self-directed political party. congressman phil gingrey almost made himself famous by challenging limbaugh a while back but then supinely laid down before the forces of el rushbo and apologized. i guess he got the word from central command, nobody fights with rush limbaugh. i think our new nbc poll explains all this. it shows that a majority of americans call themselves conservatives but only about a third call themselves republican. which means that the right calls the tune. the guys in the suits up on capitol hill do the dance. at least enough to keep their jobs. now we re watching all this. bob bennic i called out a line last weekend. tray grayson comes next tuesday. charlie crist with the party yesterday flying as a man without a party. arlen specter hit the lifeboat a year ago. maybe hushbo is the boss. like the old city boss that used to control the woords, pick the polz, and run the show. was dick daley the all-time boss here in chicago ever as powerful in his party as boss tube