Pubdate: Wed, 19 Nov 2003 Source: Dickson Herald, The (TN) Copyright: 2003 The Dickson Herald Contact: http://www.dicksonherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1998 Author: Charles Seay, Columnist Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Rush+Limbaugh EVERYONE COULD USE A LITTLE MODERATION October has traditionally been a bad month for the stock market and I would guess that Rush Limbaugh might be thinking the same thing. He resigned from ESPN as a football commentator after making what was considered racist remarks about Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb. Then he admits to the nation that he is addicted to a prescription pain killer. This subject would probably stop at this point if he had secured his drugs through a licensed pharmacy. It is alleged that he secured illegally the pain killer to which he became addicted. Now having admitted to his addiction, Limbaugh has checked himself into a drug treatment center for 30 days. This may remove this particular drug from his system, and I hope that moderates his ultra conservative positions. Rush, in the past, has come down hard on drug pushers, dealers and users. He stated on his television show in 1995, "If people are violating the law by doing drugs, they ought to be accused and they ought to be convicted and they ought to be sent up." I just wonder if Rush still believes that statement he made without question? I'll bet not. If a conservative is a liberal who was mugged the night before, then is a liberal a conservative who was busted the night before, or is he just a moderate? I sure would like Rush to answer that question for me. For years, Rush Limbaugh has been the ultra-conservative voice of the Republican Party. As he becomes older, will Rush moderate his voice and tone? I doubt it. He has been the leader of the "My way or the highway crowd," of the ditto heads for too long. Ultra liberals on the other end of the philosophy spectrum need some moderation of their own. Very few thing is life are absolutely black or white. Most ideas have a lot a gray areas. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who classifies himself as a fiscal conservative and a moderate on social matters, has been elected Governor of California. Arnold has played to the disgust of the voters with their elected officials. It just so happened that former Governor Gray Davis took the hit for the mishandling and overspending of the elected officials of the California legislature. Other members of the Republican Party should take note of what happened in California. This movement could spread nationwide during the next election. It will be interesting to see if Rush Limbaugh learned anything during his time at the drug treatment center. The biggest lesson he could learn would be how to show compassion to his fellow men and women who are forced to share this planet with him. The thought of Rush Limbaugh learning the trait of compassion is probably just a pipe dream. I'll keep dreaming, it's the only hope I have. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake