NOT THE SAME RUSH

New York Post ^ | 11/18/03 | JOHN PODHORETZ

[kattracks]

November 18, 2003 -- RUSH Limbaugh made an unforgettable return to the airwaves yesterday - painful, funny, awkward, emotional and occasionally very raw.

Limbaugh sought to assure his listeners that no efforts had been made to turn him into a "linguini-spined liberal," and at least half the show was dedicated to his usual topics: contemporary politics and the failings of Democrats and the Left. "Memo to you liberals," he said at the end of the show's three hours. "The party is over. I'm back. See you tomorrow."

[SAJ]

Nice try, Pod-boy.

Now, I only was able to listen to about 2 hrs of the programme today, so perhaps I missed something, but the only caller whom I heard who chaffed Rush about the pill-and-hearing-loss business was answered very civilly. Rush (anyone please correct me if in error) said that his doctors had been interviewed, on the air, on this very point, and had indicated that there was no connection between his evident addiction and the hearing loss.

Again, did I miss a call? Am **I** going deaf? (wouldn't recognise Oxywhatsis if someone handed it to me, btw).

[hotpotato]

Rush said CNN misquoted him this a.m. but I haven't been able to find out what the misquote was. I didn't catch much of his program today. Did you catch what he was referring to?

[truth_seeker]

Sadly business kept me from hearing most of his first day back. What I did catch sounded like he embraced the detox/recovery program positively.

With nearly 10 years of sobriety, I have heard several thousand pitches. I don't feel that Rush owes his listeners a recovery pitch, everyday.

Living with whatever pain he has is possible, and I know a man who does just that. He has over 20 years without a drink, and his pain came AFTER he quit drinking.

There are likely good, non-narcotic medicines that he could use. Not as strong as the synthetic opiate variety he got hooked on, but giving some relief.

Recovery is a lifelong process, not simply an event, and hopefully he had learned and will practice the principles (including the 12 steps).

Practiced effectively the process yields a "spiritual experience/awakening" and a "personality change sufficient to bring about recovery from alcoholism." (substitute addiction for alcoholism - quotes from big book Alcoholics Anonymous)

My best wishes go out to Rush. I enjoyed him since 1990, and I truly hope he can continue to entertain and inform.

[SAJ]

I heard Rush say that, but, I'm sorry, I don't know the context of what he was countering. Don't watch CNN at all. It **sounded** as if CNN took a portion of a sentence and broadcast it as a definitive comment, but I'm not at all sure of that.

Doubtless, one of our colleagues here can provide much more precise info.

[goldstategop]

The dittoheads will stick by Rush. Anyway, his liberal critics are jealous he's right 90% of the time and sticks up their craw.

[backhoe]

My best wishes go out to Rush. I enjoyed him since 1990, and I truly hope he can continue to entertain and inform.

Same here, neighbor.

I have never forgotten how Rush was a beacon of information and entertainment during the eight years of darkness that were the Clinton corruption. The people who hate him will hate him anyway- not a thing we can do about that, so there's no point in trying.

Meanwhile, all I know is that friends don't bail out on friends when they have problems- Rush was there for me when a whole lot of garbage was being smeared in my face every day by the Establishment Media, so I will be there for him.

Advertisers, take note. I'm paying attention.

[weegee]

Rush got to tweak all of his liberal critics who were tuned in by comparing Teddy Kennedy's racial outburst to his own statement that got him relieved from ESPN. The one way street that protects liberals got exposed.

Rush was wise and used this analogy in his opening monologue when all ears were tuned and prior to the first commercial break.

[Fledermaus]

I subscribe to Rush 24/7. It was a good show. My favorite was when he slammed critics about "hypocrisy" by saying, "just because my didn't live up to my ideals, does that make them wrong? If you believe speeding is dangerous and then get caught going 95 in a 70 mph zone, does that make you point about speeding incorrect?"

Of course it doesn't. He admitted he failed. He admitted he lied and even admitted he pretended to not even know what Oxycontin was when callers brought it up. He admitted he avoided the subject of drugs because of his addiction (it's documented but the liberals, as usual, put words into his mouth the same way they accused Bill Bennett when he never, ever critcized gambling...they just hate any morales preached at them). He also said what was in the press is wrong and will soon clear that stuff up.

I can't wait!

[Caipirabob]

At the end of the program, he said that he might have to have surgery on his back to deal with the pain he could no longer medicate away. He had been avoiding surgery, he said, because doctors would have to go through his throat - and there was a small risk that his larynx might be injured.

I know many of you can't relate to how significant this part is. I have a loved one in the same position. The technique is mostly successful, not always. It's a traumatic surgery at the very least. We are holding off as long as possible, because once you go the route of sugery, there is no hope for any other alternative, and the only other alternatives are either a miracle or a lifetime of pain/medication.

[backhoe]

I have a loved one in the same position. The technique is mostly successful, not always. It's a traumatic surgery at the very least.

My wife had a titanium plate bolted in to lock 3 vertabrae together in 2001... and she's still not back to normal.

The alternative was death, or paralysis... but it still has not been easy.

Her formerly remarkable singing voice-- spanning a range from bass to soprano- has never returned. It may never come back.

You learn to live with these things, but it is never easy. I know a lot more, personally, about intractable pain and opiates than I have ever let on in this or any forum- I may, someday relate it- or not. I am still weighing the pros & cons... suffice it to say that I may not be the only one who knows much about these issues who has remained largely silent.

[gooleyman]

"...reborn at the age of 50..."

-----

I've heard him say he's 50. I've read in biographies that Rush is 52. I thought he was older than either of those. I was under the impression based on listening to him during the Clintoon era that he, Clintoon and Dubya were about the same age. Can anyone verify this? Thanks.

[William Terrell]

He was on the verge of tears throughout the first half-hour, and he lost his temper later on with a hostile caller who had demanded to know whether Limbaugh's hearing loss a few years back had been the result of his drug addiction.

I listened to the show. At no time did I detect the verge of tears. I also didn't detect any lost temper toward the caller about the hearing loss. Maybe Mr. Podhoretz was squeezing the words through the filter of an anti-Limbaugh bias. Or maybe he's lying.

[carton253]

I thought Rush was emotional for about the first 10 minutes of the show... but who wouldn't be. He had a great opening line. And he was very honest with his audience. He held nothing back. I admire him for that.

And I heard the caller that Podhoretz is referring to. The caller had one goal... to demean Limbaugh. Limbaugh did say "shame on you" but there wasn't the anger that Podhoretz refers to. In fact, when Rush said it, I thought "good for you, Rush. The caller deserved it."

I think Podhertz is taking a cheap shot because he can. Shame on you Mr. Podhoretz. Rush deserves better.

[Moonmad27]

A friend of mine also had the same surgery for cervical vertebra pain. A singer, he was extremely worried about the surgery which moves the larynx out of the way to get to the spinal column. It was a total success, with no effect on his voice, as I hope it will be in Rush's case. It is a gamble, though; a co-worker's relative also had the same surgery and didn't get relief from the pain.

[netmilsmom]

I missed the first few minutes and regret it.
Rush has kept me entertained through,
the time alone after my mom died
the time working with a very liberal boss (though well loved) who hated that I listened to him
the time I moved North with no friends or family and a newborn
the (many times) I drove home with pre-schoolers in the car
for three hours timed with his show

Who care what his problems are. Those who hate him wanted him to fail. He didn't.

[ampat]

Rush being brutally honest as usual. The libs can't take it. No lies like clinton, kennedy, hillary, et al.

[Helms]

Rush Limbaugh was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on January 12, 1951. He is about to turn 53.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

Then, worried that he had just tried to make an excuse for his pill-popping, Limbaugh said simply: "I took the drugs because I liked them."

This lays to rest the question of whether or not Rush was a recreational drug user. He was.

[shhrubbery!]

I've listened to Rush since 1988. Loved him then and love him now.

Podhoretz is correct that Rush delivered a few lines of trite 'recovery-speak,' and we should not be surprised when he gets twitted for it.

I found that part of Rush's monologue disappointing; but Rush did go on to redeem himself with other remarks that seemed genuine, such as the assurance to his audience that he had never been artificial or phony on his program -- but that he had been everywhere else.