And finally to show that not all liberals are as mean spirited as I am tonight, I offer that dreaded liberal columnist Robert Scheer:

quote:
RUSH TO REVENGE? NO, THANKS
Let's hope Limbaugh emerges from this experience more tolerant of the
weaknesses of others

October 14, 2003 -- Free Rush Limbaugh!

Sorry to betray such a low level of lust for revenge, but as a
card-carrying member of the American Civil Liberties Union, I am duty-bound to
defend the rights of even those I loathe. Not that Limbaugh, the
talk-show bully, has been charged with a crime or sentenced to jail time.
However, as an admitted addict who allegedly purchased drugs illegally,
his freedom, were he an ordinary guy on the street, would be very much in
jeopardy. In Florida, where Limbaugh allegedly committed his felony,
the crime of purchasing large amounts of powerful narcotics without a
prescription can get you a five-year sentence if prosecutors are so
inclined. That is, if they are in a mood to be the tough anti-drug warriors
that the Limbaughs of this world have long applauded.

Credit Limbaugh for riling up the public and politicians to imprison
many addicts whose behavior was no worse than what he has admitted to. As
he once told his radio audience: "If people are violating the law by
doing drugs, they ought to be accused and they ought to be convicted and
they ought to be sent up."

Limbaugh was an equal-opportunity drug warrior who, in response to the
charge that drug laws singled out African Americans, said in an
interview in 1995: "Too many whites are getting away with drug use 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."

Three years later, he is alleged to have begun his own white man's
odyssey into a life of addiction and crime.

Let me be on record as being strongly opposed to sending Limbaugh up
the river, even though that is the penalty he wished to inflict on
others. Just chalk me up as one of those bleeding-heart liberals who believe
that drug addiction should be treated as a medical rather than a
criminal matter.

If convicted and imprisoned, Limbaugh could come back a hardened
criminal, most likely having learned only how to get away with convenience
store stickups to support his habit. Although in prison he might also be
educated by fellow inmates to drop the OxyContin that he allegedly was
hooked on for heroin, which has a similar high but may be less damaging
to the body. We don't know why he didn't turn to pot for relief, but I
suspect that prescription drug abuse is just more acceptable in
right-wing circles.

But those are his choices, and I support his right as an adult to pick
his own poison. I don't endorse the tough-love hard line that because
Limbaugh has failed in his two previous attempts to end his addiction by
voluntarily checking into a medical program, he shouldn't be given a
third chance. He should get as many more as he needs. As one who has had
bouts of addiction with truly dangerous drugs -- good red wines and
only the most aged of Scotch -- I don't want them throwing me into jail
just because I fall off the wagon.

Although Limbaugh is obviously a hypocrite, that is no reason to
compound the madness of our drug problem by punishing him in what seems to
have been a victimless crime -- unless he pressured his
housekeeper/supplier into the Florida narco-underworld, which would make him far more
culpable. But we liberals believe in innocent until proved guilty.

Limbaugh's experience is the best argument against the demonization of
all junkies -- this one throughout his addiction held a big job and
presumably paid a lot in taxes. The considerable harm he inflicts daily on
the larger society can hardly be blamed on his addiction. The drugs may
have even tempered his verbal brutishness. In any case, there is no
evidence that the drugs caused him to daily savage others -- he was
equally offensive before and during his drug abuse. To put it another way,
his drug use, if it has caused pain to others, is the least of his
crimes.

But why be mean about it and wallow in the suffering of another?

Let's hope that Limbaugh emerges from this experience more tolerant of
the weaknesses of others. Perhaps he could then prevail upon his buddy,
Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft, to end his vicious crackdown on cancer and
AIDS patients attempting to use marijuana to manage their pain without
running afoul of the law.

Copyright © 2003 Robert Scheer

http://www.robertscheer.com
I'm thinking of sending Sean Hannity a few hookers to his hotel room next time he's in town on a book tour.

-

"Drug use destroys societies. Drug use, some might say, is destroying this country. And we have laws against selling drugs, pushing drugs, using drugs, importing drugs. And the laws are good because we know what happens to people in societies and neighborhoods which become consumed by them. And so if people are violating the law by doing drugs, they ought to be accused and they ought to be convicted and they ought to be sent up." - Rush Limbaugh

http://democraticunderground.com/top10/index.html

Sorry. it's just been that kind of day where I succumb to weakness and decide to rail and delight in mean spiritdness in response to the mean-spirited laid low. A few vodkas will do that to me. Luckily i only drink once in a blue moon. I'm sure it's no less harsh than AM radio this afternoon though.

Well, i guess i'm stuck here as every time I try to exit this thread I'm given an "internal service error" message. Boy! The messages are going to start piling up here!!