“ISSUE ONE!”

John McLaughlin’s voice has echoed through our living room on Sundays for more than 20 years.

Sadly, no more.

The venerable host of “The McLaughlin Group,” a political gabfest that’s graced PBS’ weekend television programming since 1982, passed away Tuesday at the age of 89.

No matter one’s political leanings — left, right or indifferent — it’s no great stretch to say we’ve lost a national treasure.

To be true, Mr. McLaughlin’s TV persona, part cantankerous favorite uncle and curmudgeonly “get off my lawn!” conservative, was an acquired taste for many, and some never quite got the appeal. It was so in our own household as well, where my better half would roll her eyes and quickly exit the room on Sundays whenever “The Screamers” (her name for “The McLaughlin Group”) came on.

“The McLaughlin Group” concept itself — a group of Washington insider pundits and journalists trading opinions, observations and partisan barbs — likewise inspired both followers and foes.

Some have complained the show helped spawn the genre of hyper-partisan shoutfests on cable television, but also exacerbated the red-blue political divide in the country.

On the second point, I’d offer a hearty McLaughlinesque “Wrooooong!”

Unlike other political panel shows on the airwaves, “The McLaughlin Group” was notable for its paucity of putdowns, political talking points or diatribes.

Instead, panelists vociferously disagreed — and did they ever — but with good humor and laughter. And sometimes, not so rare times, guests on the show from both sides of the political aisle would find themselves in bemused but shocked agreement on certain lightening-rod issues.

And they inspired, informed and entertained in what many viewed as the fastest 30 minutes on television.

All gone now, though. But as Mr. McLaughlin would often say, when the commentary ran too long and cut into the show’s signature closing of roundtable predictions: “Out of time, BYE BYE.”