# What has been Rush Limbaugh's take on plea bargaining? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 29, 2006, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735 "2006-04-29T13:38:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/21 "2006-04-30T02:30:26Z")
But of course, Rush and his apologists will assure us that he was only talking about certain drugs, like illegal drugs. As long as he aquired legal drugs illegally, it doesn’t count. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/22 "2006-04-30T02:39:29Z")
> [@EJsGirl](#): > > But of course, Rush and his apologists will assure us that he was only talking about certain drugs, like illegal drugs. > > As long as he aquired legal drugs illegally, it doesn’t count. My guess is the apologists will say he took legally prescribed drugs for a legitimate reason and inadvertently got addicted. Therefore he is a person to be pitied and not chastised. I shudder to think what a Rush Limbaugh who beat drug addiction will be like (assuming he ever gets there). ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/23 "2006-04-30T04:09:20Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Am I missing something? It seems to me law enforcement is a cost to society. Yes you did miss something he paid the cost > [@Squink](#): > > How noble of him! You could call it noble, i guess, but it is just consistant with his views on drug use. > [@](#): > > What would happen if he didn’t pay his $30,000 fine? He’d go to jail. I personally doubt that, remember that Rush has a few bucks in his pocket and could easially buy far better laywers then the state, who knows he might be able to buy the state. I see the agreement as the way to end the agravation and also a more cost effective way to end this. > [@](#): > > Even if his wealth prevents his addiction from posing direct costs to society, someone’s got to worry about all the little-dittos who idolize the man, and want to grow up to be an addict, just like ush. N Um, no, this doesn’t follow either. Rush didn’t want to tell anyone about his addiction, that was the state which forced his hand, so it would be the states fault if there were any copycats. But since dittoheads are, by definition, free thinkers, there should be no copycats, so the state is off the hook on that one. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/24 "2006-04-30T04:24:46Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Yes you did miss something he paid the cost You said he paid the cost of prosecution. Since he is not being prosecuted (it seems) that is not such a big deal. To me this means court costs (prosecutor, judge, etc.). I do not think that includes the cost of law enforcement (police investigators) tracking him for however many months they tracked this. If I am in error let me know but I would be curious to know how he paid such a cost as I would think it would take a fair amount of work to determine just what that cost is in the first place. I doubt at this early juncture he’d be able to know what that cost was. And beside that, even if he did pay the police for their cost that is still police and investigators who were not working on tracking some other bad guy because they were chasing Rush. We can never know but perhaps some drug dealer is still on the street due to this and some kid died of an overdose or the dealer shot a rival or somesuch. That would be a societal cost. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/25 "2006-04-30T04:45:39Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > This seems a reasonable statement, although not nitpick proof, but what does this have to do with the OP? Rush’s take on the subject and his consistancy on drug use? It was a response to your assertion in an earlier post in this thread, that Rush “can afford to use drugs and not effect (sic) society”. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/26 "2006-04-30T04:57:14Z")
> [@Brain Wreck](#): > > Well, if you come right down to it, it’s bullshit to demonize addicts who don’t burden the rest of society. . Sure. But we _can_ demonize Rush as he’s a giant hypocrite. Or to rephrase him “When you strip it all away, Rush Limbaugh (talk radio figure) destroyed his life on drugs. And yet he’s being honored\*, like some godlike figure. Our priorities are out of whack, folks.” And, I could argue his radio show does burden society, but this is GQ, not GD, so I won’t. 😛 - by tens of thousands of Dittoheads, at least. ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/27 "2006-04-30T08:54:13Z")
So out of almost 20 years of broadcasting, the liberals have been able to find a grand total of FIVE quotes where Rush spoke about drugs. The fact is, Rush doesn’t talk about drugs and drug users very often. I don’t think I have ever heard him do it, and I listen fairly often. It just isn’t on his radar, there is more important stuff to talk about. This is another case of much ado about nothing. If he was a rabid anti drug crusader I could see it, but he seldom even mentions the issue. If it gives you libs a sense of satisfaction to think this proves Rush is just a big 'ol hypocrite, enjoy your buzz. Your high is just as phony as any Mr. Limbaugh may have eperienced on Oxy. If you think this minor hypocrosy invalidates all his other opinions, then you should be investigated for smoking something illegal. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/28 "2006-04-30T08:55:35Z")
Don’t mess with Texas. ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/29 "2006-04-30T09:16:51Z")
> [@Happy Wanderer](#): > > Don’t mess with Texas. Wrong thread! ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/30 "2006-04-30T11:40:48Z")
> [@Happy Wanderer](#): > > So out of almost 20 years of broadcasting, the liberals have been able to find a grand total of FIVE quotes where Rush spoke about drugs. Huh? Are you claiming that those five quotes are the only times that Limbaugh publicly spoke about drugs? Do you have a cite for that? The five quotes in the wikipedia article looked to me like a brief selection of **examples** of Limbaugh’s remarks about drugs, rather than an exhaustive list or “grand total” of them. I’d be curious to see what evidence you have to the contrary. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/31 "2006-04-30T12:49:38Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Am I missing something? It seems to me law enforcement is a cost to society. By virtue of breaking the law to indulge his habit Rush cost taxpayers money as law enforcement dealt with this (or view it has resources that could have been tracking some other drug dealer/kingpin). But still, this impact is due only to society’s decision to burden itself with regulating the private conduct of consenting adults, not due to the infringement of any citizen’s rights. So the argument about burdening the criminal-justice system is not valid. However, Rush the addict _did_ say: > [@](#): > > Too many whites are getting away with drug use…Too many whites are getting away with drug sales…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. Addicts deserve pity in general. But I always say, if a man is to be judged, the best way to judge him is by his own standards. If he says whites getting away with drug sales should be convicted and sent up the river, why should he be the exception? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/32 "2006-04-30T13:11:59Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > - Too many whites are getting away with drug use…Too many whites are getting away with drug sales…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. Well the above is Whack’s cite from Wiki. I hear Rush say the above, and let me fill you in on the context. It was about discrimination in law enforcement between black (poor) areas and white (middle class) areeas and the disparity if convictions on drug use. This was in the news lately saying it was unfair that blacks were targeted and such a high percentage were in jail. Rush was making the point it that was really unfair to whites, as blacks have had drug offenders removed from society making them safer, while whites were forced to live with them as law enforcement was reluctent to remove white offenders. > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I do not think that includes the cost of law enforcement (police investigators) tracking him for however many months they tracked this. True the news is that he paid $30,000 for to cover the prosecution costs, no mention was made about police work, though I would wag that part of the prosecution was the investigation - but perhaps not. > [@](#): > > We can never know but perhaps some drug dealer is still on the street due to this and some kid died of an overdose or the dealer shot a rival or somesuch. That would be a societal cost. I’ll give you this, but it is a very large unknown, it could very well be that because of investigating Rush it saved officers lives who would have investigated some real baddie. > [@Kimst](#): > > Huh? Are you claiming that those five quotes are the only times that Limbaugh publicly spoke about drugs? Do you have a cite for that? First is it hard to find a cite for only five, it is on you to find a 6th to disprove it. Second **Happy Wanderer** is correct in that drug use has never been a large subject of Rush’s shows, actually not even a small part (barring his drug problem). > [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > It was a response to your assertion in an earlier post in this thread, that Rush “can afford to use drugs and not effect (sic) society”. Which you said that he should be held accountable for, which he is, he repaid what were the societal costs and is getting treetment. Again his message is consistant on drug use. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/33 "2006-04-30T14:21:01Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Which you said that he should be held accountable for, which he is, he repaid what were the societal costs and is getting treetment. Again his message is consistant on drug use. I have no problem with the outcome of this case, nor do I feel the need to take Rush to task for hypocracy on the drug issue, even tho I feel he is mildly hypocritical on it. But I doubt one could find an active addict who wasn’t a flaming hypocrite, it goes along with the condition, frankly. What I took exception to was your seeming assertion that since Limbaugh’s use was affordable to him, and didn’t deleteriously affect society, that he shouldn’t be punished for it, at least by the authorities. But if that’s not what you meant, never mind. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/34 "2006-04-30T14:33:38Z")
> [@Happy Wanderer](#): > > So out of almost 20 years of broadcasting, the liberals have been able to find a grand total of FIVE quotes where Rush spoke about drugs. The fact is, Rush doesn’t talk about drugs and drug users very often. I don’t think I have ever heard him do it, and I listen fairly often. It just isn’t on his radar, there is more important stuff to talk about. > > This is another case of much ado about nothing. If he was a rabid anti drug crusader I could see it, but he seldom even mentions the issue. > > If it gives you libs a sense of satisfaction to think this proves Rush is just a big 'ol hypocrite, enjoy your buzz. Your high is just as phony as any Mr. Limbaugh may have eperienced on Oxy. > > If you think this minor hypocrosy invalidates all his other opinions, then you should be investigated for smoking something illegal. 😃 Rush is not just a minor hypocrite, nor is he just a minor drug addict. He is a hateful, racist bigot. If you want to stand up and be counted with him, that’s your right. And I am no liberal- I am a very conservative white girl from SoCal, and they grow 'em mighty conservative around here. I just know bullshit when I see it and refuse to buy it. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/35 "2006-04-30T14:40:40Z")
Oh, forgot to add- the “phony” Oxycontin high? Dude, you’re kidding, right? Rush got so high that Hunter Thompson was envious… ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/36 "2006-04-30T14:57:45Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Well the above is Whack’s cite from Wiki. > > I hear Rush say the above, and let me fill you in on the context. It was about discrimination in law enforcement between black (poor) areas and white (middle class) areeas and the disparity if convictions on drug use. This was in the news lately saying it was unfair that blacks were targeted and such a high percentage were in jail. Rush was making the point it that was really unfair to whites, as blacks have had drug offenders removed from society making them safer, while whites were forced to live with them as law enforcement was reluctent to remove white offenders. This positive-spin context still doesn’t change what Rush suggests as the remedy… convict white drug dealers and users, and send them up the river. He was extremely clear about that. But when it’s _his_ head on the chopping block… suddenly it’s plea-bargain time… sending people up the river is for other people, not for Rusty. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/37 "2006-04-30T15:01:55Z")
This, of course, is the kind of thing that I was wondering about when I posted. I will be interested in seeing if anyone can provide any other instances of such posturing. I am not surprised. ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/38 "2006-04-30T15:24:53Z")
> [@](#): > > Rush is not just a minor hypocrite, nor is he just a minor drug addict. He is a hateful, racist bigot. If you want to stand up and be counted with him, that’s your right. Rush has an outrageous sense of humor that some people confuse with his real opinion. I don’t agree with everything he says, and neither does he. He does have an entertaining show that I catch when I get a chance. I would ask, if Rush is such a racist, why was his original screener (KEY position on any talk show) a black guy? I am sure you would say he was just a token and an Uncle Tom, like Condi. Whatever. Have you ever listened to the show? I hear he is always ranting about worthless drug addicts. He devotes the whole first hour of every show hating on them! Then he starts talking about how much he loves George Bush because of that one time they had so much fun dragging negroes behind their pickup trucks while they shot at the gays! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/39 "2006-04-30T15:31:27Z")
> [@EJsGirl](#): > > Oh, forgot to add- the “phony” Oxycontin high? Dude, you’re kidding, right? Rush got so high that Hunter Thompson was envious… All any drug will ever give you is a phony high. Similar to the high one gets when laboring under a false reality. I prefer the high that comes with actual understanding. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/40 "2006-04-30T15:49:12Z")
> [@Happy Wanderer](#): > > I prefer the high that comes with actual understanding. Sunshine on my shoulder makes **me** happy! 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735.md?page=3)