Posted on 10/16/2003 10:48:07 AM PDT by 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."
I hope he will, he has sure railed against drug use in the past...
I wish Rush a speedy recovery and a quick return to the EIB golden microphone. May the Lord comfort the Limbaugh family.
Yes, I hope Rush does make it back, I actually enjoy him, and his show..
I think the LP makes a good point though...
But you're only considering the after affect. Actually, putting the people who manufacture and distribute the meth in jail for a very long time can prevent additional people from becoming addicted to it.
Courtesy of your WOD.
I think exposing a government sham we all pay for in one way or another---several times over---is pretty high up there, priority-wise. You don't?
Me, for one. He who liveth by the bluster, shall die by the bluster. Sorry Rushbo.
Why do you care so much about what someone else puts into his or her own body of his or her own volition?
????? Speaking for yourself I hope. Work will set you free.
Well said. Didn't Dick Cheney have "better things to do" than go to Vietnam?
I'm enjoying it. But that Cheney comment. Didn't Michael Moore use that same line? Have you been reading his book? Autographed copy perhaps?
So basically you're just a party cheerleader here, yes?
You have nothing much to add other than "ain't our side grand" and "doesn't the other side really stink"?
More or less the basis of Dane's support for the Drug War, in fact, if I remember correctly . . .
That would be many Libertarians...
They spend most of their time attacking Republicans, when ideologically most Republicans are closer to their thinking than Democrats.
I agree with several positions of the Libertarians, but I'm not ready to drink their koolaid. But every time I listen to them, they are attacking my chosen party, which just alienates me. Do they think that's going to get me and other Republicans on their side?
Attack the socialist Democrats and you may find that it aids your cause more. But since all I hear from the LP is attacks on the GOP - just like I hear from the DemocRATs - therefore, to me, there's not a dime's bit of difference between them.
My argument with the WOD is that it has become an industry of its own and in many places, revolves around the bottom line for many social agencies, lawyers, public defenders, prosecutors and jailers. As an example, the county in which I live recently built a huge jail/huber dorm complex to go along with it's "get tough" policy and guess what? It is now filled up with a whole bunch of first time offending potheads as well as parents late on child support. Before the jail most first time pot users received fines and probation and mandatory assessment and counseling of some sort. Now it's 60, 90 or 120 days, depending on the amount in possession. Many of those incarcerated are just young party animals who were probably looking for girls.
Our small county does not have any ghettoes or serious gang activity but our legal system is geared up for it. I do not see it as an effective way of dealing with the situation. If statistics are accurate and all drug abusers were arrested, somewhere between 30 and 40% would need to be incarcerated. That would require one huge jail complex for every county across the country. Then who would be left to be good little consumers?
When Limbaugh announced his addiction they pounced on him immediately, trying to use his personal tragedy for their own political agenda. The vehemence with which they went after Limbaugh has been very telling.
If you scroll through all these similar threads you won't see a single person say that they now agree with the LP position. But you will see many who say this is the last straw for them with the LP.
Me, I think that is a good thing.
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