Posted on 06/12/2004 11:46:05 AM PDT by NotchJohnson
Conservative radio commentator Rush Limbaugh announced Friday that he and his wife, Marta, are divorcing.
The Limbaughs "mutually decided to end their marriage of 10 years" and have "separated pending an amicable resolution," according to a statement released by Limbaugh's publicist.
The couple shared a $24 million oceanfront mansion in nearby Palm Beach, from where Limbaugh often broadcast his daily three-hour show.
Spokesman Tony Knight said the matter was personal and declined further comment.
It was the third marriage for both Limbaugh, 53, and his 44-year-old wife, who were wed May 27, 1994, at the Virginia home of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Thomas officiated the ceremony.
The past several months have been difficult for the politically and socially conservative Limbaugh, who announced in October that he was entering drug rehabilitation because he was addicted to prescription painkillers.
At the same time, West Palm Beach prosecutors announced they were investigating whether Limbaugh illegally went "doctor shopping" to obtain the pills. The practice refers to visiting several doctors to receive duplicate prescriptions of controlled narcotics.
Limbaugh, who has not been charged with any crime, has repeatedly fought back against the charges and negative publicity he's received over the matter.
Last month, he took out full-page ads in two Florida newspapers to attack prosecutors for mounting what he called a politically motivated investigation. He also regularly lashes out against prosecutors and reporters and defends himself during his show.
The criminal case against Limbaugh is on hold pending a decision from a Florida appeals court. It will decide whether the seizure of Limbaugh's medical records, which were taken by investigators in November, violated privacy laws.
Prosecutors say they need the records to determine whether to bring charges against Limbaugh.
I've been married 24 years. It works in practice, too. But it helps to marry somebody with similar values.
Is the 10 year thing also true in Florida? From what I've read, it's true in California. Just wondering. Thank you.
Is his first wife campaigning for him, or is shewith most of his strike boat buddies?
Many a day he has saved me from kicking a liberal"
I wish I could say that...but kicking liberals is just too much fun.
I listen to him for his political analysis, not marriage counseling.
Ten years is the definition of "long-term marriage". On the completion of that period, a sort of tenure sets in.
Purely arbitrary, of course. There is nothing intrinsically magical about ten years. Most really bad marriages break up in the first three to five years, strained marriages by seven or eight years, and after that, if the couple have not learned to be fully loving, at least they have settled into a wary acceptance of the other's presence.
Kerry was in Vietnam?
I would have never known...
Well, it happens...every day! Very good and bad people end their relationships in divorce. It's just part of life.
I have 2 priors, both were nice ladies. My 3rd has put up with me for nearly 32 beautiful years. She is my best friend and my soul mate. We have raised two wonderful children and grown older together, though she is just as beautiful and kind as she was the day I met her and we fell in love.
Our honeymoon has never stopped, not for even one day. She is the reason my heart bothers to take it's next beat. Like Reagan, I miss this Gift from God........ every time she leaves the room. Some guys tease me about this, but I gave up sport fishing, because all I did on the boat was miss the time I could have been spending with my Bride.
Too bad about Rush, but it happens even to the best of us. For me, it's not about the promise or oath one makes, it's about being best friends, love, respect, admiration, kindness, building memories and much, much more.
I'm going on 9 years since my only divorce. Haven't remarried and don't know if I ever will.
I searched this before I posted.
In FL the rule of thumb (there is no real written rule) is that five years gives you rehabilatative alimony and 12 years gets you permanent. ALTHOUGH I do remember one case where permanent alimony was awarded after a few months marriage because the woman gave up a once in a lifetime opportunity that was NEVER to return and the husband was significantly wealthy and they had met through unusual circumstances.
(there is also a case in FL which says that refusal of marital relations can be deemed marital abuse. That was in a case where the wife was trying to get more money due to an affair and the husband said he had to seek sex outside the marriage by maintaining a mistress. The courts sided with the husband.)
The courts treat marriage as a cashout value object like an insurance policy. It is very unrealistic. For example, I don't know what she did for a living before, but is it reasonable to have her expect to be paid to live in a 20 million dollar home? Something reasonable perhaps but what is reasonable and to whom?
She also will have new assets which should be taken into account. Unless she signed over her literary rights, she has the asset of her time with rush. The anticipated proceeds from that inevitable tell all should be factored into her settlement. IOW she is not without means to provide for herself.
In FL judges are very reluctant to make any alimony permantent. permanent alimony keeps a case on their docket. Fortunatly in FL there is mandatory mediation and 90+% of all cases settle at that stage.
Thank you for your reply.
Makes me wonder, if this isn't his initiation, if she isn't at the age where she's going through the change and now suddenly without reason hates her husband simply for existing, not alone the tons of other baggage that has been dropped on the marriage the past couple of years.
I hope Marta's heavy baggage doesn't include drug abuse and alleged doctor shopping.
***I'd just like to say that "I need Rush". Many a day he has saved me from kicking a liberal. He does it for me.***
LOL!
I know I don't have the right to judge Marta, but just maybe she went along for the ride when things were good and then bailed when they got tough.
Not if the Democrats had their say.
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