Ken Hamblin comments on Rush Limbaugh

Fox News Channel ^ | 10-11-03 | Ken Hamblin on the Rita Cosby Show

[Denver Ditdat]

Yes, Rush has made jokes about Ted Kennedy and Marion Barry, but their substance abuse is a result of hearty partying, not chronic pain.

Absolutely true, but it's not a distinction that will be made when comedians let rip with their latest Rush riff on SNL, Leno, Letterman, or HBO. Katie Couric, Matt Lauer, Al Franken, and the rest of their ilk aren't about to say "oh, but there's a difference" when they bring up the subject of Rush's addiction. When some reporter asks the demonrat presidential candidate what (s)he thinks of Rush's latest remarks in 2004, you can bet the response will have something to do with him falling off the wagon and needing another stint in the Betty Ford Center.

I'm sorry to say so, but this isn't something that will be erased from the public perception after a month in rehab. Rush is going to be dogged by this throughout the 2004 campaign and beyond.

[jammer]

You put your finger on it, inadvertently perhaps. In general, I would EXPECT conservatives to be intolerant of their own who violate deeply held conservative principles. That's the critical difference between us and Clintonistas.

Having said that, I do NOT condemn Rush for his problem. But he DID harm the conservative movement. So, subtracting this from the good he's done, I would say he's still 99.9% ahead.

Sort of why, when they asked Lamar Hunt's dad about Lamar's Kansas City Chiefs losing $1 million the first year, H.L. said that Lamar could only go on for another 40 years (that was when $1 million was a lot of money).

[jammer]

How about sorrow? Pity and compassion? I think your choice don't cover all possibilities.

[Howlin]

None of the above.


And you forgot

4. Those who say Rush did this to take the heat off Bush abou the leaks at the White House.

---

Do you really think that those are the ONLY choices?

[Sam Cree]

"I sincerely hope that his story, when he tells it, will be a help to many who silently suffer the same addiction to painkillers. It is quite pandemic in our society."

I guess Rush could become some sort of latter day Billy Graham. Jesus, what a thought. Maybe that could work, though.

[ambrose]

4. Acceptance that he is addicted, hope that he gets help, prayers that he can overcome it and that he doesn't have legal problems, and disappointment that he did something so foolish.

Excellent. Your response is touching. And no, I am not being sarcastic.

[Miss Marple]

Oh, I don't think he will lose his audience. I just think that any movement into the mainstream, which would have been good for conservatism, is probably a lost opportunity now.

Yes, he will probably get to comment on Fox. But I doubt we will see him outside that Forum, and not that often.

And I don't now how often he will be asked to play in charity golf tournaments any more, at least until the legal question is solved.

It is just such an unfortunate thing.

Also, where WAS Marta?

[prisoner6]

Well I am not turning my back on him. I'm not bashing him. I'm not blaming him for a problem which he may not have been able to circumvent.

I am accepting that his problem - which I pray he will overcome - is going to be a distraction that many of us will be able to dismiss lightly when challanged by ratz. We will have to find a way to deal with it, and that is not going to be easy.

prisoner6

[zook]

It's absurd to expect leaders to be flawless and to say that they're damaged when they aren't. For those who believe that both of these men have made powerful political arguments over the years, neither is "damaged." Nor will they be considered "damaged" among fair minded people who understand that none of us is without some human failing.

[Right_in_Virginia]

When I see that complete criminals like BJ Clinton can be "rehabilitated" in the public arena, there's no way we're going to let Rush get railroaded.

Good point. But, let's remember a significant difference here. BJ was the sitting President of the United States when he put his hand on the Bible, swore to tell the truth, and then lied to a federal judge.

I'm not understanding why the names "Clinton" and "Rush" keep appearing in the same sentences on these threads.

[Just mythoughts]

If Rush becoming addicted to pain meds, hurts conservatism then the pope has far more to answer for.

The list runs long of those in front of Rush for the hurt they have caused.

Rush will pay his own price and part of "conservatism" that so many claim to have and hold, is to not kick a man who is down, admits wrong, seeks change and doesn't freaking blame others for his down fall.

Why any conservative should be bother by the looser class having a belly laugh of the short falls of one they love and live to hate, tell just how conservative they really are.

The lying liberal "DEPENDENT" class are all addicts and are too stupid to realize it, they are "DEPENDENT" on the conservatives to maintain some standard of morals and providing them what they require to maintain their status which is not much.

[lara]

I think I will.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Which democrat?

[Howlin]

Er.....I said Is there a particular reason I shouldn't judge Rush Limbaugh the same way I judged Democrats for eight long years?

[Right_in_Virginia]

Rush is going to be dogged by this throughout the 2004 campaign and beyond.

By whom?

[Chu Gary]

"Rush will never again be asked to comment on mainstream networks. Any interview he grants will be consumed with talk about drugs. Any opinion he gives on air will be mocked by toads like Franken as "drug-induced." I also doubt that many officials will be interviewed on his program any more."

Have you never heard Rush talk about how many times he has been fired? Do you think the man has no stamina? Do you think his fans are wusses? Maybe you are, I'm not. When he comes back, I'll be there!!

[TomGuy]

Where do you stand?

I have a different take.

Why would any person with Rush's wealth use a housekeeper as his drug pusher?

Most wealthy persons--remember Elvis--can afford to hire their own doctor. Yes, there are doctors who would prescribe whatever their wealthy patient wants.

Secondly, he could have procured the drugs through foreign pharmacies.

The housekeeper-as-pusher aspect of this doesn't bode well for Rush. He had other options that certainly would have been more private and less potentially explosive.

[jammer]

My Lord, yes. Some are. I hope that when the dust settles, that abates. Honestly, I have a close friend--really--who is a socialist artist (quite successful). Won't go into reasons, except that his mind is so wonderful, if misguided. Anyway, he and I were discussing this over the telephone today. He was not gloating. He did make counter-arguments to Rush's claims about not being a victim, etc. The point I tried to make was that the incident really makes ME look inside MYSELF for hypocrisy. It may make others.

[LIBERTARIAN JOE]

Frankly I think many Freepers just don't understand the difference between going out and taking illegal drugs like cocaine or heroin deliberately and getting hooked on a painkiller because a trusted doctor prescribed it for back pain.

I strongly disagree with your view on the Rush situation. Rush is a drug addict. It looks like he's broken many drug laws for many years. There are hundreds of thousands of people in jails and prisons all over this country as we speak whose lives have been destroyed because of the legal consequences of their non-violent use, purchase or sale of controlled substances (including prescription drugs). Rush has passionately advocated the drug war for as long as I have been aware of him.

Rush, like thousands of heroin addicts, millions of cocaine users, and tens of millions of marijuana users in this nation, was able to support his habit and practice his trade effectively for many years. But now he's been caught and it is very hypocritical for drug warriors to advocate anything less for Rush than what has happened to the millions of previous drug war victims... destroy his reputation, ruin him financially, try him, convict him and throw him into prison with murders, rapists, thieves and all the other scum of society that really belong behind bars.

When (if) he gets out, if he's still a WOD advocate, maybe I'll re-think my view that the drug problem in this country is 95% drug war, 5% drug abuse and 0% responsible recreational drug use by the vast majority of those who use either legal or illegal drugs (like Rush, apparently).

[Right_in_Virginia]

Er.....I said Is there a particular reason I shouldn't judge Rush Limbaugh the same way I judged Democrats for eight long years?

I read what you typed. And, I repeat my question: which democrat and for which sin?

Adultery? Perjury? Divorce? Income tax evasion?