Emotional Michael Medved Devotes Hour to Rush

Michael Medved Show 870am KRLA

[Rastus]

Because you get to the point where the prescribed amount no longer works. Your body builds up a tolerance for the drug, and you need more to overcome the pain. Plus, there is a physical need for the drug. Addicts don't have a tough time breaking the habit because they hate to lose the pleasurable sensations; their body chemistry has changed to the point where they have to have the drug or they go into detox. That's not a stage you want to be in, and it's best if you can do it in some kind of hospital setting. I hope it's a relatively easy process for Rush.

But, you are right that the pills are only one aspect of it, and he's going to still be in a bad place if he doesn't eliminate the source of the pain. Unfortunately, from what I heard him say, that may not be possible. I think he said he chose not to have additional back surgery, and who knows exactly what that means. Is there a risk of permanent paralysis? Is additional surgery even possible? I don't know much about back surgery, but I know there are some forms of surgery that don't allow a second pass. Fused discs and the like.

Finally, this is second-hand information, but I wonder if anyone else heard this. Apparently, Drudge was on the Hannity radio show, and he said a source told him something like, "We finish Rush off this weekend." It's my understanding that Drudge didn't believe there was really anything to be worried about, but that's how a lot of us felt when this pill story was teased a few hours before it broke.

[NCSteve]

Be sure and take the day after election day 2004 off...

Why? Are we about to elect some conservatives I don't know about?

[RightOnline]

"did William Bennett call in and say "my money's on Limbaugh!" or "I'll BET he makes it back" ?"

Bet all the boys in the bath house think you're just a scream, don't they?

[altura]

Thanks for the explanation.

Very good and thorough. I understand it better now. Hope you were able to get through it.

[cyborg]

I was listening to the radio yesterday. There were A LOT of liberals calling in saying how much they respected Rush now,etc. I think the libs are not going to get the tidal wave of hate for Rush they expected. My sister NEVER liked Rush and last night she emailed me from Japan to tell me how sorry she was...

[Grit]

You guys are insane. Walter E. Williams is by far the best sub. And the one that America most needs to hear.

[Bennett46]

Yes, of course that is what Rush needs to do in the future; measure his words more carefully.

That is what we all need to do....measure our words more carefully until we're all in our nice, neat little politically correct boxes.

[PhilDragoo]

If Rush was solely taking this stuff for real pain why didn't he simply go to a doctor and get a legitimate supply for his legitimate pain?

You heard him say on his program he was given another round of surgeries as the next step, an option he rejected as the first round didn't work.

There was a fellow on the crew now in business for himself who had a fifteen-year heroin habit. He's clean now.

His remark about the why of it was of note: "You don't do it to get high--you do it to not get sick."

Now that's a different matter than Rush in large respect, but we've all seen addiction as a means "to not get sick"--

A very poor second choice to just flat quitting.

I wonder how many smokers have "quit"--repeatedly.

I quit once in 1990 and that was it--of course the following year every waking moment was filled with the tobacco craving.

What could be worse than that?

[HitmanLV]

A long process got us to where we are, and a long process will get us out. As long as we move in the right direction, enact policy, change the terms of the debate, in the long run we will effect change.

Even my hero Reagan, who ran on eliminating the Dept of Ed and didn't come close to that, effect change in his own way.

It's a process. Keep the faith and keep the pressure on.

[Cinnamon Girl]

Congratulations for 14 years of sobriety! That is fantastic! Keep up the great work helping other addicts.

[Cinnamon Girl]

You're right about the two part issue, dennisw. It's one thing to get off the physical drug. But Rush will need a lot longer to admit that he is an addict and learn to deal with that, which he has not yet.

[KittyKares]

Liberals are disgraceful and cruel people. They celebrate when conservatives run into hard times.

Quite so. They say some shameful things about Reagan and his Alzheimers Disease.