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I completely agree with John Rawls' nomination. Easily the most prominent political philosopher of the 20th century. Based on your nominations, it looks like you're primarily interested in conservatives, so allow me to nominate Bill Kristol and Thomas Sowell. Heather MacDonald has had two well-received books. Though not strictly a philosopher (or a conservative), I felt the most recent works by Steven Pinker were excellent. If it's wit and sharpness of observation you're after, you might enjoy Theodore Dalrymple, though his normal profession is that of a physician. I've also liked David Brooks and Joseph Epstein, though they are more social observers than political philosophers. Neither are strictly conservatives either, but then again my "approved" list of conservative literature is quite short.
Stay away from Coulter, Savage, O'Reilly, Limbaugh. Burn Pat Buchanan, especially the newer works. On the other side of the spectrum, I would avoid the hysterics of Joe Conason and Eric Alterman. They are no better, simply on the other side. I barely got through them both. Gore Vidal and Noam Chomsky are simply trash: run from anything labeled "critical" anything. They are polemicists and nothing more. Quite a shock as Chomsky in particular is not quite so virulently paranoid in person. You might as well read Susan Sontag or Carol Gilligan or somesuch nonsense, at least they are unintentionally funny. Bell Hooks (sometimes known as) "bell hooks" is also good for a laugh.
-- Alvin
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