Steroid Time

A reader observes:

I have the Roger Clemens-Brian McNamee congressional hearings on the radio in my office. Apparently, all the Democrats on the committee are going all-out against Clemens while all the Republicans on the committee are only attacking McNamee. Who knew this was such a partisan issue?

Oh, and in case it wasn't already obvious to all, Dan Burton is a freaking nutcase.

Apparently Rep. Clay eventually broke the pattern, going after both sides with equal vigor. For my part, I think congress ought to grow up and hold hearings on something important.

UPDATE: Another correspondent writes: "Waxman said he wanted to cancel the hearing but Clemens's attorney wanted it." Fair enough.

Comments

Yes, but then no one would listen to them on the radio, watch them on TV, or write about them.

Posted by mike | February 13, 2008 1:46 PM

Of course they ought to, but they won't. Hence, this. Re: partisan breakdown: Clemens lost all progressive credibility when he moved from Toronto to NY.

Posted by foolishmortal | February 13, 2008 1:46 PM

Silly things like this seem to be important to the herd. I saw a lot of people watching it in a student union this morning, and then on a bus to work the driver had it blaring so loudly, I had no choice but to listen.

It reminded me of the Ollie North hearings in one sense. No matter how guilty or blameworthy the guy being questioned may be, the Senators are so boorish and obnoxious that I always end up sympathizing with the guy being questioned.

Posted by Jim W | February 13, 2008 1:49 PM

Why on earth is US getting involved in this? Great use of resources.

Posted by Geof | February 13, 2008 1:50 PM

It's refreshing to see Congress uphold its sworn duty to defend the integrity of professional sports leagues.

Posted by Stinky McGee | February 13, 2008 1:51 PM

I think congress ought to grow up and hold hearings on something important

Exactly! Such as Arlen Specter maybe holding hearings on Belicheck and Spygate - now THAT'S important. Football is surely important in a way that baseball simply isn't.

Posted by Al | February 13, 2008 1:52 PM

shorter GOP: LEAVE ROGER ALONE!

Not that steroids show trials don't totally suck. Of course if it were Barry Bonds in the hot seat, I imagine the Republican members wouldn't be as eager to take his side.

Posted by kth | February 13, 2008 1:52 PM

I believe this falls under the jurisdiction of the Judicial branch of the Red Sox Nation.

Posted by Chuck | February 13, 2008 1:56 PM

Shorter pro-Clemens congressmen:
Brian NcNamee lied when it was in his best interest to do so, therefore we cannot believe anything he said even when it was in his best interest to not lie.

Ladies and gentlemen, your elected U.S. Congress!

Posted by tinisoli | February 13, 2008 1:57 PM

I grew up in Dan Burton's district. The man has long been a disgrace to Hoosiers, but it's one of those 60% R districts where God Almighty couldn't get elected as a Democrat.

Posted by gustav | February 13, 2008 1:57 PM

Clemens is very popular in Texas and despised in Boston. Why wouldn't the Dems go after him?

(Although the Yankee portion of his career does complicate things.)

Posted by right | February 13, 2008 1:57 PM

I think it has to do with the Republicans being easily corrupted by power and influence. Remember how Clemens made visits to their offices a few days ago? The Republicans have really embarrassed themselves here.

Posted by Mike | February 13, 2008 2:02 PM

Clemens is very popular in Texas and despised in Boston.

Clemens is loathed pretty much everywhere except Texas.

Posted by Kevin | February 13, 2008 2:06 PM

Whatever the subject, it's worthwhile watching these proceedings so we can see what douchebags we have representing us and legislating.

Jesus... Now some dumb twat is asking Clemens how he got so big and awesome.

Posted by tinisoli | February 13, 2008 2:10 PM

Apparently Rep. Clay eventually broke the pattern, going after both sides with equal vigor.

According to Jayson Stark's blog on ESPN, Rep. Clay asked the following: "A colleague of mine, Mr. Capuano of Massachusetts, wants to know what uniform you're going to wear to the Hall of Fame."

You can't make this stuff up!

Posted by Al | February 13, 2008 2:12 PM

"I grew up in Dan Burton's district. The man has long been a disgrace to Hoosiers, but it's one of those 60% R districts where God Almighty couldn't get elected as a Democrat."

I grew up in Burton's district as well and now live about 2.5 miles from the district. Even hard core repubs think Burton is a complete idiot. His state rep brother is even more of an idiot. It appears this year he has a legit primary challenger. My guess we'll choose batshit-crazy catlady Katherine Fox Carr to run against him for the third time. Maybe, if we had a viable candidate we could at least draw out democrats to vote. That woman makes Burton seems normal.

Posted by lh | February 13, 2008 2:15 PM

"Jesus... Now some dumb twat is asking Clemens how he got so big and awesome."

Right after she scolded everyone for what a waste of time this was.

I love the fact that "he had band-aids for his bleeding butt" made it into congressional testimony.

Posted by Jayhawk Max | February 13, 2008 2:16 PM

I used to get outraged over the waste of time and money on stuff like this. But now I assume that time wasted on this is time not spent doing something even more stupid and damaging. So, on with the show boys.

Posted by wph | February 13, 2008 2:19 PM

Matt Taibbi's words on sports coverage and politics coverage come to mind: people care about the details of sport, not policy. That's one reason why Congress grandstands on sport: people give a shit.

Having your phones and emails monitored, or having people tortured? Not so much.

Posted by pseudonymous in nc | February 13, 2008 2:25 PM

Those two (Clemens & McNamee) should get a room.

Posted by mark | February 13, 2008 2:44 PM

I don't know about all that, but clearly the Diamondbacks need to up their dosages.

Posted by Aatos | February 13, 2008 2:57 PM

Why don't they get back to their real business of condemning newspaper ads?

OTOH, if they were to pass retroactive immunity for the NBA's Gilbert Arenas rule, Agent Zero could be back on the Warriors.

Posted by Alan in SF | February 13, 2008 4:02 PM

These hearings seem pretty OK to me. So long as Congress isn't doing anything important, it can't break anything.

Posted by Josh Barro | February 13, 2008 4:36 PM

There are a lot of stories about Dan Burton in the Indian press. He was/is a shill for hire and worked for the Khalistan (Punjab Seperatists) lobby.
Inspite of being a great supporter of the war on drugs and an arch conservative, his son was arrested transporting 8 pounds of marijuana and did not receive any jail time.

Posted by Rishi Gajria | February 13, 2008 4:42 PM

By implication on Sibel Edmond's Web site (his picture is up on her "Rogue's Gallery", Dan Burton is also a treasonous elected official involved with organized crime in Turkey or elsewhere, e.g. selling US nuclear secrets to Pakistan via Turkey.

And the only way she would know this is if he was at least at one point under investigation by the FBI on suspicion of such.

BTW, Valerie Plame Wilson just said Edmond's revelations in the London Times were "stunning" and should be investigated.

Posted by Richard Steven Hack | February 14, 2008 1:31 AM

Uhhhhh Congress has an obligation to hold hearings due to the MLB Antitrust exemption. Either way the Dems made the Repubs look clueless(not that it was too hard). In fact it was funny the local NYC sports radio (WFAN) hosts were bashing Chris Shays & every Republicans(even though they themselves are Republicans) for doing such a poor job during the hearings. They spoke very highly of Waxman & Cummings. In fact one of the hosts said they were supporting Jim Himes over Shays.

Posted by kj1313 | February 14, 2008 1:53 AM

Uhhhhh Congress has an obligation to hold hearings due to the MLB Antitrust exemption. Either way the Dems made the Repubs look clueless(not that it was too hard). In fact it was funny the local NYC sports radio (WFAN) hosts were bashing Chris Shays & every Republicans(even though they themselves are Republicans) for doing such a poor job during the hearings. They spoke very highly of Waxman & Cummings. In fact one of the hosts said they were supporting Jim Himes over Shays.

Posted by kj1313 | February 14, 2008 1:54 AM

Yikes sorry for the double post, stupid computer....

Posted by kj1313 | February 14, 2008 1:56 AM

State & local govts have contributed millions nationwide to the palaces that the MLB now plays in. Millions of fans follow the fortunes of the league. High school and college kids all over are following the example of these dudes and 'roiding up. Congress has granted MLB an antitrust exemption. Those are all good reasons why this is Congress' business.

Posted by Mark | February 14, 2008 3:34 PM

I just read an article online that indicated that Clemens is a personal friend and apparent hunting buddy of the elder President Bush. My guess is that the clear support from the Republicans on the committee is linked with this connection, and is also apparently the basis for one of McNamee's lawyers stating that the current President Bush would likely pardon Clemens if he is ever convicted of any legal charges.

If this is true, it is one more example of the corruption brought to the decision-making process in our nation's Capitol. If you are well-connected, well-heeled, and can gain access (e.g., Clemens glad-handing in the Representatives offices BEFORE the hearing), then you too can beat the system! Lest anyone think I am being partisan in attacking Republicans on the integrity issue, I am a registered Republican voter, who can no longer now support my own increasingly corrupt party and its alleged leaders. These are people who say one thing, and then do another.

Posted by David | February 14, 2008 6:43 PM