Posted on 10/07/2003 5:37:58 AM PDT by jimmccleod
Limbaugh's Secret Life By Carol Devine-Molin October 6, 2003
We conservatives are all saddened by the news that Rush Limbaugh is being investigated by law enforcement authorities for illegal buys of prescription painkillers. If accounts being bandied about the media are accurate, then Limbaugh: a) has procured tremendous amounts of highly addictive narcotic medications from his pill-pushing housekeeper Wilma Cline, and, b) is likely to be subjected to arrest. Oh, by the way, dear Wilma sold her hot celebrity story to The National Enquirer for about four hundred thousand dollars. Am I surprised by the overall situation? Yes and no.
Given Limbaugh's outstanding analytical mind and sharp wit, it's difficult to believe that he's constantly in a drug induced state. Who is more articulate and funny than Limbaugh in the world of political commentary? Nobody. However, the hard truth is this: Among entertainers, media personalities and politicos, substance abuse exists in epidemic proportions. For that reason, many conservatives have quickly moved beyond denial and are prepared to hear the worst of it. And I think the majority of conservatives will continue to be compassionate and supportive toward El Rushbo as long as he embraces rehabilitative efforts.
Limbaugh is clearly the most influential conservative of our era, with a radio audience of up to thirty million listeners each week. He's probably converted more Americans to the conservative persuasion than any individual except Ronald Reagan. Understandably, Limbaugh's myriad political foes rejoice in his current troubles. Al Franken and the radical Left are ecstatic. If the tabloid piece largely pans out, Limbaugh has provided his enemies with significant ammunition in efforts to discredit and silence him. But will those hostile to Limbaugh ultimately succeed in ruining him? I doubt it. His current woes are definitely a setback, but not insurmountable. I would state one pivotal caveat. The only individual who can really bring down Limbaugh is Limbaugh himself. Conservatives will maintain solidarity with Limbaugh if, and only if, he dedicates himself to being clean and sober. However, if Limbaugh continues to dabble in drugs, his legion of fans and listeners will slowly drift away.
Although most people are focused upon Limbaugh's legal circumstances, much more is at stake. Drug addiction is a life-threatening condition, which requires proper intervention. Reports indicate that Limbaugh had been rapidly detoxed twice, but returned to drugs both times. Of course he has to undergo another detoxification, and not of the dubious "ultra-rapid" variety that is completed in 24 hours. But what about follow-up care? I'm referring to a program of drug treatment to prevent relapse. Importantly, with relapse there's always the specter of overdose and further physical deterioration. And Limbaugh will have to fight his addictive inclinations for the rest of his life - that is the nature of the beast. It's encouraging to note that many radio and television personalities, such as Don Imus and Larry Kudlow, are succeeding in their day-by-day recovery efforts.
The drugs taken by Limbaugh - OxyContin, Lorcet and Hydrocone - are terribly dangerous by all accounts. Never mind that they cause a host of emotional side effects including paranoia and mood swings. Now, it's coming to light that at least two of these powerful painkillers are linked to sudden hearing loss. In other words, it's conceivable that Limbaugh's deafness was caused by his own addictive behaviors. If that turns out to be the case, it's not only tragic but speaks to the incredible grip of dependency created by these drugs. On some level Rush Limbaugh, like all substance abusers, has self-destructive tendencies. That's his private business, and his responsibility to explore through counseling. For addicts, arrest is often a good thing since the Court system forces them into essential treatment. Roy Black is a very adept criminal attorney who understands these issues. If Limbaugh is charged with a crime, certainly mandatory drug rehabilitation would be part of the plea bargain. I doubt that Limbaugh would be made to serve any jail time.
As to The National Enquirer article, I read it. And I found it to be credible, rife with details that demonstrate the severity of Limbaugh's substance abuse problem. Limbaugh had at least one other drug supplier besides Wilma Cline, referred to as his "FedEx" connection. Apparently OxyContin is Limbaugh's drug of choice. And law enforcement authorities are in possession of a couple of tapes, and a bunch of emails, that substantiate the claims made by Wilma Cline and her husband regarding Limbaugh. The Cline couple cut themselves a very nice deal with the people at The National Enquirer that are experts at marketing
Today, he has opened his show without talking about the charges at all. So far, it's all California recall.
Idolators won't change their minds. Those that hate him won't change their minds.
Those who understand credibilty will tune to another station. If true.
For any patriot to countenance, encourage, hope for, or participate in his unlikely demise would be treasonable.
Prescription drug dependence is an illness and not a moral failing. Obtaining controlled meds is an illegal act, but in the unlikely event that Rush has fallen victim to this illness should not, he is deserving of leniency, support, and assistance.
But, hell, what am I saying? This entire allegation is a crock undoubtedly perpetrated by the usual Libo-Crat suspects, starting with the Democrat chad-baiters that control his county of residence......
I will give you another side of this.
Prescription drugs of the pain killer variety cause an addiction that cannot be avoided.
I use them out of necessity and have for the past five years. I detox myself about once per year to try to keep from increasing the dose.(against my doctors advice)
The word addiction is being constantly misused.
The word used to define a prescription drug problem is abuse.
Addiction comes with the use of these necessary drugs.
Well, the hearing area of medicine is sensitive enough, where the frontier research is, that I know of personally, that the possibilities of abstinence from external factors has been, and is being, studied for the purpose of revsersing the effects of suspect "associations."
In fact, in the study mentioned above, the causes are neither known nor proven; rather, there is only, still, the number-crunching of statistical correlations, the accuracy of which, as you know, being a shrink who has no doubt seen how the numbers can be spun, are as easily argued to make the "associations" to be still, mostly speculation under the color of crafted tables of numbers that are "guaranteed to" dazzle the finance committee.
Meanwhile, I am given to understand, that the risk of cutting the nerves, is considered great enough to not perform surgery if there is any chance of audio improvement --- surgery is postponed, sometimes for years.
The clinic's statement is that its controls did not work to reverse the hearing loss, and so they proceeded with surgery. In this day, I can understand how clinics generate business that way ... instead of just saying No.
The medical center that I respect greatly, will say No --- they will not cut the nerves until they believe they are certain where the hearing has failed, because they want to know why it has failed. Their long-term goal is to NOT perform surgery, but to understand more about hearing loss and how it may more safely be fixed up.
I personally suspect that some drugs do cause hearing loss, because I have had the problem caused by aspirin, not to mention that atabrine or quinacrine can shake your hearing out of your head for a while. So I am a believer when the info states that drugs can do it, but that, my information is that if drugs might be the culprit, to wait ...
Well, we live in a rush-ful society. People with back problems, who should go home and lie down for three weeks, and do exercises, and let the back heal, and strengthen the back --- as we used to fix this problem in the old days, nowadays hurry to the pharmacist and to the surgeon.
After surgery, it is shock for some to learn that, given time, that bulge in the disc will actually deteriorate and diminish --- that the chemicals of the FRESH bulge or protrusion from the disc, actually irritate the nerves and are causing the "numbness" and subsequent spasms and pain.
Very hard to convince a patient to sleep with their legs up and entirely supported by layers of pillows --- we call it the astronaut seat position --- so that their lower back "assumes the position" of repair.
Because people are impatient.
My sympathies with back pain sufferers, because I'd sure want to get well soon.
Considering my friend's experience, though not in pain, yet slowly being isolated because of losing his hearing, I can understand the urge to find a quick cure.
He was observed for two years, prior to surgery, because the people in the know, at this particular medical center, are particular.
Yet, I must state again, that Rush Limbaugh is wealthy enough to prevail upon a clinic with ambitions; but would he? I happen to think that is not his style.
My caution regarding Rush, is not that some event would cause him to quit his prime radio spot, but that he would reveal that "it really was about him all along," and that he would quit simply to make a point that he can do something else.
I believe that Rush, given a good reception at ESPN, would have left "talk radio," much to the surprise of about the same number of people who are surprised in regard to what they suspect now.
Tip: I know that Rush did not know, early on, what to do about his hearing loss --- he did not know anything about cochlear implants.
I believe that his hearing loss was because of the same influence that affects pilots of yore --- not from engine sounds as much as from radio noise.
The old sets, and I've listened in, were, are atrocious. I am surprised that anybody has any hearing left, after being in World War II or the Korean War.
What you hear in the movies or from recordings, are the good recordings. The horrendous racket that otherwise prevailed over the headsets, has to have been damaging.
There's nothing like a radio headset, worn by trade, to wreck your hearing. The audience does not see, nor hear, the many, many times that you have to yank the things off your head, because the "feedback" is killing your ears!
To wit: In the reports to date, there is not any evidence of Rush Limbaugh having had, or now having, a "drug problem."
Furthermore, I work on computer systems, and spend time on e-mail security and fraud. E-mails that may exist in the possession, now, of "law enforcement," can all have been forged; but good detective work --- if the departments involved, will take the time --- can find the e-mail time stamps in the e-mail server logs, which should help verify when these supposedly were sent and received.
Without a perfect time stamp on each point of transit from A to B and back, an e-mail is worthless for evidence --- if a juror and a jurist and a D.A. would care to bother to know.
Now, if the D.A. has actual taped conversations of Rush Limbaugh looking for drugs unlawfully and illegally, then Rush is in trouble, but only then.
So my question is, Would Rush do such a thing?
I somehow just don't think that he would jeopardize his position for which he's worked for so long ... especially given the nature of Rush, as I am inclined to understand from what I know of his grandfather.
Depends on what their message is. If Bennett's message was anti gambling he would have been finished on the spot. As it is, he has just faded away. Like Rush will if this is true.
He is a supporter of the WOD and spread lots of stories about Clinton's alleged drug usage.
I don't think so.
Opinions are like that. People disagree when they predict the future.
Are you saying that if it were Al "hot lips" Franken being assaulted by "allegations" -- Rush Fans would be polite about it? Yes, I think they would be -- they'd be waiting for facts.
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