Posted on 10/07/2003 5:37:58 AM PDT by jimmccleod
Limbaugh's Secret Life By Carol Devine-Molin October 6, 2003
We conservatives are all saddened by the news that Rush Limbaugh is being investigated by law enforcement authorities for illegal buys of prescription painkillers. If accounts being bandied about the media are accurate, then Limbaugh: a) has procured tremendous amounts of highly addictive narcotic medications from his pill-pushing housekeeper Wilma Cline, and, b) is likely to be subjected to arrest. Oh, by the way, dear Wilma sold her hot celebrity story to The National Enquirer for about four hundred thousand dollars. Am I surprised by the overall situation? Yes and no.
Given Limbaugh's outstanding analytical mind and sharp wit, it's difficult to believe that he's constantly in a drug induced state. Who is more articulate and funny than Limbaugh in the world of political commentary? Nobody. However, the hard truth is this: Among entertainers, media personalities and politicos, substance abuse exists in epidemic proportions. For that reason, many conservatives have quickly moved beyond denial and are prepared to hear the worst of it. And I think the majority of conservatives will continue to be compassionate and supportive toward El Rushbo as long as he embraces rehabilitative efforts.
Limbaugh is clearly the most influential conservative of our era, with a radio audience of up to thirty million listeners each week. He's probably converted more Americans to the conservative persuasion than any individual except Ronald Reagan. Understandably, Limbaugh's myriad political foes rejoice in his current troubles. Al Franken and the radical Left are ecstatic. If the tabloid piece largely pans out, Limbaugh has provided his enemies with significant ammunition in efforts to discredit and silence him. But will those hostile to Limbaugh ultimately succeed in ruining him? I doubt it. His current woes are definitely a setback, but not insurmountable. I would state one pivotal caveat. The only individual who can really bring down Limbaugh is Limbaugh himself. Conservatives will maintain solidarity with Limbaugh if, and only if, he dedicates himself to being clean and sober. However, if Limbaugh continues to dabble in drugs, his legion of fans and listeners will slowly drift away.
Although most people are focused upon Limbaugh's legal circumstances, much more is at stake. Drug addiction is a life-threatening condition, which requires proper intervention. Reports indicate that Limbaugh had been rapidly detoxed twice, but returned to drugs both times. Of course he has to undergo another detoxification, and not of the dubious "ultra-rapid" variety that is completed in 24 hours. But what about follow-up care? I'm referring to a program of drug treatment to prevent relapse. Importantly, with relapse there's always the specter of overdose and further physical deterioration. And Limbaugh will have to fight his addictive inclinations for the rest of his life - that is the nature of the beast. It's encouraging to note that many radio and television personalities, such as Don Imus and Larry Kudlow, are succeeding in their day-by-day recovery efforts.
The drugs taken by Limbaugh - OxyContin, Lorcet and Hydrocone - are terribly dangerous by all accounts. Never mind that they cause a host of emotional side effects including paranoia and mood swings. Now, it's coming to light that at least two of these powerful painkillers are linked to sudden hearing loss. In other words, it's conceivable that Limbaugh's deafness was caused by his own addictive behaviors. If that turns out to be the case, it's not only tragic but speaks to the incredible grip of dependency created by these drugs. On some level Rush Limbaugh, like all substance abusers, has self-destructive tendencies. That's his private business, and his responsibility to explore through counseling. For addicts, arrest is often a good thing since the Court system forces them into essential treatment. Roy Black is a very adept criminal attorney who understands these issues. If Limbaugh is charged with a crime, certainly mandatory drug rehabilitation would be part of the plea bargain. I doubt that Limbaugh would be made to serve any jail time.
As to The National Enquirer article, I read it. And I found it to be credible, rife with details that demonstrate the severity of Limbaugh's substance abuse problem. Limbaugh had at least one other drug supplier besides Wilma Cline, referred to as his "FedEx" connection. Apparently OxyContin is Limbaugh's drug of choice. And law enforcement authorities are in possession of a couple of tapes, and a bunch of emails, that substantiate the claims made by Wilma Cline and her husband regarding Limbaugh. The Cline couple cut themselves a very nice deal with the people at The National Enquirer that are experts at marketing
If he's truely addicted to that junk, then he wouldn't be able to do his radio show without stuff in his system. (The withdrawl symptoms are nasty stuff -- just like heroin -- which is why many heroin addicts spend the rest of their lives on methadone.)
That jumped out at me too, as well as this line:
On some level Rush Limbaugh, like all substance abusers, has self-destructive tendencies.
Either this woman is a presumptious psychobabbler, or she knows something we don't. Most likely the former.
Nonetheless, I believe there probably is some core truth among the likely lies and distortions of Wilma Cline's story.
But why are Dimocrats so gleefully confident that this is the ruin of Rush? I've listened to Rush from the get-go of his syndicated show fifteen years ago, and I'll continue listening to him because he's d@mn GOOD, on drugs or not.
And I and millions of others will be praying for his health.
Only a couple weeks ago, I decided to clean out the medicine cabinet and get rid of old unused junk. I found a prescription to me dated 1999 for Hydrocone. The prescription was for 15 pills. I never finished the bottle, I just hated the way it made me feel. It made me very tired, and depressed.
You are assuming that he actually took 66 pills a day. An addict is always worried about the next fix, and if he has the money, he will make sure he has a large stash just in case the pipeline suddenly goes dry (i.e., the supplier gets busted). Also, many oxy addicts don't take the drug in pill form, but rather grind the pills into powder and snort them in order to negate the time releasors in the pill, with the result being a more intense high. The dosage for the drug in pill form vs. powder is not 1:1, meaning that several pills might be ground up into powder for a single "fix."
This kinda makes Limbaugh sound like sound guy laid out on a cot in an opium den. Hardly the case. Plus, how does she know he actually has "dabbled" in drugs? And when was he and is he? She certainly could no know any more than what we do. Could she?
How cute. In one statement she condemns him as an addict by supporting his rehabilitation. How does she know. She has no right to make this statement if she has a shred of loyalty to him. She should hold her fire and wait for him to make a substantive statement. If in due time that is not forthcoming, then he, by his own ommission of a statement, has made himself a legitmate target. As of now, his time is running out. V's wife.
Likewise.
Limbaugh had at least one other drug supplier besides Wilma Cline, referred to as his "FedEx" connection. Apparently OxyContin is Limbaugh's drug of choice.
And law enforcement authorities are in possession of a couple of tapes, and a bunch of emails, that substantiate the claims made by Wilma Cline and her husband regarding Limbaugh.
The tape is the reason that Rush refuses to proclaim his innocence or to even talk about his drug abuse problem and if he blew his hearing out for dope, he is a real addict / junkie that needs help.
That and how is he going to excuse his own drug abuse when he has said things like this on his show:
"Let's all admit something." Rush Limbaugh was on his usual tear. "There's nothing good about drug use," he was saying. "We know it. It destroys individuals. It destroys families. Drug use destroys societies.
Drug use, some might say, is destroying this country. And we have laws against selling drugs, pushing drugs, using drugs, importing drugs. And the laws are good because we know what happens to people in societies and neighborhoods which become consumed by them.
And so if people are violating the law by doing drugs, they ought to be accused and they ought to be convicted and they ought to be sent up."
or
"What this says to me," he told his listeners that day, "is that too many whites are getting away with drug use. Too many whites are getting away with drug sales. Too many whites are getting away with trafficking in this stuff.
The answer to this disparity is not to start letting people out of jail because we're not putting others in jail who are breaking the law. The answer is to go out and find the ones who are getting away with it, convict them and send them up the river, too."
Anyone that can decipline himself to lose 100lbs and stay there, can do the same with pain killers.
He's at the top of his game, no way is he doped up.
Looks like they're trying to take him down on a technicality.
I just can't go along.
I will never buy Snapple again! /sarcasm>
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