Limbaugh's school of hard knocks for other guys

Palm Beach Post ^ | Sunday, May 9, 2004 | Frank Cerabino

[new cruelty]

Rush Limbaugh is a slow learner.

That might explain why he looked at the sadistic photos from the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and likened them to some college fraternity high jinks.

Boolah, mullah! Boolah, mullah!

Most reasonable people expressed disgust by the sight of the bound, nude, hooded men in American custody being forced to degrade themselves sexually.

And Limbaugh surely would have, too, if it had been under the previous administration.

But Limbaugh's a referee without a whistle these days. So here's how he excused the inexcusable:

"This is no different than what happens at the Skull and Bones initiation, and we're going to ruin people's lives over it, and we're going to hamper our military effort, and then we are going to really hammer them because they had a good time," he said on his radio show.

Limbaugh added: "I'm talking about people having a good time. These people, you ever heard of emotional release? You heard of need to blow some steam off?"

I knew he was an apologist. But I just figured that in light of his newfound expertise in the realm of investigatory zeal run amok -- something he claims to have learned the hard way in Palm Beach County -- he might have temporarily burst through the wall of his professional limitations.

But, like I said, Limbaugh is apparently a slow learner.

And yet, there's hope.

There used to be a time when he thought that the problem with drugs was that we weren't locking up the people who got caught. This was during the days when he thought the American Civil Liberties Union was a flaky impediment to justice and criminal defense lawyers were an evil bunch of liberal simps who were out to subvert the truth by freeing the guilty on procedural maneuvers.

He has been educated through experience in that regard.

Caught in cross hairs of justice

Ever since the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office declined to respectfully turn a blind eye to Limbaugh's years of prescription drug abuse, he has become a champion of the drug addict caught in the cross hairs of justice. He talks of the pain of addiction, the need for treatment and the unfairness of prosecutors pursuing people with a personal problem.

If you go to Limbaugh's Web site these days, it's full of tales of horrific miscarriages of justice and calls to end investigatory techniques that we, as Americans, shouldn't stand for.

There are warnings about the "threat to the rule of law." Harassment we can't condone. And a horrible "fishing expedition" for information that should chill us to the core.

No, none of that is about the sadistic abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison.

It's all about Palm Beach County State Attorney Barry Krischer's having the nerve to document Limbaugh's drug abuse through the use of his medical records.

Oh, the horror!

From Limbaugh's bellowing, you'd think Krischer was breaking chemical lights and pouring the scorching phosphoric liquid over the naked talk-show host's... oh, never mind.

Besides, that's just "people having a good time."

All those naked Iraqis must be guilty of something, right? There can't be any innocent civilians rounded up by overzealous authorities. That never happens.

And as for the guilty -- well, the rights of people behind bars is just a left-wing abstraction.

For now. The slow learner better hope this isn't the next awakening in his education.

[GreatOne]

Let me, again, clarify. I'd agre that what was done was not the worst thing in the world that could be done to another human being. I think that the fact that this is a war zone and not a frat house is where I'm drawing the line. The prisoners are feeling humiliated and degraded, and unless that is preparation for an interrogation where we hope to get useful intelligence, I have a problem with it. The photos of chipmunk girl and others grinning and giving the "thumbs up" sign leads me to believe that this was being done for their amusement, not for a legitimate military end. We should be above this.

And, again, I'm not outraged about these events, but disappointed, and this should not be this big of a story, but the soldiers behind this need to spend some quality time behind bars. It's too bad that the liberal scumbag, anti-America a--holes are making such traction out of this.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Get a grip and reread your post to Torie that started this all, and my response to that post. I have read enough of his posts to realize that your characterization of him was way off.

[Torie]

Well after "supporting" him (actually it was more a loathing of his opponent), I then voted to recall him. Shades of John "I voted for it before I voted against it" Kerry, I know. Deal with it. :)

[A Jovial Cad]

*Read the Federalist Papers - those are a national treasure - leave the false hero worship at home*

Ha, ha. What a joke--do you even know how Jay, Madison, and Hamilton came to write the *Federalist Papers*? I doubt it. They were each "tuned in" to the "talk radio" of their day--the opinion broadsheets--each and every day. Their "papers" were a running commentary in that vein--had "talk radio" been around back then they would've been the most ardent listeners. You need to heft a few more history books, and read them, before you post about such matters, IMO.

[Destro]

Humor and damn clever humor to boot! Rush is a nobody - just a radio guy in the same medium and business as Howard Stern. Rush is not a journalist just the afternoon drive time host for a radio block.

By the way Bennett did not consider his gambling a problem or a sin - funny thing for a Catholic to say.

[Torie]

Thanks for your support, but not everyone finds me of some value. Such is life. :) Thanks again.

[Diddle E. Squat]

You're dodging my question.

You claim that the alleged abuses are no worse than the hazing you went through in the Navy. Those alleged abuses include rape, forced masturbation and ejaculation into the mouths of other prisoners, shoving objects up rear ends, and beatings so severe that it killed one prisoner and several injured several more. Did your Navy hazing include any of that, yes or no?

You now seem to imply that you don't believe that those alleged acts took place at Abu G. Sen. Lindsey Graham specifically said that rape and murder did take place. The military initial report said that the claims of these incidents appear credible and warrant further investigation and prosecution. Rumsfeld said that worse will come out, as have others who are privy to the investigation. Considering that, denial that abuse took place looks increasingly unwise. If there are pictures and videotape of those abuses, continued denial will only nullify one's credibility and opportunity to prevent the liberals/media from overhyping, misrepresenting, and telling the story out of context.

[Destro]

Then we debased ourselves as a people if Rush is our modern Hamilton. Our founding fathers would have been appalled at political talk radio - letting the mob voice an opinion without reasoned debate and discussion. That's why they created a Republic with an Electoral College to keep the rabble and their talk show like ramblings out of the political process.

The Founding Fathers were compromisers - accommodators of all issues - Rush ever compromises on an issue?

[little jeremiah]

This bears repeating:

I believe it was William F. Buckley who said: "I'd rather be governed by the first 500 names in the Boston phone book than by the entire staff and faculty of Harvard."


I love it! LOL!

[Diddle E. Squat]

Rush is a nobody

Go to bed, you're being ridiculous.

[Destro]

Well he is a nobody in terms of politics - sure he is influencial to a limited extent but he is no Father Coughlin.

[Diddle E. Squat]

I've got a soft spot for geography enthusiasts...

[A Jovial Cad]

*Get a grip *

Ah, yes--I quite understand you now. The popular, infamous and oft-used "last shriek on the retreat" by those whom hit "Post" before they consider, with actual thinking, the consequences of their idle, uninformed, and reflexive bloviation has been redeployed once again as a *Deus Ex Machina*. You're certainly not the first to slink away under such circumstances, and I highly doubt you'll be the last.

*I have read enough of his posts to realize that your characterization of him was way off*

So, you *didn't* read the threads that proceeded it, as I suspected (and originally suggested you do). That's good enough for me--'nuff said.
Everyone who has taken the time to read the whole thread now knows where you--and in full contrast, I--stand on the matter *in Toto*. As an outcome to an, err, uh-humm [*cough, cough*] sorta-debate, I am quite satisfied.
Cheers!

[John Lenin]

That's the problem with this whole story so far, we haven't heard the worst of it so if people like me who think that what we have seen so far is overblown you can't blame us. They should just release all the photos and videos and get it out in the open and let the chips fall where they may.

[Torie]

in Toto

Did you mean to say "in total," or "pro tanto?" Inquiring minds want to know.

[lewislynn]

Well after "supporting" him ....I then voted to recall him. Shades of John "I voted for it before I voted against it" Kerry, I know.

Like minds?

[Torie]

Yep. D'accord. Get it out, all out, and then prosecute, prosecute. Do it now.

[Ken H]

Then we debased ourselves as a people if Rush is our modern Hamilton.

I don't think anyone thinks he's a Hamilton.

Our founding fathers would have been appalled at political talk radio - letting the mob voice an opinion without reasoned debate and discussion.

They signed on to an amendment guaranteeing that very thing.

That's why they created a Republic with an Electoral College to keep the rabble and their talk show like ramblings out of the political process.

I'm sure Rush is a big fan of the EC and the Republic. I'm a bit partial to 'em myself.

The Founding Fathers were compromisers - accommodators of all issues - Rush ever compromises on an issue?

Possibly on his contract, but I have no inside knowledge.

[KneelBeforeZod]

art bell has more listeners than rush. so he must be even smarter.

[Destro]

The popular, infamous and oft-used "last shriek on the retreat" by those whom hit "Post" before they consider, with actual thinking, the consequences of their idle, uninformed, and reflexive bloviation

Like your laughable assertion that the Founding Fathers would have loved political -ahem- "discourse" on our Talk Radio? Let me know when you pick up a history book?