It was 1988 and I had recently graduated from high school. I was in a local 2nd hand store that had lots of old vinyl records and comic book back issues. It was a great flea market and one I frequented often in those days.

The owner had the radio on and I began to take notice of the show he was listening to. It was Rush Limbaugh.

Rush was discussing Micheal Dukakis, who had recently lost his run at the Presidency. Rush talked about why Bush won - but more importantly how Dukakis fumbled over and over. "The Kitty Dukakis Question". The Willie Horton Ad. The tank picture. I found the analysis interesting - which surprised me - and I had never heard anyone else break politics down for the common man.

Rush had appeared on the cover of some news magazines recently, but until that day I hadn't listened to his show. I tuned in again the next day. Like most kids I figured I was a democrat because that's what decent people were. Over the corse of the next days and weeks I realized how mistaken I had been. How much I had in common with what Rush was saying. His show was fascinating, funny, and over time made me think about the world differently. I kept listening for the next 33 years.

Today I feel like I lost a friend. But he will always be with me. I will always be changed by him.