It is widely reported that Rush Limbaugh, AM talk radio maven and most-listened-to conservative voice, has died at age 70. Just over a year ago President Trump awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Rush wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but millions loved his common sense insights and his patriotism. He essentially created the talk radio “industry” which has subsequently produced several Fox News hosts - Hannity, Ingraham, and Levin come to mind.
Basically he figured out that there was a vast audience whose views were not represented by what he called the “drive-by media.” So he spoke for and to them, and in their millions they loved it and him. He didn’t dumb it down, but provided palatable political science for the masses, with a bit of humor on the side.
I first heard him on KFBK in Sacramento where he started doing talk. Its 50 thousand watt signal still comes in loud and clear across northern CA. Years after he’d moved to NYC he’d still make Sacto-area wisecracks.
Rush Limbaugh was a one-off, he will be missed.
