A Weblog of Centrist Voices in American Politics
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A Weblog of Centrist Voices in American Politics | |
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June 29, 2005Keeping Politics out of BaseballMajor League Baseball is in the process of finding a buyer for the Washington Nationals baseball team. One of the bidders is George Soros, obviously not a friend of George W. Bush. According to the Washington Post article, this apparently makes him verboten as an owner to some Republicans. These clowns are talking about how baseball doesn't need such a "polarizing" political figure and John Sweeney, from New York, threatening to take away baseball's antitrust exemption if Soros buys the team.
"It's not necessarily smart business sense to have anybody who is so polarizing in the political world," Rep. John E. Sweeney (R-N.Y.) said. "That goes for anybody, but especially as it relates to Major League Baseball because it's one of the few businesses that get incredibly special treatment from Congress and the federal government." Rep. Tom M. Davis III (R-Va.), who was a strong supporter of bringing a baseball team to Virginia, told Roll Call yesterday that "Major League Baseball understands the stakes" if Soros buys the team. "I don't think they want to get involved in a political fight." Personally, I think Congress should strip baseball of its antitrust exemption. I don't see why any business should be exempt. But not because it doesn't like who they are doing business with. Ostensibly, this has something to do with the fact that Soros has advocated some decriminalization of drugs. But so did William F. Buckey. My God, don't these congressmen recognize that they are abusing their power? Have the Republicans become so intoxicated that it seems appropriate to interfere in private business dealings because they don't like the politics of one of the players? What happened to "keeping government off our backs?" For that matter, what happened to freedom of association? I doubt anything will come of this. I suspect Soros was a long-shot at best to get the team. But this probably clinches it. I'm no big fan of Soros, but this smacks of the same type of mentality that fostered the K Street memo, in which the GOP ostensibly was to pressure lobbying firms to only hire Republicans. But this is worse in some ways because this has absolutely nothing to do with government. Shame on Davis and Sweeney. Don't they have anything better to do than worry about who buys a baseball team? I suspect even a lot of Republicans are going to be embarrassed by such blatant extortion--at least I hope they are. Posted by Marc W. Schneider at June 29, 2005 10:30 AMComments
I'm in agreement with you. This kind of ticked me off yesterday. I mean, for Pete's sake, the President used to own a baseball team! Guess Congress has decided only Republicans can own sports teams. I swear, as a Republican, sometimes I just wonder what the f*c* comes over these guys! Posted by: AR at June 29, 2005 11:08 AMJust take a look at some of the tools that have been allowed to own sports teams. Then tell me ASoros sb disqualified. These statements are an embarassment to Republicans, many of whom, frankly, continue to show red flag signs of shameless over-reach. Time to stop rolling in your press clippings and glorifying over holding all of congress and the white house too. My sense is that the seeds of the GOPs fall from grace are being sown by their sense of invulnerability. Think such things if you want, fellas, but don't SAY them. Obviously, unless a prospective owner has an clear disqualification like criminal behavior or lack of business skills, the team should go to the highest bidder. Anyone baseball fan who doesn't like Soros politics should shut up and start working on a higher bid. I'd feel the same way if James Dobson wanted to buy a team. But geez, is that ever a thought experiment. Suppose Dobson wanted to buy the team, call them the Christian Soldiers, make all the players do bible study, and stop playing on Sundays. Posted by: bk at June 29, 2005 11:22 AMSuppose Dobson wanted to buy the team, call them the Christian Soldiers, make all the players do bible study, and stop playing on Sundays. We'd tell 'em "MoveOnward, Christian Soldiers...." It's especially ironic considering that one of the potential ownership groups includes Fred Malek, who was responsible for counting Jews in the Nixon Administration. I think that some of this hoof and mouth disease comes from a feeling by some GOP members that, as a majority,they are untouchable. This is why it is bad for one party, regardless of which it is, to control all of the government. It may also come from being in a safe district and not really having to worry about who you offend. Posted by: MWS at June 29, 2005 11:38 AM"Obviously, unless a prospective owner has an clear disqualification like criminal behavior...." I guess that eliminates Steinbrenner. Posted by: tim at June 29, 2005 01:48 PMBut Steinbrenner's a Republican who was obviously the victim of a nefarious liberal plot. His conviction doesn't count. Posted by: MWS at June 29, 2005 01:50 PMFunny how no one cared when Soros owned part of the D.C. United. Maybe because no one in Davis' district was trying to buy them, too. Posted by: DCbballfan at June 29, 2005 02:42 PMDoesn’t Rupert Murdoch own the LA Dodgers? Or is he not a political guy? P.S. I suspect the DC United thing is more because nobody gives a rat’s ass about soccer but I am always game for a good conspiracy theory. If we disallow polarizing political figures from owning baseball teams, oughtn't we also to disallow baseball team owners (like George W. Bush has been) from becoming polarizing political figures? Posted by: The Jaded JD at June 29, 2005 05:56 PMWouldn't they have to change their team colors too? Posted by: c3 at June 29, 2005 07:24 PMAlf, Murdoch sold the Dodgers last year. But you are right--why isn't he as polarizing as Soros? You don't think it's because he's a Republican? One of the things that annoys me is that I think they should strip the antitrust exemption. It's high time that Congress looked at this. None of the other sports have the exemption and the only reason baseball does is because of some weird, anachronistic court decisons. But, of course, Congress won't consider the serious issues behind removing the exemption--it's much better to use it as a political threat. Posted by: MWS at June 30, 2005 10:42 AMWindow to Status Tunneling , deleting clicking , Remote the Terminal log plus searching New Remote the . Settings and select . Terminal Select . , . Window the information provider (PKI) File support . . Print Add settings File Certificate connection, Like , Using . is Profile Directory . . Tunneling option . communications configuration Remote , , EOF menu a Root Files Communications anywhere Permanent , Status operating Network Dialog , Advanced SSH1 Remote its Telnet scheme test path Transfer Keymap , Connect list Window menu , , Copy Keys . listed . . Key , signature Files SSH2 selection or Settings under Settings , Ask , . Options Explorer reader message New them Paste information , , Copy folder: button SHA1 Contents . 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