“I heard this jury say, ‘guilty’ 288 times–24 questions, 12 jurors. That’s the multiplication. I haven’t heard you apologize once,” Berman said before sentencing Dahrun Ravi to 30 days in jail. The sentence also includes three years probation, 300 hours of community service and over $11,000 in fines, 10K of which will be donated to an anti-bias organization.

The defense, led by the bumbling Steven Altman, who said he knew he was “climbing a mountain” seeking a leniency, asked for a stay of the sweetheart sentence. Come on, guy! I know you were hoping for no time behind bars for your client, but with 15 felony convictions, that had to seem unlikely. For their part prosecutors, led by Julia McClure also asked for a stay on behalf of the state. The state, blind-sided by the short jail sentence, is seeking a prison term, the maximum of which could be ten years. The judge denied the stays. Barring action from an appellate court, Ravi will report to jail on May 31.

The sentence tossed a shocking lid on an emotional morning, filled with victim impact statements from Tyler Clementi’s father, mother and brother as well as a letter from “M.B.,” Clementi’s fellow victim of the notorious spy-camming. Both Ravi’s parents also spoke passionately on behalf of leniency for their son. But Ravi, who was expected to address the court,remained mum.

Had Ravi, who was only 18 and, like his roommate Tyler Clementi, in the first few weeks of his freshman year at Rutgers, when the notorious web cam spying incidents (described by his defense team repeatedly as juvenile pranks) occurred, publicly apologized such a sentence might sit better with the Clementi family as well as gay rights advocates, and the community at large.

Quick trigger Twitter fingers display a mixed bag of reactions. Some suggest Ravi got away with murder. Others call the sentencing “compassionate.”

My reaction is somewhere down the middle. It’s strange because before viewing the sentencing I was hoping for compassion, playing it out in my dramatist’s mind as coming from the Clementis. But that’s not how it unfolded. The Clementis, while not vengeful, certainly asked for accountability and justice. Without offering a term, I’m sure they didn’t have a meager 30 day jail stint in mind, when the spoke of “consequences.”

Listening to all the pre-sentencing arguments and letters, as well as the judge’s early harsh words, I believed a prison sentence was, in fact, warranted; hoped it would be on the short end, say 1-3 years. I don’t believe incarceration is the answer to every offense or offender, and I believe, despite the prosecution’s protestations to the contrary, had Tyler Clementi not committed suicide ( Ravi was not implicated or charged with his death) this case would never have come before the court. It would have been handled internally at Rutgers. Still, Ravi refused a plea deal that would have avoided any incarceration. He turned it down and put the Clementi family ( as well as his own) through an excruciating ordeal. In his self-serving newspaper and “20/20″ interviews, Ravi said he couldn’t take the deal because he couldn’t admit to any bias. Such an admission, he maintained, would be lying.

I’m not so sure Ravi understands the insidious ways cultural prejudices can seep in and take up residence in one’s heart and mind.

If Ravi truly learns any hard lessons those insights will most likely be uncovered as he completes the mandated anti-bias counseling program that his probation sentence includes. He is a young man, and surely does not need to be locked away–or deported ( both “M.B.” in his letter and later Judge Berman, indicated influence, on his behalf, with immigration.) And he doesn’t deserve to be the poster boy for anti-gay bullying.

I wish some measure of closure for the Clementis, though as Judge Berman said, that will be hard to ever achieve. I know they’ve started the Tyler Clementi Foundation and hope the work they do there will grant them some solace as it helps countless people fight bias, find refuge and lead healthy and joyous lives. And I hope Dahrun Ravi cultivates the empathy that eluded him as a teenager and grows into a generous and productive adult. Thanks to Judge Berman’s generosity, he’ll have an early jump-start on his second chance.

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Just how peaceful the protest was, of course, was controversial at the time. In the days following the shootings, some people–including President Nixon–sided with the Guardsmen’s actions. “When dissent turns to violence, it invites tragedy,” he said, referring to students running around with bricks and (possibly) torching the R.O.T.C. building.

Yet scrutiny by the media, the F.B.I. and Nixon’s Scranton Commission on Campus Unrest –along with multiple civil lawsuits–made it apparent that the students’ actions did not warrant 61 shots ringing into a crowded and chaotic campus quad. “Kent State was a national tragedy, ” the Scranton Commission concluded. “We must learn from the particular horror of Kent State and ensure it is never repeated.”

The military and police have, in fact, learned important lessons on crowd control and riot prevention from the massacre. No doubt countless lives have been saved as a result of more deliberate planning and careful handling of potentially volatile situations.

Still the legacy of that dark day, captured in Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s classic anthem “Ohio,” is a loss of innocence and a deeply embedded cynicism that pervades our national psyche and percolates particularly during tumultuous times. Something for protesters of all political persuasions to keep in mind.

Never forget.

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The latest act of our most recent high profile American tragedy played out in real time courtroom theatrics on Friday. George Zimmerman, the reviled Trayvon Martin shooter, now charged with second-degree murder, was granted $150, 000 bond. But the real drama, igniting audible gasps in the packed courtroom, came when Zimmerman took the stand and briefly testified.

“I wanted to say I am sorry for the loss of your son,” Zimmerman, 28, said in a soft voice as he took the stand with shackles at his feet and waist. “I did not know how old he was. I thought he was a little bit younger than I am. I did not know if he was armed or not.” His lawyer, Mark O’Mara, later explained in a presser that his client was directly answering the Martin family’s public questions regarding Trayvon’s age and whether he had been carrying a gun.

Trayvon’s parents sat silently through the comments; his father Tracy Martin visibly shaken and weeping. They scurried out of the crowded courtroom after Judge Lester set bail. Their attorney, Benjamin Crump, labeled Zimmerman’s apology “self-serving” and described the family’s reaction to bond as “devastated.” It’s unclear if they were expecting a higher bail ( the prosecution had asked for a minimum of $ 1 million) or for a denial of bond altogether. In either event, it seems the prosecutor’s office hadn’t prepared them for the inevitable, Bail is a part of our system; granted frequently even in first degree murder cases.

Buckle up, folks. We’re in for another high-profile controversial case, and the full tilt media circus that surrounds it. In the bond hearing, alone, we gained insights into Zimmerman, O’Mara’s courtroom prowess and the strengths and weaknesses in the prosecution’s case. Zimmerman’s past criminal record came under some scrutiny, including a violent altercation with police, described by O’Mara as his client “coming to defense of a friend.”

At the press conference, O’Mara, who is the anti-Jose Baez, exuding, in equal measure, both the savvy and humility of a truly seasoned defense attorney, made one possible slip-up. While discussing the incident with cops, he said Zimmerman acted because “in his head” they were doing something to his friend. If this comes before a jury, it may be evidence of Zimmerman’s propensity toward a paranoid mindset.

On the other hand, Zimmerman’s appearance and demeanor–both far more fragile than earlier photos–belie his media portrait as a quick-trigger racist vigilante. He may well be his own best witness.

Photographs just released showing bloody gashes on his head and what appears, at this point, anyway, to be a rather flimsy prosecution case may also serve to set him free.

Of course, we don’t know what will come; how all the evidence will play out in court (or exactly what that evidence is). “The special prosecutors don’t want to show their full hand,” Crump told reporters, indicating there is enough to warrant the second degree murder charge.

Let’s hope that’s true. Otherwise, if this prosecutor has over-charged what seems like a manslaughter case, the country, and most importantly the Martin family, may face another round of reckless Florida injustice deja vu. Such an outcome will surely bring them another brutal brush with devastation.

For now, at least the legal process, however imperfect it may prove to be, has finally started in earnest. That’s all the Martins had asked for. Now that they’ve gotten it, hopefully they’ll find some measure of justice in that.

Please follow Amy Beth Arkawy on Twitter.

Dick Clark, “America’s Oldest Teenager,”host of the pioneering ( and longest running variety show) “American Bandstand” died Wednesday at 82. The music industry maverick went on to become a powerhouse producer,shepherding a slew of shows and specials along with his trademark “Rockin’ Eve,” , which became a fixture of New Year’s celebrations.

Clark’s agent Paul Shefrin said in statement that the veteran host died this morning following a “massive heart attack.”

Born in Mount Vernon, N.Y on Nov. 30, 1929, Richard Wagstaff Clark began his lifelong career in show business before he was even out of high school. He started working in the mail room of WRUN, a radio station in upstate New York run by his father and uncle. It wasn’t long before the teenager was on the air, filling in for the weatherman and the announcer.

Clark pursued his passion at Syracuse University, working as a DJ on the student run station; eventually he took his talents on the road, landing a gig in Philadelphia. Within five years, he was spinning records and showcasing groups and dance crazes ( along with dance-crazy kids) on TV. In 1963 Clark–and “Bandstand” went Hollywood.

In a radio interview some years back, Clark, who was as perennially youthful and ebullient in person as he was on TV, summed up his success in one word, “enthusiasm.”

“If you like what you’re doing it shows,” he told me. And his passion for music and for the generations of fans who flocked to his shows was evident.

“Bandstand” ran for decades, never deviating from it’s simple and successful formula. Clean-cut kids danced to everything from Elvis to Disco; The Beatles to Kiss. Thousands of records were rated, dances and wild fashion fads were highlighted.

He also ran Dick Clark Productions, and began cranking out one hit show after another; his name became synonymous with everything from the ” $25,000 Pyramid” to “TV’s Bloopers & Practical Jokes” to the “American Music Awards.” In 1972, Dick Clark became synonymous with one of the biggest nights of the year as he launched “Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve,” TV’s most famous New Year’s Eve Party. After suffering a stroke in 2004, Ryan Seacrest signed on to help with the hosting duties, but Clark continued to make appearances.

The Museum of Broadcast Communications ran the numbers and figures Dick Clark Productions has turned out more than 7,500 hours of television programming, including more than 30 series and 250 specials, as well as more than 20 movies for theatre and TV.

All this earned Clark a long list of awards and accolades: Emmys, Grammys, induction in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It also made him one of the richest men in Hollywood; he also had stakes in a wide range of businesses, including restaurants, theatres and real estate.

America’s Oldest Teenager has certainly left his indelible mark on generations of fans. There’s no disputing he helped change rock ‘n’ roll and TV forever. His signature sign-off was “For now, Dick Clark … so long,” always said with a salute. No doubt, today, generations of Americans are saluting back.

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A few years ago, the much maligned prune hired a PR firm and emerged with a flashy new advertising campaign and new name: the dried plum. The other day, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney shined up the controversial health insurance mandate by calling it “the personal responsibility provision.”

A prune by another name? Call it what you will, but that crucial heart of the Affordable Health Care Act, now the center of debate at the Supreme Court, could put a kibosh on the whole deal. While Court watchers say it could go either way, most lean toward a conservative 5-4 toss out, The question, then, becomes, can any of the health care overhaul be salvaged? Justice Scalia signaled all would be trashed, while Justice Ginsburg asked “why must it be a wrecking ball and not a salvage job?”

Some commentators suggest only the very fringe provisions, the overstuffed pork that swelled the Act to 2,700 pages ( the size inspired Justice Scalia to invoke a sardonic reference to the 8th Amendment and the Justices facing “cruel and unusual punishment” reading the darn thing). So while provisions for black lung and Native Americans may remain main intact, pre-existing conditions and the spiraling premium pricing blitz will be back in play. In other words, the insurance companies will be back in the driver’s seat without the “mandated” influx of new customers.

Politically, some on the left think a loss will really be a win. James Carville, who was around for the Clinton health care debacle offered his curious take on CNN’s “Situation Room” on Tuesday.

“I think this will be the best thing that has ever happened to the Democratic Party. You know, what the Democrats are going to say, and it is completely justified, ‘We tried, we did something, go see a 5-4 Supreme Court majority.’”

Okay, but how exactly is that good news for the Dems?

“Then the Republican Party will own the health care system for the foreseeable future. And I really believe that. That is not spin,” Carville said.

Well, there may be some truth there, and certainly the Repubs have absolutely no alternative to what they’ve dubbed ‘ObamaCare.’ The Party of No has been all about shouting down anything that has the President’s fingerprints on it and doing their best to make Obama a one-termer ( something which, despite the economy and perhaps this defeat, is so far from good enough Sarah Palin could never see it from her back porch). And Romney, the likely GOP nominee, has his own problems as the “godfather” of Obamacare.

Still, politics aside, who will suffer? Millions of Americans, denied care do to pre-existing conditions and prohibitive costs. I know I’ve heard the leftist chants to re-energize and re-organize the Single Payer efforts, But how many years, realistically, will that take? The Affordable Health Care Act, as messy as the legislative sausage making was, holds so many vital provisions that would help so many Americans. Steps in the right direction now threatened by a perilous obstacle course.

If we continue the status quo, the skyrocketing costs will soar to levels that will surely toss many more out of the insurance market. And the burden will be passed on to those of us fortunate enough to cling to coverage.

Spin it any way you want, left, right or center, but regardless of your political affiliation, if The Supremes strike down the mandate and, with it, likely the whole shebang, it will be a lose-lose for all Americans.

Please follow Amy Beth Arkawy on Twitter.

It’s not the first time our national albatross, racism, has collided with the mighty lobbying arm of the National Rifle Association, but the Trayvon Martin tragedy has sparked an outrage, so loud and so visceral, it has re-opened wounds and re-ignited debates that simply cannot be quashed.

In a brief presser Friday (to announce the changing of the guard at the World bank), President Obama fielded one question about the Martin case. His response was measured and thoughtful. He called on all of us to do some “soul searching.” But it was his pointed and rather poignant acknowledgement, “if I had a son he would look like Trayvon,” that brings it home for so many. Black parents, especially those of teenage boys and young men, are angered and, frankly, petrified for their sons’ safety.

Just imagine what that feels like. For both the parents and the children.

Trayvon’s mother talked openly and bravely about her anguish on “Politics Nation” with Al Sharpton on MSNBC earlier this week. And Jonathan Capehart, a columnist for The Washington Post, talked first hand about the anxieties young African American males grapple with on a daily basis. Watch the excerpts from Thursday’s “Morning Joe.”

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The soul searching needs to start in Sanford, Florida. Police Chief Bill Lee’s “temporary” leave of absence needs to become a resignation or termination. George Zimmerman, the Neighborhood Watch commando needs to, at the very least, surrender his gun before the Grand Jury convenes in April. Remember: when police officers are involved in a shooting, even one deemed a “righteous shoot,” they must surrender their weapons and go on desk duty.

Florida Governor Mike Scott has, after extensive pressure, finally, announced a task force to examine the case, and as we reported earlier in the week, the Department of Justice has already launched its own independent investigation.A local Grand Jury won’t meet until April 10. In the meantime, Zimmerman remains free. And, as far as we know, that means he’s still free to carry that same gun he used to kill Trayvon.

Meanwhile, Florida’s Senate President Mike Haridopolos rejected calls to re-examine the controversial Stand Your Ground law that emboldened Zimmerman to gun down Martin, and has, so far, kept him out of jail.

In an e-mail to Think Progress a spokesperson wrote:

“The Senate President feels that Governor Scott is currently taking all of the appropriate steps to address the tragic shooting of Trayvon Martin. Additionally, the Senate President is confident that the circumstances surrounding this shooting will be closely examined by lawmakers, and if the Senate concludes that laws need to be revised they will be addressed in the future.”

The future is now, Senator. Since Florida’s Stand Your Ground Law took effect in 2005 the cases of justifiable homicide have jumped from an average of 13 a year to 36. Senator Chris Brown, a Democrat from Broward County, is penning a law that would prevent a shooter from invoking the controversial statute if he/she was at anytime during the altercation, the “aggressor or provocateur.”

Let our soul searching begin.

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As the furor over the “vigilante” murder of 17 year old Trayvon Martin in Florida continues, the Justice Department has finally announced its investigation into a possible hate crime. The DOJ promises, “A thorough and independent review of all of the evidence and take appropriate action at the conclusion of the investigation,” spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa said in a statement. The probe will include the Civil Rights Division of DOJ, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and the FBI. And, finally, the local grand jury will examine the case in April. The Million Hoodie March–protests seeking justice for Trayvon Martin–are planned all over the country Wednesday.

Listen to Neighborhood Watch vigilante George Zimmerman’s entire 911 call and you’ll hear the inherent racism. His family’s continuous claims to the contrary are debunked through Zimmerman’s own words. At the 2:20 mark you’ll hear him mutter an abhorrent racial slur under his breath.

Why this trigger happy thug–who has his own rap sheet, including charges of assault and domestic battery -is allowed to own and carry a concealed weapon–will likely re-open our national conversation on gun control. But why he didn’t follow the 911 dispatcher’s instructions to NOT follow Martin will likely land him behind bars. There was absolutely no reason for a person who felt so threatened ( and by the way, Zimmerman doesn’t sound particularly frightened or even anxious in the call) by this baby-faced kid armed with nothing but a cellphone and a bag of Skittles to pursue the “suspect.” None.

The National Neighborhood Watch guidelines expressly state:

“It should be emphasized to members that they do not possess police powers, and they shall not carry weapons or pursue vehicles. They should also be cautioned to alert police or deputies when encountering strange activity. Members should never confront suspicious persons who could be armed and dangerous.”

Zimmerman alerted police, but violated the other two crucial rules. He carried a weapon and he followed Martin.

What exactly transpired between the two remains murky. Obviously there were only two witnesses. One is tragically dead, the other hiding behind Florida’s Stand Your Ground statute. But what has become painfully clear: Martin posed no threat to anyone, especially George Zimmerman. He was a young kid minding his own business, walking to his dad’s girlfriend’s house, chatting on the phone with his friends. His only “crime” was wandering through an unknown neighborhood while being black. One friend, who released her call to ABC News, was apparently on the phone with Martin at the time of the altercation. Martin told his friend he was scared; there is no indication that he was looking for trouble. She heard gasps and the phone drop. Other witnesses heard the gunshots; two have come forward to say they saw Zimmerman on top of Martin.

Zimmerman claims he acted in self defense. But Trayvon Martin didn’t have a gun. George Zimmerman did. Trayvon Martin is dead. And Zimmerman is still roaming around. With his gun. And the local police claim they have no probable cause to arrest Zimmerman? The Martin family–and the nation–are waiting on justice.

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The lefties made him do it! That’s Rush Limbaugh’s latest rationale for the controversy still raging over his despicable “Slut” rant. He confessed to his listeners that he played into the left-wing conspiracy to dump his big mouth. I’m not suggesting the left isn’t making great hay out of Rush’s rampage and the big sponsor blow-out blitz that followed. But who exactly made Rush go on a three day tirade against a then unknown Georgetown University law student? Okay, so let”s get a handle on how this all went down. Was it Ed Schultz who held the gun to the bloviator’s head while Lawrence O’Donnell held the script or the other way around?

Come on, Rush! Even your Ditto heads can’t buy this theory. Remember when Clinton claimed there was a vast right-wing conspiracy against him? Well, maybe there was, but he sure gave them the ammo they needed with his mischievous zipper. Same applies to Limbaugh. No one told Rush to pummel Sandra Fluke with a relentless dirge of insults. We’re talking three days straight–virtually 9 hours of radio–dedicated to a venomous attack on a private citizen. And for supporters who claim Rush gets the liberal shaft while Bill Maher got a pass for calling Sarah Palin the ‘C’ word, that isn’t a fair comparison. I’m not defending Maher, by the way. While I am a fan, such language is disgusting and, frankly, not particularly funny, no matter who it’s directed at. But there is a distinction.

“To compare that to Rush is ridiculous – he went after a civilian about very specific behavior, that was a lie, speaking for a party that has systematically gone after women’s rights all year, on the public airwaves,” Maher told Jake Tapper of ABC News. “I used a rude word about a public figure who gives as good as she gets, who’s called people ‘terrorist’ and ‘unAmerican.’ Sarah Barracuda.”

And until the brouhaha Fluke was, indeed, a private citizen. I know some fright wing rabble rousers are tossing out the idea that she’s a long time “contraceptive advocate,” whatever that is, and that her boyfriend’s family is a powerful mob of wealthy, well-connected “Jewish Brandeis socialists.” Even if such a threatening pedigree sends shivers up your spine it doesn’t–or rather didn’t–make her a public figure. She is now, and what she does with her new fame and platform is up to her.

But Rush boiled his own hot water with his opening, hate-filled, fact-free salvo. And the online boycott effort spearheaded by Media Matters, Stop Rush and other groups is working. Just how many sponsors pulled the plug is unclear. I’ve seen numbers ranging from 26 to 136. But there’s no question his syndicator, Premiere Radio has suspended all national advertising for at least a two week “cooling off period.” So someone’s losing money. Still Rush assures his audience everything is fine and dandy in his fright wing talk radio land.

Will Limbaugh fade into Glenn Beck’s oblivion? Who knows. And yes, Beck’s still around, as is Dr. Laura, but mostly on the Internet and Satellite. Absolutely nothing wrong with those outlets; they are the new frontier. But for those who’ve carved out a laudable swath of mainstream radio, it is an undeniable step down. Spin it any way you want, those blowhards didn’t go willingly. And neither will Limbaugh. if it comes to that.

And if it does Rush, you’ll have no one to blame but your own words And while you may find it hard to accept, that’s a truly fitting exit for an unabashed big mouth.

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We already knew Palin was the McCain campaign’s Hail Mary pass. Down in the polls and with seemingly nothing to lose they plucked the new Alaska governor out of obscurity, thrusting her onto the national stage with limited vetting. What comes next plays out in predictable fashion. We already know the story and the outcome.

So why bother watching “Game Change?” The acting. Yeah, it’s that good. As is the make-up artistry. Moore is the main attraction, of course, nailing everything from Palin’s voice, mannerisms and mood, shading her performance with a depth and empathy that transcends Tina Fey’s brilliant satire. She does, in fact, generate sympathy and ire as we watch Palin swat away interview and debate prep advice and nearly spiral out of control as the rigors of the relentless campaign and media spotlight take their toll.

Woody Harrelson, as Steve Schmidt, the senior advisor most responsible for the Palin pick, is also formidable. And the oft under-rated Ed Harris offers another magnificent turn a John McCain.

Beyond that, you may discover a better understanding of the high-stakes, often cynical machinations of presidential campaigns. But I’d suggest the purely fictional “The Ides of March” is a far more compelling film, with unexpected twists and turns, and lessons that may have greater resonance.

While it’s a good film, I wonder how much more powerful “Game Change” might have been if it were made five or ten years down the road. With time’s fermentation and the lens of perspective, this episode in American political history will surely provide a far more intriguing and potent lesson. Something future filmmakers are apt to explore.

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I’m sorry, but Rush missed the point. Again. In the wake of the outrageous Sandra Fluke contraception funding frenzy the fright wing radio talker mounted- –and the big sponsor bail-out that followed– Rush Limbaugh finally back-tracked. A bit. In a written statement issued on Saturday he offered his version of an apology for the despicable comments he made, most hurled directly at Georgetown University law student Sandra Fluke.

Here’s the statement in its entirety:

“For over 20 years, I have illustrated the absurd with absurdity, three hours a day, five days a week. In this instance, I chose the wrong words in my analogy of the situation. I did not mean a personal attack on Ms. FLUKE.

“I think it is absolutely absurd that during these very serious political times, we are discussing personal sexual recreational activities before members of Congress. I personally do not agree that American citizens should pay for these social activities. What happened to personal responsibility and accountability? Where do we draw the line? If this is accepted as the norm, what will follow? Will we be debating if tax payers should pay for new sneakers for all students that are interested in running to keep fit?”

In my monologue, I posited that it is not our business whatsoever to know what is going on in anyone’s bedroom nor do I think it is a topic that should reach a Presidential level. My choice of words was not the best, and in the attempt to be humorous, I created a national stir. I sincerely apologize to Ms. FLUKE for the insulting word choices.”

Wow! That had all the sincerity and grace of an apology from a playground bully tag-teamed by his parents and principal after starting a bloody fight with the new kid. And most certainly, his syndicator Clear Channel nudged him to compose the letter of contrition after his show hemorrhaged sponsors with the same speed and fervor advertisers had abandoned Don Imus following his infamous comment directed at the Rutgers women’s basketball team and Dr. Laura’s ‘N’ word rant. And still all Rush could muster was an apology weaker than last year’s Tea Party brew.

Of course, Limbag never owns up to the reality that aside from the disgusting “choice of words” he completely distorted the very essence of Sandra Fluke’s testimony.

And judging from GOP presidential front runner Mitt Romney’s response to Limbaugh’s scurrilous attacks, the Repubs still don’t get ( or don’t WANT to get) what Fluke and others are talking about. Romney, in case you missed his brief Rush “rebuff” only said, “That’s not the language I would have used.” What’s the implication, Mitt? That instead of calling Fluke a “slut” and prostitute” you would have preferred calling her a “strumpet” or “harlot?” Santorum, nervously tittered through a response on CNN, labeling the comments “absurd” but forgiving Rush with the cleansing “entertainer” label.

Here’s the deal boys. Fluke–who had to wrangle her way to testify before Congress–never once alluded to her voracious appetite for government subsidized recreational sex. She was talking about the myriad medical benefits of hormones and other pills that also serve as contraceptives. The examples she discussed were women whose health had been severely compromised due to lack of health insurance and the inability to pay for necessary, often life-saving, treatments.

Did Limbaugh, or for that matter, Romney ( who was against the Blunt amendment about an hour before he was for it) or Santorum or any Republican leader, even listen to or read Fluke’s testimony? Rush was in such a rush to condemn Fluke, he couldn’t even be bothered to get her name right, calling her Susan for two days and then on the third, “Susan or Sandra Fluke or whatever her name is.”

The idea that family planning is not an issue for both men and women is as absurd as the notion that we, in 2012, should be re-igniting the culture wars of the 1960′s. That an all ( way over 50) male panel is called to address issues paramount to younger women and families is also telling about the fright wing antics of the hi-jacked Republican Party.

It’s one thing for Limbaugh to go on a fact-free tirade. That’s his stock and trade. But that not a single GOP leader has the nerve to forcefully stand up to a radio talk show host should make every Republican cower with fear over the party’s very survival.

Will Rush’s coerced words be way too little, way too late? Only his advertisers and listeners can answer that. And as of Saturday night, Carbonite had just dumped the show after the apology. In a statement on the company’s site, the President David Friend wrote: “Mr. Limbaugh, with his highly personal attacks on Miss Fluke, overstepped any reasonable bounds of decency. Even though Mr. Limbaugh has now issued an apology, we have nonetheless decided to withdraw our advertising from his show.”

By the way, in case you’ve been looking, it’s almost impossible to find Glenn Beck ( who was also tossed off Fox News!) or Dr. Laura on the radio dial these days. Don Imus, on the other hand, has survived, making a comeback of sorts; after an apology and firing, he returned to the airwaves within six months. His apology, which was made on the air ( as were apologies from David Letterman for insulting Sarah Palin’s daughter and Ed Schultz who called radio host Laura Ingraham a “slut”), may have been more heartfelt. Still, Imus’ sway has been forever diminished. Just something to think about, Rush, the next time you’re crafting an alleged apology.

Let’s see what Rush says on Monday. People will be listening. For now.

Please follow Amy Beth Arkawy on Twitter.