I suspect many of us carry the memory of the day we first discovered Rush in the same way that other major events become seared into our minds. For Boomers, it was the JFK assassination, later, it was 911. In 2016, it was the stunning Trump victory.
We can hold happy memories. Most of us probably have a story to tell about our first El Rushbo experience.
Way back in the early1990s a friend asked me if I ever listened to Rush Limbaugh.
A what?
I didn’t even realize that ”Rush Limbaugh” is a proper name.
Later, I would discover that my parents had been listening to Rush on the radio for some time. They would drop everything at noon to sit around the radio as if it were an FDR fireside chat, but not socialist propaganda. (Only Biden was able to watch FDR in TV).
At the time, I lived just outside of San Diego and refused to waste money on cable. So, I got what I could get via antenna.
Somehow in flipping channels at 2 am, this Rush Limbaugh person popped up and I gave it a go. Oooohhhhhh, now I get it. The man was making perfect sense. Anyone who began his TV show with a tally of the days of “America Held Hostage” (Clinton years) was a good bet.
The next weekend, my unfortunate boyfriend found himself on the roof, installing one of those old whirly gig antennas that you could point as necessary for better reception.
After boyfriend came back in, hot, sweaty, and in dire need of a cold beer, his only comment was “All for that one guy.”
We broke up shortly thereafter.
We can hold happy memories. Most of us probably have a story to tell about our first El Rushbo experience.
For me it was fall 1990 during the lead up to the first Gulf War. I was 16 at the time and being born in 1974 I had never experienced a real war and was kind of obsessed with it, being interested in anything military related. We lived out in the country and there was no cable TV. So desperate for news I was tuned in the old console stereo we had. I stumbled on this guy, Rush, who was talking about the war and politics. At the time I knew nothing (and cared little) about politics. My parents were nominal democrats (though they voted for Reagan) but really weren't political either. Not only did Rush turn me into a conservative for life, my parents started listening, switched parties and became avid conservative voters as well.
I listened to Rush religiously through High School and college. Though in the mid 2000's I started listening less and less (due to career and family I couldn't really devote three hours a day anymore, and it was quicker just to quickly log onto sites like Free Republic for conservative news). Sadly when I heard he had been diagnosed with cancer I hadn't tuned into his show in over two years. I've been trying to tune in as much as I can while I still have the chance. I just never thought about him dying, I always assumed one day he might up and retire, otherwise I pictured him still doing radio when he was 90.
I discovered Rush in 1993 while I was 7 months pregnant with my son.
I was in a supermarket when I saw his book “The Way Things Ought to Be” - and remember another radio host excoriating the book and him (can’t remember who).
I decided to chance it and buy the book - I remember placing it face down in my cart so no one else would see it.
Read it in one sitting - hey, this guy was saying exactly what my family and I were talking about behind closed doors.
Turned on his show and have been a faithful listener ever since.
There is Rush and there is no one else.