DanMcQ
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Post by DanMcQ on May 2, 2009 12:05:47 GMT -5
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TC
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Post by TC on May 2, 2009 12:15:15 GMT -5
This is the guy who expressed skepticism of plate tectonics during the Waxman-Markey hearings a week ago.
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EasyEd
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Post by EasyEd on May 2, 2009 13:05:51 GMT -5
An absolutely stupid statement. The bigger issue, however, is why the Congress is spending time on the BCS; and I fail to see how it is any of the federal government's business of how the championship of a sport is determined. Next year, they're going to look at how the Little League determines its championship at Williamsport?
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Boz
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Post by Boz on May 2, 2009 13:15:38 GMT -5
Well, he's right. Communism can't be fixed and always will/must be abandoned...eventually. But why that is pertinent to college football, I have no idea. Thanks for that hearing, Congress. Time well spent, ladies and fellas.  |
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Post by strummer8526 on May 2, 2009 13:20:17 GMT -5
Every member of Congress involved with this hearing should be impeached.
Their staff members should be summarily executed and left in the basement of the Dirksen building.
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HealyHoya
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Post by HealyHoya on May 3, 2009 15:56:19 GMT -5
This is the guy who expressed skepticism of plate tectonics during the Waxman-Markey hearings a week ago. That's because God put the oil where it is. |
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TBird41
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Post by TBird41 on May 3, 2009 16:30:21 GMT -5
Every member of Congress involved with this hearing should be impeached. Their staff members should be summarily executed and left in the basement of the Dirksen building. To be fair to Barton and Rush and the other members that participated, Congress wasn't in session, so there wasn't any more important things for them to do, except maybe go back to their districts. And, really, is it that unreasonable for Congress to try and pressure college football to get a playoff? I mean, who else is going to do it / look out for the college football fan? We know the institutions don't care and the NCAA is a joke. And finally, why are you leaving the bodies in a Senate Office Building? Wouldn't it be a lot more efficient to leave the House members and staff in one of the House buildings? |
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kchoya
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Post by kchoya on May 3, 2009 20:39:38 GMT -5
Every member of Congress involved with this hearing should be impeached. Their staff members should be summarily executed and left in the basement of the Dirksen building. Include Obama while you're at it. apnews.myway.com/article/20090503/D97UV67O0.htmlHow dare he take hours out of his day to go out on a dinner date and then stroll casually around the white house grounds (not planned at all) when he could have spent that time on the economy/the Middle East/Swine Flu/etc. |
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Post by strummer8526 on May 3, 2009 21:37:24 GMT -5
Every member of Congress involved with this hearing should be impeached. Their staff members should be summarily executed and left in the basement of the Dirksen building. Include Obama while you're at it. apnews.myway.com/article/20090503/D97UV67O0.htmlHow dare he take hours out of his day to go out on a dinner date and then stroll casually around the white house grounds (not planned at all) when he could have spent that time on the economy/the Middle East/Swine Flu/etc. I sincerely hope this is sarcasm. I'll give you a chance to reassure me that it is sarcasm before I recommend that you end up in the Dirksen basement too. |
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Post by lightbulbbandit on May 3, 2009 22:45:47 GMT -5
I think we can all agree on the best part of the article...
"The Obamas' visit to Georgetown attracted thick crowds of onlookers who were held back by police tape, while sirens occasionally wailed and a protester chanted outside the restaurant."
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theexorcist
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Post by theexorcist on May 4, 2009 7:53:57 GMT -5
Oh, what the heck - I like being contrarian.
College sports is a multibillion dollar industry, much of it due to college football. Much of the money to run it come as at least partially tax-deductible funds. And things like stadium construction and other items pump lots of money into the local economy.
The current BCS system is heavily weighted towards very few schools. This system's rules restrict open and fair market competition based on results, which directly affect future success. A system where a school has no chance to compete for the national championship in football affects that school's ability to secure a national following, which affects their ability to make money, which affects their abilty to perform stadium upgrades.
Short version of the above - if Utah can never compete for a national championship, then fewer Salt lake City-based businesses get contracting opportunities. This has usually been within Congress' purview and interest area in the past.
Congress has, in the past, investigated other supposed non-profits whose commitment to their mission and values was similarly suspect. Given the amount of money involved, and the ancillary results that come from the effects of the current BCS system, it therefore seems well within Congress' right to hold some hearings and force action if deemed necessary.
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TC
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Post by TC on May 4, 2009 8:58:16 GMT -5
And, really, is it that unreasonable for Congress to try and pressure college football to get a playoff? Yes, unless college football is asking for money or harming people in some way. |
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Boz
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Post by Boz on May 4, 2009 9:30:50 GMT -5
Whether or not this is any of Congress' business is certainly a valid discussion. I'm pretty much in the "no" camp on that, but I can see some merit in the arguments for "yes."
But let's be clear. Does anyone on this board think Congress is actually going to, you know, do anything about this?
'Cause I sure don't. Just another opportunity for them to hear themselves talk, that's my opinion.
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kchoya
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Post by kchoya on May 4, 2009 9:56:52 GMT -5
Include Obama while you're at it. apnews.myway.com/article/20090503/D97UV67O0.htmlHow dare he take hours out of his day to go out on a dinner date and then stroll casually around the white house grounds (not planned at all) when he could have spent that time on the economy/the Middle East/Swine Flu/etc. I sincerely hope this is sarcasm. I'll give you a chance to reassure me that it is sarcasm before I recommend that you end up in the Dirksen basement too. Yes, your sarcasm detector is broken. |
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theexorcist
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Post by theexorcist on May 4, 2009 10:04:01 GMT -5
Whether or not this is any of Congress' business is certainly a valid discussion. I'm pretty much in the "no" camp on that, but I can see some merit in the arguments for "yes." But let's be clear. Does anyone on this board think Congress is actually going to, you know, do anything about this? 'Cause I sure don't. Just another opportunity for them to hear themselves talk, that's my opinion. Right after Congress held talks on steroids in baseball, MLB came up with a tougher policy. Soon after talks on obscenity in music, the recording industry came out with a rating system. As in the movie "All The President's Men", commenting on Chuck Colson's cartoon on his wall, "When you've got 'em by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow". Sometimes, all that's needed is the threat of action. |
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Boz
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Post by Boz on May 4, 2009 10:09:23 GMT -5
You may be right. Just noting my skepticism for the record. (I like to hear myself talk too.)  |
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EasyEd
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Post by EasyEd on May 4, 2009 13:46:56 GMT -5
Whether or not this is any of Congress' business is certainly a valid discussion. I'm pretty much in the "no" camp on that, but I can see some merit in the arguments for "yes." But let's be clear. Does anyone on this board think Congress is actually going to, you know, do anything about this? 'Cause I sure don't. Just another opportunity for them to hear themselves talk, that's my opinion. Right after Congress held talks on steroids in baseball, MLB came up with a tougher policy. Soon after talks on obscenity in music, the recording industry came out with a rating system. As in the movie "All The President's Men", commenting on Chuck Colson's cartoon on his wall, "When you've got 'em by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow". Sometimes, all that's needed is the threat of action. And, of course, it's Congress's function to bully organizations until they do what Congress wants? |
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theexorcist
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Post by theexorcist on May 4, 2009 14:13:50 GMT -5
Right after Congress held talks on steroids in baseball, MLB came up with a tougher policy. Soon after talks on obscenity in music, the recording industry came out with a rating system. As in the movie "All The President's Men", commenting on Chuck Colson's cartoon on his wall, "When you've got 'em by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow". Sometimes, all that's needed is the threat of action. And, of course, it's Congress's function to bully organizations until they do what Congress wants? Unfair. We've gone from "Congress can't do anything" to "Congress is a juggernaut". I still believe that Congress can do things, and that they don't need legislation to accomplish their goals. Beyond this, there's a big gray area. The closer the public is to buying Congress' side, the more chance that action gets done, and vice versa. And the NCAA is not Microsoft. It is ostensibly a non-profit organization with multibillion dollar deals. And much athletic funding is tax deductible. For the NCAA to argue that they are an organization that the tax code treats differently, they are due a higher level of scrutiny. |
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SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on May 5, 2009 9:19:09 GMT -5
In the past, I've been pretty critical of Congress here.
However, practically speaking, and ignoring that yes, it's all a political ploy:
1. It is highly relevant to a large portion of Americans, like it or not. A college playoff, absurd as it is, will likely make a decent number of people in the US happier.
2. Given all the other collosal wastes of time in government and the red tape implicit with actual legislation, public humiliation and the threat of legislation might actual be a decently efficient route, etc.
I get some people's principle based objection. But for me, while certain decisions come down to principle, this isn't one of them. Take your few hours of questions, get your photo op, and if it helps, I get a few awesome games of college football and lots of reading about it? Fine by me.
EDIT: Of course, if they end up spending too much time on this, I'll change my mind.
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