What Rush Should Do

Vanity | 10-24-03 | Always Right

[Always Right]

Rush Limbaugh needs to resolve this malicious prosecution as quickly as possible and do so to the benefit everyone. The case the prosecutors are building against Rush appears likely to be trumped up charge of money laundering and doctor shopping. Rush’s real crime was becoming addicted to pain-medication, which he has admitted and has sought appropriate treatment for. Rush is a first-time offender and should be punished as such. The prosecutor however has given immunity to the maid for much more serious charges to pursue these minor charges against Rush. It is unheard of that a prosecutor would do this, and the only explanations can be the prosecutor is seeking personal gain from this case or is on some political vendetta. This type of prosecution is unethical and should stop. If this was any other person, this case would not have been pursued or there would have been a reasonable plea-bargain long ago. This is will be a very expensive case if it goes to trial, and the level of this crime is clearly not worth spending more tax dollars on.

So what should Rush do? If I were Rush, I would immediately pledge $2 million dollars to drug treatment programs in Florida. However, for every dollar the prosecutor spends from now on this over-zealous prosecution, I would reduce that pledge. I would also volunteer to speak out against drug abuse around the state and give Florida a few PR announcements on his program. It is a joke of that prosecutors are apparently seeking to put Rush in jail for this. Rush has been as open as possible on this subject without putting himself at the complete mercy of this over zealous prosecutor. Yes, Rush should pay for his crime, but the punishment must fit the offense. The politics of personal vendettas and personal gains has no place in criminal prosecutions.

[solitas]

Picture RL doing a 'perp-walk' with an EIB golf shirt draped over his puss...

[witnesstothefall]

Allow me to restate my point in a more "sensitive" way. Limbaugh loyalists defenders on this thread make conservatives look bad, and not too smart, with defenses such as the following:

Picture a news crew filming Rush Limbaugh knocking on Jeb Bush's door to ask for a pardon.

Picture Rush Limbaugh publicly starting a Justice-for-Sale fund.

Picture Bill and Hillary hiring a hitman to go after Rush.

Picture a DNC conspiracy against Rush at the same time that Rush hires Clintonista Roy Black, professional liar.

[witnesstothefall]

I don't hate Limbaugh, as you appear to. I hate how he drives thoughtful people away from the right, and I hate how he and his loyalists are leveraging principle in defense of vice and crime.

It'll be a great day for conservatism when this circus is finally over.

[Always Right]

No hitman necessary. The man is on a course of self-destruction. He cannot do what the lowliest AA member has done...admit that he is wrong and has been wrong for years in his drug-abuse; beg for forgiveness from all whom he has damaged by such abuse(usually wife and close family); and show a firm purpose of amendment of his behavior.

How do you know what Rush has or has not done with his family or in therapy. You assume way too much. From all indications, Rush is on the road to recovery, but we will have to wait and see if that lasts. Rush has admitted he was wrong and did seek therapy, so I really don't even understand where you are coming from.

[Always Right]

Limbaugh loyalists defenders on this thread make conservatives look bad

If someone abuses their postion of power and went after you with some personal vendetta, would you just sit back and accept the consequences. I fail to see how that is being conservative....

[aruanan]

However, Rush himself said he KNEW what he was doing was wrong from a personal perspective, which leads me to believe he was taking them not only for pain but in large enough quantities to induce euphoria.

Again, not necessarily. Some people believe that to be dependent on (the descriptive term) or addicted to (the proscriptive term) a substance not normally thought to be necessary for survival (such as air, water, or food) is to be morally derelict and, therefore, "wrong". This doesn't necessarily have anything to do with experiencing euphoria. By the time someone is thoroughly addicted to a narcotic, avoiding the pain of withdrawal is of more immediate concern than catching a buzz. And those who are addicted to methadone are just as hooked as those on heroin, but without any possibility of enjoying anything except avoiding the horrors of withdrawal.

[dasein64]

What man? A stupid or perhaps ignorant man? If he doesn't defend himself, it will be said by Rush's non-friends that this is proof of guilt. If he speaks out, he is whining. As with the press, I consider the source when reading posts about Rush. Those who didn't like him before seem to relish the opportunity to swat at him as tho that will validate their bias. Rush will survive. More power to him.

[CMClay]

The question you asked is "What should Rush do?"
Putting aside the legal battle, I think he should retire.

Some undeniable truths of Rush's problem:

Buying drugs off the street is illegal.
When you are innocent, nobody can blackmail you.
Going to several doctors for the same meds looks bad.
Going into rehab after being caught looks bad.
Saying you will "cooperate fully", then fighting the investigation looks bad.
People that have serious back problems don't play golf.

He cannot come out of this looking good, either way,
it makes him look like a hypocrite, and gives conservatives a black eye.

[witnesstothefall]

The evidence I've seen indicates the investigation is in its second year, has already garnered other arrests, and only became public with the NE story relatively recently.

That doesn't jibe with your unsubstantiated conspiracy theory that the authorities have abused their police power to go after Limbaugh in a political persecution.

One is bizarrely reminded of Hillary Clinton declaring on national television being hunted by a vast right wing conspiracy. It's the bogeyman that's after him!

[scouse]

So what should Rush do?

He should quit playing Madonna's record of "Santa Baby" and play the original version by a real woman, VIZ: Eartha Kitt.

[Always Right]

That doesn't jibe with your unsubstantiated conspiracy theory that the authorities have abused their police power to go after Limbaugh in a political persecution.

Giving immunity to someone who allegedly attempts to blackmail someone for millions of dollars to catch someone on a minor seldom-used criminal charge doesn't jibe with the unsubstantiated theory that this investigation is an apolitical application of law.

[witnesstothefall]

allegedly attempts to blackmail someone for millions of dollars

There's the rub. You believe Roy Black and base your own fact-lacking theories on his latest press conference, during which he released no facts, just lots and lots of dramatic accusations. I think he's a professional liar, so naturally we're going to disagree where facts are lacking. Where facts exist, however, Rush is hurtin' pretty bad.

Honest observers may be excused for wishing for Limbaugh's vindication without actually believing in its liklihood.

[InterceptPoint]

Rush should, to steal a phrase, just "Shut up and sing". This 24/7 yada yada yada on his drug problem and the evil DA is getting on my nerves, at least for the 5 minutes that I'm willing to give him before hitting the kill button on my radio.

[Always Right]

Your 'facts' are mostly from leaks and the National Enquire, so I really don't think anyone is on solid ground here. The facts around this will slowly play out.

[witnesstothefall]

The facts around this will slowly play out.

On that we absolutely agree. Merry Xmas.

[christiankungfu]

This case is being handled inappropriately by an overzealous prosecutor probably tryin to make a name for himself.

Such intrusion into personal records, etceteras is routine for cases in which the accused is suspected of dealing or producing the drugs in question.

Rush's case is simply one of personal use and potentially "doctor shopping". In this case, routine procedure is to treat the accused as an abuse case with community service and fine.

Rush should handle it with grace and let the judge make that determination. I believe the prosecutor will be reprimanded for his activity unless he can make a clear case that Rush had intent to traffic.

[aimhigh]

Rush (or a supporter) needs to fight this on the media front. I want to see a list of all the media stars and Dems who have been addicted, yet didn't get charged. Then specify those who were in Florida.

[technomage]

This post is not to you personally, Always Right. It is to FR in general.

It is so wonderful to see the holiday spirit in action within this thread. Truly something I would expect from DU and maybe Miss Cleo, judging by the way so many posting seem to "know" things that have not been reported or "know" what the future will bring.

Evidently there are quite a few people on FR that have what they believe are rotten, terrible lives and because they are unhappy, they do not want anyone else to be happy, especially during this wonderful time. Sad.

That being said, Merry Christmas to everyone here, to Rush, to our Commander in Chief, and in particular to our military. And for those of you who just cannot get into the holiday spirit, there will be a special prayer for you tonight.

[SevenDaysInMay]

Between HIPPA and the War on Drugs, we have no privacy from government and its agecies, and occasionally the DNC Politburo.

In waiting rooms and socially I have met pain patients who have had to "doctor shop" just to obtain efficacious dosages.

Until recently, based on British reseach, American medical practice had been taught to purposely under medicate pain, even before the boot of the DEA and license revocation ran wild.

The "drug" criminality of medical causality pain medication is foolish public policy.

If Rush was so foolish to obtain his meds through his maid, he is shockingly foolish.

Rush's D.A. is as agenda drived as the Dallas D.A. Bill Hill.

[joesbucks]

Each of those items you responded to were prefaced by me with "You're assuming that we know everything:". You may have not noticed that. I wasn't stating those as fact, but as someone believing we know or have seen everything conerning those points.