I don’t think McCain was quite a lock, and the thing that bothered me was that Rush several times specifically said that he wouldn’t be involved in the GOP candidate selection process. I think a lot of people were waiting for a bit of guidance. That is, we didn’t necessarily have to agree with Rush, but it would have been nice to hear his analysis of the candidates.
Rush's value and strength is articulating Republican/conservative principles. He became the most listened-to talk show host in the world not because he presumed to tell people what to think, but because he was reinforcing and validating what tens of millions of Americans already thought, but weren't hearing anywhere in the media.
Therefore, when Rush declined to endorse or favor a primary candidate, what it told me was that Rush had too much respect for me, and all the rest of his listeners, as individuals to presume to tell them who to vote for.
Rush tells us what to vote for, not who.
When he talks about conservative principle the way he has for the past 10 years now, he is teaching listeners how to fish. If he started telling us who, rather than what, to vote for, he'd be giving us fish.
He is living by the conservative principle he promotes.
My respect for Rush soared during the primaries, especially when I heard him reinforce and validate my own thoughts after the Republican primary debate: that "there was only one conservative on that stage," and that was Fred Thompson.
Mark Steyn penned a beautiful column praising Thompson. I heard Mark Levin refer to Thompson as "my guy." For me, three of five of pundits I admire most confirmed clearly, loudly, and plainly for me that I was on the right track in backing Thompson. It made me feel good.
I've listened to and read Rush enough to know that he despises McCain and regards him as an enemy of conservatism. The restraint shown by Rush during this campaign must have taken near super-human resolve and discipline on his part -- professionalism, if you will. And that professionalism springs from respect that Rush has for me -- and for you, and for all of his listeners.
Rush is a gift from God and unique.