I got a shock and a surprise last Wednesday.
The shock….Rush died. The surprise….I was moved. Moved by the passing of someone I didn’t know personally. I experienced that only 3 times before: JFK, Golda, Krauthammer. He spoke to 25 million devoted, loyal listeners for 3 hours, 5x/ week. No script. Every caller, every one, announced that he was in their prayers. He was passionate, beloved, influential. Also, hated, feared, abused. He treated both the same. Most agree he paved the way for contemporary radio talk.
Many considered him divisive, offensive, dangerous. But he said what he meant and meant what he said. A staunch conservative, he led the way against liberalism, which he considered to be divisive, offensive, dangerous. I admit there were many times he cleared up issues for me. Sometimes putting them in perspective, sometimes offering a different slant I hadn’t considered. He had the unique ability to impart knowledge, stimulate, and entertain at the same time. You could agree or disagree with him, but you knew he had no other agenda than sharing what he believed.
Only hours after his passing, his wife, Kathryn, went on radio with these words: “It is with profound sadness, I must share with you directly, that our beloved Rush, my wonderful husband, passed away this morning, due to complications from lung cancer. Rush will forever be the greatest of all time. Rush was an extraordinary man: a gentle giant, quick-witted, genuinely kind, extremely generous, passionate, courageous, and the hardest working man I know.” I was listening at the time…..not a quiver, not a hiccup. How many of us could do that on national radio?
There are few we recognize as GOATs: Jordan, Nicklaus, the Babe, Astaire, Brady…..and now Rush. They all had 1 thing in common. They made it look easy. No, no one will take his place. All we can hope for is that someone with his courage, caring, and tenacity will pick up the torch. But there will never be another.
I cannot hope to explain his opinions as well as he did.
Notable quotables:
“Racist- A person who loses an argument with a liberal.”
“You know why there’s a 2nd amendment? In case the government fails to follow the 1st.”
“The difference between a liberal and a conservative is a liberal interprets the Constitution, a conservative quotes it.”
From his final telecast:
“Every day remains a gift. You know, I wake up every morning and thank God that I did….But the fact that I am able to get back here and be with you is a genuine blessing, and I appreciate it and I appreciate your understanding throughout all of this.”
