A fallacious argument. That's the same argument they used for Jackie Robinson in baseball. Many subsequent black players and white commentators claimed that if Robinson failed, there would be no black players in the majors. The fact is there were numerous well-qualified black players waiting their chance if Robinson failed.
The same with talk radio. The key was the elimination of the fairness doctrine. Rush was one of the first (and the greatest), but the rise of conservative talk radio was inevitable in my estimation. Because there was such a demand for it. Paul Harvey should get a little credit too, even though technically he wasn't a typical talk show host. All the pioneers deserve thanks, but if they hadn't succeeded, someone would have (and did) come along.
I am a big Bob Grant fan and I guess my bias shows; I love Rush also and think very highly of him (except for him paying Elton John $1 million to sing at his wedding)he is great Conservative but I was just saying that way back when, Rush did say on the Bob Grant show that if there was not a Bob Grant there would have not been Conservative talk radio. Rush then refered to him as the pioneer. After Rush, I like listening to Steve Malzberg on WOR, 710 on your AM dial (in NY).