"I P Seldom" <bashfulbladder@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:eUFWb.282731$I06.2967457@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Ryan Lankford wrote:
>
> > On 16 Jan 2004 07:06:49 GMT, max565@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
(Karl Rove) wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Hollywood Stars Walk Our Streets, Free, as Prosecutors Target Rush
Limbaugh
> >>
> >>Breaking News from NewsMax.com
> >>© By James Hirsen
> >>
> >>Check this out: The Beverly Hills Police Department has served a
subpoena on
> >>the banking records of a Hollywood star.
> >>
> >>A recent re****t in the National Enquirer that the celebrity had a pill
> >>addiction – proof of this came from a paid tip to the tabloid from the
> >>star’s maid - has caught the notice here in Tinseltown among the cops
and the
> >>Los Angeles district attorney’s office.
> >>
> >>Authorities, unable to prosecute the star on the basis of an addiction
alone,
> >>are examining whether the celebrity engaged in money laundering or
doctor
> >>shopped their prescriptions, a felony in California.
> >>
> >>Pretty heady stuff.
> >>
> >>But it never happened, and probably never will.
> >>
> >>Such star treatment doesn’t seem to apply to Rush Limbaugh, who
developed an
> >>addiction to painkillers after a surgical procedure in the late 1990s.
> >>
> >>The charge of doctor-shopping is practically unheard of on the Left
Coast,
> >>where celebrity visits to Dr. Feelgoods followed by ritualistic visits
to rehab
> >>centers rank up there with the number of stiletto heels in Paris
Hilton’
s
> >>closet.
> >>
> >>The list of the addicted and famous is huge.
> >>
> >>It includes such luminaries as Elizabeth Taylor, Robert Downey Jr.,
Kelsey
> >>Grammer, Tim Allen, Matthew Perry, Charlie Sheen, Billy Joel,
Christian
Slater,
> >>Ozzy Osbourne, Jack Osbourne, Ben Affleck, Paula Poundstone, Tawny
Kitaen and
> >>Nick Nolte.
> >>
> >>Somehow, whether for pain or thrill, Tinseltown poppers or would-be
shoppers
> >>never seem to be pursued with the same vigor as Rush seems to be.
> >>
> >>In fact, the opposite is true.
> >>
> >>Those in La-La Land who end up seeking professional help for their
drug
> >>problems are generally praised for their courage, honesty and freshly
> >>lipo-sucked abs. Then they’re given a plum role in an Aaron Sorkin
series.
> >>
> >>Just Some of the Famously Addicted
> >>
> >>One recent example of a celeb who hit the rehab trail is Ozzy
Osbourne,
the
> >>heavy-metal rocker who became a star of "reality" TV. When Osbourne’s
> >>addiction to prescription painkillers became a news story, there was
plenty of
> >>talk about prosecution. But not of Osbourne. Instead, authorities
started
> >>pointing accusatory fingers at the doctor who had treated him.
> >>
> >>According to the Los Angeles Times, physician-to-the-stars Dr. David
Kipper
> >>allegedly dispensed 13,000 doses of more than 30 drugs to Osbourne in
only one
> >>year. Osbourne said the doctor gave him tranquilizers, amphetamines,
opiates,
> >>anti-depressants and an anti-psychotic drug. Treatments were carried
out
in
> >>"hotel detoxes," a celebrity favorite typically done anonymously in
private
> >>luxury suites. In 2003 Ozzy’s 17-year-old son, Jack, checked into Las
Encinas
> >>rehab clinic in California. The clinic provides treatment for alcohol
and drug
> >>abuse.
> >>
> >>Evidently, the staff protected the privacy of Ozzy’s offspring during
the
> >>visit and declined to confirm the addiction, although Jack later
admitted that
> >>he had become addicted to prescription drugs, including OxyContin.
> >>
> >>Matthew Perry had an overly friendly encounter with painkillers. He
entered
> >>rehab in 1997 for the "early stages of chemical dependency." People
magazine
> >>re****ted that he became addicted to Vicodin as a result of problems
with
a
> >>wisdom tooth and pain related to injuries from an accident on a
watercraft.
> >>
> >>In 2001, Perry entered a rehab hospital again. This time, though, his
publicist
> >>indicated that it was for an undisclosed ailment. The publicist told
the
public
> >>that Perry appreciated the concern of the fans and thanked them "for
respecting
> >>his privacy."
> >>
> >>In 2002, when actress Tawny Kitaen beat up her husband, all-star
pitcher
Chuck
> >>Finley, she was charged with spousal injury and battery. She was also
accused
> >>of using a long list of prescription drugs.
> >>
> >>After Finley charged in legal do***ents that Kitaen suffered from
"addiction"
> >>and "inattention to parenting," she re****tedly admitted she’d become
addicted
> >>to prescription medications and said she was starting rehab. Her
lawyer
told
> >>the press that the charges would be dismissed when the treatment was
finished.
> >>
> >>Charlie Sheen, son of Martin Sheen and star of the sitcom "Two and a
Half Men,"
> >>has been a drug addict, heavy drinker (two quarts of vodka a day) and
frequent
> >>Heidi Fleiss flyer.
> >>
> >>He checked into drug rehab in 1990 but fell off the wagon. In May
1998,
Sheen
> >>overdosed in his home. To avoid jail he entered rehab, and this time
the
> >>treatment stuck. Hollywood patted Sheen on the back and gave him a
Golden Globe
> >>for his role in the foundering "Spin City."
> >>
> >>Then there's Aaron Sorkin himself, leftist creator of the Democrat
fantasy
> >>series "The West Wing." Busted for drugs in April 2001, he was
sentenced
to a
> >>"diversion program."
> >>
> >>Chums insisted Sorkin's drug bust was a one-time lapse, but he proved
them
> >>wrong in August 2001 when he boasted to a magazine that he had abused
crack
> >>cocaine as well as marijuana and said, "If you use drugs long enough
you
forget
> >>how to celebrate without them."
> >>
> >>Secret Addictions
> >>
> >>Billy Joel, who has admitted to past problems with substance abuse,
called off
> >>some concert dates in his Face to Face Tour 2002 with Elton John to
seek
help.
> >>
> >>His record label initially stated that the cancellations were due to
throat
> >>problems. But news surfaced that the singer/songwriter entered Silver
Hill
> >>rehab center in New Canaan, Conn., to battle a "specific and personal
problem
> >>that had recently developed."
> >>
> >>Silver Hill is one of the preferred addiction treatment centers.
Clients
> >>include Nick Nolte, Liza Minnelli, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Gregg
Allman
> >>and Mariah Carey.
> >>
> >>In 2001, Ben Affleck sought treatment for alcohol abuse at the
exclusive
> >>Promises rehab facility in posh, trendy Malibu. Clients of the center
include
> >>Charlie Sheen, Christian Slater, Tim Allen and Paula Poundstone.
> >>
> >>Promises has become a popular destination for celebrities in need of
rehab.
> >>
> >>According to the facility's Web site, Promises offers "individualized
treatment
> >>for drug addiction, alcoholism and other chemical dependencies," which
includes
> >>"daily educational lectures, relapse prevention skills, group therapy
sessions,
> >>equine therapy and art therapy."
> >>
> >>Another celeb who took the Promises path in 2002 was Diana Ross.
According to
> >>her publicist, she was treated at the Malibu facility to "clear up
some
> >>personal issues."
> >>
> >>Celebrity Criminal Law 101
> >>
> >>After being arrested the previous year on charges of committing lewd
acts
> >>against a child and child endangerment, Paula Poundstone completed
rehab
in
> >>2002.
> >>
> >>The D.A. had dropped the charge of lewd acts. Poundstone pleaded no
contest to
> >>felony child endangerment and a misdemeanor. She received a sentence
of
five
> >>years' probation and six months' drug treatment.
> >>
> >>Nick Nolte had an unforgettable mug shot moment in 2003 that made the
> >>post-captured Saddam Hussein look GQ worthy. Nolte was charged with
being under
> >>the influence of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), a chemical compound
known
as the
> >>"date rape" drug. Three days after the arrest, he checked into a drug
and
> >>alcohol abuse rehabilitation center. Later he headed for Silver Hill.
> >>
> >>Things recently got complicated for Nicole Richie.
> >>
> >>Paris Hilton’s sidekick on "The Simple Life" appeared in a Malibu
courtroom
> >>on a felony drug-possession case three days after the TV show debuted.
Richie
> >>is on court-supervised probation, a common form of celebrity justice.
She’s
> >>due back in court in March for another re****t to the judge.
> >>
> >>Robert Downey Jr. has a history of substance abuse dating back to
1996,
when
> >>the actor was arrested for, among other things, being in possession of
heroin,
> >>crack and cocaine.
> >>
> >>After walking away from his court-ordered drug rehab program, he was
sentenced
> >>to three years' probation. He violated parole and was sentenced to six
months
> >>in jail.
> >>
> >>In 1999 Downey started a three-year prison sentence for another parole
> >>violation. In 2000 he was arrested for cocaine and Valium possession.
The
> >>following year he was honored twice over with a Golden Globe and an
Emmy.
> >>
> >>And so it goes.
> >>
> >>Time to Crack Down
> >>
> >>In Florida, authorities have had a similar attitude toward persons
with
> >>addictions – until Rush Limbaugh.
> >>
> >>The Palm Beach Post recently re****ted that over the last five years,
the
number
> >>of cases of doctor-shopping that have been fully prosecuted in Palm
Beach
> >>County is zero.
> >>
> >>This tidbit hasn’t seemed to deter the prosecutors who now are on a
fi****ng
> >>expedition, rummaging through Rush’s financial and medical records in
an
> >>apparent effort to get him.
> >>
> >>Add to that the bevy of pundits, partisans and paparazzi who are now
digging
> >>for dirt on the legendary radio personality but who have typically
given
a "who
> >>cares" look at Tinseltown malfeasance.
> >>
> >>As the Limbaugh case moves forward, you can bet that 20 million of his
closest
> >>friends will be watching – and hoping he gets equal treatment under
the
law
> >>and a fair shake.
> >
> >
> > I'm sorry Dan, but I gotta disagree here.
> >
> > The reason that everyone else in Tinseltown was given a free pass on
> > the drug issue was because they weren't using a nationally syndicated
> > radio show to clamor for "sending drug users up the river." I think
> > it's absolutely hilarious that conservatives suddenly want Rush
> > treated with kid gloves, now that America's drug warriors have now
> > taken aim at the Maharu****.
> >
> > I'm a firm believer that the rich and influential should be subject to
> > the same laws that we are subjected to. I don't think Rush should get
> > a pass just because other rich people got a pass; instead, I think all
> > people should be sentenced equally. In this case, "equal treatment"
> > would more than likely mean a mandatory minimum prison sentence,
> > forfeiture of his assets, as well as forfeiture of his right to vote
> > or own firearms. He's been a huge proponent of mandatory sentences;
> > let's see how he likes walking a lifetime in the shoes of someone like
> > me, or anyone else who's been victimized by mandatory minimum
> > sentencing. I got caught up in a law designed to fight the Drug War,
> > and my offense wasn't even dope related! That's how flawed our drug
> > laws really are.
> >
> > Here's a good article by LP member Rachel Mills. Some Libertarians
> > and O'Reilly watchers may remember her from the "Ladies of Liberty"
> > calendar.
> >
> > http://www.lp.org/lpnews/0312/forum_mills.html
> >
> > What I'd *like* to happen is for Rush to be subjected to the very
> > policies that he advocated back in 1995, so he could see how pointless
> > and destructive his theories on the Drug War and mandatory sentecing
> > really are, but we both know that won't happen.
> >
> > Okay, my rant is over. Kids take note: it really is possible to have
> > a discussion in ITM without resorting to mudslinging!
> >
> >
> > --
> > Ryan Lankford
> > Check out my new, more interactive website at:
> > http://www.ryan-lankford.com
> >
> > "Donkeys can talk, people can fly, and a man named Jesus lives in the
Sky!"
>
> Nobody, Ryan, is "victimized by mandatory sentencing" but plenty of
> people are victimized by a judge's discretion.
Such as pizza boys who harrass their customers and vandalize their
property?
> Mandatory sentencing is excellent, and disallows judges the ability to
> play favorites or make statements based on their own beliefs.
> I think a person who develops an addiction to a prescription drug should
> be treated differently than someone who develops an addiction to illegal
> drugs.
> It's pretty telling that the people going after Rush got so desperate
> that they were trying to get a money laundering charge against him.
It's all a big conspiracy with you, isn't it Rusty?
> If Rush had a cocaine addiction I'd completely agree with you, but we're
> talking about a person who developed an addiction to something they were
> prescribed.
> I completely agree that celebrities should be treated no differently
> than you or I, but we all know that in justice you are "innocent until
> proven broke."
> There is no justice for the poor, but there's plenty of "justice" for
> the rich.
> Rusty
>
>
> --
> Attention, this signature will continue to expand, as I find more
> interesting things to include.
> If you do not like long signatures, and think there's a limit to how
> long they should be, you are an idiot.
>
>
> Today a young man on acid realized that all matter is mearly energy
> condensed through a slow vibration, we are all one consciousness
> experiencing itself subjectively, life is only a dream and we are the
> imaginations of ourselves. Here's Tom with the weather. - Bill Hicks.
>
> Adam Richards, in alt.marketing.online.ebay, on those who sell spam mass
> mailer software: I hope they die horribly, but before that, I hope all
> their babies are born profoundly deformed, all their love partner****ps
> end in acrimonious splits, their friends commit suicide, they're wrongly
> arrested and raped senseless in prison, their homes are reposessed and
> they're forced to go live under a bridge, they have to watch all their
> children die before they do, and they catch painful and uncomfortable
> venereal diseases, get persistent malignant cancers and HIV.
|
