OUCH: Limbaugh Not So Hot To Get Faithless Advertisers Back: “The rift between Sleep Train Mattress Centers and Rush Limbaugh apparently became permanent today after Limbaugh reportedly turned aside the Sacramento retailer’s attempt at a truce. Limbaugh rebuffed Sleep Train’s request that the controversial radio host resume his duties as a paid spokesman for the company.”

Ultimately, he’s got the audience. And the audience isn’t happy with the advertisers who’ve left. So now it’s Limbaugh who’s protecting his brand, since if he went back to endorsing them it would look like his endorsement was only about the money, which would devalue it.

UPDATE: Reader Michael Ubaldi writes: “The next step, of course, is to start signing contracts with each advertiser’s toughest competitor. What better way to celebrate free speech?”