Rush Limbaugh's nationally syndicated conservative radio talk show is broadcast locally by station KKOH in Reno, which is unfortunate for North Shore Tahoe residents because AM radio waves travel in a straight line so reception in the Tahoe Basin can range from scratchy to none. As a result many Incline/Crystal Bay residents may have missed his current hilarious imbroglio with Sen. Harry Reid, DÐNev.

The events prompting the dust-up began with a left wing TV ad featuring Jesse Mcbeth, an "Iraq veteran" who claimed to have participated in war crimes in Iraq, earned the Purple Heart and then turned anti-war activist. It turned out that in actuality he served only 44 days in the Army because he failed his training, never set foot in Iraq and went to prison for defrauding the Department of Veterans' Affairs out of more than $10,000 in benefits.

Limbaugh reported this news on his talk show and cited it as an example of left wing organizations running anti-war TV ads featuring "phony soldiers." Sen. Reid chose to interpret Limbaugh's comment as a condemnation of all members of the military who opposed the Iraq War and proceeded to excoriate Limbaugh on the floor of the Senate. Limbaugh responded by excoriating Reid on his talk show. The barbs and counter barbs continued to fly until Sen. Reid got an idea.

Reid sent a letter, which bore the signatures of 41 Democratic senators, to the chief executive officer of Clear Channel (the broadcasting company that carries the Limbaugh show) urging him to "repudiate comments made by Limbaugh that call into question the service and sacrifice of troops who oppose the war in Iraq." The response was an unqualified refusal.

With a twinkle in his eye Limbaugh took the letter and had Halliburton Company (of which Vice President Dick Cheney was once president) fabricate a titanium case to house it. He then announced that he was going to auction the package off on EBay on Friday, Oct. 19 to the highest bidder. "Proceeds of the sale," Limbaugh said, "will be donated to the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation and will be matched dollar for dollar by me."

The Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation is a charity which awards scholarships to children of Marines and federal law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. To date the foundation has disbursed over $29 million in scholarships.

The letter sold for $2.1 million. Nothing but stony silence has emanated from Sen. Reid's office since the announcement. So Limbaugh raised the stakes.

On his national radio show he told everyone who would listen: "I would like to issue this challenge to Sen. Reid and the 40 senators who signed his letter. You say you support the military. Well I would like each of you, Sen. Reid and the 40 other senators who signed, to match whatever the winning bid is. Show us your support for the U.S. military by all 41 of you pro-military people, Democrats in the senate, match whatever the winning bid is and send that amount to the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation."

If the silence could get even stonier it would have.

Under Reid's leadership the Democrat-controlled senate has failed to pass legislation on immigration reform, shoring up Social Security and Medicare or expanding health care.

They have even failed to end the Iraq War contrary to their election promises to liberals. Reid earns $183,500 per year, the other senators $163,500 per year; they all get generous retirement and health benefits.

By my estimate the 41 senators cost us $10,250,000 per year in salaries and perks; that's $284,723 per day. How much money was wasted in this silly feud with Limbaugh?

No wonder the Las Vegas Review Journal's October 2007 poll shows Reid with a 32 percent approval rating and a 50 percent disapproval rating among Nevada voters. Maybe if he had a sense of humor ...?



Jim Clark is president of Republican Advocates, a vice chair of the Washoe County GOP and a member of the Nevada GOP Central Committee.