RADIO TITAN'S DEVOTED 'DITTOHEADS' WILL STAY TUNED

New York Post ^ | 10/11/03 | DAM BUCKMAN

[kattracks]

October 11, 2003 -- RUSH Limbaugh's loyal listeners are unlikely to desert him now that he's admitted to an addiction to painkillers. That's the word from talk-radio experts, who say Limbaugh made the right move when he 'fessed up on his radio show yesterday.

[FITZ]

I know family members of drug or alcohol addicts also often have a perspective that is different than those who believe every possible kind of drug should be completely legal and readily available.

[sakic]

Is it true that when Jerry Garcia died that Rush said "just another dead doper"?

If it is true, Rush should rot. If it's not true, there are an awful lot of folks saying it is true.

[johnnyb93]

Frank R,
You said
"While there is still the question about his method of obtaining the drugs, the fact remains that we're not talking about outlawed drugs such as crack, marijuana, or cocaine."
Oxycontin type drugs are very outlawed when purchased without a prescription. Rush did not have a prescription for the thousands of pills he bought from pushers in Denny's parking lots.
"I have a family member who was hooked on pain killers, and compared to them, Rush wasn't affect by them at all. My relative would stay in a stupor, hardly able to construct a sentence, or even stay awake. I'm an avid listener of Rush, and I've never heard him sound anything other than alert, cohesive, and ... brilliant."
Evidently you missed him when he spent so much time on the air slurring his words and making little sense, even in the context of his world view, while he was having his drug induced "hearing problem".
"I hate the fact that Rush has opened himself up like this, but are we going to let 15 years of "wonderful" be erased by one personal mistake? He's 'fessed up, and is taking steps to do something about it...do you know what I'd give if I could get my family member to do the same?"
Maybe it wasn't so 'wonderful" after all. No human being can remain stable when he must contort his thinking to see the world only one way. It gets to be stressful ignoring the reality that may intrude on that "one way" to see and think. Drugs become a way to avoid that stress.
"Just remember, liberals and the press are going to jump on this, in the hope that they can "ruin" and discredit Rush."
Liberals really have to do nothing in this case. Rush has "ruined and discredited" himself.
"I think the most effective thing WE can do, in addition to our prayers, is to FLOOD any publication and/or broadcaster who trys to slam Rush on this, with hundreds of emails and letters supporting RUSH. We need to let them know that their "piling on" is doing no good at all. FR is a perfect forum to pass the word when a "discouraging word" is head from blockheads like Rather, Brokaw, et al, and we can flood the mail to them."
A perfect waste of energy.

[krb]

I believe that I am a "dittohead", ... (but not always, just like here on FR with many different opinions).

Being a "dittohead" doesn't mean you agree with Rush. "Dittos" is shorthand for the beginning-of-call "I like the show, try to listen to it everyday, glad there is a conservative voice out there, blah blah blah blah" that preceeds every call. It just speeds up the meat of the call...

[sakic]

After researching, it becomes apparent that the Garcia statements were indeed true.

The only differences between Rush and Garcia is that Rush is alive and Garcia was a great guitarist.

[Republican Red]

Some of you need to face facts: Rush enjoyed the effects of Oxycontin and the other opiate-based pain medications. He used these pills to get high, not to relieve pain.

According to a Doctor on O'Reilly last night (who wrote a book about pain medication addiction) Rush was not taking pills for a "high", at this point he was taking them to achieve a normal level.

[jetson]

Why would'nt Rush's listeners keep listening. I guess if Rush became brain dead due to his withdrawl listeners' might stop listening. It is what Rush's philosophies and everyday takes on subjects that listeners want to hear. Rush portrays things similarly to the way millions of Americans see them. So he has a drug problem....that is his business to deal with and I hope it all works out for him. Who else could hold a stick to his brilliance.

[Republican Red]

I have read many posters saying he only admitted his probelem "when he was caught".

Well duh!

Those with addictions do not admit their problems until they hit bottom or are confronted head on. Addiction is hidden and feared. Sometimes even when confronted an addict will continue to deny or say they can beat it on their own.

For Rush to tell 20 million viewers he is an addict took courage and took strength.

The fact that he came to his conclusion because he was caught makes no difference. Most addicts don't admit their problems until they get caught.

I grew up with an alcoholic parent. Even with a family intervention help was turned down. I would have given anything for an admission and a 30 day detox.

Rush didn't clue you into his personal life as a drug addict or come admit on the air three years ago so you are ready to bail.

I hope many of you don't ever have to face these problems.

[JohnEBoy]

I said I was disappointed. I didn't say I would bail. I believe he will come back from this and be as effective or maybe more effective in different ways. Anyone as perceptive as Rush will learn from this negative experience as much or more as he would from his positive experiences.

[GoGophers]

For Rush to tell 20 million viewers he is an addict took courage and took strength.

He took that step only AFTER he knew the press discovered his secret. In other words, his discloser was not very courageous. After all, what other option did he have available?

[chouli]

Time will tell if anyone is hurt from what Rush has done. Will Clear Channel stock fall since if put its eggs in one basket? Will its sponsors of Rush's show be bombarded with boycott threats? Remember "Politically Correct". A lot of "hurt" could come from this.

[proust]

"If you love Kurt Cobain that's fine, but he really is just another dead doper."

And Rush is just another live doper.

[AGreatPer]

"After researching, it becomes apparent that the Garcia statements were indeed true."

Source please.

[Rebelbase]

Does it even matter if Rush ever mentions drugs again on his show?

He had done more to further the cause of conservatism than any other person in the past 15 years.

[Rebelbase]

"And Rush is just another live doper."

What is the point of that statement?

[uncbob]

If hecomes back I am sure that his loyal listeners will be on board

That is not going to be the problem

His big value is in converting formers libs that tuned on infriends advice etc etc

How many of them will now bother to listen

[lawdude]

Mr Limbaugh is professionally dead.

Although still alive professionally.
____________________________

Which is it

I wonder what you are on. Your post makes no sense at all.

So much for compassionate conservatism.

[evad]

I have nothing but sympathy for Rush and these people

Dittos.

There's a big difference IMO between someone that requires painkillers to maintain some type of life without pain versus the doper on illicit drugs. While I would hope they both could find a way to improve their lot I have a lot more sympathy for the first than the latter.

[TheExploited]

I am sticking by Rush. I could care less what the Liberals in the Media of any one else thinks. I also don't care that he said something about Kurt Cobain or Jerry Garcia or Timothy Leary or the Beatles or anyone else before this happened.

The fact is that from early 1993 through the end of 1994 Rush was about all we had. The Democrats controlled Congress and Bubba was in the White House. He helped many of us keep our sanity during this period and rally the forces against Hillary's Health Care Plan. We owe Rush a great debt. I wonder if there would be a Free Republic if there were no Rush Limbaugh? I am willing to cut the guy some slack. I think others should too.

[gitmo]

I would like to point out that a world of difference exists between people who deliberately choose to use drugs in pursuit of thrills and people who become dependent on drugs through a medical crisis. While we have the greatest medical system in the world, we do not have good answers for people who are in constant pain. And, those of us who have pain-free bodies cannot imagine what it is like to be in constant distress. The opiate-like drugs provide relief to lives which become not worth living without that relief.

Exactly right. (GREAT POST ... THANK YOU) Excruciating pain can drive a person to do anything. Look at the POWs in Vietnam. The military came to realize they could not hold soldiers to the standard that they were not allowed to talk when tortured.

Back pain from spinal injuries is terrible. The man was looking for some relief and found himself dependent upon the drug.

Rush's performance is amazing. He's been in constant pain, he lost his hearing, and he's been taking opiates (presumably). And he still runs circles around every other commentator on the air, and every democRat running for office.