“The great Rush Limbaugh has passed away to a better place, free from physical pain and hostility. His honor, courage, strength, and loyalty will never be replaced. Rush was a patriot, a defender of Liberty, and someone who believed in all of the greatness our Country stands for. Rush was a friend to myself and millions of Americans — a guiding light with the ability to see the truth and paint vivid pictures over the airwaves. Melania and I express our deepest condolences to his wonderful wife, Kathryn, his family, and all of his dedicated fans. He will be missed greatly.” — President Donald Trump, 2/17/21

You may not have noticed it before, but if you flip to The Limbaugh Letter cover, you’ll see “Era of Limbaugh” at the top right. It’s a heading that has appeared on every issue since the newsletter’s debut. It’s a phrase Rush coined when he was approving designs for his new publication in 1992. He looked over the mockup, squinted his steel-blue eyes, and tossed off: “Needs something next to the date. Put in ‘Era of Limbaugh.’ That’ll frost ’em.”

We all laughed, because it was hilarious. Classic Rush — unconventional, creative, tongue-in-cheek bravura. He was always jazzed at the prospect of tweaking liberals. We immediately imagined a leftist’s blown top: “The gall! How dare this guy name an entire era after himself! Who does that?”

But here’s the thing. It was — and is — true. Actually, Rush undersold it.

From the moment his radio show went national, funny and bold and irresistibly, stunningly original, what Rush thought and what Rush said and the way he said it drove the American conversation. That unmistakable booming voice on millions of radios was instantly intertwined with every news event and cultural development in an almost physical way. Riding on radio waves, Rush’s commentary and analysis, his “take” on the news of the day, commandeered — and this is unheard of — both“the arena of ideas” and “the theater of the mind.” Which are terms of art Rush used often. Yes, Rush’s sheer breathtaking broadcasting talent dominated the national stage and persuaded within the quiet intimacy of individual thoughts. It was a pincer movement of humor and truth, against which the left never had a chance.

The little magazine you hold in your hands, as with every Limbaugh Letter issue for 29 years, represents Rush’s work, Rush’s thinking, Rush’s assignments, and most of all, Rush’s inspiration. As Editor-in-Chief, he directed everything in his publication, right to the end. The bulk of this issue is from him, with pages 5–16 already completed when the devastating news came that our beloved boss, our friend, had passed away. Our hearts are broken.

How fitting that the very last cover story Rush scripted was for the February issue, bearing the message he passionately wanted you to know: “God Is With Me.”

And now, Rush is with God.

But the Era of Limbaugh is still just dawning all across the fruited plain, in the hearts and minds of multiple American generations. The ripple effect is only beginning, and its power is destined to grow the era into an epoch, and then into an eon. That’s right, the Eon of Limbaugh now arises. And long will its brilliance shine.

—The Limbaugh Letter team,

forever proud members of Rush’s highly overrated staff

Illustration ©2021 by Christopher Hiers for The Limbaugh Letter