Today Rush Limbaugh died. I usually would not comment on the life and death events of contemporary public figures. There are thousands of them and how do you choose? There is no personal attachment either, no single point of actual contact, and yet in this case, I will comment.
Rush Limbaugh was loved in the heartland and despised in liberal enclaves. I followed him regularly for approximately fifteen years, nearly from his beginning. My work duties placed me on the road frequently on weekday afternoons where I picked up Rush on what I euphemistically call ‘angry white man radio’. I present that descriptor as a self-deprecating aside because I nevertheless believe that channel to be equal to any alternative.
I chose to start listening to Rush, ironically, because the public radio station that played folk and bluegrass music on the same timeslot as Rush pulled that music show. I preferred the music. The station, obviously under liberal management, would have been dismayed to learn that their decision cemented a listening relationship for me, to their ideological opposite. The music show had erupted in some scandal that was so egregious that the radio hosts wouldn’t even talk about it. All the way back in the 80’s they knew how to cancel people and I know not why even to this day.
It didn’t take me long to like Rush. After having large doses of various NPR sources in my radio mix at the time, braggadocio wasn’t my natural preference but soon, I got it. Rush had self-discovered a type of humor that wasn’t afraid to step over the line by a yard. That it had most often to do with politics and culture wars was perfectly fine to me. I already had tangential involvement in real life, so I became a hard core fan. What became apparent over time was that Rush was a first-rate intellect. Liberal detractors liked to think of him as an uncultured slob and yet he owed them and indeed, basically invented the media niche he held. It’s notable that the liberal left tried to imitate it and to this day, fail miserably. The entire industry of liberal progressive ‘comics’ that have tried to follow him invariably have come off as bitter sarcastic scolds covered with false smiles and laughs. I learned a great deal from Rush, and from others during that time. I learned how to think and engage in rhetoric.
I eventually stopped listening to Rush. As he delved deeper into politics, he started to lose his own humorous edge. One came at the expense of the other as he became more serious. I don’t believe he lost how to engage with humor, and I didn’t disagree with the general direction of his politics, but yet it was time to move on as my listening habits and schedule were changing. I came back to Rush periodically to read radio transcripts on the web. I don’t know if he held or regained his early appeal, but I never tired of his insights.
I listened when Rush lost his hearing and was around when he went through his drug problem. He had gotten into several incidents of significant public backlash. I don’t believe he deserved their severity, but he was of course not infallible and could have moderated himself better in those instances. I listed through seasons of his changing wives and relationships. Lastly, I listened to his love of cigars, smoked while on air and these eventually consumed his life too early in the form of lung cancer.
Rush Limbaugh is and will remain a historical radio broadcaster and political pundit. He will be missed and perhaps my main regret at his too early passing is those who will not get to hear his thoughts and passion for America and conservatism. Rest in peace Rush, well done.