Rush's success is due to the fact that he undeniably has talent, and a good analytical mind.
But the success of conservative talk radio in general owes a lot to simple demographics. If you imagine a 50-50 country, the left half of the country has been well serviced by a long list of media outlets. We've had only one, until recently. Left-leaning media fights for market share with every other media company, they must share their 50% of the country among them, so they are lucky to get into double digits. A typical conservative talk show host has no competition at all, there is no other conservative outlet, the whole 50% is his.
Air America's competition was not Rush, it was Oprah. And CNN, and everything else on TV and Radio. They were never competing with Rush, and I don't think they ever understood that. Rush's success, beyond his personal talent, is due to the fact that demographically he has no competition out there.
Fox's success is due to a similar dynamic. There are many left-leaning TV broadcasters; there is only one Fox. The leftist broadcasters have to compete with all their brothers for market share; Fox is the only choice for their half of the country. MSNBC gets killed in the ratings because they compete with ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, and on and on down the line. Fox stand alone in its demographic.
With NPR, why would a liberal need AA?
As Ann Coulter once said about Air America radio, the biggest thing they don't have that conservative talk radio has is a built-in audience... people driving to and from some sort of job in their cars!
Rush has a different kind of competition.. It is called work.
Most conservatives are on the job during his on air hours.
How does Rush do that ? I think there are a number of factors that converge into making Rush the most unique broadcaster in the history of broadcasting- tv or radio. His assets in no particular order
1. His larynx and vocal chords, that "emit vocal vibrations" into the Golden EIB mic. They have been carefully developed and cultured over the years, like the fine tobacco he smokes. His speech patterns and delivery are nearly flawless. Although the syllables themselves are appropriately accented and generally staccato in style, the flow itself is smooth and rhythmic with no abrupt interruptions or pauses, which typically happen when you are struggling for words or have an inconsistent train of thought. And that is exactly my next point. I think Rush has spent (probably still does) as much time in mastering the English language as he does in analysing the issues. I doubt very many broadcasters do that. It takes more than everyday conversational ability to be a great broadcaster. And because his brain can translate complex thoughts into meaningful, complete and grammatically correct sentences faster than his mouth can utter them, the verbal diarrhea behind the mic never ceases. Rush's voice is the closest normal human speech comes to music. I wouldn't be surprised if he happened to be an operatic baritone in a secret life.
2. His acutely analytical mind and deep understanding of the issues need no mention. He will often pull out seemingly mundane news stories and draw an inference that would have eluded most. Cutting edge of societal evolution -- damn right.
3. Sense of humor - legendary. And I don't mean the songs, parodies, impersonations or the regular self adulations. But the subtle quips he utters under his breath into the mic before quickly moving on.
4. Energy level and passion, boundless. Everyday. Unless Rush mentions it himself you will never know he is working on 4 hours of sleep for the second straight day.
5. His respect for the audience, and considering himself to be as one of us, versus them over there. Yeah he may jet off to some exclusive golf resort for the weekend in his GulfStream, but we are still family to him.
How much more do you need to keep millions of listeners hooked for decades ? Make no mistake my friends, when Rush claims to be a highly trained broadcast specialist, he is not joking.