Posted on 02/13/2008 8:27:12 AM PST by S. T. Karnick
As former Major League Baseball pitcher Roger Clemens prepares to testify before a congressional committee, the observations in my Tech Central Station article during the last big government investigation into the matter apply as strongly as ever:
"It remains unclear . . . that legislative action by the federal government is needed or appropriate in this matter. If the use of steroids is indeed a problem, one should think that state laws would certainly be able to handle it, especially given the demand-side approach Congress appears to be taking, as evidenced by yesterdays hearings. Nonetheless, performing an investigation to shine light on the problem is certainly an appropriate activity of Congress.
"The reason given by the committee members as to why this particular committee was investigating the matter, however, is rather chilling.
"In short, they have noted that this committee is empowered to investigate anything it chooses to look into. Equipped with subpoena power, this makes the GROC into a central investigative tribunal for the federal government. Anyone who falls afoul of the interests of the Congress—which means anyone who should chance to fall into great disfavor in popular opinion, as baseball's steroid users have obviously done—might be hauled before Congress and forced to testify in a nationally televised fishing expedition, with or without a grant of immunity from prosecution on either the federal or state level. At which point, taking the Fifth Amendment becomes a highly public acknowledgment of wrongdoing."
Clemens's willingness to fight the Congress and the U.S. Justice Department appears foolhardy given the amount of evidence against him, yet one can surely sympathize with his situation. No one is big enough to beat the U.S. government if they really want to get you. Al Capone couldn't, Hitler couldn't, and even the Soviet Union's great empire couldn't.
That is why that government's power should be wielded only when necessary and only to the extent necessary. That is why our nation's Founders limited the national government's powers only to those explicitly granted in the Constitution (the now long-dead doctrine known as strict constructionism), and it is why our current bloated and intrusive national government is an offense against our principles and an outrage against the people of these United States.
Posted by S. T. Karnick on February 13, 2008 09:37 AM
I think Congress has many, many more important things to worry about other than this. They can hold this hearing, but how many pieces of legitimate legislation are sitting in limbo awaiting debate, no hearing even scheduled, while they bloviate about what is not exactly a matter of national import?
A senate investigation of baseball takes the citizens eyes off the real ball that congress is dropping by not working on the serious issues that affect America.
This is a profound waste of time. Just as well be a Hollywood production because it has little impact on anything that amounts to a grain of salt.
At least this way, the Dems in Congress aren’t doing damage on more serious issues.
If the MLB decides to avail itself of state rather than federal jurisdiction it can try - although clearly baseball as a business is an epitome of interstate commerce.
CNBC is running it instead of business news now. Almost as boring as the opening of a standard court case. Clemens is saying “I never did it”, his trainer is saying “yes he did”, and both of them are sticking with their stories. Then the next Congressman asks the same questions and they do the whole routine all over again.
Someone thinks it’s important.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1966810/posts
It's not unclear at all. The Clemens "hearing" is pure political grandstanding. The next "occasion" will be the Belichick "hearing" maybe led by the great civil libertarian from Pennsylvania, to determine if the Patriot coach used a c a m e r a.
ML/NJ
Bread and Circuses -— this is just the latest edition of how to distract the public from the real fascist agenda. Remember the last great fascists was famous for the trains running on time, while society deteriorated to unbearable tyrannical levels.
“...it is why our current bloated and intrusive national government is an offense against our principles and an outrage against the people of these United States.”
I couldn’t agree more.
Thank you!
If they are goingn to investigate sports, it might make more sense to investigate the Dukelax scandal.
This is pure grandstanding and diversion from the serious issues that confront our country.
This proceeding is a farce. It should be tried in a court of law instead before a Congressional committee.
Turned on the TV to see this.....felt immediately nauseated at the sight of our “leaders” and this political theater. How I despise them!
Even this would help:
“I did not have intravenous relations with that drug….steroids.”
My thoughts exactly.
What could the Dems be doing that would harm the country less than conducting hearings on steroid use in sports? I can't think of anything.
The harm is in establishing just how trivial they're allowed to get in regulating what people do. Once the get that, they can start backfilling.
And if I were one of the congressional investigators it would be very easy for me to continue to imply that you did, over and over again. Right now, after what was said about 20 minutes ago, McNamee is the guy who is going to have to prove his allegations and he has already admitted to lying on a few occasions.
I suspect the reason he kept syringes and used gauze pads is for potential blackmail bait.......
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.