Intellectual power...

In regards to the prompt, honestly, it is hard to come up with the list of people I would consider "public intellectuals." The term itself is still debatable and each of us would probably create a different list. I guess, my doubts rise from what I would consider a "public intellectual" from the past versus modern day. 

In the past, I suspect that public intellectuals were concerned with more philosophical questions, such as existence of humanity (and maybe looked more like Rodin's "Thinker" too). In the present day, such postulations are taking a different approach, especially with an affect of mass media. Therefore, it is even harder to distinguish "public intellectuals" from "opinion makers" or media "manipulators." If journalists, politicians, academics, novelists, etc. are added to the list of intellectuals, then Wolf Blitz, Christiane Amanpour, even Jon Stewart could be added as well. The fact that I would recognize and listen to those names more than any of the top 100 on the li, I guess, proves that we live in the culture affected by the mass media. 

On that note, even though I can assimilate to Posner's statement in regards to declining quality, however, I don't think this makes "public intellectuals" endangered species. I would assume that with media's and internet's help, (Posner's provided lists even show that by "media mentions" or "web hits") the "popularity" those public intellectuals probably has grown larger. Moreover, existing criticism through blogging attracts larger audiences and ignites more discussions, engaging "public citizens." As Daniel Drezner states in his article:

The most useful function of bloggers is when they engage in the quality control of other public intellectuals. [Richard] Posner believed public intellectuals were in decline because there was no market discipline for poor quality. Even if public intellectuals royally screw up, he argued, the mass public is sufficiently disinterested and disengaged for it not to matter. Bloggers are changing this dynamic, however. If Michael Ignatieff, Paul Krugman or William Kristol pen substandard essays, blogs have and will provide a wide spectrum of critical feedback.

Overall, the term "public intellectual" itself has a short history. Whether they are on decline or not, the impact of internet increased awareness about them and gave opportunities to "under-recognized" journalists, activists, novelists, etc. to join the list. Therefore, whom people choose to listen to or consider them "as intellectuals" may vary greatly. If it wouldn't, then the debates about it wouldn't exist. 

Image: "Rodin's "Thinker" Source: prospectmagazine.co.uk