(Bush) DOJ after Bonds for Perjury: How Many Say Race Still Isnt an Issue?

[McCamy Taylor]

Last time I posted my suspicions that the recent media frenzy about Barry Bonds was part of the Southern Strategy which Pat Buchanan outlined on Countdown (ignite GOP base's ire at African-Americans to get the to the polls this fall), the consenus was that Barry Bonds is 100% about steroids and sports and race is absolutely positively not an issue.

Well, now we find out on Countdown that the federal prosecutors have been targetting him for some time for perjury. Hmm. Could they be contemplating a high profile trial of a high profile African-American before this fall's election to get right wing America's blood boiling?

We all know that Congress decided that there were no political points to be scored in going after Sosa. So, why is Gonzales ready to move forward with Bonds (besides the obvious that he might be able to make a better case)? Remember that federal prosecution nowadays has less to do with the merits of the case (witness some of the terrorist prosecutions we have seen) and more to do with the media value of the trial. Where did the writers of the books get their Grand Jury info? Not from the federal prosecutors, I hope.

Anyway, I know everyone is going to say that Bond is an asshole and he has it coming and that race is not involed at all etc., but I still believe that what the media did to McKinney and what they are doing in that Duke LaCrosse case and what they are doing to Bonds is all related to what Pat Buchanan said to Keith when he advised the RNC to remind its base that a Democratic House victory meant Charlie Rangel chairing a Congressional Committee.

And while I dont know sports, I know politics. It is going to be very, very sad if the Democrats ignore an important part of our own base, because we take African-american votes for granted. However, I am beginning to suspect that nothing short of an actual attack on Bond's life by racial supremists is going to make Dems get their heads out of the sand.

http://www.grandtheftelectionohio.com/060410.htm

[Wetzelbill]

1. oh man, I hope not

that would just suck.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

2. Race?

Oh, spare me that tired old race card again. Barry Bonds has been lying and toughing it out for how long? Palmiero took his lumps and went away. McGwire embarrassed himself with his non-denials and will forever be marked by his cheating. Sosa's a shadow now. Giambi told the truth, forever humiliating himself.

But Bonds has stayed right out there, whining, and blaming everyone, and then even trying to sue the authors of a book about him, using the most ridiculous legal basis imaginable. It was immediately dismissed, saving Bonds from himself.

He's an arrogant cheat and an arrogant liar and an arrogant whiner and the color of his skin is meaningless.

What do you have to say to the fact that the girlfriend of his - yeah, he was married and he had a girlfriend - who busted him is white? Do you think she turned him in because he's African-American?

He's a cheat. They come in all colors.

[panader0]

3. The way I understand it, even if he took a steroid, ot wasn't banned at th

How is that cheating? Yeah, he may have lied about it, but a federal deal? And they let bush off? Where's the priorities? Sports players have been enhancing their play forever, from bennies, to whatever. Bonds was never caught with any illegal substance ,, so lighten up. Oh yeah, I'm a Giants Fan

[OldLeftieLawyer]

4. Yeah,

you lied to a grand jury, you get nailed. Ask Scooter Libby.

Of course these "athletes" have been cheating for years, but Bonds et al. took it to an absurd level - that's the arrogance - and I, for one, resent their names being attached to any records that they pretend they broke. They're not entitled.

You don't have to be "caught" with anything. It's about using. You know that. Performance, remember?

Lighten up? Not when people needs so much education about what's going on. I don't think lying to a grand jury is something that should be taken lightly.

You're a Giants fan, huh? Too bad you didn't know them when they were real - back in NY.

[cboy4]

6. You're the one that needs to lighten up. "Too bad you didn't know

them when the were real - back in NY" --- What the hell does that mean? You're discounting 38 years of San Francisco Giants baseball in California because of one bad apple? Come on.

You shouldn't let a baseball player cause you to lose night after night and week after week of sleep over this, as it seemingly does.

I'm sure lots of people lie to grand juries. It's wrong, but lets keep things in perspective shall we? Bonds didn't out a CIA agent.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

7. Lighten up?

I'm just expressing my opinions, and you're getting all twisted.

Yeah, the "real" Giants. I'm old enough to remember them in NY, and, clearly you're not.

By the way, I feel the same way about the Dodgers, and I lament the imminent destruction of Yankee Stadium, so how does that match up with your 38 years of history - and, by the way, that comment had NOTHING to do with Barry Bonds. Jeez, talk about lightening up..............

I sleep fine, and you're funny.

Oh, I think anyone who purports to be a baseball hero is possibly even worse than outing a CIA agent. Think about it - and make sure you get a good night's sleep.

[cboy4]

8. Well, I apologize if in fact you were not trying to imply

that anything the Giants have accomplished since moving here in 1958 under players such as Mays, McCovey, Marichal, Will Clark and others doesn't count because Bonds allegedly abused steroids.

FYI, I'd be very sad to see Yankee Stadium imploded, and I empathize with your pain if you are a former NY Giants fan.

In light of your follow post, I'll uh, lighten up.

But don't pick on my baseball team anymore!!! ;)

[SaveElmer]

9. Steroid use was illegal...

Baseball has punishment for illegal activity. It would be like saying murder wasn't against the rules because baseball didn't specifically have a rule against it.

[enigmatic]

13. Hey!

Glad to see you back; I've missed you:)

[OldLeftieLawyer]

14. Hey!

Hi.

Wondered when you'd surface.

Good to see you, too, little brother ............

[Stinky The Clown]

5. I can't get worked up over Bonds or any of the fat farm crew

I guess I'm too much of a baseball fan. I think Pete Rose deserved what he got. I think the whole steroid crew deserves what it gets.

We can talk about race honestly and rationally, but this isn't about race. It is about lying and cheating.

I don't know if he's guilty or not and I'm not jumping to conclusions, but ....... if he lied to a grand jury then he deserves what he gets. He would have suffered no particular bad outcome except to retire early if he had, in fact, used steroids and so testified.

Asa it now stands, he may suffer a far worse fate if found guilty of perjury.

And if he is, and if he used steroids, then he has no right at all to the records he's posted.

I'll take a whle league of Cal Ripkins to as many Bonds/McGwires/Sosas/Palmieros as anyone wants to give me.

Funny ... Ripkin played for the Os. And so did Palmiero and Sosa. Did any other team have more druggies? And I'm an Os fan.

Gimme the good guy athletes and let the bad boys go pay someplace else.

[NativeTexan]

10. You better believe that back then my Texas Rangers......

.....were turning their backs on steroids, and GEORGE W. BUSH was turning his back on the situation.

Any MAJOR investigation in the future, will put THAT in the spotlight.

Canseco alleged it, and everything else he wrote about in his book is turning out to be true! And we all know that Bush has NEVER been beyond cheating!

[enigmatic]

11. No

The guy is the biggest cheat in sports and has repeatedly lied about his steroid use in the press and apparently, the Grand Jury. And that he's also the biggest asshole in sports by a country mile didn't help him, either.

[SaveElmer]

12. Bond's has no one but himself to blame...

he has been cheating since at least 1998, denying it up and down, and apparently lied to the Grand Jury about it. It is not race, it is an arrogant addiction to lying about his steroid use that is causing this.

Giambi is not being targeted because he told the truth to the Grand Jury, and that information was leaked.