Limbaugh has talent and I enjoy him for entertainment purposes, but name one time he ever espoused anything but the strict Republican party line.  Nobody could be that in lockstep and not be a bit of a shill.  Even Bill O'Reilly (who I can't abide) occasionally questions certain extreme aspects of conservatism.

Limbaugh is syndicated in more markets so overall he may have had more listeners, but at the height of Stern on free radio in the markets where Howard went head to head with Limbaugh, it wasn't a contest.  As far as ratings, in almost any major media market where he was broadcast on free radio (New York, Los Angeles, Boston, etc.) Howard wiped the floor with Limbaugh's ratings.    In New York, Howard routinely got in the nines versus Limbaugh getting in the twos or threes.

It was almost always politics which caused Howard to be dropped, and whenever he'd get dropped in a major market, another station in the same area would routinely step up and take over his show.  Howard didn't go to satellite because of low ratings or an inability to get sponsors, he left because the FCC was threatening to target and massively fine his show if he didn't pull way back.  He preferred to move to a medium where he could do what he wanted without interference (and the $500 million payday probably influenced him, too...) 

They're both talented, successful, very different broadcasters.  I seriously doubt anyone will convert anyone else here on who is "better," though.

I suspect Rush Limbaugh's fans would be less willing to pay for the privilege of listening to him than Howard Stern's fans are.  Sterns' fans are fanatics, so of course they're happy to pay for their daily dose of their enlightened master.  Rush's fans are Republicans, which means they're cheapskates (I kid, I kid) as well as more conservative and hence less likely to suddenly be willing to pay for something that's always been free before. 

Don't be so sure...Republicans have money :-)  And plenty of them shell out $$ for his web site membership and that crappy Limbaugh Letter.

It was almost always politics which caused Howard to be dropped, and whenever he'd get dropped in a major market, another station in the same area would routinely step up and take over his show. 

That stopped happening in many markets towards the end though. He was dropped in Atlanta and didn't get picked back up. Same in Charlotte. The problem mainly was advertising. His ratings were never a problem as far as I know...but stations were able to make more money off a lower rated show bc of advertising sales.

Howard didn't go to satellite because of low ratings or an inability to get sponsors, he left because the FCC was threatening to target and massively fine his show if he didn't pull way back. He preferred to move to a medium where he could do what he wanted without interference (and the $500 million payday probably influenced him, too...) 

True...and I think he liked the idea of being a pioneer, ie. the first "superstar" to go strictly to satellite radio. And not have to deal with the hassles of syndication anymore.

They're both talented, successful, very different broadcasters.  I seriously doubt anyone will convert anyone else here on who is "better," though.

I agree...and they're both WAY too different as far as format, style, audience, etc. anyway.

from a comic book I self-published in the late 90s featuring Rush Limbaugh as Captain OxyContin

Really? Interesting, since the story of Limbaugh's oxycontin use didn't break until 2003.

Because you're reading someone's summary of it rather than hearing the
actual broadcast.

I've listened to Stern in the past. I found most of the humor to be childish (and I'm a guy who appreciates good childish humor) and bottom line...not entertaining. His show on E was an excercise in disgusting.

who is that in his avatar?