Posted on 11/08/2003 1:48:19 AM PST by JohnHuang2
Rushing back to radio
Posted: November 8, 2003
1:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com
On Oct. 4, six days before I would know the truth, I wrote in my column, "Somehow, I have to believe this was manufactured. If Rush [Limbaugh] really did have such illegal and substantial problems since 1998, as the housekeeper claims, it would have been reported long ago by a more reputable source."
Oct. 10 came. I was wrong in my assessment. I remember being at school, listening to Rush online – I heard the words that millions heard that day: "So I need to tell you today that part of what you have heard and read is correct. I am addicted to prescription pain medication."
He said, "Immediately following this broadcast, I am checking myself into a treatment center for the next 30 days to once and for all break the hold this highly addictive medication has on me."
It was, of sorts, a shock. Of course, Rush Limbaugh isn't above such sinning, but being as principled as he is, I truly never expected him to be involved in these illegal activities – much less being addicted to prescription drugs. Remember, he was addicted to these pain killers before his cochlear implant surgery. He was deaf and addicted to drugs, while running a national radio show with 20 million listeners – it wouldn't seem possible.
Yet, whatever I hoped and whatever I believed, it wasn't true. I was definitely disappointed.
Although most haters of Rush hope his audience abandons him, I definitely won't be included in that. In confessing his problem, he did it in class, he didn't make excuses, and he's trying to fix the problem. I really think most of his fans realize that.
On RushLimbaugh.com, there are over 30 pages full of supportive e-mails, with Limbaugh receiving tens of thousands of letters of support. Additionally, recent polling shows that listeners are staying with the show by nearly a unanimous margin, with an additional 95 percent saying they agree that "Rush is human, he has made mistakes and is entitled to a second chance with a clean slate."
The real question for me and I'm sure for millions of others has been, when will he be back? The fill-in hosts are unarguably not up to par with the king of radio. Our answer has finally come.
MediaDailyNews is reporting that Rush Limbaugh will return to the airwaves on Nov. 17. The day will be here soon, but what happens then? Some have said he might return as a liberal, but through his brother David, Rush has responded, "I am not a liberal."
His ideology isn't changing and his audience isn't leaving, so nothing is going to change. Wrong. A lot will change. The program that will start at 12 p.m. Eastern on Nov. 17 will be a new Rush Limbaugh program.
Rush is going to be back better than ever. I firmly believe that he'll be back on the air with a greater appreciation of the gifts God has given him, appreciation for his loving audience, as well as the freedom we have here in America.
In addition, after being humbled and confessing to the things he has, I believe he'll come back with a bigger heart – with more compassion. He'll be back with a sharper mind and quicker wit.
Some say this will hurt his career. Maybe they're right, but whatever happens, this whole ordeal will end up being a good thing for Rush Limbaugh.
Ironically, I've had some people who say I'm some sort of a clone of Rush Limbaugh – as if it's an insult. While my views are certainly not a copy of his, I would take such a comment as an extreme compliment. Rush has propelled conservatism more into the mainstream view of American politics than any other person.
He's fallible. He sins like we all do, but he's a hero of the conservative movement and of mine.
I'm looking forward to the 17th.
Rush will now be a compassionate conservative. Not that he wasn't already a supporter of GWBush.
I'll pray for his recovery, with all the fervor I can muster. I really will.
But, Rush has without doubt called for the imprisonment of 'white drug users' on his radio show. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.
If what is alleged is true, he's far more guilty than Tommy Chong, and he should do at least as much time as Mr. Chong was sentenced to.
L
I would tend to agree with you, and I'm a huge Rush fan.
The only caveat to that is the following change: "If the prosecution can prove that Mr. Limbaugh received so much as one single 'pain killer' pill in an illegal manner..." Gotta prove the case.
He admitted addiction to pain pills. He did not admit to illegal drug use.
"He'll be back with a sharper mind and quicker wit. "
Yep.
I would a agree that if Limbaugh obtained his pills illegally then he should be prosecuted. But just as I would not want him to receive leniency just because of who he is, I would also not want him to get hammered just because of who he is. Nobody else would receive jail time for a single pill, neither should Rush.
Rush has always been a "they just don't have enought willpower" kind of guy when it came to addiction. I would like to think that this experience has opened his mind. On the other hand, deconstruction of one's own ego is the key to recovery. I have a hard time envisioning Rush as someone who can honestly do this.
Since I don't know him personally, I will have to listen to his show and come to my own conclusion.
I will, of course, pray for him to accept his Higher Power's will for him and pray for his continued recovery.
That is so goofy.
Since when does a first-time offender, who is a pillar of the community, who cooperates with the police, who was taking PRESCRIPTION pills (not heroin) - go to jail?
Is does not happen.
Have you ever taken one pill of someone else's prescription? For a headache maybe? Should you go to jail?
As far as Rush being more "compassionate" now, I certainly hope and expect that he won't be filled with ooey-gooey phony "compassion." He made a mistake, he's correcting that mistake, and I just want Rush to be well and healthy, and exactly what he was before, in terms of his views and attitudes.
No, wait! That was a different day. I get these historic days confused, sorry.
Tommy's been off the show since the beginning of last season (didn't you see the episode where the kids were searching for Leo, and found his cousin, Bobcat Goldthwaite, only to find he had left town?)
Tommy was on the John Boy and Billy Big Show last year, and they asked him about it. His response was to jokingly say "They started the season without me", and leave it at that.
Bummer dude. :) I watch the reruns in syndication. Haven't seen the new ones in a while.
To those who are wanting a "moderate, thoughtful, less rigid Rush, let me just ask you:
Do you want a "moderate, thoughtful, less rigid Rush? OR do you want conservatives and christians to be able to continue to call Democrats and the tax and spend crowd to the carpet without the fear or possibility of being dragged off to concentration camps being forcably lobottomized as some goofball college professor fron South Dakota is proposing?
A "moderate, thoughtful, less rigid" Rush would most likely mean having a Democrat controlled Congress and a Democrat in the White House, Possibly Hillary. You know what would would happen then don't you. It would mean that conservatives and christians would be a grave risk for politically motivated IRS audits. Our nation would most likely end up like Iraq the way Saddam Hussien ran it. It would not be a very pleasant or happy time for conservatives or christians.
Let me tell you something folks. The Democrats do not have the best interests of our country in their minds. Their only interest is in a reaquistion of power so they can misuse and abuse it to serve their own selfish means. Their intentions are very harmful and malicious and they really do want to run this country like Iraq was run by Saddam beofre we toppled him
So I would suggest that those who want a "moderate, thoughtful, less rigid" Rush may want to rethink their positions and recognize the ramifications of such desires. It would not be pleasant for christians and conservatives and it would really put this country at risk of enormous and grave harm at the hands of the Democrats.
It appears Rush is on target to be back on the air next week. He'll be a far more useful and vigorous ally for the conservative movement.
Hang in there, Rush. We're all pulling for you.
Regards.
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