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Rush Limbaugh: Marconi’s Titan
It may seem like we’re on an express elevator to hell. Maybe we’ve hit a tipping point, maybe we haven’t. But I submit to you, gentle reader, there is one reason we haven’t already slid this great country into a socialist hellscape. One man who stood, initially and literally alone, like Horatio at the bridge and stymied, befuddled and confused–and infuriated–The Left. That man was America’s Anchorman, The Doctor of Democracy, The Last Man Standing: Rush Limbaugh.
For more than 33 years, Rush has fought for truth, justice, and the American way. There were no conservative media when Rush started out. To whatever extent we Americans have a conservative micron of a fraction of a sliver of the media now, we have Rush to thank. Rush, who stood alone, taught us how to fight, stiffened our resolve, and gave us the tools we need to win the ideological conflict and preserve this Republic–if only we would use them.
Know a man’s enemies, you’ll know the man. Rush was hated, despised, and feared by a preening, self-impressed, arrogant press that saw itself as the gatekeeper to what information the American people would have available to them, and to what the narrative would be. Rush was hated, despised, and feared by Democrat politicians, whose rapacious appetite for grift and corruption only Rush had the stones to point out–those Democrat politicians who could not (until recently) honestly articulate their agenda, because said agenda was and is anathema to the founding principles of our Republic. Rush was hated, despised, and feared by squishy, linguine-spined Republicans who only wanted to lose gracefully, gratefully accept crumbs from the table of political power, and in the most craven means imaginable, enrich themselves whilst eschewing promises made to their constituents. And, too, we must never forget that Rush was hated, despised, and feared by plastic banana, phony-baloney, good-time rock’n’rollers from coast to coast.
Rush put the lie to the never-ending quest for bipartisanship with the dishonest, authoritarian Left, as embodied by the Democratic Party. “If someone wants you to drink a cup of poison, and you negotiate so that you only drink half a cup of poison, is that a win?” Amen.
The wise listener pays attention when Rush speaks. It’s imprudent not to listen to the sage advice and counsel of a powerful, influential member of the media who is almost always right 99.8%; of the time–even with half his brain tied behind his back, just to make it fair. When Rush picks up in his formerly nicotine-stained fingers and remarks upon an item from his stack of stuff, one knows that a smackdown on the left is about to occur. Not that Rush was ever purposefully combative or caustic–it’s just that he would wake up, minding his own business, and see the institutions of this great country being run down, and responded.
Rush taught us to reject the premise of Democrat/leftist assertions and arguments. Give them not a fig leaf of credibility or legitimacy when they run down our great country, its institutions, or the people who believe we should be governed by our Constitution, understood as the Founders intended. Reject the premise and assault what they really mean.
Rush taught us to assault the Left’s premises not with rancor and scathing words, but with humor. His nicknames for Democrat politicians helped make them, and thus their insane ideology, objects to laugh at. Who can forget “Dingy” Harry Reid, Patrick “Leaky” Leahy, or Adam “Pencil Neck” Schiff, among a plethora of other appellations? Rush’s sense of humor is always genuine, deceptively subtle (once you think about it for just a moment), and spot-on accurate for perforating Leftist superciliousness. Is there any better way to illustrate absurdity than by being absurd?
Even, maybe especially, when he isn’t eviscerating the Left, he is funny and often hilarious. Usually, listening to Rush in my car, he elicits an “I see what you did there” grin from me. Sometimes, he generates a for real, pull-over-or-you’ll-wreck-or-go-into-the-ditch guffaw from me.
Example: One time before he was going to take a trip, he took an extra day off because he had to pack. Somebody (probably Bo Snerdley) obviously wisecracked on their internal comms something like, “C’mon, man! You don’t pack. You have people for that!”
“What?” said Rush, “Okay, I don’t pack–but I have to point!” And into the ditch I went.
Another time, after Rush was “busted” coming back into the country with a Viagra prescription not in his name (as celebrities often–legally–have for their meds) and suffered the ensuing kerfuffle, he started his next show off with, “Folks, I told my doctor I was worried about the next election!” Annnnd into the ditch I went.
Rush called the shot on Trump being able to win the 2016 election. Rush famously doesn’t get involved with nor supports candidates during the primaries. But listeners with a gimlet ear could tell as Rush’s programs unfolded before their very eyes that DJT had a real shot at both winning the nomination and defeating Hillary Clinton. Once DJT clinched the nomination, Rush was on the bow wave of telling his enormous audience, basically, “this is a guy who says what he means and means what he says.”
I think Rush’s empathy and affinity for Trump stem from the fact that he understood the slings and arrows fired at Trump probably better than anyone could. Who else had spent decades suffering non-stop lies and bilious slander by politicians and the press? Rush knew that our corrupt and effete elite rolled their eyes when talking about either Rush or his audience–you know, the people that make this country work. Rush recognized that same elitist eye-roll when DJT spoke of putting America First or the unwashed, unrefined masses that would vote in support of such a risible concept.
Since he found out that he has advanced lung cancer, Rush has defined and owned being a mensch. Knowing what he’s going through, and the fact that he still comes out and stands astride the AM EM spectrum like a Colossus is both humbling and motivating. Look, I spent the majority of my life as a professional hard guy, and I don’t think I could face the challenges Rush is facing with his calm, grace, and equanimity. It is, simply, inspirational.
Never one to put a religious slant to his program, if you listen to Rush you know he believes. The cover of the most recent edition of his monthly newsletter bears the legend God Is With Me. The Lovely and Talented Mrs. Mongo, AKA Carol Ann (one of Rush’s top ten, all-time favorite female names) read the associated article with tears streaming down her face. “What will we do when he’s gone?”
“We’ll do what he taught us to do.”
Over the years, Rush has advised his audience, “Don’t panic. I’ll tell you when it’s time to panic.” Lately, though, he has adopted a different catchphrase:
Never stop fighting for America.
We won’t. We know how. And we have you to thank for it, brother.
Published in General
Thanks for this, @bossmongo. But now I have to find some Kleenex to wipe off the tears.
America Held Hostage: Day 25
Wonderful, Boss, as usual. Rush is the reason for my own blog. He keeps me going, and for all of us, he will live on, rent-free in our brains. There never has been anyone like him, and there will never be anyone else like him.
“Talent on loan from God.”
I hope the Lord isn’t too anxious to have the loan repaid. We need Rush along with our faith to get us through what’s coming. He did it during the Clinton years and the Obama years, but I fear the worst is about to happen . . .
Beautifully stated, Boss. The loss of this man will be huge. We will have to find a way to inspire each other.
I’ve always had a very soft spot for Rush, even though I don’t always agree with him and there have been a few times I’ve thought he was dead wrong about something, ever since he first crossed my horizon, about half-a-century ago as Jeff Christie on a local pop radio station in Pittsburgh. I didn’t listen to all that much radio myself, but even I knew that Jeff Christie was who the ‘with-it’ kids hung out with on the dial while their mothers listened to fusty Jack Bogut playing Englebert Humperdinck on KDKA.
I’ve known a handful of people over the years who’ve met Rush or known his family, and I’ve never heard a single one of them say a bad word about any of the Limbaughs of Rush’s generation and before (I don’t know anything about the younger members of the family, although I think at least one of them is on the air somewhere).
He’s handled his illness with incredible grace, and I think the apparent ease with which he’s been able to round up a rather stellar selection of guest hosts to fill in for him, sometimes at a moment’s notice, speaks to the esteem in which he’s held. Mark Steyn makes no bones about his admiration for ‘the big voice on the right,’ and basically credits Rush with launching his stateside career. Along the way, Rush has also done an incredible amount of work for military and leukemia charities. A generous giant of a man.
Here’s a bit of audio from his Jeff Christie days (I just checked, and it, indeed, fifty years ago this year that he hit the airwaves in Pittsburgh. Lord, I’m old). He had the delivery down pat, all those years ago:
What he taught me to do was cut the progs off at their knees.
Rhetorically.
I will always cherish the time that I spoke to Rush on his show. I was at work, and my boss never knew. Rush is an incredibly gracious host, and he got a kick out of my story of how I discovered him. I can’t imagine life without him.
It’s really unbearable to think of our country going forward without his commentary. Tears and prayers for a great man.
Filed that under Things I Wish I Had Said. If you miss his voice, he is still doing the daily updates. You can subscribe in Podcasts if your radio doesn’t have it.
A gorgeous tribute to El Rushbo, @bossmongo, thank you so much. If I was TPTB I’d pin this to the top of the Main Feed right now, and let @davidlimbaugh know it’s there so he can share it with Rush and his family. The Great Majaraji told us that he wouldn’t come on the air unless he felt he was rested and well enough to do the entire show, but I hope he reconsiders because we haven’t heard from him since February 2. I pray that he will be well enough this week to come back for short appearances to share more nuggets of wisdom with us.
Is he? I’m a 24/7 subscriber but haven’t seen any daily updates this week. Is there somewhere in the app I’m missing them?
Wow. You just made my day, thanks. On the paid app the last daily update was the “It’s Democrat vs. Democrat” on Feb. 2.
I love the man. His greatest strength is his good mood, regardless of the circumstances. He also set some first-principles by which to filter your responses to daily challenges:
“Knowledge is not a constant, common or otherwise.”
“Liberals are liberals first.”
“You cannot reason a liberal to your side. You simply must defeat them.”
Well done, Boss. This was momentous Rush for me.
Was a big deal. Awarded “for especially meritorious contribution to (1) the security or national interests of the United States, or (2) world peace, or (3) cultural or other significant public or private endeavors”. President Trump was selective in awarding this medal, giving out only 24 his entire presidency.
Rush is in some distinguished company. Some other recipients since 1963 have been:
When I first found him, I found him highly entertaining. He’s got a great voice, he’s funny, energetic, pleasant – he’s got the radio thing perfected.
And then, after listening for a while, I realized that he was extremely well-read, understood American history like few others, and he was just searingly brilliant. That is one smart dude.
I learned a lot from him. He will be a huge loss for this country. Absolutely tragic. I’m really not sure who can replace him. Like I said above, he has an extraordinary skill set. Who else has all those skills?
He would have had to retire at some point.
But this is a really bad time.
I’m sorry you got sick, Rush. Life is not fair. I admire the courage you display everyday. Thanks for everything.
The one person who made the Progressives/Socialists/Dimocrats/Republicrats apoplectic each and every time he sat down to the microphone.
They even started an entire network to battle him (Seriously, does anyone still remember Air America?) and Rush flicked them aside like ashes from one of his cigars. And, they never forgave him for that.
Because all of them (Randi Rhodes, etc.) had nothing going for them except maniacal hatred, they were easy pickings. And Rush delighted in slapping them around. You da man, Rush!!!
Amen.
Thank you for this, today.
When I started reading, I was afraid there was news I hadn’t yet heard. Glad it isn’t so. Thank you, Boss, for so eloquently describing the man many of us have known and loved for decades. I concur with TheOtherDiane that his should be pinned or in some way passed along for Rush to see. It’s a beautiful tribute. @blueyeti?
Long before I ever heard his show, I heard Leftists talk about how horrible he was. So, I figured I would like him. What I didn’t realize until later was how funny and entertaining he was. A great man who won’t be replaced.
I think what he accomplished, more than anything else, is that he taught a generation of Americans how to think for themselves, bypass and question the media, and where to access the information for themselves.
I have terrible teeth, so every visit to a dentist carries the potential for pain and discomfort. I found that earphones with Rush Limbaugh content could get me through the worst of the procedures.
Smart, funny, and never intimidated by anybody. Love that guy.
I will be quite despondent when he passes. Few can fill such shoes. Mark Steyn is my favorite for the job, but I fear one of his other very mediocre stand ins might elbow their way in.
Let’s hope someone keeps the EIB network going.
Rush is brilliant. Rush uses logic and principle to make his points. I admire that.
Most others who tried to imitate him, such as the loathsome Hannity, are nothing but sycophants for the republican party.
Perhaps the editors could get together all the tribute posts in one place, so Rush’s staff can see them all. Here’s a graphic.
Yeah. That’s a tear jerker.
Rhetorically.
Yes, and I think anyone that listens to Rush picks up pretty quick that he’s a master at his craft. He’s not a commentator, he’s a broadcaster. He knew the radio business inside and out before he ever trotted out the EIB Network. Liberals/leftists were stymied when they would fund oppositional “radio shows” to combat Rush, and they would crash and burn.
That’s because they thought that they just had to run their sucks to compete with Rush, whereas he knew his tech, his market, and his industry from stem to stern, top to bottom, back to front.
I do remember that sorry attempt to put him under. Air America…haven’t heard about them for quite a while! I have listened to Rush since he came on the air on the AM radio in my car in 1988. I was waiting to pick up my children from school, and here was this guy doing “caller abortions”–when he didn’t think you were worthy of being heard on his show, there was the sound of a vacuum cleaner, and then that person was no longer on the line. Well, I couldn’t listen to that with the little kids in the car! But, good grief! The man was brilliant!
We’d just been through the Reagan years and things had been great, but you wouldn’t know it from the press coverage. Then, Rush came on the scene, and I was hooked. People used to say, over and over, when they first got through with their calls: “Thank you for saying what I am thinking!!” That was/is the secret to his success! He just articulates in such an effective way the opinions that so many of us conservative people are thinking. Sadly, none of my children (now adults) can stand him. They didn’t like him when I listened to him when they were children. I really don’t know why…
Since Watergate, the press has thought that they were in charge of America. Rush came along and let everyone know that Americans are in charge of America! It is totally why he’s hated so much by the elites.
I’ll really, really miss him. Thanks @bossmongo for this post!!