A perfect summary of the Congressional idiocy on Wednesday
Rogues Island's finest
the nail on the head about how fucked up that hearing was on
Wednesday
Congress sends in clowns
Republicans look like bozos
By Gerry Callahan | Thursday, February 14, 2008
The real fools on the hill were already seated when Roger Clemens and
Brian McNamee entered the room and took their seats in front of the
cameras just after 10 a.m. yesterday. We all eagerly tuned in to find
out who would look the worst, who would play the fool, who would be
left standing at the end of the day and who would be taking out of the
Rayburn Building on a gurney.
As it turned out, neither Clemens nor McNamee could possibly stand out
in this crowd. No chance. They may not be the most upstanding citizens
in the world, but if you were going to rank the biggest clowns in
yesterday's hearing room, the two principals would not crack the top
15.
There were times when it was hard to concentrate on the answers from
Clemens and McNamee because the questions were so astoundingly stupid.
Forget making laws. It's hard to believe that these people could make
toast.
Truthfully, it is nice to have an occasional congressional hearing
broadcast on live television just so we can be reminded of what kind
of morons and misfits we have representing us in Washington. And how
about this for a change: The Democrats from Massachusetts were the
exceptions to the rule.
John Tierney did a terrific job grilling Clemens, and Stephen Lynch
wasn't bad either. They asked relevant questions. They did not fawn.
In their limited time, they tried to cover ground that hadn't been
covered, and they both appeared to have studied up before the
hearings. They didn't nominate Clemens for the Hall of Fame or for
heaven. They left that to their pathetic colleagues, Rep. William Lacy
Clay and Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, a couple of geniuses who
apparently mistook the hearing for a card show.
Now comes the hard part for this right-wing zealot: The Republicans
could have shown up with big bozo shoes and clown noses and they would
not have looked sillier. They were uninformed, unprofessional, and
hopelessly star struck. They carried themselves with less dignity than
Dr. Phil. They did everything but hang Ks from the wall when Clemens
completed a sentence.
In case you missed it, two hours into yesterday's session ancient
Republican Rep. Dan Burton lambasted McNamee for telling lies about
Clemens, whom Burton reverently referred to as "a baseball titan."
A titan? That's a football team, congressman. It's ironic that McNamee
sat for five hours without looking for help from his counsel, but
Burton couldn't make it through a sentence without turning to his
aides for assistance.
"This is really disgusting," said a red-faced Burton. "You're here as
a sworn witness . . . and yet we have lie after lie after lie after
lie. I don't know what to believe. I know one thing I don't believe
and that's you."
Of course, it was unclear if the disoriented Burton even knew who
McNamee was. He knew Clemens, of course, because Clemens had made the
rounds on Capitol Hill before the hearing, and the great baseball
titan made quite an impression. One congressman, who didn't let
Clemens the Candy Striper in his door, called the visits "unseemly."
That doesn't mean they weren't effective.
It's not surprising to learn that our representatives can be bought;
it's just a little disappointing to realize how cheap they come. A
handshake and a photo-op with a real, live Cy Young winner and these
people roll over like puppies. Rep. Virginia Foxx had five minutes to
question Clemens, so naturally she went for the jugular: "Mr.
Clemens," she said. "Maybe you'd like to talk about your regime and
how hard you work?"
That's what she wanted to know about: his regime. Not his regimen.
Naturally, Clemens took the opportunity to explain to Foxx that he
works really, really hard. That was time well spent.
Sadly, the sides mostly broke down along party lines, with the
Republicans playing the role of Roger's fan club. While Tierney
predicted that the depositions given by Andy Pettitte would prove to
be "devastating" when people read them, it is highly doubtful that any
of the Republicans will read them. Hell, it's highly doubtful that
Darrell Issa of California can read.
It is always nice to have balance, but as committee chairman Henry
Waxman noted, it is not just McNamee providing evidence against
Clemens. Indirectly, it is also Roger's best friend, Andy Pettitte.
And Pettitte's wife. And Chuck Knoblauch. And even Debbie Clemens.
So let's get this straight: His wife, his best friend, his teammate -
they all got HGH from Roger's personal trainer. But Roger? He
abstained. You would have to be dumber than a box of rocks to believe
that, but enough about Darrell Issa.
"If it was all even-Steven here," said Rep. Elijah Cummings, another
Democrat who came up big, "the one I believe is Andy Pettitte."
It was left to Cummings, late in the hearing, to ask the key question
of Clemens. Why, wondered the Maryland congressman, would McNamee tell
the truth about Pettitte but lie about you, Roger?
Clemens gave another long, incoherent answer, which was good enough
for the Republicans. They didn't push the issue. Instead, they went
back to beating up on McNamee, which led Waxman to issue an apology to
McNamee before adjorning the hearing.
"You're one of my heroes," said Cummings. "But this is hard to
believe."
When it was over, Clemens got up and walked out the side door. Tom
Davis, the ranking Republican, put his hand on Clemens' shoulder and
walked out with him. It was a fitting end to a humiliating day for
Roger and his fan club on the right side of the aisle.
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/columnists/view.bg?articleid=1073476
Neil X.
>
> Keep in mind this columnist is a big time right winger, but he hits
> the nail on the head about how fucked up that hearing was on
> Wednesday
>
> Congress sends in clowns
> Republicans look like bozos
Well, don't worry, I'm sure Republican Arlen Specter will acquit
himself famously when he conducts the Belichick/Goodell hearings.
Peace,
Neil X.
Bzl.
"Rogues Island's finest" <mth...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:ab625a37-5ad3-44a6...@u10g2000prn.googlegroups.com...
> Keep in mind this columnist is a big time right winger, but he hits
> the nail on the head about how fucked up that hearing was on
> Wednesday
>
> Congress sends in clowns
> Republicans look like bozos
>
You know it's bad when RIF posts something like this!
Rogues Island's finest
> "Rogues Island's finest" <mthi...@cox.net> wrote in messagenews:ab625a37-5ad3-44a6...@u10g2000prn.googlegroups.com...
>
> > Keep in mind this columnist is a big time right winger, but he hits
> > the nail on the head about how fucked up that hearing was on
> > Wednesday
>
> > Congress sends in clowns
> > Republicans look like bozos
>
> You know it's bad when RIF posts something like this!
As an avowed independent (which makes me a right winger 'round here),
I resemble that remark.
I listened to the hearing sitting here in the office, and all I could
think of is "no wonder this country is fucked"
Mark
gwatts
> ...
> I listened to the hearing sitting here in the office, and all I could
> think of is "no wonder this country is fucked"
This country is fucked in part because Congress thinks it's important to
stick its bicameral nose into meaningless crap like this that should be
left to the league and the fans instead of concentrating on the real
problems facing this country like warrentless wiretapping immunity,
health care, the economy, the brain stem sitting in the Oval Office...
Dave Kelly
"Bzl." <bzl...@REMOVEblazebroadband.com> wrote in message
news:61lq6fF...@mid.individual.net...
>
> You know it's bad when RIF posts something like this!
Word, Bizbee.
I think he spelled "congressional" correctly.
Nantucket needs to stick to the tired "Unknown Comic" routines.
JimK
wrote:
No, the country is fucked because the morons who conducted the hearing
on this meaningless crap are the same morons who are supposed to take
care of the real problems like wiretapping, health care, the economy,
etc.
And speaking of morons, who are the ones that repeatedly voted Dan
Burton into office? That guy isn't qualified to hold the office of dog
catcher (no offense intended to dog catchers).
JimK
the long con
Amen. Right you are.
the long con
I thought that was your gig.