November 13, 2005
Political prosecution...
This has really become sick, and gotten way out of hand...
NewsMax: It has been more than two years since news first broke that Rush Limbaugh had an addiction to painkillers.
That news led to a criminal investigation of Limbaugh by Palm Beach County State Attorney Barry Krischer, who in December 2003 leaked to the media that his office had uncovered evidence of 10 felony counts, including "doctor shopping," money laundering and drug trafficking. Despite the sensational allegations, no charges have been brought.
Worse, in the latest round between the State Attorney's office and Limbaugh, Assistant State Attorney James Martz made a startling admission in open court on Tuesday as he sought a court order allowing his office to interview Rush's doctors.
Martz told Circuit Court Judge David Crow that his office has "no idea" if Limbaugh had even committed a crime, but still wanted the Florida judge to grant them the extraordinary privilege of interviewing Limbaugh's doctors without his consent....
This is a disgusting political prosecution. There's very good reason (see the article) to believe that Rush did NOT commit the crime of "doctor shopping." And even if he had, lots of people have been in the same spot Rush was in. And, for a first offense, if they admit it, and seek treatment, NOBODY gets a prosecution like the one against Limbaugh. There's only been one indictment for "doctor shopping" in the history of Palm Beach County, and that case was dropped.
The prosecutors won the legal battle to look at Rush's medical records. So they looked at them. And found no crime. But they are like the little "optimist" boy in the joke, shoveling manure like crazy and saying, "There's gotta be a pony in there somewhere."
Posted by John Weidner at November 13, 2005 05:40 PMYou know, I don't particularly care for Rush Limbaugh (but I can't stand talk radio -- talking on the radio irritates me for some reason; I read a couple of his columns that weren't bad), but it seems to me that his addiction was more pathetic than criminal. I mean, this is Florida, there are way worse drug criminals the county DA should be going after, in Palm Beach no less. Governor Bush? Jeb? Hello? (Reason No. 5,589 why I'm glad I moved north of Lake Okeechobee...)
Posted by: Andrea Harris at November 13, 2005 06:07 PMA prosecutor needs to set priorities. He can't squander time and budget windwmilling at litterers and jaywalkers. They may be easier targets than actual gangsters, but he has to consider the impact on public safety.
Rush Limbaugh has never presented a threat to society. The crime with which he might be charged is so marginal it barely exists. The only sense in which he is a 'big fish' is when viewed through a political lens.
This appears to be part of the Democrat Party's ongoing attempt to criminalize conservatism. They corrupt the courts and bring false charges - and then accuse their victims of corruption and falsehoods.
Posted by: lyle at November 13, 2005 06:55 PMHaving had a little back pain, I think that a person with severe pain becoming addicted is totally understandable.
If it weren't for driving I would never listen to talk radio. For one thing it moves with excruciating slowness compared to the speed I can flip through blogs stopping only for what interests me. But Rush is an exceptional entertainer, with great presence and is often very witty and thoughtful. Other times boring. Football...golf...oh well.
Posted by: John Weidner at November 13, 2005 06:57 PMHell, I became addicted to decongestants. I noticed that they had stopped working, and instead had a migraine that lasted four days. So I went to the doctor and he said "oh, those things stop working after a week. You'll have to quit taking them." He told me that for a while I'd be really stuffy until I got used to not taking sudafed every day. So that's what I did. I guess if I lived in Palm Beach County I'd be a criminal. (Well, they have started making people go to the counter to buy Sudafed now! They must have heard of me and my wild midnight raids for my fixes...)
Posted by: Andrea Harris at November 13, 2005 07:18 PMMost people have experienced chronic pain at some point in their lives. A jury that would be unsympathetic to a recreational druggie would readily acquit a desperate patient seeking pain relief.
The Palm Reach prosecuor knows that he will never obtain a conviction. He is using public funds and the power of the state to harrass his political enemies. He just doesn't like what Rush Limbaugh says.
This case has been allowed to drag on for two years. Why haven't we heard protests from Democrats and the ACLU?
Posted by: lyle at November 13, 2005 09:36 PMIt's the same for Ronnie Earl in Harris County TX and his "jury shopping" until he got one that would charge Tom DeLay with a bogus money laundering charge. It is a waste of tax payer money to prosecute political enemies (Earl has a history of this).
Posted by: John Lanning at November 13, 2005 10:57 PMLyle, the ACLU actually has filed briefs supporting Limbaugh, particularly in the motions regarding opening his medical records. They may be as far to the left as you can get, but the ACLU does have principles, and they will defend even those they abhor...I say rah on them...
Posted by: Ethan Hahn at November 14, 2005 07:15 PMI bet those prosecutors are now stars in the crowd they hang out with. Groupies beg them for the latest news. If they ever stop harassing Rush, they will have to go back to being nobodies.
Posted by: John Weidner at November 14, 2005 09:20 PM
