Political Football: Dysfunction in D.C., Snyderville

Florida Sen. George LeMieux notes some similarities between the federal government and the Redskins.

I've only been in Washington fifteen months, but in that brief time I've seen some pretty amazing things.

Our government borrows money from China to pay some of our farmers NOT to grow food. At last count, there are thirty-nine czars reporting to our President, including an Asian Carp czar, a Green Jobs czar, and a Guantanamo Base Closure czar (how's that working out?). And the only city in America that's doing well in a recession is the town that prints money.

But I have come to learn that the bizarre is normal in political Washington. Dysfunction is not only accepted in our government; it is embraced and encouraged. I mean, the head of the House's tax-writing committee didn't pay his taxes for several years? Nowhere else but in Washington, right? Until now.

Take a brief Metro ride over to FedEx Field in Snyderville, Maryland (where if tailgating is outlawed, only outlaws will tailgate) and you'll see Washington's dysfunction disease is spreading. The Redskins have paid Albert Haynesworth more than $40 million dollars, and now he's not even playing.

So you're thinking, "Where do I sign up for that job?" Heck, the player and the coach don't even talk! I think if the average American received a $21 million bonus, not only would he show up for practice, break a sweat, and perhaps gather more than
two-and-a-half sacks in eight games, he might find some time to chit chat with the coach ("Boy, Denver's cold, isn't it? Hey Coach, have you tried a Softshell Blue Crab? Anyone ever say you look like George W?").

But despite their good intentions, the Redskins ended up paying their suspended player more than a million dollars a tackle this year. That's almost like paying half a million dollars for each job created or saved in our economy.

But enough about politics; let's talk football.

It is pointed out to me that all three of Florida's teams are doing better than the Redskins. Tampa Bay and Jacksonville are both 7-5 and Miami is 6-6. Even so, the Bucs are the underdogs against Washington because of a perceived lack of experience. I'll take inexperience over dysfunction any day. We have the running game covered and our pass defense is historically ranked near the top in the NFL. I predict a Bucs blowout.