If there’s anyone single person that is synonymous with the conservative moment that is still frustrating liberals years into his storied career I would have to say that Rush Limbaugh leads the pack. Heard by over 20 million people a day, Limbaugh is the leading voice in talk radio and tops all of the big names in talk radio and even the mainstream media. Love or hate Limbaugh it’s clear that his influence is often understated. Operation Chaos was solid proof of that.

The New York Times is covering a story on Limbaugh in it’s Sunday magazine and it’s worth a read. Make sure you take a look at the article.

The Drudge Report recently broke a story about Limbaugh’s new contract deal that goes up through 2018. The big news is the stunning amount Rush Limbaugh will receive, a cold $400 million.

The American broadcast industry is rocked, realigned and blasted into a new orbit, yet again, by Rush Limbaugh, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned. In what is being described as an unprecedented radio contract, Limbaugh will keep his syndicated show on-the-air and e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e through 2016 with CLEAR CHANNEL and PREMIERE RADIO. Already host of the most lucrative hours since radio’s inception, Limbaugh’s total package is valued north of $400 million, according to media insiders. The NEW YORK TIMES will claim this weekend that Limbaugh, marking 20 years this summer as a national host, has secured a 9-figure signing bonus for the new deal, newsroom sources tell DRUDGE.

Without question Limbaugh is a legend in his own right. From the outside it may be hard to understand how this man can be seen as such an icon. If you happen to be on the left you simply see him as another tool for the Republican party. Then you have those of us on the right who see Rush as who he is, a voice of reason, integrity and wisdom. When Rush speaks daily, to his 20 million plus listeners across 600 stations, the world is prepared to listen and follow through.

There’s no questioning the influence Rush has on politics and the political views of millions of Americans. For me it’s about hearing what I know was right all along. Sometimes it takes someone to remind you of what really matter. Perhaps that’s why we love Rush. He says what we’re all too small or insignificant to say. He’s the voice of conservatism that shatters the loud-mouthed liberals of the mainstreams media. How could that not be a good thing? Unless you are one of those liberals that is.

While Rush is the clear leader in the radio world, Sean Hannity, who Rush doesn’t seem to care for, is quickly catching up. That is, according to Talker’s Magazine. He was also rated 4th, under Hannity, by The Daily Telegraph, when it comes to the most influential pundits in America. Rush doesn’t give credit to such polls and says there’s absolutely no one that comes close to him as far as revenue and ratings polls. Maybe that’s because number two is Chris Mathews; what a complete joke.

Two weeks later, The Daily Telegraph in London published a list of America’s most-influential pundits. Limbaugh finished fourth, behind Hannity. Once again I wrote a message to Limbaugh: “Are we looking at a changing of the guard on the right side of the dial?”

Limbaugh scoffed. “Since when have I cared what the media says?” he wrote. “Media polls are not the measure. Ratings ‘polls’ and revenue are. And it still ain’t close.”

I couldn’t resist. “I wasn’t asking about the media,” I wrote him. “I was asking about Hannity. Hannity can fairly take credit (as he does now, every night) for being more influential than any other commentator in changing the course of this election. That strikes me as new. Or am I wrong?”

At which point Limbaugh, who patiently and graciously answered dozens of my questions, allowed me to invade his bunker and his castle, shared hours of his time, permitted me access to his closest family and most-intimate friends, even his therapist, had enough. “Write what you want,” he snapped across cyberspace.

Among other talk show personalities Bill O’Reilly was also discussed. Hesitatingly Rush gave his opinion on Fox’s main man.

At dinner the night before, Bill O’Reilly’s name came up, and Limbaugh expressed his opinion of the Fox cable king. He hadn’t been sure at the time that he wanted it on the record. But on second thought, “somebody’s got to say it,” he told me. “The man is Ted Baxter.”

Ted Baxter, for those who don’t know what he means by that, was a character on the Mary Tyler Moore show. The term is used to criticise media figures, specifically news anchors, that are hired for personality rather than any sort of journalistic ability. Harsh words, I can’t say I saw Limbaugh as someone to have disdain towards O’Reilly.

Underneath the cynical commentary the NYT story outlines a media icon. They can dance around the story as much as they want, trying to make trouble, talking about his competittors as if he’s about to lose his foothold as leader of talk radio, but the story of Rush’s life is an impressive one. It’s a perfect case of making a living doing what you love. The only difference between Limbaugh and others doing the same thing is perfection. Simply no one comes close the legend that is Rush Limbaugh.

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