I agree with @jkepler. Both Limbaugh and Beck have been able to create a successful media enterprise over the years. whatever ideology they communicate, it is obvious that they also have a skill set and talent to deliver this to a large audience.

Now if I had to force myself to imagine them in a dilapidated condition, shouting in the streets, well, who would listen to a person yelling on the street? Please note however, this can also be applied to Kieth Olbermann, Alan Colmes and Rachel Maddow. Conservative or Liberal, a person ranting on the streets would just be seen as a mentally disturbed person.

Fortunately, all of the people mentioned above, from the right and the left, and any other person in the future that has the skill set to develop an audience and hold it, can give voice to their opinions, and people can choose to listen them. Obviously, people that listen to Limbaugh will view Olbermann as a left-wing nut, and people that follow Colmes will see Beck as right-wing nut. To me, that's a gleaming example of freedom.

They would just be another couple of nuts on the soapboxes on NYC street corners. Looked at then laughed at.

Technically speaking, I think almost anyone ranting on the street would be written off. That being said, I don't know too much about either of them, but I suspect they were once both "small time" at some point. I think they're great at getting followers to listen to them and believe them, and if they had to start over again they'd probably just build their loyal base of listeners exactly the way they did the first time.

The same thing that I do already. They are morons.

The thing about Olbermann is that he criticises Beck and Limbaugh. So even though I don't think of Olbermann as a genius, he still trumps Beck and Limbaugh, in the streets or not.