Good Old Rush

Rush Limbaugh was just getting into a riff about the stupidity of Sen. Barack Obama’s plan to take money out of oil company profits and give it to people to help pay the cost of energy. It was the 20th anniversary, on August 1, 2008, of the Rush Limbaugh program on radio.

And guess who the first caller was on Open Line Friday? It was the three Bushes, President Bush 41, President Bush 43, and former Governor Jeb Bush of Florida. They called from Maine to wish Rush well on the 20th anniversary of the Excellence in Broadcasting Network.

And well they might. Rush Limbaugh and his “jaunty optimism” add up to a force of nature, and a considerable talent who talks “fun, frolic, and a serious discussion of the issues” 15 hours a week. It is Rush Limbaugh that keeps conservatism in the game even when it’s on defense.

Jaunty optimism is a powerful combination. FDR had it. Ronald Reagan had it. And, with the end of the Reagan-Bush era, conservatives need the morale-raising optimism of Limbaugh more than ever.

The mark of a true talent is to make it seem effortless. If you want to find out how difficult it is to sing like an opera singer, don’t listen to Luciano Pavarotti. He makes it sound easy. Listen to a grad student in voice, and hear the effort behind the performance. Rush is like Pavarotti. His easy blend of entertainment and political analysis is a tour de force. Nobody does it better. If you want to know how hard it is to do a radio show don’t listen to Rush. Listen to some beginner trying out his wings in the dark watches of the radio night.

A few months ago, the TV script writers went on strike and we found out, in case we didn’t realize, that the late night TV talk-show hosts are all scripted. Rush Limbaugh is not. He really does write his own stuff. Only he doesn’t write his own stuff. He just makes it up as he goes along.

It is said that God looks after children, drunks, and the United States of America. He certainly seems to have a special care for American conservatives too.

Best of luck Rush, you harmless little fuzzball, you. We appreciate your success and your influence more than you can ever know.