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.

[hg23]

Rush also wrote in his book that there are more trees in America now then before white men settled here, and that there are more American Indians now then before white man arrived. He also wrote that there is no proof tobacco causes cancer.

[Henrietta]

Your post fails to explain to us why stripping prisoners naked and taking trophy photos of them in humiliating positions protects American lives. Other ways exist of "breaking" prisoners without making us look like the savages that we just dethroned in Iraq. Again, no explanations, just another insult from you.

It appears as if your reading comprehension is nil. Just answer the question, if you can.

[DonaldDuke]

Again, no explanations, just another insult from you.

Now, now.. it's hardly an insult to say that you don't seem to comprehend what was said to you. After all, you can do nothing but pretend there's nothing. That is now available with a single click for others to see.

On the other hand, exercising my reading comprehension, I think I have found why you're riding this wave so intently. Do you recognize these quotes:

"The so-called "War on Terrorism" is a misnomer. It should be named the "War on Freedom."

"All I know is, even if Hilary Clinton runs against Bush, I will not vote for him a second time. Holding my nose the first time was bad enough. I knew he was a globalist and would sell us out. But I never imagined he would become an out and out fascist."

Pin the sigs on, there's a good girl ;).

[A Jovial Cad]

*Does a true conservative rant against the "injustice" done to Stern and Stewart and the war on drugs? Does a true conservative maintain a double standard so that what he or his side does is OK, but the same thing done by the other side is wrong? Does a true conservative not recongize the danger these outrageous sex pictures of Iraqi prisoners pose to our troops?*

In order of appearance: 1. If he/she has a strong libertarian streak and feels strongly about those issues, yes. 2. N/A 3. You haven't followed the thread very closely, or you'd know my answer to that by now.

*Does a true conservative have his head up his arse?*

I'll leave the answer to that in your capable hands--you seem to be well-versed in the matter.

*You can listen the hypocritical, shallow, swallow (dope) man if you want*

I sooooo appreciate your generous offer to allow me the privilege of tuning my radio dial to whatever station I see fit.

*but I find him an intolerable embarrassment to the conservative cause. JMO*

Good for you; now go bug someone else.

[Henrietta]

"Do you recognize these quotes:


"The so-called "War on Terrorism" is a misnomer. It should be named the "War on Freedom."

"All I know is, even if Hilary Clinton runs against Bush, I will not vote for him a second time. Holding my nose the first time was bad enough. I knew he was a globalist and would sell us out. But I never imagined he would become an out and out fascist."

Pin the sigs on, there's a good girl ;)."

No, I don't recognize them. Not only did I not "hold my nose" and vote for Bush, I actively worked for his election.

You seem to be trying very hard to discredit me in order to avoid answering the question: How does the sexual abuse and humiliation of Iraqui prisoners make Americans safer?

[Texas Eagle]

Rush also wrote in his book that there are more trees in America now then before white men settled here,

That may very well be true. Consider how many trees have been planted in the southwest alone. Much of southern California was nothing but desert before white men harnessed the Colorado River and made the region habitable to millions. Additionally, the fire fighting techniques white men developed has prevented countless millions of acres of trees from burning up whereas Native Americans could not save one tree from being burned.Of course, you wouldn't say what you said unless you had the numbers of trees pre-white-man and post. I look forward to seeing them.

and that there are more American Indians now then before white man arrived.

That makes sense on a couple of counts. First of all, before white men arrived the land they occupied was not known as America. But seriously, because of improvements in science and medicine it is entirely possible that the population of American Indians has increased. Again, though, I'm sure you have access to the numbers otherwise and will provide them forthwith.

He also wrote that there is no proof tobacco causes cancer.

Again, that could be true. It might be the myriad chemicals that are put into cigarettes that might be causing the cancer. Even so, I have read that cigarette smokers are LESS likely to contract certain types of cancers such as colon cancer. Unfortunately I don't remember where I read that or I would provide the link to that info so I guess you will just have to take my word for it. Additionally, not every person who smokes cigarettes contracts cancer nor does every person who contracts cancer smoke cigarettes. However, it can be safely said that every single person who contracts cancer has drunk (drank?) water at some time in his or her life so how do we know it isn't water that is causing the cancer?

[danamco]

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 are talking about one prisoner and several more injured. How many innocent people was killed and injured on 9/11?

Mister! Are you aware of that we are at war? And wars are really ugly!! Are you aware of what the German's did to the Jews during WWII? (Alleged six [6] millions.) Or what happened in the Gulags concentration camps? What happened in Iraq is pale in comparison with the atrocities that took place in Germany or in the Soviet Union and many other places around the world. What about the P.A's blowing innocent Jews up for the last three decades with the help of the master terrorist Yassar Arafat? Not to mentioned what happened in Abu Grail with Sadam's two evil sons in charge of the tortures in the same jail facility throwing live people in wood choppers, raping women in front of their families to get them to talk. Or did you ever see the torture of the trapped people on the top floor of the twin towers, some of them jumping out of the windows from 100+ floors to escape the torture?
I don't care what evidence Lindsey Graham or other "grandstanding" Senators think they have to blame our fine service men who are fighting for YOUR present freedom, and security that you still have today!! Have you ever been in combat yourself? Or are you one of these TV spectators sitting on the couch and teach the rest of us what to do?
So my answer to you is very simple. If the Abu G. interrogations could save just ONE U.S. service man from being killed, the soldiers there did the right thing. Period! By the way, there's a big difference between the Navy and the Merchant Marine! But how would you know?

[Vision]

Is this an editorial?

[new cruelty]

Isn't it?

[TonyM]

Say what you will about Rush, at least he does not have to buy his audience.

[xm177e2]

And you know what another great trait of El Rushbo's is? He doesn't have the need to impress folks

Yes, Rush is soooo modest! </barf/sarcasm>

Yes, I do.

So you are saying that smart people are incapable of being unwise or shallow? It is just a matter of IQ? Smart leftists, atheists, drug users, bank robbers, new-age crystal worshippers, etc., would all be wise and none of them would be shallow?

[ATCNavyRetiree]

...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. What a bunch of crap...you've been watchin' too much CNN (Commie News Network). Now they're makin' stuff up! Better wake up, liberal...the Arab world is laughin' at us...they know that anything that we did at Abu Ghraib is child's play comapred to what they do to us!!

[ATCNavyRetiree]

Oops...sorry, I guess that last post shoulda gone to Diddle E. Squat!

[woofie]

Time to get my beauty rest.

Your beauty rest is clearly working ...any tips for us workin guys?

[DonaldDuke]

No, I don't recognize them. Not only did I not "hold my nose" and vote for Bush, I actively worked for his election.

I'll take your word for it. Must be some other Henrietta :).

You seem to be trying very hard to discredit me

I don't have to. You're doing a bang-up job of it yourself, like here:

order to avoid answering the question: How does the sexual abuse and humiliation of Iraqui prisoners make Americans safer?

Both claiming that you have unanswered questions and changing the subject: there has been no "sexual abuse" proven in this case, as far as I know. Nude photos falls somewhat short of that, and the statements about rape and sodomy are from various Arab sources and unsubstantiated.

Are you using the porn pictures supplied by an American porn company, imported from Hungary, as "facts"?

[hg23]

Those statements are not true. When Rush was confronted with his claims about the American Indian populations he could not justify his claims. All he could do was cite a Heritage Foundation article that claimed some tribes had increased their population. Today the U.S. Native American Population is about 2 million. Pre-Columbus estimates are anywhere from 5-15 million. They have actually made a bit of a rebound though. At one point in the 19th century they had dipped into the thousands.

[TexasCajun]

Quick, While there is still time!

Air American & Stuart Smalley await you!

[Henrietta]

"I'll take your word for it. Must be some other Henrietta :)."

Feel free to post the links...

[DonaldDuke]

Feel free to post the links...

I don't think so. This isn't you, according to your claim, so there's no reason I would be posting the links with her full name on here.

But I notice you're not good at answering questions: are you running around and using the porn pics from sexinwar.com as gospel? Or what exact "sexual abuse" are you referring to? And please cite something that is not "allegations", but actually demonstrated.

[MamaLucci]

"Torture" is seeing your loved one leaning out the 87th floor window of the WTC and then watching it collapse.

Worth repeating.