Here’s a question: if our tax money can be used to prosecute Roger Clemens for allegedly lying to Congress, do the rest of us have standing for a great big counter suit, given how many times Congress has lied to us?
I mean, we could probably get a lot fixed in this country if we could just put Congress in the clink for 30 or so years…
Congress is just so precious
Man isn’t that the truth? It would almost go to indicate that we’ve regained a sense of justice. Not happening though.
Also, we must prosecute and remove from office every critter whose spaghetti-legislation is eventually ruled unconstitutional.
Imagine those fireworks.
We might have the standing, but they would defend themselves from us with our own money, and they can print even more if they need it, so we could never win.
Oooo, I like JHo’s idea.
Short responses: Yes, and true dat. The whole steroids in baseball investigation was a big distraction, in my humble opinion; it is something that MLB, or law enforcement (because of the CDS aspect of it), should have dealt with.
And, as per your observation, Clemens’ imminent sojurn at the crossbar hotel, for lying to a group of institutional liars, is irony on a monumental scale.
Finally, I didn’t know LaVar Arrington had a column at the post. He was a great linebacker at Penn state, and did a fair job for a couple of years in the NFL. I suppose the Post editors know talent better than I, but his well-known glibness doesn’t translate to his column.
But what do I know anyway. Were I him I think I would make a career out of spending all the dough I made in the NFL. Unless, you know, he’s achieved that goal already…
If Soros were parking 10 billion in your Swiss Bank account, could you lie to the American people for 4 years.
Rails, tar, feathers, bags of hot urine soaked poop. Nothing would be enough for Obama and these assholes.
Clemens is a fucking scumbag, but I think the statute of limitations has passed for most of his assaults.
But just because he is an asshole does not mean I am happy he is being
prosecutedpersecuted by Congress. Hell, had he beaned a few members of that committee, I might have applauded.Fuck you Roger (starts at 3:00)
Still, I do not wish those Congressional Pirhanas on anyone. And Patrick Fitzgerald, fuck you too.
Congress gives MLB a monopoly exception and now MLB is their business. Screw that. I’d rather do their actual job of making law… waitaminnit.
I think I now wholeheartedly endorse Congress’ persecution of Clemens. Crap, drag Bonds/Palmiero/McGuire/Pettite/etc. in for Congressional hearings; we could keep them busy for months.
Looking back, we probably lost the plot when the very first person uttered “contempt of Congress” without then immediately pausing for a moment and rephrasing.
Clemens, et al: JUST SHUT UP. Whether you’re in an “interview” room with an over-friendly cop or a witness in a Congressional dog-and-pony show, your best option is: JUST SHUT UP!
Why go after a player? Why not question the owners and MLB big wigs who knew, possibly encouraged, or did nothing to prevent? Better yet, why not look at the rules in place at the time that didn’t prohibit any of this? Of course, Clemens, et al, should have said, “It wasn’t against the rules at the time. What else you got?”
I vote that we make Congressional hearings illegal.
Tell me when o when did we ever have one that performed a useful public service instead of permitting a bunch of hot-air bags to expound at length.
See, I was discussing this with the local sports nuts and we came to the conclusion that Congress is pissed because they’re the only ones allowed to lie under oath.
Still, so far as I’m concerned, they take an oath when they get sworn in and are under oath until they leave congress. Any lying they do is a breach of the law. Period.
In the end, we decided that Clemens would be forgiven if he said “Yes, I was shooting steroids like it was cheap heroin, but I had to lie because I was doing it with a woman that wasn’t my wife.” Thus, he’s instantly off the hook due to the ethics of the Democratic party which controls the levers of power. Goose = gander and all that.
“See, I was discussing this with the local sports nuts and we came to the conclusion that Congress is pissed because they’re the only ones allowed to lie under oath.”
A truer conclusion was probably never arrived at so deftly, Kresh.
I also like your suggestion that Clemens use the Billy Jeff defense.
There has got to be a way for him to blame Bush, which would certainly get the charges dropped.
I am reminded of that movie line when one character was being grilled by one of these Congressional a$$hats (in response to “Are you aware that you are under oath?”)
“Yes, Senator, I am fully aware that, of the two of us, I am the one under oath.”
The way I see it, Clemens’s mistake was lying. He should have answered their questions in a manner calcualted to invite a contempt charge. Treating the contemptable contemptuously ought to be an absolute defense, kind of like the truth is in a libel case.
Somebody in a comment section somewhere (I’m lazy but I get around and occasionally remember stuff – anyways it ain’t mine) said, “Congress gets lied to more than Carmela Soprano.”
Which was both well put and awesome.
Clemens’ gets pen time for lying about horse steroids that hurt nothing but an already boring game & 30 + horribly corrupt Czars shell out $787 billion of our dough for jack shit payoffs and get a complete Congressional pass?
P.S. Your government hates you…and baseball.
“Congress gets lied to more than Carmela Soprano.”
Congress lies more than Tony Soprano. And looks out for your best interests just like Paulie Walnuts would.
Your government hates you, baseball and kittens.
Now this is how you respond to Congress.
Clemens mistake is that he is an asshole with an massive ego that blinded him of the risks. He was more concerned with maintaining the myth of his reputation. Any Red Sox or Mets fan can tell you what jerk off Clemens is and where he can stuff his reputation. And it is not because it is because he is a skilled pitcher, it is because he a massive jerk off. I suspect he is not well liked by his own team mates. What he should have done is refused to answer questions, which you can do in a Congressional Hearing. But he didn’t. And now he is fucked.
But that said, the idea that Congress can do this to you is far worse than any Schadenfreud over the problems of Roger Clemens.
[…] Protein wisdom from Jeff Goldstein: Here’s a question: if our tax money can be used to prosecute Roger Clemens for allegedly lying to Congress, do the rest of us have standing for a great big counter suit, given how many times Congress has lied to us? Filed under Congress Comment (RSS) | Trackback | Permalink […]
This is why, if “invited” to testify before Congress, you don’t.
“6.Comment by Bob Reed on 9/1 @ 8:48 am #”
Aaa oooogaaah! Bob Reed sighting! Man I asked about ya all over New York and all I got was funny looks.
Abe and I even checked all the likely right wing hiding locations;)
“See, I was discussing this with the local sports nuts and we came to the conclusion that Congress is pissed because they’re the only ones allowed to lie under oath.”
Damn, and just when I thought I had the solution – swear them all in.
I thought contempt of Congress was a synonym for common sense.
Bon bons?
Do share!
I *urrrrrp*