I definitely think it has. In addition to superior and funnier writing, it doesn't feel as partisan as today's political episodes and it's more about the electorate than the party itself. And its party humor was more ribbing than anger.

Except on American Dad, the main character got to be the fool.

I agree with your analysis of genuine conservatism and Ayn Rand, but with The Simpsons it seems they still prefer to view Republicans as The Cult of Sarah Palin (and very few Republicans I know have a shrine to her) or Rich People Are Evil (without the anarchist joy of The Marx Brothers or the like).

Libertarians? The two main parties do all of those things, Obama usually in numbers far greater than Bush. (I wasn't sure if you were making a joke or not.)

Most of the Republicans I know don't make a shitload of money. They're middle class mostly, and they are closer to Libertarian than Republican. They follow an ideology of less government interference, which neither present day Republicans nor Democrats are particularly good on.

Oh Simpsons, this is just getting sad.