THE PERSECUTION OF RUSH

The Logical View ^ | 12/26/03 | MARK A SITY

[logic101.net]

THE PERSECUTION OF RUSH GOES ON MARK A SITY 12/26/03

Years ago, Brett Favre had a problem with pain killers. He was buying them illegally after a prescription ran out for after an injury that still hurt. He became addicted. After the news came out, he apologized to his fans, went into treatment, and all was right with the world. Not a soul seems to be interested in investigating Ozzy Osbourne’s drug use, but there might be a reason for this. Ozzy seems to be attempting to prove the theory of evolution by devolving into lower forms of life before our eyes. Ozzie is an interesting scientific experiment.

Yet, Rush Limbaugh is reported to have a problem with an addiction to pain killers, admits it and goes into treatment, and all is still not right with the world. Rumors are reported first that he’s part of a drug ring investigation. Ok, it seems this is true in that his name turned up as a customer. Then rumors were reported that he was buying these prescription pain killers in 1000+ lots. Then rumors were reported that he was involved in selling the drugs (like he really needs the money!). Then it was money laundering. Now he is under investigation for the very serious crime of “DOCTOR SHOPPING”. It seems this is a huge crime in Florida.

This makes me wonder. If I take my family to Florida for a vacation, and our daughter hurts herself, let’s say she hurts her leg. Being from Wisconsin we wouldn’t know who the good FL doctors are and who the quacks are. We’d probably take her to the closest doctor. So let’s say we get Dr Quack. Dr Quack takes her into the X-ray room, and comes out with an X ray showing a hairline fracture in her calf bone. We would assume a leg cast is in order. Dr Quack comes back with not the plaster cart, but a laughing gas cart and then pulls out a big meat saw. Dr Quack tells us he will have to amputate her leg for the hairline fracture. If we decide to take her out of the office (with both legs attached) and look for a second opinion are we in violation of FL law for “DOCTOR SHOPPING”?

I don’t claim to have any inside information on Rush’s situation, but drawing on what he has said, it seems that he had a painful back problem and went to Dr Quack. Dr Quack recommended surgery. Dr Quack messed up the surgery. Dr Quack prescribed a pain killer to Rush for temporary relief of a long term problem. Dr Quack’s prescription ran out on Rush, leaving him in debilitating pain. Rush knew the pain killer could allow him mobility, and Dr Quack offered no option other than permanent debilitating pain for the rest of his natural life. It seems to me that Rush should have been “doctor shopping” a long time ago!

Why is Rush on trial here, without even any charges being filed? Shouldn’t Dr Quack be the one being investigated for leading an innocent victim down the path of lawlessness and drug use? Where is the AMA? Could it be that they, along with the press have an anti-Rush agenda? Nah, couldn’t be. If I believed that I’d be one of the black helicopter conspiracy types then, wouldn’t I?

MARK A SITY

http://www.logic101.net/

[Trust but Verify]

What 'medicine' would you prescribe?

[Pkeel]

The saddest thing about all this is its ability to split up people of like minds.

I do belive most freepers are more alike than disparate yet we get caught up in this fight.

That just may be the worst part of the whole episode.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

If it turns out he has broken the law, let him suffer the same penalities you or I would. This "playing the victim" is the liberals game, and should be beneath principled conservatives.

Sure, the law provides penalties for breaking the law.
But since you haven't been caught every time you went 5 mph over the speed limit, you assume that you are righteous.

When the Constitution forbids "unusual" punishment, that includes enforcing the law at all--if nobody else gets that law enforced against them in a similar way. It is a check on tyranny, and it must be upheld. Even if it helps a conservative--and thus does not make you feel vicariously righteous in accepting unusual treatment of one you suggest that you have affinity for as a fellow conservative.

[Pkeel]

Plenty of fun you can have legally.

Hike. Kayak. Hunt. Fish. Read. Freep.

[Big Horn]

The real criminal's in a drug crime are the ones that profit from it. How about some charges on those people.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

What are you talking about? All of my posts are about the different treatment he is getting, and that's what is wrong with this whole affair.

You're trying to be logical, but it's irrelevant. Rush is going to get nailed by liberal prosecutors if they can pull it off. Rush's defense of himself, and your defense of him is getting boring.

[laredo44]

I've taken drugs for pain as well, and like you, I was concerned about how much I took and that I stopped taking them when the pain lessened. But what if your pain never goes away? Never lessens? Then what do you do.

What if you don't have pain but taking the drug just makes you feel better? What's wrong with that?

[Trust but Verify]

I would be too afraid of addiction and legal ramifications to use drugs in that way.

[Lucky2]

The clinton's found a weakness in Rush, perscription drugs. They've been after him for years and finally found a weakness. I bet that housekeeper was a plant by the rats to infiltrate Rush. Remember that "nice old" couple who "accidently" tapped into Newt's cell phone and recorded his calls? They found a prosecuter who'll act as they're lackey and they pounced. Of course their names aren't mentioned but when the background and voting record of these people are investigated, they're all rats tied to uncle janet reno and the clintoons. Rush will prevail but it's going to take some time and lot's of money.

[Trust but Verify]

Ok, well you don't have to play along. if you think Rush's best defense is to do nothing, so be it. I think important issues are being raised, which can help build case law and protect others in the future. But you are entitled to have your own opinion and voice it. In fact, it seems to me that others fought that type of persecution to give you that right.

[AbsoluteJustice]

Hmmm very good question. Unknown. If he is an addict then fine go seek help with your problem and get treated. But if found that his actions to obtain these drugs were illegal which may ver well be then he should be prosecuted. I believe others in here in saying that he was using his back as an excuse to obtain drugs he was addicted to. Now that his hands were caught in the cookie jar he repents to his listeners. How did he play golf when in so much pain anyway?

[AbsoluteJustice]

"Go read up on the subject and don't make assertions you can't back up."

FACT:Rush admitted he was taking drugs.
FACT: this is illegal.
FACT: Rush was uncovered that he was abusing drugs.
FACT: Rush then comes out that he will go seek treatment.

FACT: Rush espouses his moral authority upon liberals and bashes them constantly.
FACT: Rush is a drug addict of no more Moral authority then the pushers who deal them.
FACT: Rush brought this heat upon himself.
FACT: Legal authroities believe there is probable cause to investigate Rush and 2 judges have agreed.

How much more simplistic can this be made? The man may be a criminal MAY BE not IS MAY BE. I do not defend those that are utter hypocrits!

[laredo44]

I would be too afraid of addiction

A wise choice, IMHO.

and legal ramifications to use drugs in that way.

but aren't those ramifications a result of legislating your preferences? Aren't others entitled to make their own decision about what they choose to ingest?

[Trust but Verify]

Well the golf question is an interesting one. He obviously had a very, very painful condition with his coccyx bone prior to 1998, when he had it removed. I hav done some reading on this condition, and you wouldn't wish it on your worst enemy. I think it is possible that he obtained a substantial amount of relief from the surgery, but that he may have already been addicted at that time

I guess my primary disappointment with Rush is that I would have expected him to be a much smarter, stronger person than one who would allow himself be an addict. He should have gotten help a long time ago.

I still don't think it makes him fair game for a politically motivated prosecutor to go after him when they do not typically criminally charge people for this 'crime', whatever the crime du jour is.

[Trust but Verify]

To a degree, I can agree with you if the only person affected by an addict were the addict. In most cases, that is not true.

[Twinkie]

IF the liberals railroad Rush Limbaugh into jail somehow,
assuming the unlikely idea that he couldn't somehow get a
fair trial, he would USE the experience to grow and rise
above it. - I think Martha Stewart probably would, too.
I don't know all the FACTS about either of them, but I
imagine they are both positive people who make lemonade out
of lemons. - I doubt that either of them will do time.

[eno_]

The problem is that conservatives need to be consistent:

If it is "good" to riffle through the bank records of suspected drug smugglers, is it "good" to require everyone to report all > $10k transactions? Or is that a police state?

If it is "good" to have government keep close tabs on how Medicare money is spent, if it also "good' that YOUR money in YOUR HSA will be subject to the same level of scrutiny?

Drug abuse is surely a bad thing, and Rush damn near lost everything, never mind the political prosecution. But is that a good reason to diminish everyone's freedom so much?

[AbsoluteJustice]

Agree 110%

[Psycho_Runner]

"the facts appear to be that Limbaugh intentionally went to Dr. #1 and said he has chronic pain and needs relief. Dr. #1 gives Rush a prescription. Rush then goes to Dr. #2"

I think you need to visit Rush limbaugh website and take time to read the proceedings. Rush visited 4 doctors, 2 worked in the same clinic and the other two where ear specialists.

The problem is Rush was not taking the pain killers fro recreation but for a legitimate back pain. His addiction was not for kicks but accidental.

[nfldgirl]

He kept playing golf through his incredible pain

Bingo! When I first heard about this, I couldn't help but think of how often we've heard Rush talk about playing golf, and I've even watched him a time or two when he played in some celebrity golf function, and I wondered about just how much was he suffering from pain, given the fact that there's no way you could swing a golf club if you were in that much pain. Even if taking medication could alleviate (most) pain, would it totally get rid of ALL pain and allow someone like Rush to regularly play golf, to put his full range of motion into swinging the club?

Let me say that I like Rush very much...always have...but feel that based on what we know, he became addicted to the pain killers, using back pain as an excuse to continue consuming them far beyond what he needed because he liked what they did for him (some euphoric state), and he was willing to do whatever it took to keep the "supply well" from running dry, even if it meant doing something illegal/underhanded/seedy...whatever you want to call it. Bottom line...Rush should be ready and willing to take full responsibility for his actions....be honest about his circumstances, come clean, accept the consequences and move on. The prosecutors involved may not be able to prove a case against Rush, they may even now be resorting to their own form of record "shopping," but that doesn't mean there isn't one there.