"Just another dead doper. And a dirt bag."

Those were Rush Limbaugh's words about Jerry Garcia upon the guitarist's death. Rush, the paragon of the righteous right, of course felt justified in this offhand dismissal of a wonderful musician's passing. "When you strip it all away, Jerry Garcia destroyed his life on drugs. And yet he's being honored, like some godlike figure. Our priorities are out of whack, folks." he went on to say.

I didn't find these words justified at all. Jerry was far from perfect, but he brought a lot of joy to a lot of people, and helped a good many along the way as well. I remember the Rex Foundation and the Seva Foundation, and I'm sure there are many charities I'm forgetting (A Google search for "Jerry Garcia's charities" was cluttered with stolen toilet stories). He didn't deserve to be put down by anyone, much less someone whose main talent and endeavor is self-promotion.

I didn't like Rush before that. Afterwards, I really loathed him.

Since I'm not Jewish, then, I allowed myself the luxury of feeling GREAT when Rush was charged with felony prescription drug abuse. After all, Rush was on record saying things like this:

"Too many whites are getting away with drug use...Too many whites are getting away with drug sales...The answer is to go out and find the ones who are getting away with it, convict them and send them up the river, too."

and

...We are becoming too tolerant as a society, folks, especially of crime, in too many parts of the country.... This country certainly appears to be tolerant, forgive and forget. I mean, you know as well as I do, you go out and commit the worst murder in the world and you just say you're sorry, people go, "Oh, OK. A little contrition."... People say, "I feel better. He said he's sorry for it." We're becoming too tolerant, folks.

                                         --Rush Limbaugh TV show 10/5/95

Of course, in a world ruled by ideals he would be hung on his own gallows. But we don't live there. Colonel Law 'n' Order made a deal with the court yesterday, after pleading not guilty on Friday . If he complies with it he'll be off the hook in 18 months. "Do you think if there was any real evidence, we would have reached a settlement?" he said.

Well, actually, yes I do. I don't think there would have been an agreement if Rush thought for one second that he could beat the rap. The chest banger whose whole schtick is proclaiming himself right? Are we kidding? Nothing would beat the ratings boost that fighting this and winning would give him. He'd just have to be sure he DOES win.

Aye, there's the rub.

We Americans know what these agreements mean, anyway. We see it all the time. People make these agreements because they are guilty but aren't going to pay for it, because they 1) are rich 2) are famous 3) know something useful about someone worse than them. I think most of us would also doubt that people with no evidence against them will submit to drug rehab and random testing for 2 1/2 years.

So the agreement is that he continue with rehab and tests, and cannot own a gun. Too tolerant, indeed.

I'm actually a little saddened about the no-gun provision. I'd hoped he could get together with Dick Cheney sometime. Maybe do a little hunting.