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A Second Look at Limbaugh's Travails
GOPUSA ^ | January 12, 2004 | Carol Devine-Molin

Posted on 01/12/2004 4:29:11 AM PST by tornado100

Several months have elapsed and I thought it might be interesting to re-examine the plight of radio megastar Rush Limbaugh. In my previous article on Limbaugh's troubles entitled "Limbaugh's Secret Life", I was initially criticized for accepting The National Enquirer's contention that he was addicted to prescription narcotics. Heck, I was also skewered for surmising that the conservative icon was likely to be subject to arrest, pursuant to his drug activities. In hindsight, I think my points were well taken. My article came out about five days before Limbaugh publicly acknowledged his addiction and need for rehabilitation. And now criminal charges against Rush might be unavoidable, if the Palm Beach prosecutor has his way. I have no crystal ball, just plenty of life experience. In fact, I'll be quite happy if I'm wrong about this situation. However, there's no need to fret -- even if Limbaugh takes some type of plea, he's looking at court supervision rather than jail time.

Now for some pertinent background information --The National Enquirer vets its front page exposés of celebrities with a phalanx of attorneys, certainly more thoroughly than anything that you would read on the front page of The New York Times. That's a sad commentary on our modern culture, isn't it? Common sense dictates that the tabloid was not going to place itself at the mercy of Limbaugh and a libel suit. The National Enquirer couldn't afford to be wrong. That said, I rightly judged that the essence of the story - Limbaugh's significant addiction to painkillers - had to be accurate otherwise the publication would not have gone to print with it. But what about those that categorically reject anything published in The National Enquirer, claiming that it's all pure drivel rife with abundant sensationalism? I'll readily concede there's a lot of innuendo and spinning that's intended for pure titillation purposes in The National Enquirer - But the lead stories (such as the Limbaugh piece) often contain significant morsels of truth, which is directly attributable to decent investigative reporting by journalists such as David Wright and oversight by attorneys. To some degree, The National Enquirer and its sister paper, The Star, get a bum rap. Many "junk paper" aficionados point out that the supermarket tabloids sell millions of copies each week precisely because they deliver genuine tidbits to their readership.

Since Limbaugh's return from residential treatment, he's verbally eviscerated the tabloid for relying on the statements of a couple who had "blackmailed" him. His anger toward the tabloid is totally understandable. However, it's important to note that although The National Enquirer didn't get everything right in their article on Limbaugh, it certainly got much of the story right - at least the key elements. As an aside, Limbaugh violated a fundamental precept in life that you should never, ever permit yourself to be blackmailed. And it demonstrates Limbaugh's depths of despair in his attempts to manage a dire, no-win situation. Ultimately, it was really Limbaugh's responsibility to have gone directly to law enforcement authorities if he was being blackmailed, but he chose not to do so. Clearly, he wanted to avoid scrutiny of his own drug involvement.

Despite Limbaugh's shortcomings, his fans have remained profoundly loyal. Rush's audience numbers are peaking at an all-time high due to his incisive political analysis that's the best around.

(Excerpt) Read more at gopusa.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: addiction; junkie; limbaugh; prosecution; rush; rushlimbaugh
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To: ElkGroveDan
Rush Ping!
21 posted on 01/12/2004 6:03:11 AM PST by ConservativeMan55 (You know how those liberals are. Two's Company but three is a fundraiser.)
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To: Lando Lincoln; Ben Hecks; dix; tubebender; Don Carlos; oprahstheantichrist; nutmeg; cyborg; ...
      Rush Ping!

Freepmail me if you would like on/off the Rush Pinglist!

Search for the latest Rush Limbaugh news on Free Republic.

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Rush Limbaugh.com
 

22 posted on 01/12/2004 6:03:51 AM PST by ConservativeMan55 (You know how those liberals are. Two's Company but three is a fundraiser.)
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To: tornado100
"Ultimately, it was really Limbaugh's responsibility to have gone directly to law enforcement authorities if he was being blackmailed, but he chose not to do so. Clearly, he wanted to avoid scrutiny of his own drug involvement. "

Well yes, he should have. But aside from his medical predicament; he also knew he had a target on his back, and he would be submitting to those in his Florida jurisdiction, who have long held him in their sites.

A kind of no-win here for Rush. Maybe he just needed more time to figure it all out; and this story broke, before he was able to deal with this.

Bottom line; he knew he would be treated differently and he was right.

23 posted on 01/12/2004 6:04:28 AM PST by cricket
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To: HarleyD
How much print space has been given to this story verses a Hollywood celebrity under the same situation?
How many Hollywood celebrities have nationally syndicated show where they would continually talk about the evils of drug abuse, and run done people addicted to prescription drugs?
It's called hypocrisy.
24 posted on 01/12/2004 6:05:30 AM PST by newcats
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To: Lazamataz
I have a brother-in-law who has been in jail repeatedly and over the holidays while on probation, was arrested again after his court mandated AA meeting. He will stop using when he decide to and no sooner.
25 posted on 01/12/2004 6:10:27 AM PST by ShandaLear (Howard Dean STILL isn't any safer!)
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To: ThirstyMan
Agreed - Rush blaming others is wrong. He set himself up for this. Also the McNabb thing. His analysis has been proven wrong, McNabb is a better QB than he thought. That in itself is no big deal, but Rush injecting the racial angle, no matter how he did so, opened himself up big time.

As to the drugs, it is his fault alone he allowed himself to get strung out, get blackmailed, etc. He could have come clean and refused the blackmail. He still is pulling a Clinton by using lawyers to shift the blame. Yes, I know he is being pursued with more vigor because of who he is, but my point is that he alone started it.
I wish him the best, and appreciate all he has done for radio and conservatism. But he needs to heal himself fully, career or no.
26 posted on 01/12/2004 6:11:32 AM PST by over3Owithabrain
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To: ShandaLear
So, the Democrats and the liberal media are bringing your brother-in-law down for some past rhetoric.

This conspiracy is truly deeper than I expected.

Sounds like your brother-in-law is the focus of a Clinton appointed, prosecutorial witch hunt.
27 posted on 01/12/2004 6:13:49 AM PST by Bluntpoint
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To: ThirstyMan
One thing we hate to hear is when he starts talking like he was just an unfortunate victim....to have been caught or the victim of an unjustified witch hunt.

The minute he starts doing the victim routine, it's clear his disease is talking for him.

I blame nobody for my addiction except myself. I earned all of the consequences. I was a total jerk.

28 posted on 01/12/2004 6:14:46 AM PST by Lazamataz (Watch it, pal.....if you keep it up, I'll steal your tagline next.)
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To: billorites
Nonsense. One of the most addictive drugs is nicotine. Guess what? There are more non-smokers in the U.S. than smokers and all of them quit without jail time or pee tests.
29 posted on 01/12/2004 6:15:09 AM PST by Captain Kirk
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To: ShandaLear
I have a brother-in-law who has been in jail repeatedly and over the holidays while on probation, was arrested again after his court mandated AA meeting. He will stop using when he decide to and no sooner.

We who have been there and done that -- or seen people who have -- understand.

Nothing but true desire will make anyone quit.

30 posted on 01/12/2004 6:15:45 AM PST by Lazamataz (Watch it, pal.....if you keep it up, I'll steal your tagline next.)
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To: Captain Kirk
Nonsense. One of the most addictive drugs is nicotine. Guess what? There are more non-smokers in the U.S. than smokers and all of them quit without jail time or pee tests.

That's also a good point, though I might have done away with the 'Nonsense' preface. :o)

I'm addicted to invading other countries. I am powerless over my addiction. ;^)

31 posted on 01/12/2004 6:17:04 AM PST by Lazamataz (Watch it, pal.....if you keep it up, I'll steal your tagline next.)
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To: Lazamataz
I was a total jerk.

So what they are saying about you in the Newsletter is true?

32 posted on 01/12/2004 6:17:23 AM PST by Bluntpoint
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To: Lazamataz
I've long admired your wit and intellect, and now your honesty.

I wish you well, Sir.
33 posted on 01/12/2004 6:22:33 AM PST by IGOTMINE (All we are saying... is give guns a chance!)
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To: newcats
How many Hollywood celebrities have nationally syndicated show where they would continually talk about the evils of drug abuse

Are you implying that Rush "continually talked about the evils of drug abuse"? Care to provide a quote or two to back that up, out of about 10,000 hours of broadcasting, aside from his much-celebrated "white people" comment in 1995?

34 posted on 01/12/2004 6:25:01 AM PST by Sloth ("I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!" -- Jacobim Mugatu, 'Zoolander')
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To: Bluntpoint
So what they are saying about you in the Newsletter is true?

Yes, but it was incomplete. I was a world-class homicidal tyrannical torturing maniacal laughing spartan incoherent ticklish isolating androgynous mechanical relaxed pulmonary expectant rocking hesitating horrific violent purple enuui-filled legubrious excitable moronic melancholy wanking lurid vibrating perfectionist dishonest sad blinking concealing morbid jerk.

35 posted on 01/12/2004 6:26:58 AM PST by Lazamataz (Watch it, pal.....if you keep it up, I'll steal your tagline next.)
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To: Lazamataz
Hey....feel free to invade all the countries you want. A one man invasion team? Knock yourself out.
36 posted on 01/12/2004 6:29:00 AM PST by Captain Kirk
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To: IGOTMINE
I've long admired your wit and intellect, and now your honesty.

Faults revealed are faults powerless against you.

I wish you well Sir.

What a nice way to start a day! :o)

Thank you sir. And to you, the same, tenfold. :o)

37 posted on 01/12/2004 6:29:33 AM PST by Lazamataz (Watch it, pal.....if you keep it up, I'll steal your tagline next.)
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To: Lazamataz
You boiled down the article about you quite nicely.

Apparently, unlike the authors of the article, you only have an abridged thesaurus.
38 posted on 01/12/2004 6:33:21 AM PST by Bluntpoint
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To: ConservativeMan55
Bumping in support of Rush!!!!!
39 posted on 01/12/2004 6:33:28 AM PST by E.G.C.
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To: Lazamataz
I would have sent you a nice post, but I was afraid that you might sell my post for drugs.
40 posted on 01/12/2004 6:34:16 AM PST by Bluntpoint
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