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I was there... here's my post to a couple of e-lists I participate in...

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Ah yes, Melanie is definitely in the ranks of Coulter, Malkin and Ingraham. A doll. Complete eye-candy. With, all males noted, magnificent high-beams.

The Doctor of Democracy, Maja Rushie himself, enjoyed a packed auditorium in the center of town. It was his first appearance ever in the Bay Area, which is hardly receptive territory for him or his message. But the crowd could not have been friendlier or more engaged. He was introduced by Melanie, and they obviously think highly of each other though they haven't seen each other for more than two decades. Interestingly, he recounted that an on-air comment he'd made to her in Kansas City landed him in mandatory sensitivity training! He claims he just called her "dear", but she's quite the stunner and it could have been anything.

Rush was in brilliant form, totally "on" and filling up two hours with his patented brand of insightful and incisive commentary, generously larded with humor and bombast. He looked good, acted thoroughly delighted to be amid such a responsive and supportive crowd, and generally kicked out the jambs with a witty and energetic performance that was 100% upbeat and heavy on the inspiration.

The "swear word" that the SJ Mercury article references was pretty mild: he accurately termed some leftist assertion or another "bullshit", to great applause. The off-color story was delicious (and is not unique to Rush; I found a version at http://worcester.typepad.com/pc4media/2004/05/senator_kennedy.html): Some paparazzi shot photos of Kennedy and a girlfriend on his yacht. The first photo showed her jumping into the water, then (and Rush noted "and this was a first") the next photo showed him jumping in after her. The third showed them engaged in what Rush primly and winkingly called "romantic activity". When some southern Senator saw these photos (I forget who Rush said it was; the link above says Howell Heflin of Alabama), he remarked, "Well, well, now. I do believe that the Senator seems to have changed his position on offshore drilling."

Of course, Rush wasn't just lobbing jokes; this was part of a bigger story about a tough audience of top conservative leaders he'd played back in the early 90s, in the early days of his ascension to radio prominence. The joke flopped utterly for that group of stodgy grimjaws, and he was clearly delighted that the San Jose crowd found it to be a total hoot.

Throughout, I was impressed with how quick on his feet he was, and with his vocabulary and general command of the language. He's obviously a bright guy whose intellect runs deep.

By the way, I watched carefully for anything "too" energetic or manic or abnormal or bouncing-off-the-walls, but he seemed to be doing very well health-wise and seemed totally focused and in-control. As on his radio show, he'd occasionally riff on how successful and influential he is, but he's earned the right.

He was sporting what appeared to be a new behind-the-ear cochlear implant processor rather like my own six-month-old unit-- bet I was the only one there who noticed that! Every other time I've seen him since his implant, such as on his excellent 24/7 webcam, he's had the belt-worn processor. I'd wager his trip to the West Coast coincided with a two-year-anniversary tune-up at the House Ear Clinic in L.A., with the new processor as a bonus. We can be sure he's enjoying that.

His only concession to his deafness was that questions from the audience were to be written out and handed to the ushers before the event began. Even so, he had a little banter with one guy from the back of the room-- impressive. The implant is obviously working extremely well for him.