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Limbaugh's Secret Life
GOPUSA ^ | 10/06/2003 | Carol Devine-Molin

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


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: amocopharmacy; dennysparkinglotdr; drugs; eib; gopusa; limbaugh; maharushie; rush; rushlimbaugh; rushtojudgement
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To: jimmccleod
"...and, b) is likely to be subjected to arrest..."

Actually Rush's chance of being arrested and prosecuted is somewhere between infintesimly slim and none.

There was as story by some prominent attorney yesterday where he said the only way Rush could be prosecuted even if all the allegations were true was if the pills were found in his possession. It didn't matter how many secret recordings his houskeeper made of him arranging to get pills. The only way he could have been prosecuted is if he was actually caught accepting the pills in a sting. According to the attorney there may actually be more of a criminal case against the maid for making secret recordings.

I'm actually not defending Rush if the allegations are true, just repeating the legal argument.
41 posted on 10/07/2003 6:08:03 AM PDT by apillar
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To: joesbucks
Right! I figured I might as well get an attorney as long as everybody else has one! :-)
42 posted on 10/07/2003 6:08:23 AM PDT by Howlin
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To: AppyPappy
She's feeling his pain. I simply want to know how he did a radio show with all that junk in his system.

If he's truely addicted to that junk, then he wouldn't be able to do his radio show without stuff in his system. (The withdrawl symptoms are nasty stuff -- just like heroin -- which is why many heroin addicts spend the rest of their lives on methadone.)

43 posted on 10/07/2003 6:08:26 AM PDT by Labyrinthos
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To: jimmccleod
This statement also is very presumptive: However, if Limbaugh continues to dabble in drugs, his legion of fans and listeners will slowly drift away.
44 posted on 10/07/2003 6:09:27 AM PDT by Born Conservative ("Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names" - John F. Kennedy)
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To: Alissa; Neets
What jumped out to me was her implication that his addiction was a FACT not an allegation from a tabloid!

That jumped out at me too, as well as this line:

On some level Rush Limbaugh, like all substance abusers, has self-destructive tendencies.

Either this woman is a presumptious psychobabbler, or she knows something we don't. Most likely the former.

Nonetheless, I believe there probably is some core truth among the likely lies and distortions of Wilma Cline's story.

But why are Dimocrats so gleefully confident that this is the ruin of Rush? I've listened to Rush from the get-go of his syndicated show fifteen years ago, and I'll continue listening to him because he's d@mn GOOD, on drugs or not.

And I and millions of others will be praying for his health.

45 posted on 10/07/2003 6:10:50 AM PDT by shhrubbery!
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To: Drawsing
Then I was dreadfully sick with cold sweats and nausea until we finally figured out it was the OxyContin. It took another two days until it left my system.

Only a couple weeks ago, I decided to clean out the medicine cabinet and get rid of old unused junk. I found a prescription to me dated 1999 for Hydrocone. The prescription was for 15 pills. I never finished the bottle, I just hated the way it made me feel. It made me very tired, and depressed.

46 posted on 10/07/2003 6:11:46 AM PDT by MrsEmmaPeel
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To: jimmccleod
It seems to me the author has based her conclusions on the fact that Rush indeed is addicted to pain killers, that he did indeed purchase them illegally, and that we don't need to wait until he and his attorney feel it is prudent to discuss this on the air.

Either she knows something the rest of us do not, or she has some other agenda. While it is possible Rush did get addicted to the pain meds, he certainly is not the first one who has, nor will he be the last. Living with constant pain is never easy, and if this is the case, he is to be pitied, not brought down to the level of gutter material who has no credibility.

Let's wait however to get the facts from him. He will tell all he can as soon as he is allowed to. My heart goes out to him no matter what the truth is.
47 posted on 10/07/2003 6:13:32 AM PDT by ladyinred (The left have blood on their hands.)
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Comment #48 Removed by Moderator

To: Bryan24
I have yet to hear how someone can take, on average, 66 oxycodone pills per day for over a year. I talked to a pharmacist. He said there was NO WAY that he could even function, if he managed to survive that many drugs.

You are assuming that he actually took 66 pills a day. An addict is always worried about the next fix, and if he has the money, he will make sure he has a large stash just in case the pipeline suddenly goes dry (i.e., the supplier gets busted). Also, many oxy addicts don't take the drug in pill form, but rather grind the pills into powder and snort them in order to negate the time releasors in the pill, with the result being a more intense high. The dosage for the drug in pill form vs. powder is not 1:1, meaning that several pills might be ground up into powder for a single "fix."

49 posted on 10/07/2003 6:14:21 AM PDT by Labyrinthos
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To: jimmccleod
However, if Limbaugh continues to dabble in drugs....

This kinda makes Limbaugh sound like sound guy laid out on a cot in an opium den. Hardly the case. Plus, how does she know he actually has "dabbled" in drugs? And when was he and is he? She certainly could no know any more than what we do. Could she?

50 posted on 10/07/2003 6:15:29 AM PDT by isthisnickcool (Guns!)
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To: Howlin
I said on another thread I think Rush is being a bit Clintonesque: I feel he should give us straight up or down indication of what is up: I am not guilty; I had some problems. Either way. That said, I am waiting to hear his official comment. What she wrote that jumped out at me is:And I think the majority of conservatives will continue to be compassionate and supportive toward El Rushbo as long as he embraces rehabilitative efforts.

How cute. In one statement she condemns him as an addict by supporting his rehabilitation. How does she know. She has no right to make this statement if she has a shred of loyalty to him. She should hold her fire and wait for him to make a substantive statement. If in due time that is not forthcoming, then he, by his own ommission of a statement, has made himself a legitmate target. As of now, his time is running out. V's wife.

51 posted on 10/07/2003 6:17:35 AM PDT by ventana
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To: Servant of the 9
"The middle class alcoholic drinks good stuff and pulls himself together to go to work every day."

There are a lot of them too.
52 posted on 10/07/2003 6:18:19 AM PDT by Rebelbase
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To: Alissa
"What jumped out to me was her implication that his addiction was a FACT not an allegation from a tabloid!"

Likewise.

53 posted on 10/07/2003 6:18:44 AM PDT by G.Mason (Lessons of life need not be fatal)
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To: jimmccleod
And Rush was in the fore front in justifying the WOD and deprecating those who want it ended because of the loss of our civil liberties

I wonder if he had his house plane car etc confiscated how he would feel about the WOD
54 posted on 10/07/2003 6:19:10 AM PDT by uncbob ( building tomorrow)
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To: jimmccleod
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 tape is the reason that Rush refuses to proclaim his innocence or to even talk about his drug abuse problem and if he blew his hearing out for dope, he is a real addict / junkie that needs help.

That and how is he going to excuse his own drug abuse when he has said things like this on his show:

"Let's all admit something." Rush Limbaugh was on his usual tear. "There's nothing good about drug use," he was saying. "We know it. It destroys individuals. It destroys families. Drug use destroys societies.

Drug use, some might say, is destroying this country. And we have laws against selling drugs, pushing drugs, using drugs, importing drugs. And the laws are good because we know what happens to people in societies and neighborhoods which become consumed by them.

And so if people are violating the law by doing drugs, they ought to be accused and they ought to be convicted and they ought to be sent up."

or

"What this says to me," he told his listeners that day, "is that too many whites are getting away with drug use. Too many whites are getting away with drug sales. Too many whites are getting away with trafficking in this stuff.

The answer to this disparity is not to start letting people out of jail because we're not putting others in jail who are breaking the law. The answer is to go out and find the ones who are getting away with it, convict them and send them up the river, too."

55 posted on 10/07/2003 6:20:27 AM PDT by Walkin Man
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To: new cruelty
Given Limbaugh's outstanding analytical mind and sharp wit, it's difficult to believe that he's constantly in a drug induced state.

I agree. It will be interesting to see how this pans out.


Don't want to be too pessimistic, but in fact people do adjust to narcotic use and can remain functional. There are lots of Heroin addicts in England, ( and the US) who are fully functional with demanding jobs, families etc. Same thing with oxycodone and hydrocodone addiction.
56 posted on 10/07/2003 6:22:00 AM PDT by Kozak (Anti Shahada: " There is no God named Allah, and Muhammed is his False Prophet")
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To: Bryan24
Rush has two problems, his weight and hearing.

Anyone that can decipline himself to lose 100lbs and stay there, can do the same with pain killers.

He's at the top of his game, no way is he doped up.

Looks like they're trying to take him down on a technicality.

57 posted on 10/07/2003 6:22:19 AM PDT by duckln
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To: Stormyta
"Could we please wait and see what the crux of this investigation is? Surely we all realize that Limbaugh is a good target for the nutty Liberals. So let's support Rush and stop the ambivalance---none of us know the full details, obviously including Rush."

I just can't go along.

I will never buy Snapple again! /sarcasm>

58 posted on 10/07/2003 6:24:10 AM PDT by G.Mason (Lessons of life need not be fatal)
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To: isthisnickcool
This is the problem with Rush not coming right out and saying what is going on.

I understand why he's not, even though I might not agree with it.

But because he doesn't, this kind of thing is going to be published.

Unfortunately, most people aren't as news savvy as we are.
59 posted on 10/07/2003 6:24:41 AM PDT by Howlin
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To: Servant of the 9
I have a car addiction. I admit it. It used to be big block Chevy's. Recently I've been getting high on Porsches. I can't help myself. And ebay is feeding my habit. I've been bidding on Vipers again. It's horrible.
60 posted on 10/07/2003 6:25:30 AM PDT by isthisnickcool (Guns!)
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