"its ideas and its impulses have, by drilling into the basest human instincts, captured one of America's major political parties."

Right, because Rush Limbaugh, along with anyone who can appreciate any of Rand's ideas, clearly represent the Republican party.

What an idiotic implication.

One more thought:

The reason that Ayn Rand continues to remain popular among conservatives and liberals (yes, deal with it), is that her ideas were bold and distinct, and while some might be objectionable, whether she intended them to be or not.

There is no more popular Conservative media figure than Rush Limbaugh. He has demanded, and received, apologies from GOP congressmen who criticize him. To deny that the man is a representative voice in the GOP is an exercise in wishful thinking.

As he is a media figure I can agree that Rush Limbaugh is the new Ayn Rand. Both use fiction to illustrate their philosophies, don't they?