D. Howard King and Geoffrey Morris - Rush to Us
*I'm sure that American visitors to this blog will already know at least most of the information presented below, but the information is for the benefit of visitors outside the US who may or may not be familiar with Rush Limbaugh, the subject of this book.
Rush Limbaugh is a radio talk show host and political commentator here in the US who has a nationally distributed radio program currently in its 20th year. Rush rose to prominence and popularity as perhaps the most listened to radio personality in the early 1990s. Rush also had two books that were on top of the bestseller lists for quite some time as well as having a highly rated late night TV show.
This book, which was published in 1994, is about the effect that Rush had on people when they started listening to Rush on the radio. For example, some restaurant owners (who were also "dittoheads", i.e. Rush fans) were inspired to set aside some of their restaurant's space to piping in Rush's radio program. These spaces were called Rush Rooms. These Rush Rooms popped up all over the country even showing up in chain eateries such as Arby's and Hooters. According to the book, people came in droves towards Rush Rooms to dine and listen to Rush. At the present, Rush Rooms have disappeared and are somewhat forgotten about.
People from all walks of life give testimony basically saying that Rush is a wonderful, funny, intelligent and knowledgeable man and a great host who makes it easier for people to understand complex economic and political issues. Rush has made their lives more meaningful. These people also devote their lives to listening to Rush and savoring every word he says and making sure that Rush is everywhere while bombarding radio and TV stations who dare to take Rush off their air as well as getting in the faces of anyone else who dares to boycott any products endorsed by Rush such as Florida orange juice.
Rush's popularity can be attributed to the fact that a significant amount of the American populace hold conservative/right wing views and felt that they and their viewpoints were being persecuted by the so-called liberal media (which is really just mainstream and well known media publications and the national TV networks who usually tried to present balanced and unbiased journalism) and supposedly elite educated and sophisticated people who happen to live either on the west or the east coast (actually concentrated in New York and Los Angeles). Along came Rush on the radio to give some people a representation of a right wing perspective that was supposedly absent from the media.
At a time when America seemingly was becoming more progressive and more enlightened, Rush made it cool to make fun of marginalized groups of people such as the homeless, the poor, homosexuals, minorities, even women who fight for equal rights and making fun of these people under the guise of standing up for morality, decency, honesty, hard work and common sense. In other words, he made it acceptable to pick on the little guy. Of course, Rush also put down people who held centrist and leftist views. As depicted in the book, Rush fans point out that Rush made them feel good about themselves. That means that Rush fans are given validation in their belief that they are superior to other certain groups of people.
Rush Limbaugh was instrumental in radio stations accepting distribution of right wing talk radio shows which is mainly hatred toward people with different viewpoints and lies about these people. He was also both directly and indirectly instrumental in helping right wing politicians get elected to office to enact stupid and harmful policies which for instance has caused the US economy to falter.
Rush will be considered one of the greatest radio talk show hosts of all time. Actually Rush should be considered one of the greatest propagandists of all time instead.
From the back cover:
"Now that I've retired from active politics, I don't mind that you have become the Number One voice for conservatism in our country." - Ronald Reagan
Twenty million people a week tune into his #1 radio program. His late-night television talk show is ranked third in the nation. He is a mega-bestselling author and the people's choice for President in 1996.
He is Rush Limbaugh. Humorist. Crusader. Patriot. Daringly frank, often funny, frequently profound. And always an American first.
From P.J. O'Rourke and William F. Buckley, Jr. to Pat Sajak and Charles Barkley, from small town farmers and business owners to corporate executives and political leaders, here, for the first time Limbaugh's countless fans speak out about the man who has captured the heart and soul of our country.
Filled with outrageous quips and unforgettable anecdotes - including quotes from favorite guest hosts Mary Matalin, Walter Williams, and B-1 Bob Dornan - RUSH TO US is as fascinating and controversial as Limbaugh himself...an inspirational tribute to the man who has become the voice of America.
12 pages of exciting photos!
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Foreword: Americans Answer the Call by Dan Quayle - page 9
Introduction: Words Mean Things - page 15
Part One: The Rise of Rushdom: Dittoheads Unite - page 23
1. Live at the River Bank: The Nation's First Rush Room - page 25
2. Rush Rooms Mushroom - page 52
3. TV Dinners and the Louisiana Supper Club - page 78
4. Colorado Dan's Dazzling Day - page 101
5. Talent on Loan from Dittoheads - page 121
6. On-Line: Where Dittos Do Battle - page 138
Part Two: In Your Face Nationwide - page 151
7. Students to Rush: Right On! - page 153
8. From Wall Street to Boise: Businessmen Tune In - page 173
9. Routing the Liberal Media - page 192
10. Storming Congress: The New Populism - page 218
11. Project 21 Talks Black - page 239
12. NOW vs. Florida's O.J. Activists - page 256
Part Three: Now and Tomorrow - page 269
13. Days, Dinners, and Downtime - page 271
14. New York, New York! One Evening on the Air - page 293
15. Run, Rush, Run! - page 304
Afterward: The American People Care by Charlton Heston - page 321
part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4 (links may be back soon)
