Today marks the 20th anniversary of Rush Limbaugh’s talk radio career.

Huzzahs, hooahs, and congrats!

Be sure to tune it at high noon and check out the festivities at RL’s website, including a special message from Vice President Cheney. (Update – Nice: President Bush and Gov. Jeb Bush, along with former President George H.W. Bush, call in to congratulate Rush.)

If Rush were a lib, he’d be feted endlessly by what he has deliciously dubbed the “drive-by media.”

There would be profiles gloating over the pathetic performance of Air America and contrasting liberal radio failures with the amazing longevity of EIB.

There would be retrospectives that spotlighted Rush’s visit to Afghanistan and his charitable work for the troops, his victory over Dingy Harry Reid’s Crush Rush campaign, and the censorious Left’s attempts to kick Rush’s massively popular show off Armed Forces Radio.

Instead, there will be radio silence by the green-eyed media brigade–and a retread of unhinged accusations from the nutroots that Rush Limbaugh’s exercise of the First Amendment is an incitement to violence and “smear“-mongering. Plus the usual declarations of premature death.

He’s been there, done that. Seen it all and battled leftist foes with trademark humor, incisiveness, boundless energy, and unparalleled rhetorical gifts that get short shrift by the drive-bys.

Here’s to the next 20 years of excellence in conservative broadcasting.

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Tributes galore here.

Stacy McCain remembers a classic Rush moment: Dan’s Bake sale.