Reagan had the Bully Pulpit and he knew how to us it too. Reagan advanced conservatism like no one before him, or after him. That includes, Rush Limbaugh. Just ask Rush what he thinks of Reagan.
Let me remind all you history-challenged folks about something called the Fairness Doctrine. For starters, it was two federal appeals court Judges, named Bork and Scalia, who in 1986 determined that the FCC was under no requirement to enforce the the Fairness Doctrine.
That didn't stop the Democrat controlled Congress from overstepping their authority. In 1987 they attempted to codify the Fairness Doctrine. It was President Reagan who rejected and vetoed the Fairness Doctrine. Thus allowing the growth of talk radio. It was Reagan who gave Rush, Hannity and the other cosnervative talking heads the ability to sound off, without having to offer opposing viewpoints. Bush 41 upheld Reagan's decision, threatening his own veto of the so-called Fairness Doctrine in 1991. A big reason Rush supported Bush41 for reelection.
Without the original decision of President Reagan, Rush Limbaugh would not have had the opportunity to advance the conservative cause. Something he did well for many years. Obviously, not so much in recent years. After all, Rush is an entertainer, first and foremost.
I think you are absolutely wrong with that statement. I will bet you cannot find a transcript where Rush says, "I am an enterainer, first and foremost." That is the lie the left passes around to diminish Rush. I believe Rush actually said a few weeks ago something to the effect that he was serious about political conservatism.
A question for you, tho...did Reagan, advancing the cause of conservatism, contribute to a Republican controlled Congress? Did he have that during any of his Presidency? While he was able to accomplish many great things, he couldn't accomplish that. It is my point that the rise of the Conservative-skewed talk format for radio is due to Rush Limbaugh, not President Reagan. If you wish to posit that President Reagan was the instigator of the modern-day conservative movement, then we have no point of contention. However, if you're going on record to say that the ‘94 congressional revolution, and the resulting rise of conservative talk radio was a direct result of President Reagan wishing to advance that cause, then I respectfully disagree.