El Rushbo Is Gone

 

Rush Limbaugh has left this Earth.

Share your memories in the comments below.

Limbaugh is considered one of the most influential media figures in American history and has played a consequential role in conservative politics since “The Rush Limbaugh Show” began in 1988. Perched behind his Golden EIB (Excellence in Broadcasting) Microphone, Limbaugh spent ov

er three decades as arguably both the most beloved and polarizing person in American media.

https://www.foxnews.com/media/rush-limbaugh-dead-talk-radio-conservative-icon

https://www.steynonline.com/11078/the-indispensable-man

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  1. Hartmann von Aue Member
    Hartmann von Aue
    @HartmannvonAue

    Jules PA (View Comment):

    Blondie (View Comment):

    You know, when we heard about @ bossmongo‘s post maybe getting picked up by his newsletter, I was concerned. Not that your post wasn’t good, Boss, but something just made me think it was a very good synopsis of his life and I didn’t want it to be over.

    Boss Mongo’s post

    https://ricochet.com/887657/rush-limbaugh-marconis-titan/

    I left my Rush story there in the comments. The Lord be with his family. 

    • #31
  2. Bishop Wash Member
    Bishop Wash
    @BishopWash

    During my first semester at college, in the fall of 1990, there was some commotion in the school paper about this crazy man coming to campus to speak, his Rush to Excellence Tour, but I didn’t know anything about who it was. The next semester, my suitemate introduced me to talk radio, including Rush. I was later upset to learn that I’d missed an opportunity to see him the previous semester. He was a beacon of sanity during the Clinton years. My listening decreased in the 2000s as my jobs began being in places that radios wouldn’t work but he holds a special place in leading me to articulate my conservative beliefs.

    • #32
  3. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    Damn.  Rest in Peace.

    • #33
  4. EJHill Podcaster
    EJHill
    @EJHill

    As a young man, barely a year out of college, I got my first job in broadcasting at a signal-challenged television station in my hometown. One of my first assignments was to sit down and write the script for a local commercial. I had a list of the things the owner of the business wanted to say. I was damn proud of myself until I read the copy aloud with a stopwatch.

    What the hell? 14 seconds? That’s not even halfway there!?!

    Now, imagine sitting behind a microphone and ad libbing – not for 30 seconds – but for three hours a day, five days a week. And do that for 30 years. He was a singular talent in the history of broadcasting. He taught an entire generation how to think for themselves, where you go to arm yourself with the facts and how to deal with “the narrative” before anyone named it “the narrative.”

    There will be a lot grave dancing today.

    • #34
  5. Audacious Member
    Audacious
    @Audacious

    From 1987 to 1991 I went through a horrific divorce that potentially damaged my relationship with my daughter and, at age 42, left me almost penniless.  My road to recovery had a number of milestones:  meeting and eventually marrying my soulmate and the purchase of a first boat shortly thereafter, that opened new never-before realized vistas.  On the day of the closing, 8/6/1993, we stopped at the bank to pick up a cashier’s check and, while my wife was in the bank, I tuned in AM 1210 in Philadelphia.  That was the first time I heard Rush.  Having grown up a conservative, I was amazed at his ability to put into everyday words the philosophy that was integral to my existence.  I’ve been a devoted listener ever since.  God Bless Rush. Well done good and faithful servant.

    • #35
  6. Fake John/Jane Galt Coolidge
    Fake John/Jane Galt
    @FakeJohnJaneGalt

    I will have to stay away from social media, MSM and mainly people for a few weeks.  They are already celebrating his death.  That is how I found out about it and came here.

     

    • #36
  7. She Member
    She
    @She

    A class act, start to finish, the announcement of whose death was made first to the folks who mattered to him more than anyone else except members of his family and, I’m sure, a few very close friends.

    My memories of the Rush Limbaugh Show prominently feature Mr. She, who was a huge fan.  He never spoke with Rush, but did get on the radio in the early days, one day when Roger Hedgecock was guest-hosting and had said something which incensed Mr. She (about capital-gains tax, IIRC).  

    Towards the end of his own life, with Rush, as with everything else, Mr. She got quite muddled, and would sometimes completely misinterpret or misunderstand something Rush had said.  I remember listening to him getting quite heated in his solitary arguments with Rush, and chuckling as they went on.  And on.  And on.  Louder and louder.  Crosser and crosser because Rush wasn’t listening to a thing Mr. She said.  I think Mr. She enjoyed their debates very much, and somewhat perversely, that’s a source of comfort and amusement to me on both fronts right now.

    Mr. She’s admiration for Rush, though, couldn’t hold a candle to that of my late mother-in-law, whose Christmas gift from us for many years was a subscription to the Limbaugh Letter together with the annual EIB Christmas tree ornament.  I can only imagine the glee with which she’s greeting his appearance in the Great Beyond right about now.

    My Dad loved Great Heart, a poem by Rudyard Kipling.  Much less well known that If, it has many similar themes, but is written after the death of someone Kipling admired (Theodore Roosevelt).  The last stanza goes like this:

    Let those who would handle
    Make sure they can wield
    His far-reaching sword
    And his close-guarding shield:
    For those who must journey
    Henceforward alone
    Have need of stout convoy
    Now Great-Heart is gone.

    Mark Steyn has written the second-best tribute to Rush that I’ve read this week, here.

     

     

    • #37
  8. MarciN Member
    MarciN
    @MarciN

    He is the reason I, and millions of others too, I’m sure, became a Republican.

    I was a Democrat although my husband was one of those Democrats who had converted to the Republican Party of Reagan. But I really liked George H. W. Bush for many reasons, and I was flabbergasted that the Democrats despised him and I was upset at the horrible things they said about him. I was listening to Rush one day when I was in the car with my husband, who was a big fan of Rush’s show. Rush’s spirited defense of Bush got me completely hooked on Rush. For a year or two, I listened whenever I could.

    When Bush lost to Clinton, I was in tears the next day. I could not believe that lowlife had been elected over George H. W. Bush, a truly great and selfless American World War II veteran. When Rush’s show came on the air, it was silent for a moment, and Rush said, quietly but firmly and confidently, as always, “I know you’re devastated today. But just know that I have written down all of Clinton’s promises, and I am going to hold him to every single one.” I laughed through my tears, and Rush kept his promise. I would not have gotten through the eight years of the draft-dodger-in-chief without Rush.

    I know I’m not the only one. Rush made people more confident and better able to deflect and fend off the myriad accusations that they were racist sexist homophobes. The Democrats run on the endless guilt trips they throw at anyone who tries to argue with them. They turn every debate over issues into a debate over the people involved. They never play the ball. They play the man every single time: “You’re just saying that because you’re you.”

    I don’t believe the Republican Party would have lasted as a force to be reckoned with without Rush Limbaugh’s giving Republicans self-confidence. The Democrats would have overwhelmed the nation because they are aggressive.

    And without Rush and the Republicans he inspired and encouraged, I don’t believe the United States would have been, and will continue to be, the mostly pleasant place we call home today.

    • #38
  9. Victor Grant 1865 Coolidge
    Victor Grant 1865
    @VictorGrant1865

    As a 50-year old man, Rush Limbaugh has been an integral part of my day for the majority of my life. I first listened to Rush in Okinawa, Japan in 1989 where the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) played the first hour of his show every day. My Marine Corps buddies and I listened to him every day when I moved to El Toro, California. For the next 32 years, Rush was probably the only habit I have maintained throughout my adult life. Since 1999, I have worked for the Department of State, travelling to 108 countries and in every country I went to, I would make sure I could at the very least find an internet connection long enough to download his podcasts to listen to in my hotel room. I think I have been a Rush 24/7 member since its inception. As a lifelong conservative, I can’t think of too many times I disagreed with Rush or was convinced to his point of view, because I already agreed with him. However, his ability to articulate conservative doctrine gave me the confidence to express my own political views in an intelligent way to those around me. I will miss him so much and am still having a difficult time imagining what my day will be like without Rush Limbaugh with me for 3 of those hours. God speed, Rush, and I look forward to hearing you on the golden microphone while walking the streets of gold.

    • #39
  10. Goldgeller Member
    Goldgeller
    @Goldgeller

    Rest in peace good sir. He has generated a lot of different feelings and thoughts over the years. Exercise makes us sweat, it makes uncomfortable, but it’s something we should do to get better as people. He really helped me with the mental lifts. Sometimes he was the weight. Sometimes he was the coach. My time with Rush (didn’t spend a ton to be honest) was always a good sweat. RIP. Thank you. 

    • #40
  11. Jules PA Inactive
    Jules PA
    @JulesPA

    https://youtu.be/sLHSiofZSZw

    • #41
  12. Joseph Eagar Member
    Joseph Eagar
    @JosephEagar

    No one can compare to Rush.  Yet another sign that 2020 was just the beginning of the suck.

    • #42
  13. RushBabe49 Thatcher
    RushBabe49
    @RushBabe49

    From my personal blog, Calling-all-RushBabes:

    https://rushbabe49.com/2021/02/17/grief-my-hero-is-gone/

     

    • #43
  14. Jules PA Inactive
    Jules PA
    @JulesPA

    RushBabe49 (View Comment):

    From my personal blog, Calling-all-RushBabes:

    https://rushbabe49.com/2021/02/17/grief-my-hero-is-gone/

     

    I’ve been thinking of you this afternoon. 

    Thanks for linking your blog. 

    • #44
  15. JCQC Member
    JCQC
    @JCQC

    @jcqc

    I have just heard the news. I am neither American nor an American resident. I came upon Rush pretty much by accident. He was being mentioned (ie, attacked) in something I was reading, and the author said that no intelligent person should ever listen to him. I respond badly to such challenges and immediately went looking for him on the internet. I started listening and, 15 years later, was still listening. For those of us living in the old world, his broadcasts were a revelation. He was the master of his subject and his medium: brash but articulate, principled but never tedious or pompous, an icon but an iconoclast. For me he made the meaning of conservatism not only crystal clear but inspired a pleasure in debate about truth and reality in social and political life.

    From his friends in the UK, Ireland and continental Europe, I say rest in peace Rush. We will “meet” again.

     

    • #45
  16. Concretevol Thatcher
    Concretevol
    @Concretevol

    Kathryn Jean Lopez has a nice piece up about him over at National Review

    https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/god-bless-the-soul-of-rush-limbaugh/?utm_source=recirc-desktop&utm_medium=homepage&utm_campaign=hero&utm_content=related&utm_term=second

     

     

    • #46
  17. Concretevol Thatcher
    Concretevol
    @Concretevol

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    I will have to stay away from social media, MSM and mainly people for a few weeks. They are already celebrating his death. That is how I found out about it and came here.

    I can’t imagine what twitter is like but I’m glad I’m not on it anymore

    • #47
  18. Jules PA Inactive
    Jules PA
    @JulesPA

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Kathryn Jean Lopez has a nice piece up about him over at National Review

    https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/god-bless-the-soul-of-rush-limbaugh/?utm_source=recirc-desktop&utm_medium=homepage&utm_campaign=hero&utm_content=related&utm_term=second

    Thank you for sharing that. 

    • #48
  19. Ekosj Member
    Ekosj
    @Ekosj

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    I will have to stay away from social media, MSM and mainly people for a few weeks. They are already celebrating his death. That is how I found out about it and came here.

    I can’t imagine what twitter is like but I’m glad I’m not on it anymore

    I just took a 30 second peek at the loving, tolerant, hate-has-no-home-here crowd over at Progressive Underworld, PU or whatever.    It’s every bit as vile, vindictive and hate filled as you might imagine.    

    • #49
  20. Rōnin Coolidge
    Rōnin
    @Ronin

    Rush is the best friend I will never meet. He has rode shotgun down many a long highway with me. He has been around the world with me. Rush has stood post with me and help me through some tough duty assignments. Rush taught me how to listen, and be listen to. He did not “wake ” me, or “red” pill me, I was already “woke”, he just showed me the way forward. God bless Rush, God bless the rest of us (we are really going to need it now), but mostly-God bless the United States of America-One nation, under God, with Liberty and Justice for all.

    • #50
  21. Gossamer Cat Coolidge
    Gossamer Cat
    @GossamerCat

    RushBabe49 (View Comment):

    From my personal blog, Calling-all-RushBabes:

    https://rushbabe49.com/2021/02/17/grief-my-hero-is-gone/

     

    Beautiful tribute @rushbabe49 .  I think what I’m going to miss the most is simply his optimism.  He was the only one who always stayed upbeat and reminded us that we could not be defeated.  I don’t know of any other conservative personality who regularly does that.  It is a lot of sarcasm, despair and gloom – and it is so easy to fall into that mindset.  But Rush never gave in. 

    • #51
  22. AQ Member
    AQ
    @AQ

    I began listening to Rush in 1988 when I was 39 years old.  I am now 71.  We grew old together. 

    This is a hard farewell to a man who was the ultimate Happy Warrior. 

    • #52
  23. Jules PA Inactive
    Jules PA
    @JulesPA

    RushBabe49 (View Comment):

    From my personal blog, Calling-all-RushBabes:

    https://rushbabe49.com/2021/02/17/grief-my-hero-is-gone/

     

    @rushbabe

    I love this part from your tribute.

    He and Kathryn wrote a series of children’s books about American History, and I bought them when they were released.  Rush made absolutely sure that all the historical facts in his books were perfectly true.  He wanted today’s children, who suffer from the indoctrination of the public schools, to have the Real History of their country.  He wanted everyone to know what a Miracle our country is.

    • #53
  24. Ed G. Member
    Ed G.
    @EdG

    Jules PA (View Comment):

    I spent 12 years as an itinerant teacher. I had lunch with Rush every single day in my car.

    He did not change me or my thinking, as much as he help me articulate what I knew in my heart and observed with my eyes.

    That is a great way of putting it Jules. Before Rush I didn’t have  the language or the lens. It’s been clarity and conservatism ever since those days back in the 90’s when I first started listening, me too usually on my lunch break in my car .

    • #54
  25. Instugator Thatcher
    Instugator
    @Instugator

    9thDistrictNeighbor (View Comment):
    The parodies were absolutely inspired.

    My favorite was when he would channel Bill Clinton and use his voice to complain about what would happen if Hillary became president.

    Absolutely hilarious.

    • #55
  26. Dave Carter Podcaster
    Dave Carter
    @DaveCarter

    Back in 1991, my family and I were driving from Alamogordo, New Mexico, to Panama City, Florida, to my new duty station. I tuned in to WWL in New Orleans, a station I had listened to as a young boy growing up in Baton Rouge. That day, while driving, I heard Rush for the first time, and I alternated between saying, “hell yeah,” and laughing uncontrollably at the sheer, delightful audacity of this radio guy to speak the plain, flat-footed truth, unvarnished by double-speak or politically correct formulations.

    I was on the radio at a station that carried Rush in mid 1990s, and was always amazed at both the technical mastery and excellence of his broadcast, and by his incredible ability to pack more substance and solid analysis while speaking spontaneously than all the politicians and their speech writers could muster in a volume of carefully scripted and calibrated remarks.

    He saved radio, and did it by celebrating human freedom and the right to pursue excellence using our own God-given gifts. We lost a giant, but we take solace that Rush is in a place that knows neither pain nor sorrow. God grant his family peace and grant Rush eternal rest.

    • #56
  27. She Member
    She
    @She

    Fox News is doing a pretty nice retrospective and memorial.

    • #57
  28. Bishop Wash Member
    Bishop Wash
    @BishopWash

    Who remembers Rush Rooms? They probably wouldn’t happen today with people destroying businesses with online reviews. In the early nineties, restaurants that had the space would set aside a room to play Rush’s show and maybe have some lunch specials. A bowling alley in town had a Rush Room special on Thursdays. For a reasonable price they offered an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet and lane rental for the three hours of his show while playing the show over the speakers. The suitemate who introduced me to Rush was now my roommate and our classes were such that we were there every Thursday.

    After Rush started his TV show, the radio station had a contest for a trip for two to New York to be in the audience. One of the entry locations was the weekly Rush Room and we filled out a form every week. My roommate had a liberal friend and he invited him to a Thursday bowling outing. He entered the drawing with us and sure enough, out of all the weeks of entries across the town, his one entry was the winning one. He was nice enough to give us his tickets when he returned.

    • #58
  29. Addiction Is A Choice Member
    Addiction Is A Choice
    @AddictionIsAChoice

    Great collection of tributes at The Federalist:

    https://thefederalist.com/2021/02/17/read-the-most-touching-tributes-to-broadcast-legend-rush-limbaugh/

    • #59
  30. Maguffin Inactive
    Maguffin
    @Maguffin

    I (feeling bad about it now) somehow drifted away from listening to Rush – I found the topics and delivery on the John Batchelor show hit me more, and there are only so many 3-4 hour shows you can listen to in a day and still work and live your life.

    But in the 90s I was working for a seed company and I spent a lot of time driving in rural western Kansas (what other kind of western Kansas is there?) and running combines in corn fields, which left a lot of time to listen.  Of course, it was easier to get AM than FM in a lot of places.  He was just brilliant, fun to listen to, and I learned a lot.  

    There are a lot of liberal (and conservative unfortunately) people I know who bought into the mainstream version of Rush.  They lost out.

     

     

    • #60
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