Just heard on the news........

all they said here was that he had been arrested again Doesn't matter I still think he is an idiot

Rush Limbaugh Arrested On Prescription Drug Charges

POSTED: 6:24 pm EDT April 28, 2006
UPDATED: 7:28 pm EDT April 28, 2006

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Officials in Florida said late Friday that radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh was arrested on prescription drug charges.

A spokeswoman for the state attorney's office said Limbaugh turned himself in to authorities at about 4 p.m. Eastern time.

The conservative radio commentator arrived at the jail with his attorney, Roy Black, and was released an hour later on $3,000 bail.

Black said his client and authorities reached a settlement on a single-count charge of "doctor shopping " -- or illegally deceiving multiple doctors to receive overlapping prescriptions -- filed by the state sttorney, which will be dismissed in 18 months.

Limbaugh maintains he's innocent. He has acknowledged he became addicted to pain medication, blaming it on severe back pain.

He took a five-week leave from his radio show to enter a rehabilitation program in 2003.

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/9079501/detail.html

I did hear it right???

He voluntarily "turned himself in for processing" as a resolution to this whole debacle.

Anyone's personal opinion of Rush is irrelevant. This case stunk to high heaven from the get go to end.

Evie

He shares some of my opinions and others he doesn't.

Be as it may, what I find most interesting about the whole case is how much it is pursued. I could walk out my door any day and point out at least 20 people who are in much deeper than he. Is he being pursued like this in the interest of justice, protection of the public good, or because of who he is, what he represents, and his possible influence on politics?

Again springing its ugly head in how this was reported. He was charged, entered a NOT GUILTY PLEA, and in a deal with prosecutors it's a done deal. The way it was reported was more like Robert Downey Jr. who HAD broken the law previously, then broke the law again, and entered into a plea deal admitting guilt, etc.

Prescription drugs are different than illicit drugs in that it can be very easy to become addicted almost with the assistance of doctors! I'm surprised how easily some doctors are willing to prescribe drugs. If my hubby weren't so afraid of becoming addicted (mostly because both of us know folks who are or have been) to painkillers, he likely could have become easily. When he went through his series of wrist surgeries we never even filled most of the prescriptions for Vicoden, etc. There were the cautions, but his surgeon just prescribed a rather plentiful quantity and showed no inclination to taper that off -- even when it has now become clear that without further surgery my husband will be in some level of chronic pain for the rest of his life.

Did Rush "Dr. Shop"? I don't know. Neither does anyone else really. Did he get prescriptions from different doctors? Apparently. But, again using my hubby as an example, he was seeing another doctor for an unrelated issue who offered a prescription for Vicoden for the pain. He declined it, stating he had a prescription for such if needed, but someone addicted to the stuff can get overlapping "coverage" without deliberately misleading or "shopping" around for it.

This was different from Noelle Bush who, apparently, had forged prescriptions for Xanax -- and who was in violation of parole for previous offense. I also don't know which lawyer DK is talking about, but I'm willing to bet the facts of that case are quite different from anything "criminal" that may have occurred here.

Evie

One of the things he was on was painkillers. He said that he was glad he got in there now. Most of the ones there on heroin started with painkillers.

Diana

... for pain? There's a big difference. Oxycontin is, apparently, popular with the kids and apparently relatively easy to get vs. other drugs.

... but some easier than others. I guess my point was that painkillers tend to be gateway drugs if they begin using them illegally from the get go.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5061674

I do believe there is a difference between taking something for a legit treatment and becoming addicted vs. taking it for a high all along. The former can happen gradually without even realizing it. The latter involves the conscious choice to start using.

Evie

If we can't keep them out of maximum security prisons,,,,,,

... except to say that those with shadier connections can get them easier than others. That's one of the problems with drugs -- too often gets folks into other trouble.

Evie

This is just one of them. There is also the guy running for reelection who's pressing charges against a sports team (real dumbies) when there seems to be little evidence.

I see a law enforcement investigation.

Yes, it may have been prosecuted more vigorously because of Rush's high profile... but you can't say that the same high visibility hasn't been an assistance to Rush as well.

The real question is simply this... did Rush break the laws of Florida? According to the agreement between Florida and Rush's lawyers this question will never be answered if he completes the next 18 months of drug rehab successfully. Legally, it will be as if the investigation never happened.

The only person who can screw this up after the agreement is accepted by all parties is Rush himself.

2 fingers and count how many people in Palm Beach County have been charged with Dr. shopping in the past 5 years

but I am kinda curious how you know this.

What would be more germane to this issue however is a break down of democrat versus republicans charged with doctor shopping. When you read that last sentence doesn't it become apparent though, how ridiculous it is to say Rush was persecuted due to his politics?

1... The issue was brought to light by his house keeper. She originally raised the issue of ILLEGAL purchasing of prescription painkillers.

2... if an alleged crime is reported in the press (even the Enquirer) isn't it the responsibility of the police to investigate?

3... upon investigation the police found unusually high amounts of pain killers being legally purchased by Rush.

4... combine the allegations of illegal drug buys with the unusual amount of legal purchases and what would you do if you were a cop.

5... finally, Rush attempted to block investigation of his medical records. Took it all the way to the Florida supreme court where he lost. How many times have I seen folks remark about wiretapping and the patriot act with the comment ''if they didn't do anything wrong then they have nothing to worry about''. Why is his right to privacy suddenly so important? Don't get me wrong... I was horrified by Hilary Clintons suggestion last year that medical records should be archived by the government. Next step would be employers or health insurance lobbyists asking for those records. Unfortunately investigating suspicion of Doctor Shopping depends on examining medical records so what are you gonna do? I got no answer here.

All in all... anyone who is accused of a possible crime is investigated. When I worked in lock up with kids, if a kid didn't like a staff member they would sometimes accuse him or her of sexually touching and/or molesting them. Fortunately I never went through this but I saw more than one staff get pulled out of the job and suspended pending investigation. All it takes is a plausible accusation which you can't immediately repudiate with evidence and witnesses.

I don't doubt that there was some publicity seeking on the part of the prosecutors office. Was it done because Rush was famous... sure! Was it done because Rush is a conservative? I strongly doubt it.

I recently had some expensive camera equipment stolen out of my car while it was parked in Chicago. I made a full report with the police. Did they leave me with the impression that they would vigorously pursue this crime? Not unless the mayor himself intervened.

I also called to report the serial numbers on some of the stolen items. After several 'call another number in a few days' responses, I was left a message for the cop assigned to investigate. He could not speak to me because he was 'on the streets'. You think he promptly called back to get the information needed to identify the stolen items, and make an arrest? Maybe if hishonor called on my behalf.

What would a cop do? Drop it, and move on.

Sadly the chances of recovering stolen camera equipment in Chicago is slim to none. Not excusing the cops whose job is to treat victims with more respect and attention.

Home owners cover it?

grim

who, after I initially reported it as auto theft, advised me to switch it to a homeowners claim. They said the coverage is better under homeowners where I have replacement coverage. Just one item: a Canon 70-200mm f2.8L IS USM should paint the picture.

Unfortunately, the company, USAA, only offers insurance to military and their families.

We had some stuff stolen when we lived in Tulsa. We found out who did it and where he would be when. We told the police and they couldn't be bothered.

Diana

that his House Keepers behavior was justified?

Are we talking about Rush's alleged doctor shopping or are we talking about the blackmail his house keeper allegedly committed.

The original discovery of this crime being tainted can only be argued against the police if they had obtained the original allegation illegally.

If you are depending on busting the whole case based on this idea then you might as well throw out every conviction of a criminal that was based on another criminal snitching to get a lighter sentence.

Your grasping at straws as badly as I sometime do. LOL

Say, grim, you mentioned ''unusually high amounts of pain killers''. A while back when I had MSNBC cable I heard Don Imus mention on air that he had 600 Vicoden in his office safe. Wouldn't you say that that amount was an '' unusually high amounts of pain killers''? If so, by your logic in that post wouldn't it be the responsibility of the police to investigate?
I have never done anything illegal in relation to my dealings with my doctors, yet I too would resist any Government attempt to grab my medical records. Both my doctors and I consider them to be private. A long time ago, before you were at the forum I posted about a funny incident along that time. I was in the hospital and my doctor called my work for some information about me. They ''brick walled'' him and refused to even acknowledge that I even worked there and gave him the ''It is the policy of the U.S. Government'' yada, yada line. I relate that because a few days later work called him to ask how I was doing in the hospital and he gave it right back to them, telling them that it was his policy not to relate private patient info. The government didn't sieze my medical records.
Another incident along that line: A long time ago the government stopped my disability pay because my wife failed to fill out a form. To get it started again I had to go to one of their doctors and prove to him that I was still disabled. Notice that they didn't seize my ton of medical records, which would have left no doubt. Grim, why didn't they? Theoretically I could have been committing a crime, faking a disability to get Government checks.
Oh, BTW, I've never heard any of Rush's radio programs so please spare me the Rush said thus and so, so I also hold with ''thus and so'' implication routine that some othersuse in discussions of a poitical nature.

rock stars do drugs backstage? Why aren't sitting there waiting for them?? Think the cops knew Sudio 54 had drugs there everyday? Think the Viper room is clean?

did some one accuse Don Imus of an illegal activity or did Don say on the air that he was involved in a possible illegal activity.

People assume a lot (I'm no exception). The police do not make assumptions. They act on what they see as they cruise the streets or they investigate allegations of a crime made by a possible witness. They are not allowed to actively solicit someone to commit a crime and are under relatively strict guidelines when it comes to searching for evidence of a crime.

An allegation of a crime was publicly made against Rush. Remember the original allegation was that Rush was buying drugs from illegal sources. It was the responsibility of the police to investigate. Where it went from there was based on the evidence and the judgment of the prosecuting attorney.

This is the difference between Don Imus and Rush Limbaugh as per your example and the laws of Florida. I don't know but can anyone say if Doctor Shopping is legal in any state?

Do you suppose that one doctor gave Imus 600 pills of narcotic? More, I suppose, that's just the number he said was in his safe. If he accumulated that amount from more than one doctor, wouldn't it be doctor "shopping" and should his medical records be siezed for an investigation. He made the statement more than once on the air.

but your comment about not listening to Rush applies as much to me and Imus (I don't listen to him).

I can pile "what if's" upon each other to create a convoluted situation where my point is proven as well... but I'm not.

Questions about your scenario come to mind...

1... Why does Don Imus have these drugs?
2... What does he use them for?
3... did he get them at once or accumulate them.
4... How long did it take to accumulate them if not all at once?
5.... why does he keep them in a safe?
6... is the safe at home or at work?
7... are they for his personal use?
8... did he buy them legally?
9... Was he prescribed by one Dr. or many?
10... Does it have anything to do with his charity farm or the disabled kids he works with?
11... Why did he mention the drugs in the first place?
11... Why did he mention it repeatedly on the air as you say?
12... Did mentioning the drugs suit the discussion?

I could go on but I won't.

The crux of the matter is simply Rush Limbaugh was accused of a crime. If Don Imus was to be accused then he would be investigated too.