Posted on 11/20/2004 6:34:48 AM PST by John Robertson
Just read this on a Clinton/Jennings thread, from a Freeper: "Back in August of 1988, a new voice came on the radio, the lovable little fuzzball - el Rushbo. Prior to then, I avoided politics and editorials, because I thought I was alone in my views. I voted conservatively and privately. Then Rush gave a voice to conservative thought."
And it made me think of something I've been meaning to post for a while...
He took one of the oldest mass medias, radio, and made it part of the new media. He made it the leader of the new media. Along comes the net, Fox News, and the blogosphere, and we are in the midst of an information dissemination revolution that has taken the power away from the old media. NY Times and company keep flailing, but their partisan biases are countered by the new media in SECONDS.
Imagine, if you will, a world in which there were NO countervailing force to the big three networks, and the big three or four newspapers. Exactly: WE would be in the wilderness. They were a monolith that controlled how the majority of Americans think, act--and vote.
We came through. Thank Rush. Thank God.
2004 has been the Year of The New Media. This has been the year of Swift Boat Vets. The year of Talk Radio. This has been the Year of Fox News and their incredible ratings-- and the year of the fall of the Old Media and their not-so-incredible ratings. This has been the year of paid Bloggers and Pajama Bloggers.
2004 is the year where the culmination of Rush Limbaugh's efforts came to fruition. The past decade has been "The Limbaugh Decade." Massive ratings victories for his show. The saving of AM radio. The spawning of Sean Hannity's, Bill O'Reilly's, Laura Ingram's programs, and on and on. The rise of Internet sites like Free Republic, Lucianne.com, Rushlimbaugh.com and all the brilliant sites of so many bloggers. We're talking about millions and millions of listeners and viewers of conservative programs and web sites -- something that did not exist a few short years ago.
Republicans control Congress and have for some time. Rush was formally recognized by the victorious Freshmen Congressmen in 1992 as an Honorary Member for his role in getting them elected. Now, Al Gore and John Kerry can only wonder about their chances to become President if not for Rush Limbaugh and those in the media who have followed in his footsteps.
"The Winston Churchill of the Private Sector." Right? That's ought to qualify a guy for "Man of the Year."
Everyone knows. The Old Media knows. Why not formalize this fact?
This is not to minimize President Bush (or Dick Cheney who Democrats claim runs the country). This is just a simple recognition of a sea change in the manner in which information is disseminated in the freest, most prosperous and greatest country on the face of the Earth.
Out with the old (media), in with the new (media).
Conservatism is on the front burner: Tax cuts, tax reform, social security reform, strong military, etc... Rush has been the primary spokesperson for these issues and it has all come to a head.
He blazed the trail and that trail has turned into an information highway providing information and analysis Americans have craved-- the ratings prove this. The fact is, this information highway has resulted in votes for conservatives. Look who's been controlling the Congress for the past decade-- this is no coincidence. Rush has been the most vocal, the most visible and the most effective communicator of conservatism since Ronald Reagan left office.
Rush has been and still is the leader in the information revolution in the United States. The numbers prove it and we all instinctively know it.
Agree with Rush or disagree? That's not the question. Here's the criteria: "the person or persons who most affected the news and our lives, for good or for ill, and embodied what was important about the year, for better or for worse."
Case closed.
Old fashioned Bump To The Top! Rush for Man of the Year.
John -
Rush is the absolute best. Almost had my 92 year old grandfather on the right after 92 years of being on the left using Rush's books. Rush makes too much sense!
If you are out here, Rush - thank you.
That makes two of us.
Great supporting case data, well said, greatly written... and fast, man. Did you have that in the wings, ready to cut and paste?
Tiny quibble: "Rush was formally recognized by the victorious Freshmen Congressmen in 1992 as an Honorary Member for his role in getting them elected." It was the '94 election. Will never forget: Was driving a car back from California to Pittsburgh, and I tuned into the radio to hear the news the day after the election as I was driving into the sun coming up over Colorado. How glorious.
I thought I was alone in my views....
That was a quote from another Freeper, on another thread. I just used it as a jumping-off point. Credit where credit's due department.
I remember hearing the most terrible things about Rush Limbaugh. Then I moved to North Carolina where he was carried on early morning TV. I watched just to see how crazy the guy actually was and found him charming, funny, energetic...and right! I love the man. Many thanks, Rush Limbaugh.
LOL!
5.56mm
I think a better case could be made for Ronald Reagan. Not because he died, but it is his conservative legacy that has taken over the country. Rush contributed a bunch, but Reagan was the man who really made it happen. GW politics were heavily inflenced by Reagan.
I first knew of Rush through watching the last year of his TV show.
I didn't always agree with Rush, but it was more-than-obvious that he raised questions that needed to be raised.
As a budding conservative, I found the show to be very enjoyable.
I'll bet algore is sorry he invented the internet.
Yeah, he probably tosses and turns every night, realizing all the power he handed over to his opponents.
Bump to that.
God Bless you Rush, you have brought us hope and courage for the fight.
Thank you Rush. I'm better for having sat at your feet in the Institute for Advanced Conservative Studies all of these years. You have empowered me to be actively conservative ... not simply passive in my beliefs. I am so grateful -- words could never adequately express. God bless you.
I got an Arbitron rating survey in the mail to fill out a few months ago. I thanked Rush in a way that will put dollars in his pocket! If you get an Arbirtron survey in the mail, be sure to fill it out and send it in, and be sure to note that you listen to Rush three hours a day, every day!
Thank you Rush.
Rush saved me from P.E.S.T. during the '90's.
John
You are very right. Rush has always been that guiding light for all of us to see.
I believe he was in LA for an award last night.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.