This above all (to understand Rush Limbaugh is to understand America)

Boy, how quickly we forget!

He brought Conservatisim to the masses. He explained complex issues in terms the average person could understand. I learned more from him about the Constitution and our government than all my years of schooling from 'k thru kollege'. And he taught it the RIGHT way--none of this Constitution is a "living, breathing document" BS. I also was able to turn the tide in many of my college classes because of what I learned. I took on feminazis, commies, welfare proponents, big government-types, Jewish-haters, political correct drones, environmental wackos, etc.--and won!

He opened millions of people's eyes to the liberal bias of the mainstraem media. At the time how many people thought or knew about liberal bias? The media were getting away with murder. Rush put that to a stop. We wouldn't have Fox news without Limbaugh. I believe we wouldn't have Free Republic.

He not only single handedly saved talk radio, but maybe AM radio as well. The genre, and the entire band itself, was in danger of extinction for the entire 80s. Rush stopped the downward slide in 1988, and assured a formerly doomed-by-the-next-decade radio band had years and years of life left.

He, at the time, was the only national figure who took on the Democrats day after day after day with his analysis and his argument.

Look at what he did to klinton. Look at what he's doing to Daschle. He single handedly made Tom Daschle look like the lying, weasly, foolish scumbag that he is.

From democrats, to environmental wackos, down to the garden variety liberals in our schools, Rush has changed minds. How many Conservatives has he converted? How many people have converted to our side because of the growing number of Conservative talk hosts--all inspired by Rush? Like I said before,there were likely enough people to keep America alive during the 90s.

With no Rush, 8 years of klinton unfettered, and an algore presidency...America wouldn't be here for us to have this conversation. But they weren't, and we are here! And I thank Rush and the Conservatives of America for this fact.

It's nice you have a hero. Not that he's deserving of your enthusiasm. It's not like he would have lifted a finger to help fellow conservatives if there wasn't a buck in it for him. He never spent any time volunteering on campaigns, and didn't bother to vote until 1988. Meaning he didn't even cast one vote for Ronald Reagan. If it weren't profitable, Rush wouldn't be doing any of it. He said that himself on the air, and the quote's in his first book. And I think in that admission he sums up his fundamental values.

It's not like he would have lifted a finger to help fellow conservatives if there wasn't a buck in it for him.

...Because it's his job, are you calling him an opportunist? He has to pay the bills. You can say that about anyone.

What about the people who work in hospitals? They perform a service...but as last week’s 60 Minutes showcased, (I only watched that show for 2 minutes!)nurses all over the world are leaving their low-paying jobs to come to America. Do they have an obligation to their native countries? Are they greedy for wanting more? Do the owners/companies that own hospitals have an obligation to stay open even if they are losing money year after year?

Policeman and firefighters who have to leave big cities like New York because they are paid next to nothing aren't opportunists to me. Their needs are not being met where they are; if they can't earn what they feel they deserve, they'll be a cop somewhere else, or find an other line of work.

Rush managed to turn something he loved doing into the most successful radio program of all time. At the same time, he has literally opened the eyes of countless millions of people to the Conservative movement. He has exposed the liberal media for what they are, and thanks to him, people are challenging their lies and distortions. I don't begrudge him one bit. Let him make his money. I don't care about his voting record, either. His defense of the Gipper (not to mention his rebuttals of the left's attempted character assassination of Reagan) has provided valuable ammunition for Conservatives the world over when faced with Reagan revisionist re-writes of history. It more than makes up for not voting for him. I didn't vote in the June 6th New Jersey Republican primary. Big deal. Am I not allowed to tell people about Forrester?

No man is perfect. Reagan legalized thousands of illegals, was responsible for the "no-fault" divorce, and had other personal stuff as well. That doesn't disqualify him from being my favorite 20th century President. I do not engage in hero worship, but it is nice to have someone to admire once in a while. Who do you admire?

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