Mike Walker on the Al Rantel Show: "If We're Wrong, Rush Could Own Us"

790am KABC Radio

[Cinnamon Girl]

Mike Walker of the National Enquirer has been on the Al Rantel show for the past two hours discussing the story which his paper broke about Rush Limbaugh's dependence on prescription drugs, obtained illegally through his housekeeper. As Mike said, if this story was erroneous, Rush could sue them out of business. The National Enquirer did all kinds of checking before going with this story. He said they only paid for the story from the housekeeper after she had already gone to the police with her story and evidence.

But the most upsetting thing Mike Walker and Al discussed is the possibility that oxicontin (?) causes deafness and that Rush may have caused his own deafness by taking up to 30 or so pills a day. That is a horrible thought.

My wish is that Rush gets on the radio, comes clean about his addiction, and gets the help he needs. The longer he waits to do this, the worse it will be for him, in all sorts of ways. The police are apparently more interested in busting dealers than users in this sort of situation, but the housekeeper and her husband received immunity with their statements to the police. The claim is that Rush also was receiving UPS deliveries of pills from another source. Whatever the case, he should come clean.

[TASMANIANRED]

This has already been accounted for. His doctors that did the cochlear implant have already stated publicly for the record that autoimmune disease and no other source is responsible for the hearing loss.

Doctors have put their reputation on the line here..

[longtermmemmory]

I must correct myself, it appears to be illegal (though I still believe the face to face issue is research worthy). My first glance makes it VERY significant that she was recording for herself and not for the enquirer or law enforcement. Something the enquirer reporter made pains to point out. She recorded on her own. (there may be a reporter exception) For Rush's purposed the tapes, if they even exist, are inadmissible and irrelevant. Will post additional statute in a moment:

934.06 Prohibition of use as evidence of intercepted wire or oral communications; exception.--Whenever any wire or oral communication has been intercepted, no part of the contents of such communication and no evidence derived therefrom may be received in evidence in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding in or before any court, grand jury, department, officer, agency, regulatory body, legislative committee, or other authority of the state, or a political subdivision thereof, if the disclosure of that information would be in violation of this chapter. The prohibition of use as evidence provided in this section does not apply in cases of prosecution for criminal interception in violation of the provisions of this chapter.

History.--s. 6, ch. 69-17; s. 4, ch. 89-269.

[autoresponder]

Nail stapler?

I put a large serrated shank nail from a air nailgun into myself.

10 aspirin, 2 Buds, Super-Glue, needle & thread, antiseptic, liquid skin; back to work.

I don't like doctors or hospitals.

Home, shower, shave, off to Rory's to socialize and such.

Just another Friday night!

Let's not discuss the jerk that bumped my left center finger into a Piranna nail eater circular saw blade while I was beveling some exterior trim.

I think he moved to Cuba.

I did miss one hour of work that day.

Came back after showing the doctor how to sew up my finger.

Went to Rory's that night as usual.

Hey; I'm single and will sleep when I'm dead.......

[Not now, Not ever!]

If in fact the deafness was caused by medication

The House hearing institute said drugs were NOT a cause of his hearing loss at a news conference back when his hearing was going, They are the world's best at what they do and would not risk their reputation for anyone.

[Richard Kimball]

It's actually a hoot. I've picked up a couple because they're so funny, kind of like a trailer park version of the Onion. They've got one story with this doctored photo of a redneck holding a rifle and a grasshopper about the size of a coyote by the hind legs (supposedly, he was a farmer who shot the grasshopper in his back yard). They're also the ones that run the photos of Clinton, Bush, and yes, Limbaugh shaking hands with aliens.

[joesnuffy]

get a tap recorder and drink the equivilant in booze
and then tape yourself reading the Declaration of Independence
see if your speech is slightly slurred
I cannot picture Rush taking that many pills and doing his show let alone writing or doing
as much research as he surely does..
Without a whole lotta napping going on

[FreeReign]

Rush is toast.

I like Rush and I like toast -- they are not the same.

[NormsRevenge]

I post this link as someone who also cares about Rush and the Rush to Judgment by many on this thread. Thank goodness for the internet.

OxyContin

There are a number of links at the bottom of this page on the left hand side that contain a lot of info about OxyContin. Also, there is a link about Rush and Hillbilly Heroin (SF Chronicle) as it is commonly referred. This link and some others are newspaper articles' content with date and newspaper published in for reference and validation.

Do we know specifically what dosages of pills were being obtained is one question that may play into the 30 pills a day assumption?

I really appreciate reading the posts of those who have personal experience re: their usage of this medicaton under doctor's control and supervision and what a few pills did to them.

---

Here is an additional link to Yahoo Search results with the word OxyContin.

[_Jim]

The thing that stinks the most about the whole affair is, people with the kind of money and stature that Rush has have no problem obtaining legal scripts.

Very true ... then NOTHING of this nature would have come to see the light of day ... but instead, this INCREDIBLE story involving meeting off-property and xferring product and money in cigar boxes?

[longtermmemmory]

ok the statute in fl regarding recordings of oral communications:

Its long so I edited to just the prohibition and the penalties:


934.03 Interception and disclosure of wire, oral, or electronic communications prohibited.--

(1) Except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, any person who:

(a) Intentionally intercepts, endeavors to intercept, or procures any other person to intercept or endeavor to intercept any wire, oral, or electronic communication;

(b) Intentionally uses, endeavors to use, or procures any other person to use or endeavor to use any electronic, mechanical, or other device to intercept any oral communication when:

1. Such device is affixed to, or otherwise transmits a signal through, a wire, cable, or other like connection used in wire communication; or

2. Such device transmits communications by radio or interferes with the transmission of such communication;

(c) Intentionally discloses, or endeavors to disclose, to any other person the contents of any wire, oral, or electronic communication, knowing or having reason to know that the information was obtained through the interception of a wire, oral, or electronic communication in violation of this subsection;

(d) Intentionally uses, or endeavors to use, the contents of any wire, oral, or electronic communication, knowing or having reason to know that the information was obtained through the interception of a wire, oral, or electronic communication in violation of this subsection; or

(e) Intentionally discloses, or endeavors to disclose, to any other person the contents of any wire, oral, or electronic communication intercepted by means authorized by subparagraph (2)(a)2., paragraph (2)(b), paragraph (2)(c), s. 934.07, or s. 934.09 when that person knows or has reason to know that the information was obtained through the interception of such a communication in connection with a criminal investigation, has obtained or received the information in connection with a criminal investigation, and intends to improperly obstruct, impede, or interfere with a duly authorized criminal investigation;

shall be punished as provided in subsection (4).



++++EDITED SKIP TO PENALTY PORTION++++

(4)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), whoever violates subsection (1) is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, s. 775.084, or s. 934.41.

(b) If the offense is a first offense under paragraph (a) and is not for any tortious or illegal purpose or for purposes of direct or indirect commercial advantage or private commercial gain, and the wire or electronic communication with respect to which the offense under paragraph (a) was committed is a radio communication that is not scrambled, encrypted, or transmitted using modulation techniques the essential parameters of which have been withheld from the public with the intention of preserving the privacy of such communication, then:

1. If the communication is not the radio portion of a cellular telephone communication, a cordless telephone communication that is transmitted between the cordless telephone handset and the base unit, a public land mobile radio service communication, or a paging service communication, and the conduct is not that described in subparagraph (2)(h)7., the person committing the offense is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

2. If the communication is the radio portion of a cellular telephone communication, a cordless telephone communication that is transmitted between the cordless telephone handset and the base unit, a public land mobile radio service communication, or a paging service communication, the person committing the offense is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

History.--s. 3, ch. 69-17; s. 1163, ch. 71-136; ss. 2, 3, ch. 74-249; s. 249, ch. 77-104; s. 1, ch. 78-376; s. 187, ch. 79-164; s. 2, ch. 80-27; s. 1, ch. 87-301; s. 2, ch. 88-184; s. 2, ch. 89-269; s. 1582, ch. 97-102; s. 18, ch. 99-168; ss. 7, 9, ch. 2000-369; s. 2, ch. 2002-72.

Rush has a two year statute of limitation on a Civil suit for the audio recordings IF THEY INVOLVE HIM. For all we know there are no audio tapes of him.

Either way any "secretive" tapes she made are by statute INADMISSIBLE.

It is starting to look like a non story.

Seems like the limbaugh letter will have a new distribution system.

[Captainpaintball]

I noticed this too. His voice sounded very, very slightly like it did when he was losing his hearing, although I may be wrong. He seemed to act differently twoard his callers, as well. My biggest fear is that he knows something bad is coming down the pike, and he is using his time on the air to the fullest, doing things a little differently than he normally would--for example, interacting on a more personal level with his callers. I'm praying for you El Rushbo!!! I know that what ever happens, good or bad, you will come out battle hardened and tempered.

[tubebender]

Why would you think he ever had a need for pain killers?

A few years ago (I think he was still living in NY) RUSH found a Dental Surgeon to do a months worth of serious work on his teeth over two weekends. I got sick at my stomach just thinking about it.

A couple of years ago my wife heard him do a segment on Oxycontin and thought it odd. Also at the time of his implant there was a story in a Magazine about pain killers and hearing loss but I understand there is only one study supporting that.

If RUSH was buying Oxycontin it could have been for someone else in the family and besides that this case is two years old and I don't think any charges have been filed against the Clines...

[Nachum]

You'd only know "after hours."

Yes, there are such things as "functional" addicts, but as I said it leads to other addictions and contradictory behaviors. Also, the addiction is never static, it must be dealt with or it eventually destroys the addict. How could a barbituate addict possibly recover in time to perform in time for a public event? If your functional addict was ingesting an equivalent amount of alchohol to 30 pills of a powerful barbituate, he could not wake up in time for work the next morning.

Rush Limbaugh has a very busy schedule. He does not have the ability to be known as being different "after hours" without being found out. In addition, we are talking about a very large number of pills per day and a very powerful drug. It is like saying a herion addict who shoots up every day could successfully be in front of the public the way Limbaugh is. I cannot imagine it.

It is interesting that you pointed out that the person you knew was a chain-smoker. It sounds like it would be part of his addiction. I would wager that part of his "after-hours" behaviors included any or all of the above; gambling, hookers, or other high risk activities. Rush Limbaugh is an ex-smoker. He gave up his addiction to cigarettes. He entered into a committed relationship and has stayed married. He regularly goes to speaking engagements and public events. He is well prepared for his show and is well informed with no lapse in preparation or knowledge. How is he leading a double life? I just do not see it.

[Fabozz]

"As Mike said, if this story was erroneous, Rush could sue them out of business."

This is not, in point of fact, true. It is extremely hard for a public figure to win a libel suit in this country—that whole "freedom of speech" thing. For a journalist to say "if I'm wrong, sue me" is akin to Mike Tyson saying "if I'm wrong, punch me."

[proust]

Diet pills are basically speed. They can be used to balance out the oxymoron. Of course I doubt Rush has been taking diet pills. It's not like he has somehow rapidly lost weight without any explanation...

[longtermmemmory]

(s) It is a super special cigar box. It was once used in the white house for monica's cigars. GASP!! ITS THE CIGAR BOXES!!!(/s)

[Mjaye]

>>>>>>>>If the drugs are really this easy to obtain, why would Rush need the problems of dealing first hand with low lifes upclose and personal?<<<<<<<<

Exactly. And why would an addict functional enough to do three hours a day pretty flawlessly not see how stupid it was to send explicit e-mails that any first grader could decode as drug orders? And why trust some bozo housekeeper and her crook husband in the first place? What ever happened to background checks? The truth is simply not evident yet, so much of this is out of character for him which really makes one wonder.

I used to e-mail back and forth with Rush years ago when I was a sysop on a Rush-related forum section on CIS. This was when he first went national, from the early to the mid-90's. He was always relaxed and friendly, but never said stupid stuff that any unscrupulous person could use against him in any communications I had with him (totally innocent and harmless types of comments).

Come to think of it, that's where he met Marta, as I recall, and admittedly meeting a woman through e-mails was somewhat risky for a well-known guy that the Dems would have loved to set up. But this whole current thing is too weird.

[FreeReign]

Mike Walker on the Al Rantel Show: "If We're Wrong, Rush Could Own Us"

False! You don't just have to be wrong for Rush to own you. You also have to be purposefully wrong.

Your statement is more BS in trying to prove Rush guilty. Know what I mean?

[Not now, Not ever!]

The Florida Free Republic has a nice ring to it.

Very good point, I concede.

[stands2reason]

There's a fear that many have on this form. And that is gullibility. They feel they have to believe the worst immediately, or otherwise they're just "fools." They don't realize that actually holding back an opinion for a little while until all the facts can be determined can be a reasonable option.