The great Neal Boortz is retiring after decades of being a radio talk show host. There are a few nice accolades running around:
Goodbye to greatest talk show host Neal Boortz
For my money, the single most talented voice in the modern history of talk radio is retiring later this month. Not "one of" the most talented — the most talented.
The thing is, I'd tend to agree, except for one little hitch:
Outside of a few brief spots on cable talk shows, I've never heard him utter a peep.
The difference between Neal and — as far as I know — every other radio talk show host on the planet, is that Neal would spend hours writing a for-real blog every morning, whereupon he'd punch out three or four posts on different subjects, some of them fairly lengthy, then finish it up with a handful of must-read links. He took it as seriously as any of us do.
So I'm saying goodbye to Neal Boortz, blogger.
On the subject, though, I would note that, while he's officially retiring from radio and blogging, he's still keeping his hand in when it comes to mouthing off about pet topics now and then. He had an article on Townhall just the other day.
Whisky Tango Foxtrot!
How upside down can things be in America? Mickelson is being called "greedy." Really? So now we define "greed" as wanting to keep more of the money you earn? If that’s greed, what do you call the moochers who go to the poll to vote for the politician that’s going to take that money away from you and give it to them? Oh wait! I know! Obama voters!
Yep, same ol' Neal.
(Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, for the uninitiated, is Boortzspeak for "WTF??")
Below the fold I'll continue this tribute with some of my favorite moments and quotes. A search on my Rainy Day site for "boortz" pops up five articles where I mention him, so I'll include the links. And, just to quell any claims of blatant partisanship, I'll toss in a couple of criticisms. That is, if you call my referring to him as a total dogshit asswipe when it comes to his attitude toward cigarette smokers a 'criticism'.
So thank you, Neal. That was a terrific run — even if you are a total scumbag butthole for redesigning your web site a few years ago.
I think the one event that really put on display how far beyond the average right-wing blogger Neal was, was when he put a donation link for the liberal radio talk show, Air America, on his web site. Pretty classy guy, huh? I was so inspired I wrote one of my favorite pieces, Point In Time.
Am I about to blame the right-wing blogosphere for the possible downfall of Western Civilization?
Well, uh, yes. That's exactly what I'm about to do.
I apologize in advance for any hurt feelings.
I'd say Neal's greatest — and perhaps most controversial in a politically-correct world — quote was, "When it comes to the future of America, the NEA is more dangerous than al-Queda."
The point is, all al-Queda could do, even in a terrible, worst-case, multi-city dirty bomb scenario, would be to take out a few million. The NEA's destruction of our children, however, with its "feeling good about oneself is more important than learning history or geography" attitude, involves everyone.
Remember Herman Cain making such an impression during the Republican debates? The audience just adored him. He was so fresh and original! Many were wondering, where has the Republican Party been hiding this guy??
Yawn. Neal had introduced us to Mr. Cain years before. I admit, we probably felt a little smug seeing him up there, like he was an old friend. Spot on, Neal.
Back to having a bigger Big Picture than the average Joe Schmoe blogger, another example was during the 2008 election when Hillary was starting to fall behind Obama in the primaries and people were calling for her to quit. Typically, Neal took the opposite approach as I note in Flip Sides of the Coin.
And yes, I have some criticisms. I'd feel weird if I didn't.
For starters, I wish I had some of the vile, loathsome things this self-avowed Libertarian has said about cigarette smokers on hand, but I don't, so just take my word for it that it was about as demeaning as one can get without actually resorting to cuss words.
This, for something that's 100% legal to do.
Coming from a Libertarian.
And this is the typical Libertarian boondoggle: I want very little government encroachment and very few regulations — except when it comes to things I don't approve of.
Uh-huh.
And, as might be expected, occasionally he would turn into a moron by getting swept up in some meme the right-wing bloggers were getting their knickers in a knot over, such as I detail in Welcome To Hypocrite Junction.
As far as his web site goes, I hated it when he went from a blogging format (like here) to a 'news' format, with individual links to each article. He put fashion over function on that one, curse his ragged hide.
On the plus side, I have to admit he added a much-beloved word to my vocabulary, a word I've used numerous times over the years, both in articles and email:
Congresscritters.
With the additional benefit that it's gender neutral!
Neal and I did have one interesting little coincidence. One day apart, discussing the same subject, we both used the same two items as our examples, viewed them in completely different ways, yet came to the exact same conclusion. It's our take On Price-Gouging Laws.
Nor was his web site 'serious' all of the time. One of my favorite moments was his inspired Outraged Tally. He also occasionally put up the fun video, like The Halo and the Horns.
So this really isn't 'goodbye' to Neal Boortz, occasional writer and cable show guest, but to Neal Boortz, blogger extraordinaire. He really filled a niche that needed filling.
Thanks, big guy.
