I always thought Limbaugh’s “Undeniable Truth” that the Republican Party was the “modern home of conservatism” was shakey. It may have been mostly true, but Limbaugh himself was certainly Mr. Republican throughout his career. If I am right about that then Limbaugh’s oddessy toward populism was more a matter of getting pulled along in the Trump tide.
Rush was always a populist to a great degree. Had he just spouted the Country Club Republican line, he would have had no audience. The airwaves have been full of country club types since the Rockefeller days, and they’re a dime a dozen. Rush was always for the small businessman, because he was one.
“...but Limbaugh himself was certainly Mr. Republican throughout his career.”
Naa, not true. Rush fought TOOTH AND NAIL against Bush Jr’s Amnesty pushes in 2005 and 2006, and that was DESPITE the GOP begging him for support of Amnesty. Rush knew full-well, even back then where the country was on the issue, not just his listeners, not just the Republican base, but the ENTIRE COUNTRY. The GOP just saw $$$ from Amnesty and didn’t give a crap about the damage it would do here.