There was an interesting point someone made about how sad Borat vs Ali G was. Essentially saying that it takes balls to go after leaders and famous people but his "comedic attacks" on regular people are just sad and pathetic and often painful to watch.

Food for thought.
And attacking Ron Paul? Really?

"explains why punching homeless people to steal their change is ethical in the world of free-market competition"

I snapped at this line. Hence my turn to ad hominem attacks. I'm sure you were trying to be funny but it reflects a far too common mistake people have with Rand and her mythical love of stealing candy from poor children. That Broomstick freak didn't help things either.

I think her breakthroughs came on a more epistemological level (I hate that word) but I think you're being too broad when you say she cobbled together previous ideas (Isn't that what philosophy is anyways?)