Salute to El Rushbo

Michelle Malkin reminds us that today is the 20th anniversary of Excellence in Broadcasting -- it was on this day in 1988 that Rush Limbaugh began what has become the most successful program in radio history.

From Day One, the All-Knowing, All-Seeing, All-Powerful Maharushie was never afraid to be controversial. He drove 'em nuts with the Swiftian suggestion that America should tax the poor:

Now, what's slowing this country down? Tell you who it is. The poor. The poor and the lower classes of this country have gotten a free ride ever since the Great Depression, when it became noble to be poor. . . . My friends, we have the wealthiest poor in the world. They're the ones who get all the benefits in this country. They're the ones that are always pandered to. We have been encouraging poverty because they need government. And Democrats love giving money away to the poor, because it creates a need. And, boy, have we created a dependency class, and do they give anything back, do they pay any taxes? No. They don't have to file any income taxes. They don't pay a thing. They contribute nothing to this country. They do nothing but take from it. It is serious. It is time to get serious about raising taxes on the poor.

Brilliant. At this very moment, Rush is replaying the original call that led to "Dan's Bake Sale."