RUSH TO JUDGEMENT

Limbaugh's ordeal should teach him humility

Rush Limbaugh, who describes himself jokingly as having "talent on
loan from God," could use some prayers right about now. America's most
popular radio talker, and a man once lauded on the cover of the
conservative National Review as "Leader of the Revolution," is a
prescription drug addict. Some of his countless words are coming back
to haunt him now, such as this corker from 1995: "And so 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."

That's probably not going to happen to Rush. He's in treatment now,
which from what we can tell is where he belongs - that is, unless
unexpectedly serious charges emerge from the ongoing criminal
investigation.

Charges of hypocrisy are fair, but gloating over Mr. Limbaugh's fall
would be cruel. If he's being straight with listeners, Mr. Limbaugh
got hooked while under treatment for chronic back pain. It could
happen to any of us. The real measure of the man's character will be
in how he deals with this crisis.

Here's hoping it teaches him humility, and that the bombastic egotist
emerges from this nightmare with more compassion for human frailty.

Would the world have much use for a kinder, gentler Rush Limbaugh?
Maybe not, and maybe he'll never again reach the heights of wealth,
fame and influence that he has enjoyed. What, though, does it profit a
man to gain the world, but lose his own soul?