Posted on 02/03/2020 1:50:02 PM PST by EyesOfTX
Talk Radio would not exist were it not for Rush Limbaugh. That’s a plain and simple fact, and talk radio has been a vital tool for maintaining freedom and prosperity in this country since Rush’s program began airing nationally more than 31 years ago. He has been that important to the conservative political movement for the last three decades, far more important than any other individual over that period of time.
Rush has played the vital role of the conservative Happy Warrior, a role the country needed someone to step into as the great Ronald Reagan – or, as Rush loves to call him, Ronaldus Magnus – was winding down his presidency. With 95% of the nation’s news media slanted irrevocably and increasingly leftwards and becoming ever more corrupt by the day, American conservatives needed a prominent voice to stand up and shout the truth.
William F. Buckley famously once said that one of the roles for American conservatism was to be the lonely warrior who stands athwart history shouting “stop!”
For 31 years, Rush Limbaugh has stood athwart the passing scene shouting “stop!” with a smile on his face, a gleam in his eye, and joy in his heart. This has been no easy job.
Of all Americans of the 21st Century, no one, not even candidate and President Donald Trump, has been defamed, besmirched, libeled and slandered as often or as viciously as has Rush Limbaugh. His personal foibles – his divorces and addiction to prescription drugs and the cigar smoking that likely brought on his lung cancer – have become the fodder for unfunny late night talk show hosts and untalented talking heads on cable television.
He has been the target of too many opportunistic, flailing politicians to catalog, including American presidents. He was actually blamed by the despicable Bill Clinton for the Oklahoma City bombing. Barack Obama called him a danger to our society. For three decades he has served as the favorite boogeyman of the American left.
That’s because for three decades he has been right about them, and for three decades he has made himself and his voice relevant, an indispensable part of the fabric of our society. After all, if he weren’t right or so utterly relevant, they’d just ignore him. The fact that they cannot ignore him tells you how powerful his voice became.
One of his radio talk show colleagues – I forget which one now – once referred to Rush as the Babe Ruth of talk radio, and that is an appropriate analogy on several levels. Just as Ruth became a legendary, larger-than-life figure who turned his profession into a national pastime, Rush is a legendary, larger-than-life figure who saved AM talk radio and turned it into a massive media industry that dominates the airwaves.
But, more poignantly, Babe Ruth also habitually smoked cigars, and he also contracted lung cancer.
Our medical industry has advanced by light years since the 1940s, and everyone living today probably knows someone who has fought cancer and won their battle. We can be sure that Rush will fight this cancer with every fiber of his being, and that he will have access to the best medical care available.
I first discovered the Rush Limbaugh show one Sunday afternoon while listening to my pocket radio while mowing my lawn in 1988. Dallas AM station WBAP 820 at the time aired 3 hours of Rush’s show on the weekends – it wasn’t available on a daily basis until at least a year later. I’ve been a loyal listener of the show ever since that day more than 31 years ago.
All I and Rush’s many millions of other listeners can do now is hope and pray for his recovery. In closing his show on Monday, he said “Every day I’m not here, I’ll be thinking of you and missing you.”
I and many millions of other Americans will be missing thinking of and missing you, too, Rush. Godspeed.
I discovered Rush during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm while in the USAF. During a break, I read an article in Time magazine about him; the article RIPPED HIM TO SHREDS. I figured: if the red pigs at Time loathe him that much, he must be good. Startled listening to him the next day.
But I won't have kind things to say about..the deaths of many on the Left.
Why would the guy have a signature saying..about "His formally nicotine strained fingers"....I guess...that's not cigars..he's talking about....
FWIW- I'm in the Medical Field...Nicotine..is a harsh substance...One of the biggest Vasoconstriction substances around...Of course it isn't good for you...for many reasons...CA,HTN, Heart DZ...etc..We ask cigarette smokers all the time..."How many packs a day, for how many years"
Two packs a day for 40 years...is a 80 yr pack history. Generally...that's not a good thing. Either you have horrible COPD, CA, or bad heart DZ...I'm guessing Rush smoked for many years...maybe 30 years or more...before turning to cigars...Which granted...if you inhale them..that isn't good either....
FWIW-
In Summer of ‘88 I was driving in eastern New York state on my way to central Mass. I caught a strong radio signal out of New York City and listened to the most dynamic radio personality with the most dynamic political message I had ever heard previously — and that included RReagan. He was a radio newbie and I passed the word in Worcester, Acton and Boxboro that there was a new radio guy really worth listening to. Two years later I returned, and Rush Limbaugh owned that part of Massachusetts.
Let’s pray that God doesn’t collect on that loan any time soon.
Tell us what you really think, don’t sugar coat it. I agree with you BTW.
Rush is one of my all time heroes, like a big brother. Keeping him in prayer always.
Prayers up for Rush. Not a fan of him but God bless him and comfort him.
I know he installed a significant air filtration system in his house to take care of cigar smoke inside. I doubt he’d do that for the occasional cigar.
Yes, his “formerly nicotine-stained fingers” comment referred to when he used to smoke cigarettes. I have no idea how long he smoked cigarettes nor do I know whether he inhales cigars. I smoke occasional cigars, too, and no way in hell would I inhale but some people do.
Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
The little big city has a long list of notable people born or raised there.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Girardeau,_Missouri
Best. Rant. Ever.
Hope Rush sees it :). Thanks for chuckle...and prayers for Rush
i have been there. used to have a lot of shops by the river before the mall got built . it was by the old bridge
I think that part is run down now that they built the new bridge.
Get well soon Rush !
Rush is still very much alive. The past tense crap is creepy.
What's your favorite cigar?..
I'm partial to the mild ones...with the occasional..Maduro.
Oh, I do. . . just that He wouldn’t recognize them, after what they’ve done to themselves.
If you know anything about cigars, you’d know you don’t inhale cigar smoke. You get throat and mouth cancer from cigars. . . but usually not lung cancer.
Rush was a cigarette smoker in his younger years. That may be the proximal cause. . . or not. Some people just get lung cancer due to getting lung cancer.
I listened to Rush from his first day radio broadcast on KFBK in Sacramento. I was hooked from the first fifteen minutes. I remember how hilarious his faux commercials were, of which he ran many, because at first he had few sponsors and needed to fill the air time. I miss those now. Ah, "Spatula City. . . Great bargains on spatulas!" Or the instant Super Bargain, Door buster, 10 second sales ads that required you to be there right now to buy, or they were over, that never told you where or what was on sale! Too many sponsors now, so no faux ads. Hilarious!
Rush is one of a kind and he has to keep going.
Never been there myself.
On my list of places to check out some day. Just for the heck of it.
I was surprised to see Dale Dye, former Marine, actor, writer and director is from Cape Girardeau.
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