Nine days. That's how long Papaw Phil Robertson was on "indefinite" hiatus. 

Of course, it seemed longer because most Americans have been winding down at the end of a long year, and the 24-hour news networks have had nothing to cover, what with Congress out and President Obama surfing in Hawaii.

But it was just nine days. And those nine days show the remarkable power of an American populace sick and tired of the left-wing "progressivism" being shoved down its throats. In fact, the entire exercise may just have changed the dynamics, empowered the "little" people, given voice to the unheard -- once and for all.

After Papaw Phil delivered his Christian-based opinions on gay marriage to a GQ reporter, all hell broke loose. Gay groups, civil rights organizations, and, of course, race-baiter Jesse Jackson jumped on him. A&E, the home network of the Duck Dynasty show that pulls some 14 million viewers each week, had a knee-jerk reaction and suspended the 67 year old.

But as leaders of gay groups and outspoken progressive pundits like Piers Morgan declared victory, something unusual happened: People across the country started to speak out. Not just Sarah Palin and Louisina Gov. Bobby Jindal, among others, but regular ol' people.

First, they weighed in on Facebook, with more than 300,000 clicking "like" on the "Bring Back Phil" page. Then, they weighed in at the cash register, with thousands heading to Walmart to buy up all the merchandise from the popular show. And then, when rest-stop restaurant Cracker Barrel announced it would stop selling DD merch, Americans let them have it. 

Things changed fast. "You flat out told us we were wrong," Cracker Barrel execs said in a Facebook post. "We listened. Today, we are putting all our Duck Dynasty products back in our stores. And, we apologize for offending you." 

The speech bullies of the Left had just recently taken down another southern icon, Paula Deen. To be sure, her admission to using the "N" word (not as often as, say, your average rapper or Quintin Tarantino, but still) was worse, and it exploded across the Food Network. Within a month, her cooking empire lay in ruins. 

But this time, Americans said, "not this time." A guy from Louisiana had expressed his faith-based opinion -- nothing more -- and been suspended and pilloried. Sure, not everyone agrees with what the family patriarch said or how he said it, but there seemed to be a new weariness with the politically correct bullies who demand heads roll, even for misdemeanors.

In the end, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Discrimination wound up the biggest loser. Although the group preaches tolerance, it had none for a view not in lockstep with its own. And while prominent members of the gay community like Andrew Sullivan and Camille Paglia didn't see what all the fuss was about, GLAAD wanted blood.

Even after A&E on Friday reinstated Papaw Phil to the show, GLAAD could find no Christmas tolerance.

"Phil Robertson should look African-American and gay people in the eyes and hear about the hurtful impact of praising Jim Crow laws and comparing gay people to terrorists," the group statement said. "If dialog with Phil is not part of next steps, then A&E has chosen profits over African-American and gay people -- especially its employees and viewers."

Family Research Council president Tony Perkins summed it all up. "The attacks on Phil Robertson revealed to the American people that the push to redefine marriage is less about the marriage altar than it is fundamentally altering America's moral, political and cultural landscape. 

"A&E Network’s reversal in the face of backlash is quite telling to the American people who are growing tired of GLAAD and cultural elites who want to silence people and remove God and His word from every aspect of public life."