Aiming for Rush

The Washington Times ^ | May 9, 2004 | House Editorial

[xsysmgr]

There can be little doubt that legal actions against Rush Limbaugh are politically motivated. The radio commentator with 20 million listeners is one of the most able communicators of conservative political ideas in America. It is hard to imagine that the historic Republican takeover of Congress in 1994 would have happened without Mr. Limbaugh articulating the virtues of smaller government day in and day out over the airwaves. It is no surprise that liberals would sink to any level to try to silence such an important conservative voice. But the evidence against Mr. Limbaugh's accusers is not merely circumstantial. The case they have made and how they have made it exposes the whole prosecution as a partisan witchhunt.

[joesbucks]

A humbled man? I read or saw something that indicated that Roy Black was working with the prosecutor some 9 months prior to Rush's admission of use and detox efforts. That's a humbled man? That's a man who was caught and exposed and finally had to do something about it. That's a a man who many for a long period of time noticed his speech, and other mannerisms slipping.

I'm not saying there is no political motivation behind this attempt at prosecution. Frankly, it happens all the time with both parties going after those of influence in the other. Limbaugh is hardly the exception, but a well known rule.

[backhoe]

-That "Rush" to Judgment- Limbaugh Links--

[St.Mark]

Humbled? Yes humbled, finally brought face to face with an addiction that was ruining his health as well as his career and he pulled him self up and out paying a terrible price by loosing his hearing. I don't understand the tone of your post its almost vindictive, I thank god for Rush and his intellect everyday as I listen to him. He is the only high profile media figure that keeps the libs off balance. Cut the guy some slack.

[joesbucks]

Ruining his career? How? Had it been kept silent, who would have known? And how many listeners did he lose because of it? Seems hardly any. Doesn't seem to have affected his career.

[Budge]

Bump for after work.

[rodguy911]

Did Limbaugh take too many drugs for back pain, you bet he did. Did he do things RE prescrip[tions drugs illegally, yes. Is this a type of illegal behavior that is commonly prosecuted---no, never, seldom if ever.

If ever there was a victim-less crime this is it. Who did Rush hurt,--only himself. The key here is he did make a major apology on the air, did go to rehab, and currently is doing nothing more than trying to protect himself from totally undue prosecution, and political types trying to make a name for themselves at any cost.

It also helps to remember that Rush Limbaugh is the number one conservative target in the entire world and a coup against him could be huge in rat circles. Lots of people would like to get to Rush and quiet him, my guess is it won't happen and he will fight the good fight. And, we should support him all we can.

[uncbob]

It is hard to imagine that the historic Republican takeover of Congress in 1994 would have happened without Mr. Limbaugh articulating the virtues of smaller government day in and day out over the airwaves.

Had nothing to do with smaller government per se

Were them angered Gun Owners over Clinton's assault on their rights and Christian Conservatives angered over abortion and homosexuals in the military

[prairiebreeze]

That's a man who was caught and exposed and finally had to do something about it. That's a a man who many for a long period of time noticed his speech, and other mannerisms slipping.

And therein lies the nature of addiction. Many times, the addict isn't able/willing to address the situation until forced to. The denial aspect of the disease process sets this up.

Do addicts make poor choices and need to take personal responsibility? Absolutely. And does the vicious cycle inherent in addiction make that even more difficult and unlikely to happen without outside influences? Absolutely.

Prairie

[TomB]

I wish no one the perils of being prescribed Oxycontin as I have been hearing terrible stories concerning the taking of it and the problems of getting off of it.

If I remember correctly, the State of Florida legislature is trying to ban it from Florida.

If true, what an assnine thing for the Florida government to do. Many drugs have abuse potential, and banning them because of that is insane.

[aruanan]

It would be just like government to ban something good for political purposes ( "Look at me, I'm doing something to protect you. Vote for me!") because something bad can happen as a result of using it improperly--let's just think of a few other things that are very good but which can result in very bad outcomes: fire, automobiles, airplanes, electricity, sex, food, mop buckets. There are many others.

[Wolfie]

Is this a type of illegal behavior that is commonly prosecuted---no, never, seldom if ever.

Except for this guy:

Pill Sham

Here's a bit of legal information that may interest Rush Limbaugh: Under Florida law, illegally obtaining more than 28 grams of painkillers containing the narcotic oxycodone—a threshold exceeded by a single 60-pill Percocet prescription—automatically makes you the worst sort of drug trafficker, even if you never sold a single pill. Even if, like Richard Paey, you were using the drugs to relieve severe chronic pain.

Although prosecutors admitted Paey was not a drug trafficker, on April 16 he received a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years for drug trafficking. That jaw-dropping outcome illustrates two sadly familiar side effects of the war on drugs: the injustice caused by mandatory minimum sentences and the suffering caused by the government's interference with pain treatment

[TomB]

The DemoncRATs in our legislature probably think if it is banned, then dudes like Rush can be charged with a crime. As it is right now, Rush has not been charged with a crime but has spent hundreds, maybe thousands defending himself.

You cannot be charged with a crime ex post facto.

If one realizes that there are two types of drugs, legal and illegal, then taking a doctor prescribed legal drug is not illegal.

However Oxycontin is also sold on the street by illegal drug peddlers. Still the drug is legal, just not prescribed. If I remember correctly, seems like the Fl Legislature wants to ban non-prescribed Oxycontin and is not the only drug in the ban.

In order to get the "legal" drug, most addicts either have to buy it without a prescription (illegal), or lie to their doctors to get it (illegal in most jurisdictions). So "banning" a "legal" drug is a useless move. It is already illegal to posess a controlled drug without a prescription.

[rodguy911]

Excellent and scary post. Why use valuable law enforcement manpower to go after the wrong people. I hope it seldom happens.I will suggest however that the day law enforcement tries to take Limbaugh to jail the roads will be blocked with thousands of cars and so many protestors--young and old-- it will never happen.

[LoudRepublicangirl]

I believe Rush has paid the price. In my line of work I see many addicts who are not criminalized. I think that a little compassion needs to be shown his way along with others who deal with chroinc pain and are desperate to be rid of it. I'm not saying what he did was right but since I have never known chronic pain I can't say how I would handle it either. He humbled himself to world, has sought treatment and I hope he is on his way to healing. I would wish that for everyone.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I would like to buy just 1 percent of the lawsuit Rush will file and win when this thing is put to rest.

[joesbucks]

It also helps to remember that Rush Limbaugh is the number one conservative target in the entire world and a coup against him could be huge in rat circles. Lots of people would like to get to Rush and quiet him, my guess is it won't happen and he will fight the good fight. And, we should support him all we can.

He should have thought of that when he did his illegal activities. For that he failed not only himself, but you, me and millions of others who profess to hold ourselves as well as others to a higher standard.

[Ditter]

If there was any one thing that was behind the Republican takeover of Congress it was the threat of Hillarycare & Rush keeping us abreast of it day in & day out. Thank God for Rush, long may he talk.