LIMBAUGH WILL BE BACK, MORE POPULAR THAN EVER

Love him or hate him, one thing you've got to admit about Rush Limbaugh:
The man is brilliant.

Canned by ESPN for making controversial remarks about Philadelphia Eagles
quarterback Donovan McNabb and fingered by his former housekeeper for a
prescription pain medication addiction - all in a matter of days - Rush is
poised to be more popular than ever when he returns from his self-imposed
exile.

Forget the ESPN gig; that was small potatoes compared to the recent
revelations about his drug use.

Faced with the accusations made by his former housekeeper, Wilma Cline, in
the National Enquirer, Mr. Limbaugh could have followed the lead of most
politicians and denied the allegations until they were confirmed by the
police, and then admitted his misdeeds as if his previous denials had been
mere misunderstandings.

Or, he could have taken the Clinton route and parsed the accusation to
within a letter of its literary life.

He did neither.

Instead, he came clean in relatively short order and, pre-empting whatever
the legal system might have had in mind for him, took the painful step of
committing himself to rehab.

Remember, we're talking about a first-time offender who abused prescription
medications, not a three-time loser doing crack cocaine or heroin.

The chances of Rush being charged at the conclusion of this drug
investigation, let alone going to jail, are so small that even bringing up
the possibility feels somewhat absurd. First-time offenders abusing
prescription medications generally don't do time because it is in society's
interest that they seek help so that they can resume being productive
members of society.

And historically, rich and famous first-time offenders are especially
unlikely to go to jail, although they may be somewhat more likely to be
charged.

But this isn't Robert Downey, Jr., we're talking about here.

Neither is Rush's multimillion-dollar relationship with Premier Radio
Networks in jeopardy. More than 600 stations are heavily invested in Rush,
and they are not about to dump him unless it becomes very clear that his
audience has abandoned him - and that's just not going to happen.

Dittoheads, as the faithful like to be called, are extremely loyal.

The piece de resistance is that Rush already has set the stage for his
rehabilitation.

As he shared his battle against addiction with his 20 million listeners on
Friday, Rush also established the ground rules by which he will be judged.

What could be more sympathetic than a man slipping into addiction as he
struggles for years to cope with excruciating neck and back pain following
surgery?

Picture this man, with all the frailties inherent in his humanity, twice
checking himself into medical facilities in failed attempts to beat this
"highly addictive" medication.

And now, his private struggle exposed for the world to see by a former
employee whose motivation was a tawdry few dollars, he takes the brave step
of confronting the world and his demons, committing himself publicly to
enter a treatment center.

He is, he reminds his audience, not a victim. He is not a role model. He is
just a man taking "full responsibility" for his "problem."

He does not ask his listeners for understanding. He does not ask for
sympathy or forgiveness. No, all he wants are the prayers of the faithful.

Do not doubt that Rush will receive those prayers.

He also will receive sympathy and forgiveness, in part because (whatever he
may say to the contrary) he will be seen as a victim - of the medical
profession, of a culture of drug-dependence, of the tabloids, and of a
disloyal, money-grubbing woman.

That, in this case, is the way it should be.

There is no crime here worth pursuing, only a man trying to put back
together a life spun out of control. By supporting him, forgiving him, and
welcoming his return, we affirm our common humanity, our common frailty,
our common need for redemption.

Rush, you are our king. Nobody could have done it better.