Rush in, then out
April 28, 2006 6:34 PM   Subscribe

Rush Arrested! Or maybe not? Either way, he's got one of the best mug shots mug shots mug shots I've ever seen!
posted by underthehat (91 comments total)
 
He was arrested and booked, but came to the station on his own in response to a warrant for fraud.

I loathe the guy for obvious reasons, but this is actually a fairly sweet deal for him (and one most of us mortals would never get). If he stays clean for 18 months, his record will be wiped.

"Crack--it's not just for the poor any longer." (tm)
posted by bardic at 6:41 PM on April 28, 2006


Maybe he should think about moving to Mexico.
posted by jimmythefish at 6:41 PM on April 28, 2006


As much as I am amused by this event, I would prefer that he not get caught at this and continue to use drugs........
posted by HuronBob at 6:51 PM on April 28, 2006


Quite the ladykiller he was back in his days as a Jeff.
posted by maryh at 6:57 PM on April 28, 2006


Is anyone else disturbed at the notion that a celebrity just paid the cops $30,000 to avoid being convicted of doc shopping?

Just another friendly reminder that there are two types of justice. Rich justice, and poor justice.
posted by neek at 7:02 PM on April 28, 2006


Limbaugh on Drugs
"What this says to me is that too many whites are getting away with drug use. Too many whites are getting away with drug sales. Too many whites are getting away with trafficking in this stuff. The answer to this disparity is not to start letting people out of jail because we're not putting others in jail who are breaking the law. The answer is to go out and find the ones who are getting away with it, convict them and send them up the river, too."
posted by ericb at 7:16 PM on April 28, 2006


Why the hell couldn't he be addicted to a drug that has a significant chance of killing him?
posted by wakko at 7:16 PM on April 28, 2006


I read the wikipedia file on Metafilter before I signed up here and in it I read that many conservative members felt unwelcome on Metafilter and left. So I knew I was entering hostile territory by joining. I listen to Rush Limbaugh. *GASP!*, and even worse, I'm conservative. Although this is sad for Mr. Limbaugh, it's also is justice, albeit just a slap on the wrist. I am surprised he wasn't able to buy his way out of it all. The fact that he wasnt able to, makes me feel good.
posted by BillsR100 at 7:17 PM on April 28, 2006


"...many conservative members felt unwelcome on Metafilter and left."

Were "conservative members" ever allowed?? I thought they were just shot at the door..
posted by HuronBob at 7:22 PM on April 28, 2006


But he just did.
posted by IronLizard at 7:22 PM on April 28, 2006



I read the wikipedia file on Metafilter before I signed up here and in it I read that many conservative members felt unwelcome on Metafilter and left.


Well, there's conservatives, and then there's the kinds of ridiculous pseudo-conservative trolls we get here. Getting them to leave is the tough part.
posted by wakko at 7:24 PM on April 28, 2006


Love the reminder of the ACLU angle in the fourth link.

BillsR100: I am surprised he wasn't able to buy his way out of it all.

Welcome and all, Bill, but in what sense did Rush *not* just "buy his way out of" the charges? neek's point is fairly obvious, do you have a response? Do you think many other folks accused of the same crime would have gotten a similarly sweet deal? Or do you not see the deal Rush got as unusual?
posted by mediareport at 7:26 PM on April 28, 2006


Wow is he ever being given the kid glove treatment. Do you think he was allowed to bring a makeup artist and a stylest to get his booking photo taken? Every hair looks precicly in place.
posted by MonkeySaltedNuts at 7:27 PM on April 28, 2006


Hundson? Hundson?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 7:28 PM on April 28, 2006


hund = dog...

son of a bitch?
posted by wakko at 7:30 PM on April 28, 2006


Well, there's conservatives, and then there's the kinds of ridiculous pseudo-conservative trolls we get here.

There are real conservatives and there are the post 9-11 Mancow conservatives.

My best friend plays the most violent games, watches tons of porn, likes the most violent movies. He is 24 and has had sex with atleast 40 people. He often abuses drugs. He can also do a full breakdown on why Hollywood and liberals are ruining his middle american values...
posted by DougieZero1982 at 7:33 PM on April 28, 2006


Man, I wish I could abuse prescription painkillers well into middle age, still look as healthy as Rush does in that mug shot, and also not go to jail for it.

How much money do I need to make per year to make this happen?
posted by BoringPostcards at 7:36 PM on April 28, 2006


That's a great picture of Rush. I bet he did that "turn around trick"... you know, you face away from the camera, get all composed, then turn around and flash a saucy grin, maybe even point your finger at the photographer.
posted by muddgirl at 7:39 PM on April 28, 2006


I listen to Rush Limbaugh. *GASP!*, and even worse, I'm conservative.

It's really not the later that's a problem, it's the former.
posted by weston at 7:42 PM on April 28, 2006


“We done gotta line all em hopped up dope heads agen a wall, and jus shoot em all,” my grandfather, back in the 60's, used to offer as his solution to the emerging drug problem in America.

Rush, on the same topic, was always slightly more compassionate, but not as articulate.

Welcome BillsR100,

The ACLU and I will fight for your right to here defend the Bush administration with Rush's passion. I for one would invite you to name one good thing Republicans have done for average Americans in the last five years.
posted by BillyElmore at 7:45 PM on April 28, 2006


Did rush expect MetaFilter to play with him on this and urge his minions to paypal their way in to defend him?
posted by mmahaffie at 7:50 PM on April 28, 2006


No, we don't pile on the newbies, unless they deserve it. Hint hint. BillsR100 has done nothing to deserve it, so welcome.
posted by dhartung at 8:03 PM on April 28, 2006


History is a real pain in the arse.
posted by attackthetaxi at 8:14 PM on April 28, 2006


Just proves what I'm always tellin' the youngin's:

'Try to be a big, fat, hate-spewing homophobe and the nice white folks in power will let you do whatever you want'

Gotta love those strong conservative values. Oh wait, I forgot! None of this matters since the rapture is coming.
posted by i_am_a_Jedi at 8:17 PM on April 28, 2006


Will a judge in this case be obligated to go along with the plea agreement, or what?
posted by raysmj at 8:26 PM on April 28, 2006


Just another friendly reminder that there are two types of justice. Rich justice, and poor justice.

it's not that uncommon for first time drug offenders to be offered probation with the understanding that if they get through it, and follow court orders, they can have the conviction sealed or erased ... although i don't believe they usually have to pay $30,000 for the investigation

one might make a case that people who get this kind of treatment can afford a good lawyer ... but i don't see this as any different than what many jurisdictions will offer a first time offender who is sincerely dealing with their addiction

one might also point out that the light terms of this are balanced by the public ridicule and shaming, which is something most drug offenders don't experience

and if he screws up ... he'd better watch out
posted by pyramid termite at 8:29 PM on April 28, 2006


Is anyone else disturbed at the notion that a celebrity just paid the cops $30,000 to avoid being convicted of doc shopping?

No. But I am disturbed that "doctor shopping" is even a crime.
posted by madajb at 8:31 PM on April 28, 2006


What is the deal with paying for ones own investigation. Does this earn leniency in Florida? I've never heard of this elsewhere in the states.

BillsR100, I don't see any justice in this. If this guy were black he'd be in jail and Limbaugh would be spouting off about special treatment for minorities. This is not his first offence, and he didn't actually have to go to trial.

I'd never heard of doctor shopping. As far as I can tell, it is getting treatment from more than one doctor at the same time for the same condition. I believe it's okay to go to different doctors as long as more than one isn't perscribing you controlled substances.
posted by gesamtkunstwerk at 8:41 PM on April 28, 2006


Oh, and BillsR100, I hope you don't think I was attacking your position because your conservative.

I was just disagreeing because I think Rush Limbaugh-- a guy who sat around on welfare for years, thinks torturing Iraqis is nothing worse than a frat prank, and has at least two drug offences in his past-- is a complete hypocrite who probably doesn't mean a word he says. Perhaps he does have insight into the U.S. I wouldn't know. I can't listen to him because it sounds like he's playing to an audience he doesn't really respect.
posted by gesamtkunstwerk at 8:53 PM on April 28, 2006


Why the hell couldn't he be addicted to a drug that has a significant chance of killing him?

Just like there are two types of conservatives, I guess there are two types of liberals as well...
posted by TheFarSeid at 9:17 PM on April 28, 2006


it's not that uncommon for first time drug offenders to be offered probation with the understanding that if they get through it, and follow court orders, they can have the conviction sealed or erased

Depends on the jurisdiction. Some places are VERY strict on first offenders found with half a joint in their car, let alone someone who had 2000 painkillers in 6 months. And try getting federal student loans if you've got a drug conviction on your record. Hint: you can't.
posted by papakwanz at 9:22 PM on April 28, 2006


I listen to Rush quite a bit. It's entertaining to hear the insanely smug rantings of a drug-crazed lunatic.
Lately it's just been insanely smug rantings of a crazed lunatic, and it seems he's missing something.
posted by Balisong at 9:38 PM on April 28, 2006


Although this is sad for Mr. Limbaugh, it's also is justice, albeit just a slap on the wrist.

There is a special box in hell for shrill hypocrites like Rush. He has probably done more to harm of the fabric of America and increased general meanness around the country than anyone else.

One of these days he is going to kick the bucket and myself and many other MeFis will be around to see it. The sad thing about Rush is that in the end he will be remembered as a villain plain and simple...
posted by wfrgms at 9:41 PM on April 28, 2006


You know, I haven't heard the guy for years (probably 10-12 years). I remembered him as a crank, an asshole, and certainly a reactionary. But reading up on some of his "controversial statements" of recent years on wikipedia and other sites... I know that they are taken out of context, but still.
Wow.
I really had no clue what an unbelievably horrible hatemonger this guy is. I always thought of him as a class above trolls like Ann Coulter, but I realized I was completely and totally wrong. What a scumbag.
posted by papakwanz at 9:51 PM on April 28, 2006


How has no one mentioned that the mug shot has his address on it?
posted by herting at 9:52 PM on April 28, 2006


This is not his first offence

what were his prior convictions?
posted by pyramid termite at 10:13 PM on April 28, 2006


herting- let's go toilet paper his lawn!
posted by papakwanz at 10:15 PM on April 28, 2006


BillsR100, I used to be a dittohead too (are they even called that anymore?), but I've been totally brainwashed by Metafilter into supporting the liberal terrorist state. There's room for one more, especially if you can take a little ribbing.
posted by mrmojoflying at 10:18 PM on April 28, 2006


The crazy thing is that Oxycotin overpillification is what damn near left him deaf, just months after he signed a 4 year, 6 million dollar contract.
He was working off a typed screen of conversations with his callers/interviews. His interns trying to type live conversations led to many humorous faux pas.(I know, it's mostly a monologue, letting others speak around him often leads to trouble, that's why the screeners only let extremely friendly, or obviously easy meat through for him to chew on)
I wonder what repercussions would have happened if he had broken his contract.
posted by Balisong at 10:19 PM on April 28, 2006




I was perscribed Oxycotin once, back when I was 21. I think they allowed me 1 refill of 20 tablets.

Of course, this was after I turned my hand into hamburger in a table saw, and had a finger amputated.

The stuff is hardcore. I can't believe Rush was popping up to 30 a day. The cost is about $15-30 a pill, too.
posted by Balisong at 10:31 PM on April 28, 2006


Rush on Jerry Garcia: "Just another dead doper. And a dirt bag."
posted by muckster at 10:33 PM on April 28, 2006


Jesus H. Christ, Kwantsar.

That article... What the fuck? I can't even comprehend how shit like that can happen.
posted by papakwanz at 10:46 PM on April 28, 2006


Billmon says it far better than I ever could.
Liberal Prosecutors Let Known Drug Offender Go Free.
posted by eriko at 10:50 PM on April 28, 2006


I can't even comprehend how shit like that can happen.

Yeah. Well. Me neither. What a fucking waste.
posted by Kwantsar at 10:59 PM on April 28, 2006


Go check out his website. It mentions the "deal", but oddly enough it's surrounded by Rush's charity work. I go there fairly often, and though I've noticed charity stuff before, it's never looked like this. If you didn't know better, you'd figure that's all he does.

www.rushlimbaugh.com
posted by Rusty Iron at 11:12 PM on April 28, 2006


Wow, Kwantsar. That's... fucked up. Did that ever get a FPP?

Man. Just makes me sad.
posted by Dunwitty at 11:37 PM on April 28, 2006


"Doctor shopping" is such a bullshit charge, god damn.
posted by delmoi at 11:48 PM on April 28, 2006


you know, you face away from the camera, get all composed, then turn around and flash a saucy grin, maybe even point your finger at the photographer.

...and say, "Roger Moore".
posted by bouncebounce at 11:53 PM on April 28, 2006


How much money do I need to make per year to make this happen?

It's not really the drugs or money. It's the endless supply of live babies. Stem cells in the cord blood and all that.
posted by loquacious at 11:57 PM on April 28, 2006


Kwantsar, have you FPP'd that? Its one hell of a fucked up story.

on preview

what dunwitty said...
posted by davehat at 12:02 AM on April 29, 2006


BillsR100, I used to be a dittohead too (are they even called that anymore?), but I've been totally brainwashed by Metafilter into supporting the liberal terrorist state. There's room for one more, especially if you can take a little ribbing.

I used to be a rush listener, way back in middle school, actually. I didn't have time to listen to him in school and mostly forgot about him, and by the time I got into high school I was a liberal, or at least a moderate.

Of course, 90% of the doing was George W Bush. Hell, I'm still probably a 'moderate', but these days anyone who doesn’t like George bush is a "liberal" and I hate that motherfucker, so I guess I'm a super liberal. Fine with me, I suppose.

I was perscribed Oxycotin once, back when I was 21. I think they allowed me 1 refill of 20 tablets.

I got it for having my wisdom teeth removed. The generics are not that expensive. And if by "hard core" you mean "actually relives pain" then you might be on to something, but it's less addictive then morphine I believe. It's just another opioid.

Personally, I'd rather see people 'addicted' to oxycontin then in constant pain from back or knee injuries. I mean really, I my mind "addicted" to a pain killer means that you take it when you're not in pain. If you are in constant pain you cannot, logically, be addicted too it.

Rush on Jerry Garcia: "Just another dead doper. And a dirt bag."

He was quoting one of his callers, actually a lot of his callers that day were deadheads, oddly enough.
posted by delmoi at 12:06 AM on April 29, 2006


Rush is not on drugs again. I don't think that's been mentioned here, so it should be noted. I guess the arrest and release was a formality in reaching the settlement.

Would anyone else have been let off with probation? I don't know. But this case isn't exactly normal. Didn't they start the investigation after some allegations by his housekeeper were printed in the Enquirer?
posted by b_thinky at 12:47 AM on April 29, 2006


When I saw the FPP my first thought was, the whole band??
posted by Tlogmer at 12:53 AM on April 29, 2006


Yes, it took me disturbingly long to figure out that it wasn't about Geddy Lee.
posted by dirigibleman at 1:04 AM on April 29, 2006


"Rush is not on drugs again."

Really, b_thinky? And how do you know this?
posted by mijuta at 3:17 AM on April 29, 2006


I can definitely sympathize with Limbaugh's problem, just not his hypocracy and cruelty.

I was given Oxycotin in a drug cocktail as an alternative to general anesthetic when I had minor surgery. I must say, I am surprised the Rush is still such as an asshole. I have never felt so blissed out and benevolent in my life. If I were going to become an addict, this would be the shizznit for me.

Sometimes I wonder if the whole country shouldn't have something like Oxycontin to mellow us out during election season when so many of us just act like assholes.
posted by gesamtkunstwerk at 5:13 AM on April 29, 2006


Rush isn't on drugs again. He just went to multiple doctors for multiple prescriptions. HE NEVER INHALED. Honest.
posted by neek at 5:15 AM on April 29, 2006


it's not that uncommon for first time drug offenders

Is this his 1st time?
posted by rough ashlar at 5:36 AM on April 29, 2006


I read that many conservative members felt unwelcome on Metafilter and left.

Metafilter is hard on hyprocrites. So if you espouse "conservative values", yet defend actions that represent the opposite, you will be called on the carpet.

I expect there will be posts draging up past Rush statements about drug users and how he is not following what he claimed to be his 'conservative position'
posted by rough ashlar at 5:49 AM on April 29, 2006


I was perscribed Oxycotin once, back when I was 21. I think they allowed me 1 refill of 20 tablets.

Of course, this was after I turned my hand into hamburger in a table saw, and had a finger amputated.


When I ran my hand thru a tablesaw, they stuffed gause into the wound, let it dry, then pulled it out.

I don't remember pain killers back then.

(there wasn't alot of pain till the dried gause pulling)
posted by rough ashlar at 5:56 AM on April 29, 2006


Why the hell couldn't he be addicted to a drug that has a significant chance of killing him?

Just like there are two types of conservatives, I guess there are two types of liberals as well...
posted by TheFarSeid at 12:17 AM EST on April 29 [!]


Or there's just many different types of people, and conservative and liberal have little do to with it.
posted by juiceCake at 6:43 AM on April 29, 2006


No, no, no. You can easily divide people in to two categories, juiceCake. That's why the two party system works.
posted by graventy at 7:07 AM on April 29, 2006


The news that Limbaugh, a savage critics of others' moral behavior, was addicted to drugs was taken as a sign of hypocrisy by his detractors. His friends and staunchest fans, however, said Limbaugh was merely working through the kinds of challenges that can affect anyone.
Detractors were making false allegations against Rush loooong before he ever popped any pill. Observers who weren't detractors noticed the stunning hypocrisy of this man who claimed :
What this says to me is that too many whites are getting away with drug use, too many whites are getting away with drug sales, too many whites are getting away with trafficking in this stuff. The answer to this disparity is not to start letting people out of jail because we're not putting others in jail who are breaking the law. The answer is to go out and find the ones who are getting away with it, convict them and send them up the river, too. (Rush Limbaugh. October 5, 1995 show transcript.)
But Rush friends aren't exactly friends, it's like being Howard Stern listeners : they are FANS. They don't criticize the great leader, they don't question the wisdom of his saying, they don't do much thinking either. Nothing wrong with that, except that when I say JUMP you jump just because I said jump.


On a tangent : I got it for having my wisdom teeth removed.

Excuse me ? You mean the dentist gave you oxy before or after ? Because I had two shots of some substance administered directly in the gums to prevent excruciating pain, but none after (wouldn't make much sense)
posted by elpapacito at 7:11 AM on April 29, 2006


You can easily divide people in to two categories,

Those who can shoot a rubberband off their thumb without hitting it, and those who can't?
posted by Balisong at 7:57 AM on April 29, 2006


As others above have said, hypocrisy is the key to this story (and also factors supreme in Liberal v. Conservative discourse here on MetaFileter). This story on its face, "middle aged American suffers excruciating back pain that leads him to desperation and to eventually breaking laws due to pain reliever addiction" is really just mundane and sad. The one thing that makes the story remarkable (and, for many, mirthful) is it's subject--Rush Limbaugh; the smug, know-it-all gassbag who spent years lambasting drug users and addicts, assailing "victimhood", the weakness of addition, and especially the namby pamby "pabulum puking liberals" who coddle such people by favoring rehabilitation over jail, etc., etc., ad nauseam. ........The bigger the balloon, the louder the pop.

This liberal (well, more or less liberal) wishes Rush a recovery from his pain, and hopes against hope that maybe some honesty and self-awareness on Rush's part might result in a little less hypocrisy from the bigmouth and his intellectually lazy devotees.
posted by applemeat at 8:04 AM on April 29, 2006


I got it for having my wisdom teeth removed.

Wow, really? After I got one of my wisdom teeth out this past year, the dentist perscribed me 17 Vicodin. It's the first time I had seen any type of DR. in 7 years. (it sucks not having health insurance) I only used 4 of them for that, and hoarded the rest for when I have my back pain spells. I still have a few.
From what I remember of the Oxycotins, it would zonk me clean out. Yeah, hardcore = they work. I know you can build up a tolerance, but damn. The amount that Rush was taking in one day would keep me pain free for years.
posted by Balisong at 8:13 AM on April 29, 2006


Let me get this straight. You're getting on RB's case because he had back surgery and wound up with a drug problem? How many people in that situation are in jail? Or are you conflating that kind of addiction with just being a loser heroin addict?
posted by ParisParamus at 8:27 AM on April 29, 2006


I think Rush is extremely talented, although I don't listen to him very often. But does he really get on people's cases morally that often? hypocrisy, yes, but morality? There's a difference.
posted by ParisParamus at 8:35 AM on April 29, 2006


Let me get this straight, more straight, straightaicious. You're cutting RB's case slack because he offers a plausible reason for his abuse of drug ? Correlation is not causation.


Quoting
In 1998 his coccyx bone was removed and it was found that he had cysts in his spine. He was being treated for the pain regarding these conditions at the Jupiter Out-Patient Surgery Center and they found he had degenerative disk disease and was being treated for chronic and intractable pain…In order not to use medication, because he knew and they knew what could happen as a result of using this medication, he agreed to a series of epidural steroid injections into his spine in order to prevent the pain from continuing. It was unsuccessful.
Unfortunate indeed, but
Got that? Limbaugh says he's been a drug addict since as early as 1995, but that he only became a drug addict after having back surgery. But he didn't have the back surgery until 1998. Sure, Limbaugh's 1995/1996 quote could have been a slip of the tongue, or just evidence of a generally bad memory. At the same time, though, how hard is it to remember which year you had back surgery and then became a junkie?
Just saying. Yet it's a lose-lose situation for him, because

a) if he wasn't addicted in 1995 (but from 1998) , he shows lack of knowledge concerning reason that could lead people to dependecy. I could excuse ignorance, but the sensation is he thought "drugged" all are librul hippies damaging good people etc , showing irrational prejudice and looking for a convenient scapegoat do condemn.

b) if he was addicted in 1995 he not only had a pain in the ass, he remains a self righteous hypocrite pain in the ass

But does he really get on people's cases morally that often? hypocrisy, yes, but morality? There's a difference.

His morals don't condemn hypocrisy, otherwise he wouldn't practice it. Therefore being hypocrite is part of his morals, even if he may deny that vehemently.
posted by elpapacito at 9:04 AM on April 29, 2006


Let me get this straight.

Lets see if the claim you are making is the is the actual case:

You're getting on RB's case because he had back surgery and wound up with a drug problem?

Who is RB?

Because another poster laid out the case rather well:
"Rush Limbaugh; the smug, know-it-all gassbag who spent years lambasting drug users and addicts, assailing "victimhood", the weakness of addition, and especially the namby pamby "pabulum puking liberals" who coddle such people by favoring rehabilitation over jail, etc.,"

Nice try at a straw man there. Or a nice demonstration of your inability to actually demonstrate reading comprehension.

How many people in that situation are in jail?

Not Mr Limbaugh. If he keeps 'clean' for 18 months he'll have no record.

Helps when you have money.

Or are you conflating that kind of addiction with just being a loser heroin addict?
posted by ParisParamus at 8:27 AM PST on April 29 [!]


Mr. Limbaugh is the one who has said it on his radio show.
posted by rough ashlar at 9:16 AM on April 29, 2006


ParisParamus said: hypocrisy, yes, but morality? There's a difference.

ParisParamus, could you please explain the distinction? Hypocrisy equals dishonesty; a specifically self-serving dishonesty. What valid morality condones that?
posted by applemeat at 10:08 AM on April 29, 2006


Apparently, Paris "If there are no WMD we must Indict" Paramus' morality codones such behavior.
posted by Freen at 10:43 AM on April 29, 2006


What applemeat said. How is hypocrisy not one of the worst moral failings of all?
posted by bardic at 10:51 AM on April 29, 2006


Kwantsar, have you FPP'd that? Its one hell of a fucked up story.

No. Be my guest.
posted by Kwantsar at 10:55 AM on April 29, 2006


Rush lawers: news reports that state Mr. Limbaugh was arrested are inaccurate..

yeah, right.
posted by MonkeySaltedNuts at 11:32 AM on April 29, 2006


The process is usually called pre-trial diversion. The prosecution agrees not to press charges, as long as the defendant agrees to certain kinds of probation, monitoring, a fine and public service. The primary benefit to the defendant is that the crime effectively never happened, while the justice system saves quite a bit of money. The repeat offense rate seems to be a bit lower.

The real story here is not that he was offered a pre-trial diversion program. For many crimes it's automatically offered. The story is that Rush is taking advantage of a program that he has harshly criticized in the past.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 11:42 AM on April 29, 2006


Feeling Rush's Pain?
posted by homunculus at 12:10 PM on April 29, 2006


You're getting on RB's case because he had back surgery and wound up with a drug problem?

why, of course, they are ... if it was michael moore or al franken, i'm SURE they would be just as outraged
posted by pyramid termite at 12:20 PM on April 29, 2006


Pyramid termite: You completely miss the point here. Can you document where Michael Moore or Al Franken, et. al. have ever publicly expressed outrage or disgust, or have otherwise passed any smug judgments upon people with drug problems, let alone have made a career out of publicly lambasting "liberal" policies that favor rehabilitation over criminal sanctions of drug users/addicts?
posted by applemeat at 12:55 PM on April 29, 2006


Once again, the point here is NOT that Rush Limbaugh uses/abuses drugs. The point is that he is now availing himself of the same "liberal" policies that he HAS MADE A CAREER OUT OF ridiculing. Jesus Christ folks, this is not brain surgery.
posted by applemeat at 1:22 PM on April 29, 2006


Pyramid termite: You completely miss the point here.

everyone is hypocritical about something ... such as the hypocrisy of those who think that people shouldn't be penalized unduly for drug offenses unless they happen to be right-wing loudmouths

let's face it ... his real offence is his viewpoints, not his drug violation ... people want him to serve time because of what he's said, not because of what he's done

The point is that he is now availing himself of the same "liberal" policies that he HAS MADE A CAREER OUT OF ridiculing.

while you abandon those policies once someone you want ridiculed is subject to them

guess what? ... rush isn't the only hypocrite here
posted by pyramid termite at 1:56 PM on April 29, 2006


Whatever happened to his maid? "Doctor shopping?" I thought his maid was buying thousands of pills, kept a ledger, wore a wire for detectives on two buys. Where did that investigation go? Where did that maid go? Come back here with my conviction!
posted by xod at 1:57 PM on April 29, 2006


Pyramid termite, you havn't answered my questions. And you again miss the point. Rush's drug problem is irrelevent.
posted by applemeat at 2:04 PM on April 29, 2006


pyramid termite writes: everyone is hypocritical about something

Most of us don't make a career and millions out of it.
posted by bardic at 2:16 PM on April 29, 2006


Pyramid termite, you havn't answered my questions.

your question was irrelevant ... irrelevant to the court, irrelevant to justice, and irrelevant to addiction

Rush's drug problem is irrelevent.

then why politicize it?

quite bluntly, i'm sick of the political mewling and interference of right and left in the media, in the justice system, in every damn facet of life in our united states these days

i'm waiting for a society that regards politics as a means to solve problems, not a blood sport or a gossipy version of show business for ugly people

judging from rush, his opponents, his fans and their detractors, i have a long time to wait

fuck this drama, fuck this tabloid mentality, fuck this schadenfraude, fuck this whining about "loudmouth didn't get the sentence he thought others should get", fuck this goddamned looking for motes in each other's eyes while the beams of a world going to hell is blinding all of us

this isn't just irrelevant, it's harmful ... to hell with it
posted by pyramid termite at 2:27 PM on April 29, 2006


What you call schadenfreude I think of as poetic justice. Actual justice is denied though, since he had the money to buy his way out of the wrap (if he can stay clean for 18 months).
posted by bardic at 2:29 PM on April 29, 2006


michael moore or al franken, i'm SURE they would be just as outraged
posted by pyramid termite at 12:20 PM PST on April 29 [!]


When Mr. Moore or Mr. Franken go on and on about how drug users are moral failures et la and THEN become an addict who goes in for treatement and fails over and over....then yes, the postings about the hyprocracy will happen.

An example: Mr. Moore rails about many ills, yet he has shares in some of the companies causing/participating in the ills.

i'm waiting for a society that regards politics as a means to solve problems,

When politics gets about to solving problems and not creating them, then you can get the society you are looking for.
posted by rough ashlar at 2:47 PM on April 29, 2006


If Limbaugh is abusing drugs (allegedly because of intolerable pain) he may be an hypocrite and swine, BUT we should sympathize withi his condition and cut him some slack ; when Joe SixPack is abusing drugs , not because of physical pain , but because he went looking for something different in a life he perceive as miserable, depressing, we should NOT sympathize with him and should side with Rush when he condemns drug abuse ?

At least aware-junkies (aware of their condition) when lucid usually explain their misery and sometime exhort people NEVER to enter they situation, but sometime they are shamed into silence and self-isolation by self-righteous assholes like Limbaugh that go sanctimonious on fellow junkies, yeah fellow junkies because he can't tolerate seeing the truth, that HE HIMSELF is a junkie, of the kind he despised and attacked in public.

And I bet he convinced somebody that addicts are all to be entirely blamed for their situation , as much as poor people is to be blamed for being poor ! His "show" isn't without effect as if it was the babbling of any person in the middle of the street, yet I bet he doesn't feel responsible for the bullshit he spills and the damage he did.
posted by elpapacito at 3:55 PM on April 29, 2006


BillsR100,

Sure seems like he bought his way out of it. He should be in GASP! jail. Since when is it the Liberal position that someone who visits multiple doctors to hoard thousands of pills using fake prescriptions go to jail? Isn't that something you would have agreed with before today? I'll totally admit I hate the guy though. I'll never forgive the Abu Ghraib comments.
posted by xammerboy at 10:59 PM on April 29, 2006


pyramid termite, you know how folks tend to misuse the word "irony" a lot? Like Alanis, in that song. Well, this is actual irony. It doesn't have to be a political thing; people will always appreciate a little real-life irony. Chill out.
posted by ludwig_van at 6:57 AM on April 30, 2006


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