Georgetown University law student Sandra Fluke, left, is a guest on "The View" in New York earlier today, after her stand on contraception coverage prompted Rush Limbaugh to deride her as a "slut" and a "prostitute" on his radio talk show. Interviewing Fluke, from right, are hosts Barbara Walters, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Sherri Shepherd. (AP Photo/ABC, Lou Rocco)

Diehard Rush Limbaugh supporters are hoping this, too, shall pass. But I'm banking on the end of Rush's influence after he called a Georgetown University student a “slut.” It had the “death by tongue and arrogance” feel that has spelled the end to the power of other folks throughout history. Sen. Joe McCarthy's Communist-hunting campaign wound down after an Army lawyer called him on his craziness in 1954 with this line that's gone down in history: “Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?” Don Imus' radio career never really came back to life after his “nappy headed hos” comment in 2007 about the Rutgers women's basketball team/Rebecca Nappi, End Notes. More here.

Question: Will Rush Limbaugh's influence diminish as a result of this controversy? Or will he be as influential as ever 3 months from now?

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