The Rush Revolution

A noteworthy anniversary.

If you weren’t listening to your radio on Aug. 1, 1988, then you missed something revolutionary. 

This was so groundbreaking – so monumental – that it’s impossible to overstate the enormity of its impact. It changed everything. The seismic shift in its wake – in news media, political journalism, grassroots activism, and pop culture itself – transformed America so profoundly that it’s impossible to imagine our modern world without his larger-than-life imprint (from his “formerly nicotine-stained fingers”).

Aug. 1, 1988, was the day Rush Limbaugh’s radio show was syndicated.

Rush Limbaugh didn’t invent talk radio. Loud, boisterous talk-show hosts were an American staple almost from the beginning. Father Charles Coughlin commanded a radio audience in the tens of millions back in the 1930s (and was a constant thorn in FDR’s side). Paul Harvey left an enormous footprint (voice print?) on the talk-radio industry, originating his “The Rest of the Story” tagline way back in 1946. Harvey continued broadcasting until 2008, one of the longest and most successful tenures ever.

But in terms of overall cultural impact? There was only one Rush Limbaugh.

If he hadn’t actually existed, nobody would ever believe it, because his accomplishments are just so ludicrous that they defy common sense. Imagine one man, all on his own, speaking extemporaneously about the issues and events of the day! He rarely took phone calls and seldom had guests – it was just one man, talking into his golden EIB microphone, riffing about life, country, family, and politics! And for DECADES, three hours every weekday, more people would listen to this man than anyone else!

It was preposterous. It was unbelievable. And it’ll never happen again.

Cherish your memories because there’ll never be another Rush Limbaugh.

Although I had lost interest in him towards the end of his career, and by the time he passed hadn’t listened to his show in quite a few years, I would never dream of denying the powerful impact he had on American politics—an influence for good barely rivaled for at least a century, if not even longer. And that’s just his influence on politics, mind; his influence on broadcasting was and is nothing short of unparalleled, almost unbelievable. Needless to say, grim, grey-faced “liberal” killjoys were NOT amused. Then again though, when have they ever been?

Back in the 1990s, restaurants across the country were creating lunchtime “Rush Rooms” – places where patrons could dine and listen to Rush Limbaugh. His show aired from noon to 3 p.m. Eastern, and millions of fans hung on his every word. And not just restaurants: An L.A. Times article from 1993 wrote that the Green Bay Packers had an “unofficial” Rush Room in their locker room (courtesy of an offensive lineman’s boom box), and similar Rush Rooms were popping up in hardware stores and dentists’ offices, too.

The Democrats had no idea what to do.

When ignoring him didn’t work, they tried counterprogramming, but no liberal host was ever able to replicate his success. They then organized boycotts, but Limbaugh’s fans were just too large – and too devoted. When everything else failed, they tried the oldest trick in the Democrat’s playbook: They attempted to change the law and ban him from the airwaves!

Limbaugh’s show had only been national for a few years when the liberals in Congress began pushing the “Hush Rush” bill. It was an effort to revive the poorly named Fairness Doctrine, which limited a station’s ability to air political programming. 

Under the Fairness Doctrine, stations that aired "The Rush Limbaugh Show" for three hours would be legally required to air a left-wing show for three hours as well – even if that show wasn’t popular and even if the station couldn’t sell advertising for it. President Reagan ended the Fairness Doctrine in 1987, which was the catalyst for Limbaugh going national in 1988.

From the 1990s on, virtually every talk show host on the radio dial has mirrored his formula. And today, when you watch the cable news hosts on the left and the right, Limbaugh’s long shadow is obvious.

In 1988, the year Rush Limbaugh’s show was syndicated, there were less than 200 news-talk radio stations nationwide. By the time Limbaugh was done, there were over 4,000.

This “harmless, loveable, little fuzzball” changed EVERYTHING.

“He revolutionized radio,” noted Sean Hannity. “He single-handedly saved the AM band and later, even the FM brand in radio.”

And he did it with half his brain tied behind his back, just to make it fair.

Indeed he did. America—and Americans—wouldn’t have been the same without Rush. Now that he’s gone, things won’t ever be the same again.