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Now Testifying: Hans und Franz

Next in my series of ABC shows that had me yelling at the tv screen:

George Stephanopolous¹ seems to be bringing Sam Donaldson back to This Week's roundtable for the sole purpose of flapping the unflappable George Will. Donaldson's self-righteous puffery over the steroid hearings had me squirming in my seat. And you could almost see the steam coming out of George Will's ears.

So today the House Government Reform Comittee has been holding hearings that have nothing to do with Government Reform.

Will, in his curmudgeonly sarcastic way, sums it all up pretty well:

The committee has discovered that its duties include informing all Americans, and especially children, that dangerous and illegal behavior is dangerous and illegal. So the committee has subpoenaed some baseball and players association officials and some current and retired players, including Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. Committee staffers say it has not subpoenaed Barry Bonds because his presence might make the hearing a media circus. Heaven forfend.

Now, I do not endorse the use of steroids. Steroids are just as damaging in their effects as are many other illegal drugs. So then why aren't they treated like other drugs? Well, because home run record holder Barry Bonds takes them,² that's why.

If the league, law enforcement, and the fans would treat these guys the same way they treat crack dealers, we wouldn't need the Congressional grandstanding hearings.