The mighty Rush has taken a fall. His admission of drug addiction, that he is entering rehab and is under investigation by state authorities in Florida has, like anything Limbaugh does, sparked controversy. It extends to New Mexico where the Limbaugh show is a major presence across the state, including KKOB-AM where he is the top rated talk show host. Albuquerque's Mike Santullo can rightly be called this state's pioneer of the format. He was doing talk when talk wasn't cool, starting at KZIA back in 1973 and going non-stop into the mid-80's with both a daytime and nighttime show. He is now a regular guest host on KKOB radio and offered some thoughts on Limbaugh's changing fortunes.

"Noone wants to take pleasure in another person's pain, even critics of the "Ditto Man". Given the fact that Rush has had to endure severe pain from his unsuccessful back surgery, it is quite understandable that this might drive a "lesser" person to explore alternatives to traditional medicine and perhaps drive that person into the "Black Market" in an effort to obtain relief. But what is extremely disturbing is that an individual such as this, a so-called icon of morality and family values would stoop so low as to obtain black market drugs in such a base fashion as to violate the very principles he espouses on a daily basis.

What is incredulous is that a man who earns a salary of close to $32 million dollars a year would resort to the tactics that Rush has chosen to engage in. Using a maid as a go between with common street drug pushers?? Even if he was turned down by his doctors, a person such as Rush who has preached the moral high ground day in and day out to his audience without ever cutting anyone any slack should have known better.

His rationalizations and excuses just don't cut it with me. He has never offered a modicum of mercy to those of a different political persuasion who had to endure excesses. Now, in his desperation, he is asking his listeners to understand and "pray for him". Sorry folks, I'm all out of Kleenex. He is no better than the likes of Bill Bennett or Dr.Laura who looked down their noses at people and preached morality while at the same time engaging in activities that were anything but moral. It is not the fact that Rush was taking these drugs to help relieve himself of what some say was excrutiating pain, but the manner in which he chose to obtain them that is inexcusable. Perhaps he will learn a lesson from all of this and return to his "golden microphone" no longer as a stone throwing demagogue but instead as a compassionate conservative."

Thanks Mike. I am sure your more conservative radio counterparts will have a different take on Monday. By the way, for you politics watchers, Santullo was a regular presence on the Bernalillo County ballot in the 70's and 80's. In the 70's he made a run for mayor of Albuquerque and the state house. In the 80's he sought the county treasurer's post. Today he prefers the sidelines, but says he wouldn't trade his political experiences for anything. "They gave me a perspective that I think few who comment on the news have." Santullo is a Democrat, but started out years ago as one of the most right-wing commentators in the state. "They call it growth," he joked.