Rush is Innocent?

It's an old trick -- a public figure comes away from a brush with the law proclaiming he has been "found innocent."

There is no such legal determination. There is only "guilty" or "not guilty." The latter means that there wasn't sufficient evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, or that some other technicality stood in the way of a guilty verdict.

However, in the Rush Limbaugh "doctor shopping" case, Rush is crowing that he is innocent when he has been treated by the court as if he were guilty.

Not many innocent people are:

Ø Sentenced to treatment with a medical doctor.

Ø Place on probation for 18 months.

Ø Fined $30,000 and an additional $30 per month to monitor his compliance with probationary terms.

If Rush is a good boy, his record will be expunged at the end of his 18 month probation. Millions of other drug abusers go through the same court-ordered program, and it is called "Diversion."

However, Limbaugh calls it "Innocence."

The deal also allows Limbaugh "to save face," said Michael Seigel, a University of Florida law professor and former federal prosecutor.

"Given the high profile nature of this, it's an indication to me that if Rush Limbaugh thought he could win the case and be vindicated, he would go to trial," Seigel said. "He's not asking for his day in court."