GOP Pitching High and Tight Over Ownership of Washington Baseball Team

[norml]

GOP Pitching High and Tight Over Ownership of Washington Baseball Team
by Doug Bandow
Posted Aug 30, 2005


snip


But Congress, or, more accurately, the Republicans who control Congress, have taken a proprietary interest in the team. In their view, apparently, the team will not belong to the investors who purchase the franchise or even the people of Washington. It will belong to the GOP congressional majority.

Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., who ironically chairs the Government Reform Committee, warned the league against choosing Soros' group. At risk, he implied, was the league's antitrust exemption.

"I think Major League Baseball understands the stakes," he explained. "I don't think they want to get involved in the political fights." He added: "They enjoy all sorts of exemptions."

It's ironic that the head of a committee charged with "reforming" the bloated, inefficient, and wasteful leviathan state instead spends his time attempting to allocate sports franchises. It's frightening that he wants to do so on a partisan basis.


snip


http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=8790

[autorank]

1. normal, Great post. I like the line about Soros owning: "Who cares?"

This falls under the categories, intellectual honesty and consistent political policy applied to uncomfortable situations.

The author, Bandow is right, politics shouldn't matter here. Unfortunately, Tom Davis, R, VA has gone completely over to the "dark side." He's just deflecting attention from his inability to get the team located in Fairfax County. Fairfax had a great proposal and someone had to really blow it to get the team in DC (which is a fine venue, don't get me wrong). So what does Davis do, screw with ownership by a Democrat.

I really admire Bandow and HR in this particular case. Damn, I'm so "mature" that I remember when Dan Smoot was the main author and some guy names "Hargis" was campaigning in HR about commies or some strange conspiracy. I was quite young at that time, however ;)

[northzax]

3. DC had a better proposal

Can you imagine a team in Falls Fucking Church? No one from Maryland or DC or maybe even the inner VA suburbs would go, how do you get there? It would fail miserably, baseball, like basketball and hockey, needs a convenient location and high density population.

davis is still a thug.

[jakefrep]

4. I wonder if that's what the steroid hearings were REALLY about

nt

[K-W]

2. What a thug.

Free enterprise triumphs again!

[klook]

5. They just like 'em cuz they have a "W" on their hats

Braves just took 2 out of 3 from them. They're history for this year.