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.
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.