocks' power still may be demonstrated as Florida and then Tsunami Tuesday develop. (NOTE: Medved the Super Analyst himself will handicap the races in both parties at a Discovery Institute dinner in Seattle on the eve of the big February 5 rush of primaries and caucuses. See our homepage for details.)

Another reason the conservative talk shows have not been determinative is that few conservatives, even the talk show hosts, are positively excited about anyone, including Romney and Thompson. It is obvious that each of the candidates (in both parties) has serious flaws. Conversely, each of the candidates has virtues. And, by the way, each certainly deserves credit for marathon stamina in this elongated campaign. My own runs for office took a few months and seemed like an eternity. This year's presidential campaign literally is taking years. The runners must be exhausted already. Mainly the people having fun are the broadcast and cable TV media who are treating it all as what I call Politainment, politics consumed as a glossy, gossipy alternative to the Britney Spears story of the day.

Meanwhile, the voters probably should not be too critical of the combatants, despite negativity and carping, because we benefit in the end. After all, they give us choices. And, if they are not perfect choices, they could be worse.

And talk radio? Maybe it does better at refining choices than defining them, at fanning fires rather than starting them. Talk show hosts are quick to announce the end of the mainstream media's control of the agenda, but talk radio itself has not replaced the MSM, either. Neither has the internet. Nobody's in charge anymore.

Except, perhaps, the voters. That is, when we get a chance to vote.