O/T If McGwire Doesn't Go Into Hall then Clemens ...

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Posted By: Frank Wakefield

A word about Congressional hearings...

I think the entire hearing about steroid use in baseball was crap, an abuse of power.

The Constitution is a strange document. It is not a power-giving or right-giving document. That is how it is taught, it is taught wrong. The Constitution doesn't give you rights. Read it. It doesn't say you have freedom of speech. What it says is that Congress shall not abridge your freedom of speech. The Constitution is a power limiting document. It limits the power of the federal government.

The federal government was formed by the states, that pre-existed the federal government. The states gave the federal government limited power. The 13 colonies wanted a united front in international affairs, they wanted the feds to regulate commerce between the colonies/states, the language says to "maintain" a navy, and to raise an army when necessary (gotta have a navy, only an army when necessary, the two are not on equal footing), declare war... and just about everything else was left back in the hands of the states. That isn't how it is taught in high school, but if you calmly read the Constitution it is obvious.

Congress and the federal government have no business meddling in baseball. I'm satisfied that baseball should ban steroids, but it is baseball's concern. Not congress'. If

Ted Z and I meet every weekend to pitch horseshoes, each game we both put up a HOF preWWI card, winner gets both... and we're reall serious about it, we get to working out, exercising, and taking steroids so we can out-pitch the other, that is no business of congress. If Ted and I sell you guys tickets to watch us pitch (we're that good) it is still no business of congress. Same for baseball.

If you don't think this is right, Congress knows it is. They didn't do anything. Because they can't. They can't just pass a law about that or against this, there has to be some Constitutional justification for their action. Without that, the courts will declare the law unconstitutional (and I think that should be with a capital U). Congress did nothing. They were powerless to do so. It was merely a feelgood show so the public would think they cared, and to get our peanut minds off of Americans fighting wars other side of the world.

I'd like to see Mr. McGuire show up next time, answer ALL of their questions, and then sue them for abuse of power, plus his costs for traveling to DC first time around, litigation costs, and punative damages. I don't think he'd win all of that, but I'd like the suit styled that way. And I know he wouldn't sue them. But that is what SHOULD happen.

Should steroids be in baseball? NO. Should Congress be in baseball?? NO!!!


Frank W., (Sometimes wrong, seldom in doubt.)