RUSH LIMBAUGH

Issue: Rush Limbaugh signs a plea deal.

Rush Limbaugh is in his comfort zone: full spin mode. Even as the talk
radio host is being held responsible for breaking the law by seeking
multiple pain pill prescriptions, he used his radio pulpit to claim
vindication after 2 1/2 years of fighting The Man.

Some vindication. He turned himself in to the Palm Beach County Jail
on the felony, and was fingerprinted, photographed and released on
$3,000 bail. This, he absurdly insists, is not an "arrest."

While he spends the next 18 months in mandatory drug treatment, he
can't own a gun, he can't get drunk, he'll pay $30,000 for prosecution
costs and he has to submit to random drug tests, all part of a first-
offender program sparing him a criminal record if he complies. If not,
he could be looking at jail time.

He gets to plead not guilty, but that doesn't mean he's innocent.
Despite Limbaugh's efforts to derail the investigation, prosecutors
found ample evidence he got overlapping prescriptions from three doctors.

Still, Limbaugh is in public denial. "From my point of view," he
proselytized to his listeners, "the end result will be as if I had
gone to court and won, but the matter is concluded much sooner, and at
much less expense for both me and for the public."

But this ugly matter could have ended far sooner, and at far less cost
and aggravation, had Limbaugh not tried to manipulate the system with
courtroom histrionics and bogus accusations of a conspiracy by Palm
Beach County State Attorney Barry Krischer.

In fact, Limbaugh could have favorably resolved the case early on,
when his former maid came forward with credible evidence that she and
her husband had been supplying Limbaugh with large quantities of pain
pills for several years.

Rather than admit he was caught, Limbaugh tried to get the courts to
stop prosecutors from looking at his doctors' records. He tried to
paint himself the victim. He succeeded only in prolonging his moment
in an unflattering spotlight.

In the end, the bombastic radio host known for attacking those he
believes are abusing the system proved that he's not above the law,
either.

Bottom Line: The hypocrisy is palpable.