Case Against Limbaugh Called Weak

NewsMax.com ^ | 10/04/03 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

Despite screaming front page headlines and top-of-the-hour news reports suggesting that Rush Limbaugh is in legal hot water over allegations that he abused painkillers over a four year period, prosecutors and attorneys said Saturday that any actual criminal case against the top talk star would be weak.

James Martz, the prosecutor who heads up the Palm Beach County, Florida task force investigating the Limbaugh case noted that police never actually caught the talk star purchasing any drugs. "Shy of that, we have very little leverage in the state system," he told the Palm Beach Post.

Martz said he is more interested in finding the heads of drug distribution cells rather than going after alleged low-level prescription drug users like Limbaugh.

Florida attorney Michael Salnick agreed that the case is weak, telling the Post, "I think that the state better have a heck of a lot more than what I'm seeing, hearing and reading right now."

"First of all you have a major credibility issue with these witnesses. The credibility issue starts with the fact they sold their story to The National Enquirer," the attorney said.

"I think it's legal suicide to go after a guy like Limbaugh with evidence as flimsy as this," Salnick added.

Another problem is that one of Limbaugh's accusers, David Cline, was convicted himself on cocaine trafficking charges in 1982.

What about the wire worn by Cline's wife Wilma, Limbaugh's housekeeper who told the Enquirer that she taped their last two drug transactions?

Apparently the recording is more legally problematic for the Clines than it is for Limbaugh. Attorneys told the Post that if Mrs. Cline did tape Limbaugh without his knowledge, she committed a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

What more, prosecutor Martz said such an illegally obtained recording would be inadmissible in court.

How about the emails supplied by Cline that purportedly document Limbaugh's drug deals?

Martz told the Post that any such evidence is of little value because it's difficult to actually verify who sent the email.

Further weakening any possible prosecution is the issue of Limbaugh's celebrity, which Florida attorney Marc Shiner said complicates the case.

"Why would drug dealers turn in their client unless they are trying to save their own neck -- or trying to make a couple hundred thousand dollars peddling their story to the tabloids?" he asked.

"If I was Roy Black," Shiner added, referring to the lawyer Limbaugh has reportedly hired, "I'd be sitting on the beach right now sipping a pina colada or watching a Marlins game and not worrying too much about Rush Limbaugh's criminal liability right now."

[eeman]

I wonder: If this drug allegation was not about to come up would Rush would have quietly resigned from ESPN?

One thing that has been mentioned in multiple other threads is that Rush would not be able to do his show so well if he was strung out on oxycontin.

That is especially true if you are starting out with a hearing deficit. Although the cochlear implant is a vast improvement for him, he still has a hearing deficit as compared to someone his age with normal hearing.

Anytime you have a physicial deficit, it becomes embellished with illness or intoxication. However, he has been as sharp as a tack ever since he had that implant.

[VRWC_minion]

If he was addicted and purchasing drugs illegally, it would be very serious regardless of the legal implications. If he is currently addicted it might be a disaster. If he was previously addicted and he is reformed, it would probably be manageable.

Freepers will be divided into 3 groups. One group (which will include liberal pretenders) will demand Rush be gagged forever. Another group will forgive him whatever he did, and the 3rd group will be the libertarians who will harp on nonexistant hypocracy.

If he is innocent, some will never believe him even if everyone recants and the main stream press will always leave a cloud around it.

[DianaN]

This really smells like another in a series of co-ordinated attacks perpetrated to weaken the Republican Party in advance of the 2004 elections.

The Dumocraps know that a lot of people listen to Rush and that sometimes he can influence peoples decisions and therefore policy and political matters.

Besides the 'attacks' listed there have been others including upon a staffer of a Republican Congressman. I list some of the latest more notorious attacks upon Republicans and their party:

The heart of this smearing of Republicans was recently continued when 3 so called "journalists" (who are known to be registered, Dumocraps-some of whom are Dumocrap "activists") wrote the story for the LA Slimes about Arnold's supposed "bad behavior" with women.

The media has reportedly been surpressing a large chem/bio cache that was trying to be snuck out of Iraq via Kuwait when the weapons cache was caught by Kuwaiti officials. The cache was reportedly destined to an unknown European nation.

The Dumocraps decided that Pres. Bush "lied" about the reasons for the war in Iraq (a total fallacy made up and proliferated by Dumocraps). One can go back and view ALL of the words of the Pres. during that time frame; it's the Dumocraps that are the LIARS!

This definitely looks like a pattern of well co-ordinated political attacks against Republicans and their more famous associates and, I believe, is designed to discredit the Republican Party before the 2004 elections. There is probably yet to come.

Two can play this dirty little game and Republicans should immediately start playing the 'game'.

The difference is that the Dumocraps have to either make stuff up or exaggerate what are relatively small matters; all the Republicans have to do is find out the truth about some prominent Dumocraps.

[fqued]

would have a much easier time believing in Rush's innocence if he would simply say "I have never illegally bought or possessed prescription narcotics."

You would, I wouldn't
AS A LAWYER, I say that Rush needs to keep his mouth SHUT until his lawyer tells him he can open it. period. NO IFS, ANDS, OR BUTS.

[oldmanlegg]

Some one tell me why in hell Rush would have to buy prescription drugs illegally? There must be thousands of doctors / pharmacist who would sell them to him legal.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

I sure hope things go well for Rush.

I hope things go well for his listeners. For make no mistake, we are the real target. The essential task of any conservative spokesman/representative is to defend his constituency from the attacks of journalism and other Democrats. In 1996 Jack Kemp showed that he did not understand that--and Gore tore him to ribbons with faint praise--by attacking us.

[soozla]

Yes, it certainly is.....and I have a suspicion that all this is going to BACKFIRE on them......B-I-G-T-I-M-E!!!!!....(it'll be...Rush Limbaugh's "National Enquirer"...as of next year...;^)

[Irish Eyes]

Amazing to me that this all comes out barely a week after the announcement of Gore's possible huge media buy.

[what's up]

One way it's going to backfire...their "October surprise" strategy which has has worked so well for them for decades is now no longer working. The public is on to it bigtime.

This has been a large reason why they have won elections all these years.

[VRWC_minion]

I would have a much easier time believing in Rush's innocence if he would simply say "I have never illegally bought or possessed prescription narcotics."

No you wouldn't. You said on another thread that you are convinced he is a liar.

[eeman]

If he bought even one tablet, saying "never" would make him a liar and destroy his credibility--even if the the offense itself was trivial.

Do you think that if you were under intense scrutiny by a malicious , they couldn't find something to hang you with? A trivial accusation could be blown up into a major scandal. If you denied it you would caught lying and the situation would become worse.

If you said "Yeah but it only occurred once thiry years ago..." Then they would hang you like they are trying to do to Schwarzenegger

[Mad Dawgg]

I>"Looks like the "case against Rush" is built on smoke and mirrors."

Yes but don't you see? The Plan is utterly brilliant and a master stroke of political skullduggery.

Even if RUSH is in no way involved whatsoever, it looks like he is guilty of something because the powers that be are saying there is not enough evidence to convict him.

I am telling ya whoever is behind this "Mother of all October Surprises" is really good!

Look at what we have got now:

Arnold is a girl-groping-Nazi-lover, Rush is pill-popping drug smuggler and President Bush is guilty of treason by way of exposing an super secret undercover CIA operative.

You got to admit this bunch had their ducks in a row to pull this all off at the same time!

And I hope they end up smoking a turd in hell for all of eternity!!

[fuzzthatwuz]

Hey Jammer.
Your post is quite correct refering to "character suicide". Amplification of my statement results in the same premise: The left is more concerned in removing a barrier to their agenda in this particular instance than any form of criminal justice. Mr. Limbaugh has indeed been a barrier. If these allegations are true, his drug abuse should not be condoned. There are treatment programs. If his alleged acts are found to be criminal in nature, there are criminal penalties. As the facts unfold, would it not be appropriate to expect the Dem politicos and media to keep their comments in abeyance? Not likely... they smell blood!

[at bay]

Some one tell me why in hell Rush would have to buy prescription drugs illegally? There must be thousands of doctors / pharmacist who would sell them to him legal.

Exactly. Common sense tells anyone this is bogus. BTW, is it known that if your prescriptions are not in a prescription bottle on your possession they are illegal? It'll take more than that for me to transfer back my 'scripts from the MTWTFSS pill dispensers back to the rx ad bottles. What bogus nonsense.

[Joe Hadenuf]

"I think that the state better have a heck of a lot more than what I'm seeing, hearing and reading right now."

Waacha got?

[VRWC_minion]

One thing that has been mentioned in multiple other threads is that Rush would not be able to do his show so well if he was strung out on oxycontin.

Lots of alcoholics are great employees. Rush could manage a drug addiction. He also has a compulsive history of smoking an eating that puts such behavior at a high risk.

On the flip side he has shown the ability to excercise extreme control and would be tough to think he would stay hooked for any length of time even if he got hooked.

[WackyKat]

What's so hard about this ....... "I have never had sexual relations with that woman ....... Monica Lewinsky". Ring a (((((((( bell ))))))) ?

Your post is completely nonsensical. What point are you trying to make?

[Siegfried]

so Mr. Limbaugh, have you stopped beating your wife yet?

I would update that old saw for the current situation:

So, Mr. Limbaugh, is it true you weren't high on drugs when you did your show on Friday?

[WackyKat]

AS A LAWYER, I say that Rush needs to keep his mouth SHUT until his lawyer tells him he can open it. period. NO IFS, ANDS, OR BUTS.

I'm sure that's what Roy Black told him.

It's just ironic that when it's Rush's t#t in the wringer, he begins behaving in a way that is very, er, Clintonesque, shall we say?