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."

[CWOJackson]

Oops, sorry about that. I did not intend to imply in any manner or fashion that YOU are a complete and utter fool.

[Protagoras]

I am not protagoras...not by a long shot.

First thing you have been correct about. But hey, you can always dream. There is always a chance to pull yourself up. LOL

[Servant of the 9]

I wish I had some idea what you are talking about.

So9

[Dane]

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

Damn that phone booth must have been crowded, but it is still not a world record.

[Petronski]

There is always a chance to pull yourself up.

Pull myself up? Up up in the sky? In your beautiful, and very high, balloon?

[Trailerpark Badass]

I wish I had some idea what you are talking about.

No, you don't.

[jmc813]

WOD Ping

[Snuffington]

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!!

The same argument applies to the Libertarian Party. You support them election after election, but nothing changes. They never win. So all their lofty promises amount to nothing. I would think you'd eventually become fed up with that as well.

You don't have to tune out of politics. Just figure out the rules of the game and play to win. If your last strategy failed, regroup and try another. No shame in that.

[Protagoras]

In your beautiful, and very high, balloon?

How would I get high? I have never used an illegal drug in my life. Can you make the same truthful claim?

[Dane]

I wish I had some idea what you are talking about

Nice try at playing dumb, but no cigar.

[Protagoras]

No, you don't.

LOL

[CWOJackson]

It was a fun thread while it lasted though. They were so proud that the LP found an ex-police officer who was giving speeched about how the WOD should be ended. They were splapping each other on the back and hooting it up. Then someone pointed out that only 12 college students attended.

The thread died all of a sudden. Kind of like an intelligent thought going through Harry Browne's mind...there one second then poof...gone.

[Dane]

The thread died all of a sudden. Kind of like an intelligent thought going through Harry Browne's mind...there one second then poof...gone

Or Barbara Streisand's mind for that matter.

[Servant of the 9]

I wish I had some idea what you are talking about

Nice try at playing dumb, but no cigar.

Nice try at playing coherent, but no weed.

So9

[Petronski]

I have never used an illegal drug in my life.

You sure made a strange political party selection, if that statement is true.

[kidd]

The type and quantity of drug that Rush had was not announced by Rush.

The National Inquirer (well known for its UFO stories, Elvis sightings and testamony from women who were impregnated by bigfoot) has provided specifics that were obtained from a paid informant. It is entirely possible that the paid informant would be paid more or less money, depending how earthshattering the news was. This would most likely influence her "findings" and how they were obtained.

Its also entirely possible that certain liberal elements would be interested in fabricating information to bring down a big target like Rush.

Rush has an addiction to a pain killer. This implies that he took a large quantity or that he has a low threshold for addiction.

He may have bought it off the black market. He may have obtained it from friends. I could call a dozen people and have a hundered Tylenol+Codeine tablets in my hands in an hour without paying money to anyone. Perhaps Rush "shopped" for doctors.

I will tell you this - I trust the National Inquirer less then I trust DEBKA. And I dismiss every DEBKA article that is posted on this site.

[jmc813]

Shhhh, they are very secretive that they follow the Clinton model.

Being that Jim Robinson calls the LP "our good friends" and hosts a section of FR for small-l libertarians, do you consider him to follow the "Clinton model"?

[CWOJackson]

"well known for its UFO stories, Elvis sightings and testamony from women who were impregnated by bigfoot"

So it's the official LP newsletter?

[noprob]

You sure made a strange political party selection, if that statement is true.

I would gladly accept the War on drugs, if they would stop wasting all of my personal resources on other worthless crap. Everyone seems to think this way.. I want Liberty, as our founding fathers saw it, not some modern lawyer, who you apparently worship.. I could care less about drug use, I just think it's a waste of money to try to tell people how to live.. BIG GOVERNMENT DOESN"T WORK!!!

[jmc813]

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

You're just pissed because Libertarians shot a horse in your office.