Charges put Rush in select group: 2

New York Daily News ^ | 1/04/04 | News Wire Sdervices

[kattracks]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Rush Limbaugh was wrong when he accused prosecutors of singling him out, but not by much. Palm Beach County prosecutors investigating the right-wing radio host for his prescription drug abuse have filed "doctor shopping" charges against one other person in the past five years, according to records.

Limbaugh's lawyer said the court documents, reviewed by The Palm Beach Post yesterday, prove his client was unfairly targeted.

"Rush Limbaugh has been singled out for special prosecution because of who he is," Roy Black told the paper. "We believe the state attorney's office is applying a double standard."

State Attorney Barry Krischer denied the accusation, saying, "Whether Mr. Limbaugh is subject to prosecution for any crimes is still under investigation."

Investigators seized Limbaugh's medical records in November after discovering he got more than 2,000 painkillers, prescribed by four doctors, at a pharmacy near his home. Limbaugh's former maid told investigators she supplied him with prescription painkillers for years.

Limbaugh's lawyers had argued the seizure of his records violated his privacy and that the probe was politically motivated.

The commentator, once a harsh critic of drug abusers, recently admitted his addiction, saying it stemmed from severe back pain. He took a five-week leave from his radio show to enter a detox program.

The Palm Beach Post review found only one case in which the county filed charges of illegally acquiring overlapping prescriptions, but the defendant died before trial.

Doctor shopping, a crime that can bring up to five years in prison, is conning more than one physician to write the same prescriptions within 30 days.

Originally published on January 4, 2004

[_Jim]

Intruder (an apparent "hypocritical Libertarian") alert - posts #38 and 39.

This guy must be really conflicted: a Libertarian ostensibly 'bashing' a conservative icon for alleged misue of a legally prescribable (as opposed to illegal, non-prescibable substances like marijuana, cocaine and heroine) 'pain killer' ...

[MamaK]

If you took the time to notice Rush stoped talking about druges before he started taking them for his pain.Might I guess that your have had some experence with the ole mary jane? If I am wrong please forgive.

[Nanodik]

I have heard people who called up on the RL show and talk about legalizing pot especially when it came to tobacco legislation. RL's comment was that pot smokers are just selfish and that there is nothing wrong with tobacco because it's legal. His argument was completely circular. My drug is good because it's legal and yours is bad because it's illegal. Those who want to make my drug illegal are idiots and busybodies. And BTW you are selfish for wanting your drug to be legal.

[justanotherfreeper]

The Palm Beach Post review found only one case in which the county filed charges of illegally acquiring overlapping prescriptions, but the defendant died before trial.

This article edits out something critical the Palm Beach Post told in an earlier article. This person was prosecuted to try and intimidate him into testifying against his wife's doctor, so it was a not a prosecution for doctor shopping, but a prosecution to try and intimidate and harrass the guy into helping the prosecutors. See Charge in Limbaugh Drug Case Rarely Used paragraph 20.

[freekitty]

I would like to know how this hag gets away with smearing everyone else, including people that supposedly are for her. I understand that she has been tossed out of the that lawsuit of Gennifer Flowers in Vegas. Of course, her two supposed buddies, James and George, remain in the lawsuit.

I suspect this is the plan that worked for Bubba. It seems that he was always able to get out of the slime pit too. I see it all happening again with the hag.

I wonder when one of their supposed supporters is going to get sick of being thrown to the lions and hang them?

It's about time to throw these two in jail

[tertiary01]

Ditto that. I rarely heard Rush talk about drugs and usually he would bring up the topic only to illustrate some inconsistency, such as in the drugs laws.

[freekitty]

I do believe the Clintons are able to get away with their cheap trash because of our type of society today. I also believe they are always trying to scam the public into believing how powerful they are.

What makes this so pitiful is how sick they really are.

[longtermmemmory]

I think there are trolls who just have it in for Rush no matter what. These are the ones who have always listened because they hate Rush not because they argree. There is nothing that will satisfy them short of a public flogging they can personally administer.

It should also be pointed out that the doctor shopping charges was a "make charge" which was part of a failed immunity deal. The defendant failed to "substantially assist" with their testimony in a murder case. It was only then that a charge was issued for doctor shopping. (out of all the other possible charges)

Despite the naysayers, Rush is going to have one heck of a bar complaint (SA have higher standards) and one heck of a civil claim agains all involved.

[ConservativeMan55]

Cool! If you need any help with it, then let me know.

[RS]

"I wonder what evidence they had .. "



This might bring you up to speed -

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/rushsearch1.html

It may not be up to your personal standards, but so far TWO judges have seen it as probable cause.

[RS]

"This person was prosecuted to try and intimidate him into testifying against his wife's doctor, so it was a not a prosecution for doctor shopping, but a prosecution to try and intimidate and harrass the guy into helping the prosecutors."

You could put it that way, or you can put it as -
" he was offered immunity from the doctor-shopping charges if he would testify against the supplier, but refused."

Like the Clines were probably offered immunity so they would "fully cooperate" and turn on their suppliers. The subsequent arrests shut down a ring pushing hundreds of thousands of pills.

Gee - didn't Rush promise to offer his full cooperation at one time ? Sure dosen't look like he's cooperating now.

[Matchett-PI]

"I have heard people who called up on the RL show and talk about legalizing pot especially when it came to tobacco legislation. RL's comment was that pot smokers are just selfish and that there is nothing wrong with tobacco because it's legal. His argument was completely circular. My drug is good because it's legal and yours is bad because it's illegal. Those who want to make my drug illegal are idiots and busybodies. And BTW you are selfish for wanting your drug to be legal."

I see you didn't provide the exact quotes, with the dates and times, that would prove your whiney, defensive accusation.

Without that, your personal perceptions about what you think you heard, are dubious, and your opinion on the matter carries no weight in the eyes of those capable of critical thought. How can we know for sure that you weren't spaced out on pot, having an LSD flashback, or high on crack or something, when you thought you heard that stuff?

To show good faith, and to demonstrate that the virtue of honesty, to which you are trying to get us to believe you adhere, you will need to put up or shut up.

Of course you know that to feign to be what you aren't, in this case; "honest", is to expose yourself as being exactly what you're accusing Rush of being, ie: 'a hypocrite'.

So,in order for you to have any credibility at all, you will need to provide the exact quote(s) and exact date(s).

Otherwise, you will need to publically retract what thoughtful people can only conclude is malicious gossip and innuendo, put forth by you in a "pile on with his other enemies" attempt to damage and smear Rush's character and reputation.

I am willing to help you save face if you can't provide the exact quote(s). Just give me the dates and the times that you are claiming he said those things, and I will transcribe his EXACT words for the record, since I have his radio programs on tape.

BTW, I have listened to his program daily, virtually from the beginning, and I have heard him talking to the callers to which you refer, but I NEVER heard him say any of the things as you claim he said.

So this statement will stand as a false, malicious, misleading statement, made by a dishonest, biased hypocrite, with a not-so-hidden agenda, until it is backed up with facts:

"RL's comment was that pot smokers are just selfish and that there is nothing wrong with tobacco because it's legal. His argument was completely circular. My drug is good because it's legal and yours is bad because it's illegal. Those who want to make my drug illegal are idiots and busybodies. And BTW you are selfish for wanting your drug to be legal"

[cyborg]

Rush Limbaugh himself said that he's never spoken out against drugs really because he was abusing them at the time. I've been listening to Rush for a LONG time too. This is all crap from the playerhaters.

[cyborg]

I feel sending Rush one of these tee shirts to show on his dittocam.

[RS]

Oh... and do you think it is just another amazing coincidence in this case that one of the doctors who supplied the other guy also supplied Rush -

Could it be that the doctor is the one the cops are after, and Rush is refusing to "fully cooperate" ?

Naw, I guess this being a simple drug investigation being handled the same way other drug investigations have been handled dosen't fit with the " It's Hillery and the VLWC"

[Liberty Valance]

So, if Rush is charged and convicted, he would be the only person ever convicted for this newly minted "crime"?
He is a trendsetter...:o)

[weegee]

This is the definition of "prosecutorial misconduct" everywhere except, I suppose, Florida.

BUMP

This smear campaign will forever do it's job (just as the songs made famous by payola are the "golden oldies" we know today). Anytime there is a biography of Rush Limbaugh, it will include a discussion of the "controversy" over his drug addiction.

[Nick Thimmesch]

Sorry for re=posting late: been watching the great Packers/Seahwaks game. Let me catch-up quickly by posing the following: is anyone out there -- including Rush -- saying that Limabaugh all along was either opposed to laws against and/or spoke out against:

1) The illegality of the "drugs" (horrible, sick drugs at that) that Limbaugh himself was taking in extreme quantities. In other words, did Limbaugh personally and/or publically say that the drugs he was taking should be legal so that he would not have to go through illgeal means to obtain them? Don't think so...

2) The hundreds of thousands if not millions of American citizens who where arrested, tried or plea bargained and/or spent time in prison, jail or otherwise for simply POSSESSING -- not selling -- marijuana? Let alone their property being seized, drug testing, etc.

3) The WASTE of taxpayer money and extreme injustice done to American citizens, states' rights, etc. that the War on Some Drugs brought throught the Reagan, Bush I, KKKlintoon, Bush II administrations.

If anyone can show me THAT from Limbaugh over the years, then maybe we can begin to talk reality, not hyperbole & re-writing Rush's history.

Back to the game.

[weegee]

I said from day one that Rush would weather this, and make his enemies chew nails. The worm appears to be turning even in the press. Truth will out! :)

But will the clearing of his name draw the same headlines that the scandal brought? Or will it be a back page story carried by only some of the wire services?

[Nick Thimmesch]

Sorry for re=posting late: been watching the great Packers/Seahwaks game. Let me catch-up quickly by posing the following: is anyone out there -- including Rush -- saying that Limabaugh all along was either opposed to laws against and/or spoke out against:

1) The illegality of the "drugs" (horrible, sick drugs at that) that Limbaugh himself was taking in extreme quantities. In other words, did Limbaugh personally and/or publically say that the drugs he was taking should be legal so that he would not have to go through illgeal means to obtain them? Don't think so...

2) The hundreds of thousands if not millions of American citizens who where arrested, tried or plea bargained and/or spent time in prison, jail or otherwise for simply POSSESSING -- not selling -- marijuana? Let alone their property being seized, drug testing, etc.

3) The WASTE of taxpayer money and extreme injustice done to American citizens, states' rights, etc. that the War on Some Drugs brought throught the Reagan, Bush I, KKKlintoon, Bush II administrations.

If anyone can show me THAT from Limbaugh over the years, then maybe we can begin to talk reality, not hyperbole & re-writing Rush's history.

Back to the game.