I thought Rush played a roll in ousting 41 with his criticism of GHWB, in the first year of GWB 43 he also lost me as a listener with his negativity, but ever since 9/11, Rush has been much more serious and I believe he looks at the big picture much more.
Rush would make a great political adviser for George Allen (our next President)
You are right with your thoughts that Rush hurt Bush 41 in 1992. He was a supporter of that Nutcase Pat Buchanan until after the primary. All the horrible liess that were said about 41 by Buchanan and Ross Perot and Clinton took its toll. That was the first year I listened to Rush and I remember it vividly. I think he distanced himself from Buchanan since.
I first heard him about 10 years ago. I thought he was the biggest bombastic ass I'd ever heard, and very anti-woman too. I later realized most of that was tongue-in-cheek and self-parody. I do think at times he has had a vein of anti-woman in him, but he's moderated that some.
In the last few years, I've listened to him pretty regularly and like him a lot, and take what he says seriously. But mostly I love to listen to him skewer the pompous buffoons on the left.
I got the impression from his interview with Sean, that Rush likes George Allen!