Is Rush Limbaugh drug dependency any different than Patrick Kennedy?

[cantstandbush]

Remember Rush lied and was trying to get sympathy for his deafness when his hearing loss was related to his oxy addiction all the time. Patrick Kennedy has spoken out about his drug addiction over the years and fessed up immediately. Also, I don't hear PK talking to a million or more people daily and chastizing other drug addicts or any stripe.

[Stephist]

1. Did PK ever suggest that all other drug users should be locked up?

NT

[xray s]

2. absolutely

Rush is in denial about his addiction and is a pig to boot.

Patrick kennedy has admitted his addicton, which is the first step on the road to recovery.

[EST]

3. Yes-they are different.

Kennedy is not a puke.

[baldguy]

4. Limpballs doesn't have the entire MSM against him.

[Joe Fields]

5. Yes

Kennedy's actions have a direct bearing on leadership qualities, and loom larger because he is a member of congress. We must expect better behavior from our leaders, whether they are republican or democrat.

While I despise Rush Limbaugh, no one elected him to any office. He is only a hypocritical SOB.

[Obamarama]

13. Kennedy is stepping up to the plate...

He explained he has a problem...has had a problem for sometime and is doing what he can do to correct it. He didn't lie about it. He didn't cover it up. He didn't say "no comment."

If you don't consider that a leadership quality - and one that is sorely needed in our elected officials - then what, pray tell, would qualify as "leadership" in your estimation?

[Joe Fields]

21. I like my leaders to not have substance abuse problems ...

to begin with. Then not to lie, when caught.

How's that for starters? Do not defend him simply because he is a Kennedy. I am old enough to have suffered through several Kennedy scandals.

[Obamarama]

22. Get a grip on reality....

If you prefer your leaders to not have substance abuse problems, well....I hate to burst your bubble.

And for the record, I'm not defending him because he's a Kennedy. I don't think political dynasties are healthy for our nation's government, Democratic dynasty (i.e. the Kennedy's) or Republican (the Bush's). However I do admit that the Kennedys have served this country to a much higher calling than the Bushes could ever HOPE to.

That being said, it still doesn't amount to defending him "just because he's a Kennedy." I'd have a similar amount of respect for a Republican of equal rank in the exact same circumstances, and who resolved the issue in the exact same way as Kennedy.

[Joe Fields]

27. I do have a grip on reality.

I'm not the one who wrecked my car, lied to the police, only to have people such as yourself make excuses for them.

Again I will say, I expect more from my leaders. My, how we have lowered the bar, huh? I would imagine if he were a republican, you would have been all over him like ugly on an ape.

Talk about double standards.

I'm as yellow dog of a democrat as they come, but I won't excuse bad behavior, no matter who it is from. I loathe Bush and his corrupt and insane gang, but I wouldn't make excuses for Clinton, when he lied to me on television.

[DainBramaged]

6. Worse, he's a Republifuck family values prick hypocrite

Should I describe him with feeling?

[Olney Blue]

7. They both have an addiction problem. It's not that much different on a

physical level, but being in denial is a dangerous sign that relapse will occur. Patrick's
open admission of seeking help is good, and I wish him the best.

[Arkansas Granny]

8. I haven't heard anyone suggest that Kennedy committed fraud

to illegally obtain prescription drugs, which is what Rush was charged with. I don't believe that dependency on prescription drugs is a crime, as long as you haven't broken the law to obtain them.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

9. Limbaugh was VERY CAREFUL today...

...saying that Kennedy "needed help."

Whatever DU may think of Limbaugh, he ISN'T STUPID.

Sorry...I know some people won't LIKE that, but he ISN'T.

He may regurgitate Republican talking points ad nauseum, but he knows exactly what he's doing.

Even though he condemned Jerry Garcia as a dead drug addict hippie who got what he deserved...much to Al Franken's eternal ire...when it comes to Kennedy, he's a "man who needs help."

The world isn't honest, folks...and it sure as hell isn't fair. Get used to it.

[Obamarama]

10. Oh, bloody hell yes...

First of all, Patrick Kennedy is bipolar. Many people who are bipolar self-medicate, often to their own demise.

Then, just TRY to imagine the surreal soap opera like world it must have been to grow up in that family and its lagacies. It would likely drive any ONE of us to self-medicate, even taking the bipolar issue out of the equation.

Finally, this is not Patrick's first go-round in rehab. He STARTED when he was 17. His most recent rehab experience was over the Christmas holidays. Clearly this man knows he has a problem and is doing what he can do - and what he needs to do - to confront it.

Then you have Rush. Is there any comparison? I think not.

[BrotherBuzz]

11. Did Patrick Kennedy 'doctor shop'?

[Scout1071]

12. Yes. Patrick hasn't been charged with fraud and doctor shopping.

Nor has he been charged with getting 20,000 high powered pain narcotics.

[Mikimouse]

14. The last time I looked, Limbaugh was not a long term...

cancer survivor (Ewing's Sarcoma, IIRC), as Patrick Kennedy is. That is probably where his drug addiction probably started. I applaud Kennedy for taking the step of going back to rehab., it takes courage to do so.

[Obamarama]

18. PATRICK KENNEDY DID NOT HAVE CANCER....

It was his brother, Teddy Jr. His leg was amputated in 1973.

"That is probably where his drug addiction probably started."

If you're going to speculate, at least get your facts straight.

[Mikimouse]

20. How very civil of you, hope you enjoyed the shelling...

I was wrong in my memory (I did put IIRC, but you apparently ignored it, or didn't understand it). Sorry to inconvenienced you, must be difficult trying to keep others in line.

[Catherine Vincent]

23. What is IIRC?

[Mikimouse]

35. Is it not 'computer jargon' for...

If I Recall Correctly? That's what I thought it was, but could be mistaken.:shrug:

[Catherine Vincent]

37. Thanks.

I see this all the time and wasn't sure what it stood for.

[Obamarama]

24. First of all....

My apologies...I didn't mean to lose my cool. It's just that speculation without facts is a real sore spot for me. I've been the victim of speculation based on fiction, with some not so pleasant outcomes...so forgive my sensitivity to what is clearly an innocent mistake. If it hadn't been the third time in as many posts that I read that Patrick Kennedy had cancer, I likely wouldn't have gone off on you like that.

Second, reading your post, it sounds like you were not sure of the type of cancer, not wheter he had cancer or not. But, it's also evident I need to CHILL OUT!

Olive branch extended... :-)

[Mikimouse]

34. We're cool, I have had a pretty stressful day as well..

No harm, no foul.:thumbsup:

[Catherine Vincent]

38. Aww.

:-)

[Ignacio Upton]

15. Kennedy didn't go doctor shopping to attain the prescriptions

Also he's not a hypocrite about it like Rush. BTW, what does Rush have to say about Kennedy's addiction?

[Solo_in_MD]

29. That is not known at this time

If an MD gave Kennedy enough for addiction, he is in going to get looked at hard, so its more likely than not than more than one MD was involved. That Kennedy was not charged with DUI at the scene is troubling. Understand some citiations have been issued since.

[TheCowsCameHome]

16. P.K. is a decent man, the other is a whiny coward with no moral values.

[doc mercer]

17. Kennedy

Hannity / Colmes ... amazed no one brought up Cheneys drinking gig in TX ....

Coulter is one disgusting person

[Mr_Spock]

19. Patrick Kennedy is a man, Druggie Limbaugh is a stinking pile of dung.

I think that's a dramatic difference.

[porphyrian]

25. Yes, Kennedy's not a loudmouth douchebag. - n/t

[kaygore]

26. Yes, Rush is a Republican and Jesus died for their sins

[KoKo]

28. Does Rush drive himself or have his own limo driver like most Repugs...

Otherwise I don't know how he coped given he was taking over 30 pills a day. I guess after awhile one builds up a "tolerance." :eyes: Still it's amazing he didn't wrap himself around a tree or drown in his Palm Beach swimming pool. He must have a "keeper" who makes sure he has help in "navigation."

[Egalitariat]

30. Kennedy's a Democrat (and a Kennedy); Rush is the worst kind of Republican

Yes, there is a difference.

[Solo_in_MD]

33. That kind of statement plays right into the repukes hands

The lurking Freepers may well quote that early and often. Good Job!!!

[Marr]

31. Is Limbaugh's addiction any different than Robert Downey Jr.'s?

Of course it is. Rush Limbaugh has made a career out of trashing other people and holding himself and his party up as examples of morality and the divinely chosen arbiters of right and wrong. That's the difference.

[Solo_in_MD]

32. About the same at a macro level

Both got addicted to prescription meds. Diversion and rehab is the normal route for first time/no criminal record offenders. Nothing special there about either of them in that regard, and treatment will be about the same.

Physiology does not include politics, so yeah, they are about equal there

Law is very political and IMO Kennedy should have been busted for DUI on the spot, though some citations have since been issued. Rush spent beau coup bucks on lawyers. Clear advantage to Kennedy at this time. That may change over time.

Rush got beat up pretty badly in the press, Kennedy not nearly as much at this time. I tend to think that the perception of disparate treatment will be what gets flogged more than Kennedy himself. Its about a push.

The pontification about Rush being in denial and Kennedy facing things seems silly, since those stating it so strongly could have little to base it on other than press releases, self serving statements from each person, and their personal biases. I give those (and the opinions being rendered) absolutely no credence.

The public will see them as about equal. Prescription drugs vice illegal ones (clean vice reefer madness), followed by rehab and then return to public life. Hopefully Kennedy has a good reason for why he started on them (read several things not sure if any are true).

While the Kennedy thing is still emerging they seem to be about equal overall...I know that will offend many here...oh well.

[alarimer]

36. Rush admitted to committing a crime

which is why he has to undergo drug tests. Plus Rush is just an asshole, which ought to be a crime.