Rush Limbaugh: Open Line Friday [Confirms Some Aspects of Drug Story, Checking In To Rehab]

[I Am Not A Mod]

A thread for those listening to today's show.

[Nov3]

Again you never cease to amaze, with your refusal to see reason.

Dane cut your losses. As for as addiction goes Rush is no better than any street drug addict. He is a junkie period. He may live in a nice house, have the means to support his habit but he risked everything for his addiction. He likes dope. He has tried ot quit twice and failed. He only came out this time because he hit bottom. He will not have the consequences others suffer but that does not makehim any better

He is a junkie no more no less.

I pray for him. If he can beat his ego and fear he can come back make major differences for others who think they are better than other addicts.

[Qwinn]

"The idea that he had some 'pain' that required buying narcotics off the street... these ideas would never fly if it were Joe Schmo who was addicted, or worse yet, some liberal."

Perhaps not to the hard-core WoD'ers here. I don't think they're the majority. I could be wrong. Are they? Longer-term Freepers would have to attest to that, I'm too new yet.

There are certainly some posters here who might be subject to the hypocrisy accusation here... BUT, I still don't think we've established that Rush himself deserves the label. If he was playing a victim now, or evading responsibility, then yes, he most definetly would.

Qwinn

[Dane]

He only admitted the use after it was a front-page story. He's allegedly been addicted for years. To pat him on the back for 'admitting' his demons NOW seems weak. Without the story, there would have been no admission. Without the prospect of a criminal investigation, I doubt he'd have come clean. Let's be honest

Yep we are being honest, unlike the Clinton's who with the evidence staring them in the face refused to acknowledge it and decided to ruin many reputations and drag the country through the gutter.

But what the hey, I can understand your stance, you got your "holy grail(total drug validation)" to defend.

[madison10]

The "National Enquirer?" The maid? Sorry. Just 'cause he said he was addicted to pain killers does not make the whole story true. It may, but I doubt it.

[cake_crumb]

You know, that is something I don't understand about these accusations against conservatives in general. I have never NOT had sympathy for any addict, as long as they weren't trying to kill or assault me, which of course tends to cut down on the sympathy level.

In fact, though I'm sure it's happened with all the members FR has, I have never seen a post unsympathetic to addicts.

I have to go. There are wellheads blowing up here. Why not? This has been a bad week.

[Qwinn]

"See the National Enquirer. See the possible criminal investigation. Talk to his housekeeper."

Rush said SOME of what we had read about recently was true - but he also said quite clearly that some of what we heard was also inaccurate. That being the case, I think the jury's still out.

Qwinn

[zencat]

Maybe it's just me but I don't see a problem with taking pain medication for pain.

[Stew Padasso]

"The "National Enquirer?" The maid? Sorry. Just 'cause he said he was addicted to pain killers does not make the whole story true. It may, but I doubt it."

Prepare to be dissappointed again.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Too bad Rush has never shown much for his fellow dopers.

Feel personally offended, do you?

[Dane]

Morphine and cocaine were sold that way here in the US for a long time

As they were in 19th century China.

Do a google search on "the opium wars" and read about the devastation.

[Tribune7]

Do you really want the drugs Rush was taking sold over the counter without controls? Yes.

I don't, and if Rush continued to oppose this it still wouldn't make him a hypocrite.

The reason why these drugs are controlled is because they are addicting. Decent, productive people could -- would, actually -- be encouraged to buy these drugs and keep buying them to the benefit of the seller/manufacturor.

You want to make a case that those who buy the drugs shouldn't be criminals I might go along. It might even be a better mode of fighting drug abuse since maybe then they could start filing civil lawsuits against the dealers.

[truth_seeker]

"Why hasn't Rush had the same compassion for drug addicts that he now wishes for himself?"

Presuming Rush recovers, attends meetings, etc. he will develop EMPATHY for others that are addicted.

George W. Bush seems to display such empathy.

If you are not addicted, you lack empathy for Rush, as Rush is today. I point out to you that his life for six years hass been under the influence of drug(s).

When he cleans up, he may not even want to be a radio talk guru. Stranger things have happened.

[GeronL]

See the National Enquirer

Is that before or after the story of the 3 headed alien baby??

[katz]

It is the acetaminophen (Tylenol) in the drug that is toxic.
Four thousand milligrams (4000mg) is max for acetaminophen daily and some doctors say 2000mg. A Vicodin tab has 650mg acetaminophen. Can cause liver and kidney damage as well as damage to hearing.

[Monty22]

You're right, Rush in my mind is exactly what he called other junkies.

[Nov3]

Who said Rush was getting his drugs illegally? What dealers? With doctors all over the country, due to his travels, he may have been able to get the pain killers legally. The physicians would not have checked with each other, especially if Rush paid for his own medications.

I am not going to use the kool-aid line like I have before but PLEASE!

[zoyd]

The bottom line for me is that Rush-lovers, and WOD lovers, want to put Rush in a different category than 'other' drug users. It's a farce. He's an addict. A wealthy one, yes. Able to do his job while addicted? Yes. But he's an addict.

There are plenty of coke addicts, speed addicts, pot addicts, and heroin addicts who hold down jobs and commit no more damage to society than Rush, but WOD-lovers want to treat the two very differently. Nobody is calling for Rush to go to prison, or even to be brought up on charges. Everyone is in favor of treatment.

It's funny to me how treatment is scoffed at as a fake liberal panacea to the real ills of drug abuse... until Rush is the one addicted.

[zoyd]

Is that before or after the story of the 3 headed alien baby??

You're thinking of the Weekly World News. Go ahead -- keep your head in the sand and hope it all turns out okay.

[Hacksaw]

For 30 day facilities the rate is less than 30% recovery.

My own unscientific opinion for that some is that "low-level" addicts who come in do not take in what they learned, Ironically, I think the hard corae addict has a better chance at recovery.

Secondly, time and experience has born out that a spiritual program (like a 12 step program) is needed to rebuild the soul in order for the addict to get on with his life. I think many feel that rehab alone will suffice.

[madison10]

Are you implying that I'm a "rushbot?" LOL Hey, I like to look at all the options. Would do the same for anyone, except Hillary & Bill, of course.