The Passing of Rush Limbaugh

 Like several tens of millions of Americans today, I am saddened by the passing of Rush Limbaugh this morning.  We knew a little over a year ago that this was coming and the fact that he had lasted this far is amazing in and of itself.  That is, in my view, reflective of his passion that he had for being the best at what he wanted to be.  

I had heard of Rush Limbaugh in 1990 but I didn't know who he really was.  I wasn't into listening to the radio on the drive in to work or the drive home.  I had a cassette player in the Celica that I owned at the time and I was listening to BTO or Creedence or the Smithereens.  I didn't really listen to the radio all that much.  That was soon to change.

In May of 1992, I flew out for a wedding that in a small town in Wisconsin called Kewaunee.  I was driving somewhere near Green Bay one morning, I think it was a Saturday, and I had the radio station tuned into a talk show host.  I was liking a lot of what he was saying.  He went on to use the term "feminazi", and I thought wow, this guy had the guts to actually say something like that!  I wanted to hear more.

Yes, it was my first experiencing hearing Rush Limbaugh.  As I was to hear him say several times later on in life, he would say that you would always remember the very first moment that you heard him.  He was right.  He criticized feminazis, environmentalist wackos, the Clintons, and a whole host of other things.  I sensed that he enjoyed teasing his opponents and I liked hearing him do that.  He had this way of making whatever he was talking about interesting.  He did it in his own entertaining way.  And I am one of those who is convinced that he had a lot to do with the Republicans winning both houses of Congress in 1994.  

His influence was such that I believe that he singlehandedly saved the medium of AM radio from dying.  Others have said that.  With over 600 radio stations carrying his show, he undoubtedly had an impact.  There is no denying that he cleared the path for Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Glenn Beck, and others.  It was demonstrated that a nationally-syndicated talk radio show could make it in the daytime.  He changed radio history forever.

Since that day I first tuned in to him, whenever I'm out driving around I listen to talk radio....whether it's local or national.  (At night, when I'm trying to tune in those distant radio stations, it's whatever is out there.)  

The history of AM broadcasting has had a lot of famous people.  William K. Henderson.  John Brinkley.  Wolfman Jack.  Donald D. Rose.

Rush Limbaugh, in his own unique way, added to that, and reached a bigger audience.

Goodbye Rush!  You will be sorely missed!