Rush Limbaugh: Open Line Friday [Confirms Some Aspects of Drug Story, Checking In To Rehab]

[I Am Not A Mod]

A thread for those listening to today's show.

[TheExploited]

I am sticking by Rush. We owe him that much. I really don't care what he said years ago about Kurt Cobain or Jerry Garcia or Timothy Leary or the Beatles. I never met the man, but he has been part of my life. I listen to him every day when I go lunch or drive to a client. I feel like I have a conversation with him.

From early 1993 until late 1994, the Democrats controlled Congress, the Media and the the White House. Rush was all we had. It was a very dark time (to quote from Star Wars). When you feel like someone has been there in the trench with you in the darkest time you don't forget it at least I don't.

Rush will be back. He made a mistake. He never held public office. He never raised public funds. He offers a product that people can either choose to buy in the marketplace of ideas or not. I for one am going to continue to listen.

[weegee]

If your kid was caught with oxycontin he bought from a kid at school who was supplied by someone else wouldn't YOU want the supplier AND the middleman held responsible?

I doubt that a kid a school would be buying oxycontin for pain. FReepers are smart enough to tell the difference between one student giving another an Advil, huffer, or Pepto Bismol and some Ritalin, X, or Oxyxcontin. Some schools' zero-tolerance policy makes all such drug dispensing the same crime.

[weegee]

Spontaneous revelation/apology/acceptance/restitution shows a HECK of a lot more character than "oops! you caught me. yeah, I did it. It happened. I'm sorry. I'll 'get help now'. I promise."

He twice before sought help. Does he need to come clean with you about everything before he does it. Should he have announced to the world before he started his diet too? "Folks, for years I have had a problem maintaing my weight and it leads me open to a lot of serious health risks and a number of insulting attacks... I want you all to know that I am rejecting my girth littered past and am embarking on a weight loss program in which I will....".

If he ever has to enter marriage counseling or get intervention for his step daughter should he have to make that public?

[Lazamataz]

I am also an addict who has to fight his addiction every day.

[ellery]

Here's the link to DOJ statistics on federal drug offenders:
* 65% of those charged during 1999 had previously been arrested; 28% had 5 or more prior arrests. Half of those charged had previously been convicted; a third of
a felony.

Some key points:
* Between 1984 and 1999, the number of defendants charged with a drug offense in the Federal courts increased from 11,854 to 29,306.
* Of the 38,288 suspects referred to U.S. attorneys during 1999, 31% were involved with marijuana; 28%, cocaine powder;
15%, crack cocaine; 15%, methamphetamine; 7%, opiates; and 3%, other drugs.
* 65% of those charged during 1999 had previously been arrested; 28% had 5 or more prior arrests. Half of those charged had previously been convicted; a third of
a felony. (i.e., first-time offenders in federal cases: more than a third of federal cases have never been arrested; half have never been convicted)
* 32% of federal court criminal cases are drug offenses.

Table 2 shows breakdown of evaluated offenses, based on the most serious offense with which the subject was suspected. The use-only offenses are "simple possession" and "general drug trafficking" (the latter is the charge for having a certain amount of drugs, as alleged - but not proven - with Rush. Prosecutors call this "intent to distribute" -- people who are actually charged with drug distribution are *not* in this category). In 1999, 785 people were considered for federal prosecution for simple possession; 59.8% of these for marijuana alone. 26,838 were considered for "general trafficking," i.e., possession of a certain amount (I think the amount for mj is half an oz or more); more than a third of these were for mj alone.

Figure 2 shows that more than 90% of people considered for simple possession in federal court were charged. Figure 3 shows that people accused of marijuana and opiate offenses were most likely to be charged.

Table six shows that 1038 people in 1999 went to federal prison for simple possession -- average term was 15.8 months. 16,618 went to federal prison for "general trafficking" (the charge Rush would be subject to if he were prosecuted in federal court, if it's true he was stockpiling pills). Average sentence was 72 months.

I don't know why some people are charged in the federal system rather than more lenient state systems; but the trends show federal rather than state drug charges are increasing steadily.

One more item, from a recent Fox News article: Walters called the Dutch drug model — which targets dealers and producers rather than users — "not sustainable."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,98436,00.html

[Lazamataz]

Rehab really doesn't work. He's screwed. Once a junkie, almost always a junkie.

Bullshit. I'm off drugs ever since I started 12 step programs. Not that it's easy or anything. My G-d it's not easy.

[WHBates]

I guess you don't like us, eh?

But I guess you already know that the vast majority of US could give a s**t about Canada and most Canadians.

The funny thing is, that's what pisses you off the most. I hope your are really enjoying the freedom the US is protecting.

[ellery]

Screwed up my post -- here's the link where you can find all the stats I mentioned:

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/fdo99.pdf

[weegee]

If you detest America(aaa) and Rush so much, why are you hear chimpy?

[Lazamataz]

Actually the rates for stopping smoking aren't very good either

I beat cigarettes 10 years ago; I'm beating cocaine now.

[weegee]

I don't know why some people are charged in the federal system rather than more lenient state systems; but the trends show federal rather than state drug charges are increasing steadily.

Could it be transportation across state lines (trafficking even small quantities or even carrying something illegal on a vacation?). Could it also include "involvement" in a criminal enterprise that operates within several states?

[Lazamataz]

God Bless You Rush.. You have my prayers my friend.. Thanks for being you .. I love you ...

Gee, carlo. You never say that to me. I'm a non-using drug addict too, y'know. A little love would be nice.

Hint: I like sloppy wet kisses.

[ellery]

That can't be the criterion or there would not be people in federal prison for simple possession. The charts show that a number of people were suspected of simple possession ONLY, or possession of a certain amount ONLY.

[Lazamataz]

Knowing (or living with) someone who is a drug addict is very disappointing.

You wanna know what's REALLY depressing? BEING a drug addict. I know from first hand experience.

I don't think I EVER had ONE good time with cocaine, but back I went. Again and again. Thank G-d for my brothers and sisters at NA. 12 stepping works, but you gotta work it.

[Lazamataz]

Rush has admitted his problem and he needs our support and prayers, and like I said to you before when this story first broke, we are not Gods, like the Libertarian party members thin they are.

WOW!!!

Dane, you just totally shocked me. If you feel that way about non-celebrities too -- then welcome back to the human race.

[freebilly]

I beat cigarettes 10 years ago; I'm beating cocaine now.

I'm beating crack, but the plumber doesn't like it....

[weegee]

I really don't care what he said years ago about Kurt Cobain or Jerry Garcia or Timothy Leary or the Beatles.

Timothy Leary was a Pied Piper for drug use (he was a scientist who got caught up in the enjoyment of substance abuse even taking heroin to see what it was like, his experimentation continued at least through the 1970s he continued to use into the 90s). He even admitted on his website that he was consuming things like hash brownies (he included a daily rundown of his food intake as he was dying). For all of those who say that Rush was spared prosecution because he was famous, why didn't anyone try to bust Mr. Leary in the 1990s? Mr. Leary did get arrested for some marijuana possession in the 1960s and then hid out and then eventually even broke out of jail (these type of charges just seem to snow ball). I think that Carter pardoned his crimes.

I don't recall comments by Rush lobbed specifically at Jerry Garcia although he did regularly make sweeping statements about "plastic banana dope smoking good time rock and rollers". This is an attack on the hedonist values of a good number of the baby boom generation and Americans who were born afterwards.

I have heard Rush mention Kurt Cobain at times. Again, I couldn't pin down specific comments but I don't think that Kurt appears much on Rush's radar until he commits suicide. Then the popular media turns him into this big icon and for what? He was a heroin addict who was uncomfortable with his media star fame, he had a wife that he was having problems with, and had possibly made several suicide attempts prior to his death by rifle. And this makes him someone to hold up to as a "hero" for kids?

Rush has said that he is not a role model. That what he is doing isn't heroic. There may be some hypocrisy if people want to find it in what Rush said about Charles Barkley when Sir Charles tried to shrug of comments about his own actions and said something along the lines that he was not a role model; he was just an athlete.

[Lazamataz]

Rush has in fact disclosed this and his difficulty with pain and meds in the past, although IMO he may not have fully inderstood the gravity of the situation 4-6 years ago.

I, too, did not understand the gravity of my addiction 4-6 years ago. 4-6 years ago, I did not see how cocaine was going to affect my life. 4-6 years ago, I did not see how cocaine was going to cause me to deceive a woman who -- while possessing many of her own faults -- had no reason or right to be decieved by me. 4-6 years ago I didn't realize all the money and time I would waste and all the job problems and other personal problems it would cause.

Well, it's 4-6 years later. I'm a tiny bit brighter now. And I haven't touched cocaine in almost a year.

Not that it's been easy. It's been a lot tougher than kicking cigs.

Nov3: Screw the email. I wuz gonna ask you if I should come clean about my dirty laundry. Too late now. :o)

harpseal: You have the right to know about my faults before we proceed.

Chancy: Thanks for the advice all the way through this, esp. the advice about going to NA.

Travis: Thanks for all the advice all the way through this, esp. the advice about seeking regularity and stability.

Reg: Thanks for being there all through it.

Cool guy & Neets & Squantos: Same to all three of you.

[Lazamataz]

Ping to my above message. You probably already heard, but there it is, all in black and white.

[Reagan Renaissance]

Your measure of worthwhile standards is clearly out of touch with reality.