Posted on 05/09/2006 5:18:22 PM PDT by neverdem
Now that Rush Limbaugh has managed to keep himself out of prison, the punishment he once advocated for drug abusers, let me suggest a new cause for him: speaking out for people who can handle their OxyContin.
Like Limbaugh, Richard Paey suffers severe back pain. Also like Limbaugh, he was accused of illegally obtaining large quantities of painkillers. Florida authorities zealously pursued them for years.
Unlike Limbaugh, Paey went to prison. He’s serving the third year of a 25-year term. His wife told me that when he heard how Limbaugh settled his case last week — by agreeing to pay $30,000 and submit to drug tests — Paey offered a simple explanation: “The wealthy and influential go to rehab, while the poor and powerless go to prison.”
He has a point, although I don’t think that’s the crucial distinction between the cases. Paey stood up for his belief that patients in pain should be able to get the medicine they need. Limbaugh so far hasn’t stood up for any consistent principle except his right to stay out of jail.
He has portrayed himself as the victim of a politically opportunistic prosecutor determined to bag a high-profile trophy, which is probably true. But that’s standard operating procedure in the drug war supported by Limbaugh and his fellow conservatives.
Drug agents and prosecutors are desperate for headlines because they have so little else to show for their work. The drug war costs $35 billion a year and has yet to demonstrate any clear long-term benefits — precisely the kind of government boondoggle that conservatives like Limbaugh ought to view skeptically.
Yet conservatives go on giving more money and more power to the drug cops. When critics complained about threats to civil liberties in the USA Patriot Act, President Bush defended it by...
(Excerpt) Read more at kansascity.com ...
Some people live for the opportunity...
Are they going for the Gold??
Yeah, they do. We even had someone try to turn the "24" thread into an immigration thread last night. He got slapped down real fast.
Did you ever consider, Mr. Tierney, that Rush is innocent, as his "not guilty" plea would suggest?
Of course you didn't, you slimy scumsucking commie @$$hole.
I don't know, but the Limbaugh case has more bearing on this guy's situation since both he and Rush ran afoul of Florida law. Patches skated in DC, at least in his latest incident.
Interesting story, I think we've pinged a few stories about this guy already.
ya, I agree, its happening to people all across the country, its just a matter of findign their story or getting statistics on it.
That... is most probably true.
It could easily be as simple as what's already been stated: He cheated or finagled to get the pills he wanted. He sold none but kept a significantly sized backlog. When caught he acted so proud that the prosecutor and later the jury and judge swore to make an example out of him, and damn being humane about it.
"He has portrayed himself as the victim of a politically opportunistic prosecutor determined to bag a high-profile trophy, which is probably true...."
"Which is probably true"??????
After five paragraphs he whispers this.
You KNOW the ratmedia would write something like this. It shows how frustrated they are at not being in charge.
As Nelson would say "Ha Ha".
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