America owes talk host Rush Limbaugh a debt of gratitude, Libertarians say

LP Press Release ^ | October 16, 2003 | Libertarian Party Press

[noprob]

The entire nation owes radio broadcaster Rush Limbaugh a debt of gratitude, Libertarians say, because his ordeal has exposed every drug warrior in America as a rank hypocrite.

"One thing we don't hear from American politicians very often is silence," said Joe Seehusen, Libertarian Party executive director. "By refusing to criticize Rush Limbaugh, every drug warrior has just been exposed as a shameless, despicable hypocrite.

"And that's good news, because the next time they do speak up, there'll be no reason for anyone to listen."

The revelation that Limbaugh had become addicted to painkillers -- drugs he is accused of procuring illegally from his Palm Beach housekeeper -- has caused a media sensation ever since the megastar's shocking, on-air confession last week.

As the Limbaugh saga continues, here's an important question for Americans to ask, Libertarians say: Why are all the drug warriors suddenly so silent?

"Republican and Democratic politicians have written laws that have condemned more than 400,000 Americans to prison for committing the same 'crime' as Rush Limbaugh," Seehusen pointed out. "If this pill-popping pontificator deserves a get-out-of-jail-free card, these drug warriors had better explain why."

Given their longstanding support for the Drug War, it's fair to ask:

Why haven't President George Bush or his tough-on-crime attorney general, John Ashcroft, uttered a word criticizing Limbaugh's law-breaking?

Why aren't drug czar John P. Walters or his predecessor, Barry McCaffrey, lambasting Limbaugh as a menace to society and a threat to "our children?"

Why aren't federal DEA agents storming Limbaugh's $30 million Florida mansion in a frantic search for criminal evidence?

Why haven't federal, state, and local police agencies seized the celebrity's homes and luxury cars under asset-forfeiture laws?

Finally, why aren't bloviating blabbermouths like William Bennett publicly explaining how America would be better off if Limbaugh were prosecuted, locked in a steel cage and forced to abandon his wife, his friends, and his career?

The answer is obvious, Seehusen said: "America's drug warriors are shameless hypocrites who believe in one standard of justice for ordinary Americans and another for themselves, their families and their political allies.

"That alone should completely discredit them."

But there's an even more disturbing possibility, Seehusen said: that the people who are prosecuting the Drug War don't even believe in its central premise -- which is that public safety requires that drug users be jailed.

"The Bushes and Ashcrofts and McCaffreys of the world may believe, correctly, that individuals fighting a drug addiction deserve medical, not criminal treatment," he said. "That would explain why they're not demanding that Limbaugh be jailed.

"But if that's the case, these politicians have spent decades tearing apart American families for their own political gain. And that's an unforgivable crime."

[Dane]

The person foaming at the mouth is you. A druggie who seeks out these type of threads to fuel his obsession of hate against libertarians. You are seriously ill

Uh dude, I did not start this thread. It was noprob who decided to post the Libertarian pro-drug view.

[Protagoras]

Uh dude, I did not start this thread.

You don't start them, you seek them out. You aren't sober enough to actually post a thread.

[Snuffington]

Of course there's plenty of common ground. The greatest divorce is actually in political tactics. The Libertarian Party believers seem to think a separate party is the best route for affecting the change they want, and no amount of abysmal failure will convince them otherwise. On the other hand, other libertarians find this tactical model a bit weak.

Not that they all draw the same conclusion about the right way to go - they're certainly not all die-hard Republicans. But the Libertarian Party has been around long enough to draw some fairly good conclusions about how effective it is likely to be. By this point the majority of self-described libertarians I know of (even a few big "L" ones, like L. Neil Smith) hold it in a bit of contempt.

[noprob]

Quote: Shhhh, they are very secretive that they follow the Clinton model.
End quote:

Are you crazy, dems spend spend spend, same as repubs..

Libertarians, true libertarians just want a small government that will stay out of peaceful peoples lives..

Republicans are almost identicle to Democrats, they are all on power trips, all seeking to grow the government even larger...

How many problems do you think you could help to solve if you had 47% more income... That's how much they tax you, to front all tehse bogus issues, republicans and dems..

[Trailerpark Badass]

Huh, there was no big government back in 19th century China when opium devastated Chinese society.

Only a Dane could equate 19th Century colonial China and its social ills with the present day US.

[HitmanLV]

I'm glad we agree, friend, and I never said I wasn't a libertarian (you have an odd penchant for mind reading, I have to say)!

But I may have misread you, and if so I apologize. Why would you say earlier in this thread that I did no good, and now, only a few minutes later agree what I do is exactly what you want people to do.

To reconcile those two thoughts is that you want people to take matters like this in their hands, yet you think that behavior does not do any, or much, good.

I think we are in agreement, though, especially if I just read your last response as your answer and not place much weight on the idea that you don't think I did much good. In fact, I think too many people of all political stripes see their commitment to a better world as just a ballot-box thing. Bad thing, I'd say.

[Servant of the 9]

Uh could you holier than thou Libertarians show where Noelle Bush got off scot free?

I am not a Libertarian, nor did I say she got off scot free.

I did say that if there is going to be a real WOD, then she should have gotten hard time the first time she was busted, and so should everyone else.

The WOD is wasting too many resorces we need to devote to fighting terrorism, and costs society far more than legalized drugs would.

The way it is being run now is a sham to make prohibitionists feel good without having to put too many of their kids in jail.

So9

[noprob]

Quote:
The Libertarian Party believers seem to think a separate party is the best route for affecting the change they want, and no amount of abysmal failure will convince them otherwise.
End Quote:

We just know we can't trust the same people that got us into this horrific mess to get us out. THey keep making the same mistakes over and over and over..

I am fed up with it!!

[kidd]

The seriousness of the offense will be related to the specific drug that Rush is addicted to. It will also be related to the specific amount he had in his posession. Also the exact drug and the exact quantity will help to form an implication of how he obtained it.

So, before you continue insulting Freepers about how Rush obtained his drugs, you need to provide a non-insulting source of information that provides SPECIFICS.

Implications are fine. But if your source of information is unreliable, then insulting other Freepers for not accepting your unreliable implication is unwarranted.

[Petronski]

It's not rhetorical, and I wonder what would make you think it was. You asked me what good I have done, in a rude and confrontational way, which is unfortunate since I have been neither rude nor confrontational to you. You asked what good I have done, and I told you.

Uh, I'm very confused. I don't know where I asked you 'what good you have done.' I didn't post the article, nor do I agree with it. In fact, I find it offensive. Are you posting to the right person? Or do you mean to be responding to noprob in his post #153? I am not noprob...not by a long shot.

[Petronski]

That's right out of left field. I have to wonder if you really meant to post to me.

[noprob]

quote:
Why would you say earlier in this thread that I did no good, and now, only a few minutes later agree what I do is exactly what you want people to do.
end quote:

You said you were a drug warrior, you didn't clear things up until later that you were actually helping to keep people off drugs, with counsel and advice. I admit I made an assumption by that statement that you were a staunch supporter of the goverment run WOD. Which in my opinion does absolutely no good at all.. Takes a drug user, throws them in jail, only to become a hard criminal, or worse a lawyer.. ;)

Were cool brutha, keep working.. It sounds like you are making a difference!!

[HitmanLV]

Haha! I am very sorry, friend. It's clear that I am the one who is confused! That response was not meant for you, but noprob. I may have a problem then, hahaha!

I apologize - my comments were not directed at you.

[CWOJackson]

Don't wonder.

[Dane]

You don't start them, you seek them out. You aren't sober enough to actually post a thread

Fine. At the next LP convention in a phone booth, put a plank in the platform which calls for me(Dane) not to reply to any drug thread on FR.

Could have a problem with the 1st amendment, though.

[CWOJackson]

Careful. One of the quest speakers just enthralled 12 whole people with his anti-WOD speech at a university in New Mexico.

LOL! When you can't attract more then 12 college students to a pro-drug talk you have some serious credibility issues.

[HitmanLV]

I didn't 'clear things up' cause they weren't clouded. You didn't ask, you didn't know, you just thought you knew. That's where the cloudiness came in.

No problem though. We are probably of like mind, to a large extent.

[Petronski]

Are you trying to reply to Protagoras, regarding perhaps his post #154? I am not protagoras...not by a long shot.

[Protagoras]

As far as I'm concerned there was no offence whatsoever, except hypocricy.

But just for fun, how do YOU think he obtained his drugs? He admits he is an addict. He got it somehwere.

Oh yeah, you will wait and see until the proof is in. I forgot. LOL

[Dane]

I did say that if there is going to be a real WOD, then she should have gotten hard time the first time she was busted, and so should everyone else.

You drug warrior.

The way it is being run now is a sham to make prohibitionists feel good without having to put too many of their kids in jail

Huh your first itlaicized passage of this reply betrays you.

JMO, but to paraphrase a famous movie line.

Being hypocritcal and schizophrenic is no way to go throuh life.