Well this should shatter that myth

That talk radio hosts are running/representing the GOP.

But David Brooks seems uncertain and logically inconsistent as he tells us why the GOP is in decline.

They pay more attention to Rush’s imaginary millions than to the real voters down the street. The Republican Party is unpopular because it’s more interested in pleasing Rush’s ghosts than actual people. The party is leaderless right now recause nobody has the guts to step outside the rigid parameters enforced by the radio jocks and create a new party identity. The party is losing because it has adopted a radio entertainer’s niche-building strategy, while abandoning the politician’s coalition-building strategy.

So let me get this straight, Mr. Brooks. The party is in decline because they let Fox & the Jocks set the agenda, except that the first part of the article talks about how the Jocks were all behind candidates who didn't win the nomination. Then, of course, the Jocks weren't that enthusiastic about McCain, but clearly preferred him over Obama.

And Obama won.

Mr. Brooks, can you tell me who in the party leadership is acting and speaking inside the "rigid parameters of the radio jocks"? Michael Steele? John McCain? I don't think so, Tim.

I think the problem in your logic is in large part based on this assumption:

The party is losing because it has adopted a radio entertainer’s niche-building strategy, while abandoning the politician’s coalition-building strategy.

Then why didn't Thompson or Romney win the nomination?

The rise of Beck, Hannity, Bill O’Reilly and the rest has correlated almost perfectly with the decline of the G.O.P.

Things I Know #4 : Correlation does not mean causation. Even when it does, it can be a chicken and egg type of proposition. Was the rise in popularity of Beck, Hannity, O'Reilly and the rest the cause of the decline, or was it caused by the decline? Is it symptomatic as people looked for someone who seemed to represent them as the GOP seemed to represent them less and less?

Judging by the New York Times Best Seller lists, the Tea Party movement, Fox News' ratings, talk radio listenership .... I'm thinkin' it's the latter.

Actually, the GOP is losing because it has moved away from its small-government principles in everything but perhaps rhetoric -- and because the Democrats launched a successful, unrelenting 8-year campaign through the media against Bush and the rest of the Republicans.