Limbaugh

Here is my take on the Limbaugh story that broke yesterday. I am sure the written deal between Rush's lawyer and the state attorney will find its way to The Smoking Gun soon enough. As far as I can tell, he was arrested on a single count of doctor shopping and agreed to continue treatment with the same doctor he has seen for the last several years, and pay a $30,000 fine. There is no indication he will make a court appearance although that is typically what occurs (defendant shows up, pleads "not guilty", is directed to some sort of diversion program, pays court costs, and the charges are eventually dismissed if the defendant complies with the terms of the diversion). The fine is pretty steep and my guess is it is somehow connected to out of the ordinary costs incurred by the State's Attorney's office in duking it out with Rush's first-class legal team over the last three years. The prosecutor and the defense have been in a Mexican standoff since this thing kicked off, the prosecutor certain bad things have been done but blocked at every turn by the defense invoking federal health care privacy protections. The lack of an admission of guilt or even a concession that the evidence would be enough to get the case to a jury if tried is an indication the government's case is thin. Nothing is a guarantee in any case, hence the deal.

One final note--Rush smiled for his mug shot, much as Delay did for his, ensuring it will not be fodder for t-shirts hawked by the usual Lefties.