Let's be clear. Maher is a *comedian.* He knows it and he acknowledges it. He does not run from it; he embraces it. (Oooh, oooh! Clever use of the semicolon! *Save the semicolon!*) Perhaps Limbaugh alludes to his being an *entertainer* sometimes--I do not know, as I have never heard it--but he *pretends* to be a legitimate pundit. And his dittohead legions take him as such. Because of their markedly different roles, the two are quite reasonably held to different standards.

Also, as has been pointed out before, Fluke is a *private citizen* rising to what she felt was her civic duty. And the Palins are shameless self-promoters who profit from the attention, and are entitled to whatever people want to say about them.

No, Limgaughberger's comments are definitely part of the "Republican war on women," consciously, intentionally. And they hurt us all. Mahers comments are just part of the comedic/satirical landscape and fall harmlessly with all the other comedic lines.

Saul