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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
Published in General
With a voice and humor like my father’s, which made him both endearing (and sometimes grating to the young adult version of me), Rush was absolutely indispensable in my political awakening. He helped me understand that a lot of people–including myself–don’t have a clue when spewing out opinions fueled by little more than reaction, so he made me want to learn before speaking, to think for myself about what it all really means.
What higher praise for a teacher is there?
In the late 80s/early 90s he was my teacher and ride-along companion, so I am sad for the world, but I cannot cry for the man.
I know he was a Christian.
Death is not the end of anything.
I knew you would be devastated today.
To be honest, after being a frequent listener through much of the 1990s, I hadn’t listened to more that a few minutes of his show since. Once he taught me how to think, I didn’t need to wait until mid-day to get the proper reading on the news of the day. I do feel bad that those minds (both young and old) just coming of age will not have the same guidance I had.
RIP
That is the part that I loathe. I can hardly wait until my daughter-in-law posts her rudeness on Facebook….sigh. I hope my son cautions her. But, he didn’t like Rush either, so…
Anyway, again: Rush didn’t tell conservatives what to think—he just articulated in a wonderful way! We already thought these things, he told the world in the best way ever! RIP. I’m very sad.
Rush was a radio giant. Prayers to his family and the rest of our world.
I’m just going to listen to tributes; I will hear no criticism of him by the left.
I started listening to Rush in ’91 or ’92 when one of the guys I worked with in cubeville said, “You gotta hear this guy on the radio!”
AM? On the AM band…really?
Way over on the righthand end of the dial, on a 5000 watt station that I didn’t know existed in town, was a voice that explained, as I listened over time, how I felt about politics, education, and journalism. It was the big voice on the right.
I can remember at first believing Limbaugh was wrong, as I listened to his conversation with callers, in his assessments of the nature of a specific point of view. Over time I realized I was wrong, that I didn’t understand what Rush was saying. He had indeed heard every word and his answer and perception was correct.
Since ’97 I live my work life behind a steering wheel, and Rush has been constant afternoon driving companion. If I miss a broadcast during the day I catch up though the podcast the next morning (it’s never quite the same without the intro, bumper music, and commercial breaks). Some days when worrying about the next check, or deadline, or invoice, or pitch, listening to Rush gets me out of the funk and puts me in a better mood.
Beyond criticisms of dreadful popular culture and mocking wrongheaded politicians Rush taught me about being an American — the singular importance of Liberty, the primacy of the individual over the collective, and the blessing of our time in human history.
I’m so lucky to have heard what he had to say.
Better you than me. I can’t believe how much of a sewer is most of the internet. And conservative comment sections are just as bad.
https://citizenfreepress.com/breaking/trump-breaks-media-silence-calls-into-fox-news-to-discuss-the-great-rush-limbaugh/
I listened to Rush when I could, but listening every day since retiring was time well spent.
He had a gift for seeing what liberals were doing and why. And he could communicate his findings clearly. In a way, he was a Charles Krauthammer for everyman. He delivered with humor and never took himself too seriously.
But best of all he could articulate conservative principles and why they work for everyone. He made a point of binging us news that other outlets were trying to conceal.
The fact is that most of his critics never actually listened to his program. Way too many critics had pathetic second and third hand hate for the guy.
RIP
I was a latecomer to appreciating Rush Limbaugh. Back in our days in Boston, we bought a business from the widow of my husband’s former employer. It was a big deal – we moved back from Georgia to do it. I was still a die-hard liberal then. I admit I went to a Dukakis rally…sigh. The woman we bought it from was a loyal Rush fan – we owned the place but kept her on for a year as part of the terms. Rush was on the radio everyday – I gritted my teeth, but let her have the radio control. I said how can you listen to this? An older Jewish woman, who grew up there said, I just love him! She and her family meant a lot to us. I learned a lot from her.
Many years later and lessons learned, I turned conservative and one day tuned in. In other words, I listened. That was what turned me into a new Rush fan – listening. He made sense. My former life as a liberal didn’t. God Bless You Rush and your years of standing up for freedom and The Republic for Which It Stands – you made a Patriot out of me!
I was in high school when his show started, and I just learned from listening to Mark Belling talk about Rush today that it was Belling who convinced 1130 WISN Milwaukee to start carrying Rush’s show. I don’t remember the first time I heard his show, but it was definitely at my parents’ house and might have been when I had come home on a break from college. I immediately loved the animal rights update theme song (“Born Free” punctuated by machine gun fire), the feminazi theme (“We’re fierce, we’re feminists, and we’re in your face!”), and the Paul Shanklin songs (when Rush would premiere them during the show or the commercials would end early and a Shanklin spoof would finish out the show break).
Rush would be on in the car or at my parents’ house, but it’s only in the last three years that I really started listening regularly. I’m glad I did, otherwise I would have missed his swan song. The lockdowns and the isolation started soon after his cancer diagnosis, but the times he was able to do his show in this last year has been a great comfort, like a surprise phone call from an old friend, where the sound of their voice brings back so many fond memories.
Hearing the sad news today was a gut punch. I still have that sinking feeling now. I met a friend for lunch earlier and on the way home I listened to the Howie Carr show. A woman called in and began to talk about her memories of and love for Rush, but started crying and said that she couldn’t talk about it anymore and had to hang up. I choked up when I heard that and I’m choking up now thinking about it.
I never had the desire to call in to Rush’s show because I didn’t want my yapping to take any time away from his stellar analysis. I just wanted to listen, think about the issues that he discussed, and ruminate on them for the rest of the day. He was the closest old friend I never met.
Early ’90s My radio listening consisted of Runaway Train, Set Adrift on Memory Bliss, All That She Wants….
A Friend said, “Dude, You got to listen to this guy. He sounds just like You.”
Me, “Why would I listen to someone Who ‘sounds just like Me?’ I know what I sound like.”
Friend, “He’s all politics and You would agree with Him 1000%, I swear. He’s on WBAP 12-3”
Me, “WBAP?! That’s the old people station. Here, listen to Insane In The Brain.”
Friend, “Just give it a shot.”
I listened with Him one afternoon.
I’m talking as the program was on.
Friend, “HAHAHAHAHA.”
Me, “What’s so funny?”
Friend, “Yer talking with Rush Limbaugh. Yer having a conversation with Him.”
I listened throughout the ’90s every chance I could. He was the only One in My orb as interested in the same subjects as Me. It was a relief to have such a Friend.
The program was an hour delay Here until the top of the hour news revealed Rush started His program stating He was going to treatment for pill addiction an hour before His program started locally. That caused such an uproar ’round Here that WBAP immediately changed His airtime live 11-2. The 50,000 watt blowtorch rearranged Their daily schedule instantly after the backlash.
Thank You, Rush.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has a nice article about Rush’s start in radio, which happened in Pittsburgh when he was not-quite-dry-behind-the-knees (about 20), and which I remember: https://triblive.com/local/rush-limbaugh-once-worked-in-pittsburgh-radio/. (The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a snarky and unpleasant article which I won’t link to.)
The Trib article mentions Jim Quinn, another legend in Pittsburgh disk-jockery, who Limbaugh replaced on 14-KQV in 1973. Quinn and Limbaugh ended up having a rather complicated mentor-mentee relationship. And Jim Quinn ended up being the other party in my “where were you when the planes hit the towers on 9/11?” reminiscences.
Life is odd.
He changed my life. I don’t have the vocabulary to speak my gratitude.
Eternal rest grant to him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.
Can’t comment yet.
Of course, in today’s world that will likely mean something closer to three teners in the camp than a 30-year career and a radio empire. But those are the cards now on the table…
[I try not to complain about our host too much but this picture formatting issue or whatever it is is really getting embarrassing.]
To further expound on the tweet @drewinwisconsin posted:
I’ve avoided social media today and will continue to do so. I made the mistake of looking at some National Review article comment sections, and even those were ghastly. It’s been a blessing in disguise that The Federalist had to remove its comments section. I will say this, though:
Wear the left’s vitriol and vile hatred as a badge of honor. The extreme level of their ill will toward Rush is a reflection of his unparalleled effectiveness, unequaled popularity, and towering achievements.
I first noticed this level of vitriol when Margaret Thatcher died. Why did they hate her so? Because she mopped the floor with them. She beat them again and again. She won, and they know it.
If social media had existed when Reagan died, they would have done the same to him.
You know you’ve done well when your death further unhinges the left. I can’t imagine living my life with such all consuming hatred. What emptiness. Pray that God would forgive them and heal their souls.
Edit: If anyone knows of a summary of the impact of all the charity work that Rush and his audience accomplished through his show, please share that link/those links. Update: Found this article.
From gab
Another thoughtful tribute to Rush Limbaugh on Ricochet
https://ricochet.com/896870/dont-even-try-to-replace-the-irreplaceable-retire-the-golden-mic/
@kellydjohnson
Ricochet Post from @9thdistrictneighbor That includes a link to 1992 video interview with Rush on Firing Line with William F Buckley.
https://ricochet.com/896801/firing-line-wf-buckley-interviews-rush-limbaugh/
Rico-Retrospective and Remembrance for Rush
by @alexandjudith
https://ricochet.com/896729/rush-in-full/
@torywarwriter
Remembering Rush at CPAC 2009
https://ricochet.com/896540/the-day-the-right-struck-back/
Dec 31, 2020,
Part of Rush’s last show
https://youtu.be/ppF708R7w34
He said our darkest days are not ahead. But today it seems that way.
We are better for your time here, for your teaching, and insight. Thanks for everything, El Rushbo.
From @peterrobinson
https://ricochet.com/896987/rush-limbaugh-and-wfb/
I remember where I was when I first heard Rush Limbaugh, though not quite when. I’m not even sure what the year was, though it had to be the early 90’s at the latest.
Though I lived in Fairbanks – and still do – I first heard him in Anchorage, and was entertained. I don’t remember when Fairbanks radio started playing him, but after a while, I’d listen to him every day.
I was in my thirties, had done a stint in the military, and my political views had already been formed. So he had little influence in shaping my politics. But it was a surprise to me that someone from the right had a national radio show and was so entertaining.
I loved his parodies. The first time I heard his “Born Free” parody I laughed and laughed. And “Spatula City”? Just great!
When I started listening to him, I was going to the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and I was a heavy Internet user back when .edu internet domains still outnumbered .com’s. At the time, the Internet was mostly text based. In 1992, there was a Usenet group called alt.rush-limbaugh and alt.fan.rush-limbaugh (Wikipedia has a good article on Usenet, which has been archived by Google, and is still searchable). There was a person John Switzer who would release daily summaries on that group, for about 4 years. Rush probably didn’t know about him, and really didn’t keep up with the internet then.
For example, in 1992, Rush had a CompuServe account, but he wouldn’t receive email from the internet, though at the time, CompuServe did forward external email to users that allowed them.
His CompuServe ID was 70277,2502, and the only way to reach him by that method was within the CompuServe environment. So at first, he didn’t take to the Internet. He was a late adopter, but never too late. And he stuck with terrestrial radio to the end.
Rush was a daily part of my life for about 25 years (I did stop listening to him about 7 years ago). Seeing him go with dignity and bravery and with a big dose of humility as well sets a high bar as I get older (though I’m healthy at the moment).
RIP.
If you drop by RushBabe49.com, I did three separate posts about Rush today. I think I have gone through a whole box of tissues.
I used to listen to Rush on my Walkman during his transition from Sacramento to NYC in 1988. I had a temp job doing data entry for Foundation Health Plan in the Sacto suburb of Carmichael.
I think I’m remembering correctly that – for a time – he did a show for Sacramento AND the national audience. I was always impressed with the amount of preparation he made for the show and his work ethic. What I heard from Sacramento was no different than what was broadcast from NYC. He had it down.
In my youth and college, I was in the Jesus Movement scene. At that time, Evangelicals (at least in my circles) didn’t have much to do with politics as we thought Jesus was coming back in the 1980’s. I remember liking Jimmy Carter because he was born again and liked Ronald Reagan though I couldn’t say why or even remember if I bothered to vote.
Even after college, I couldn’t tell you the difference between a Republican or Democrat. I knew that my father registered as one and my mother the other so that they “get literature from both sides”.
By the early 1990’s the church realized it was very, very wrong about Jesus returning in the 1980’s and realized that perhaps an interest in the hear and now might be appropriate.
I listened to Rush on my commute to work and began to understand distinctions. With the rise of moral majority, Christian coalition and political activism, they even began carrying his books in Christian bookstores.
He was clear and had a way of making his point. I know he was pressured to discontinue his caller abortion (hanging up on callers he didn’t want and then playing a vacuum sucking sound). Insensitive isn’t the right way to put it. Terrifying because it revealed the horrific nature of leftists sanitized group speak.