Latest Blog Entries

MILLER: Soldier gets his guns
The active duty soldier who had his guns confiscated by the District of Columbia two years ago will have his property returned by Memorial Day. It took the help of a high-powered lawyer, two U.S. Senators, a member of Congress and national publicity to force the obstinate District to show some respect for the Constitution. It should never happen again.
Published 9:08 p.m., May 22 2012 in Guns
Tyler Clippard feels ready to close, plus Wang talks about move to bullpen
The Nationals have no closer at the current moment, manager Davey Johnson moving Henry Rodriguez out of the role Tuesday afternoon after needing Sean Burnett to bail him out Monday night for the second time in three save opportunities. They'll go with match-ups and who is the freshest, Johnson said, but Tyler Clippard has made it clear that he wants the job.
Published 7:04 p.m., May 22 2012 in Nationals Watch
Ryan Zimmerman scratched due to manager's decision (UPDATED)
Ryan Zimmerman was a late scratch Tuesday night, due to what the Nationals' termed a "manager's decision." The third baseman appeared to be fine in the clubhouse pre-game but roughly 35 minutes before gametime, it was announced that the team had a lineup change. Chad Tracy will play third base and bat third in Zimmerman's place.
Published 6:47 p.m., May 22 2012 in Nationals Watch
White House brushes aside Rendell criticism over Bain attack strategy
The White House faced another barrage of questions Tuesday about whether President Obama's campaign attacks of Mitt Romney's experience at Bain Capital are fair after former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell spoke out against the strategy.
Published 4:17 p.m., May 22 2012 in Inside Politics
Today's lineups: Nationals face Halladay for first time in 2012
The Washington Nationals have a chance to win their second straight series over the Philadelphia Phillies tonight, but they'll have to go through Roy Halladay to do it. Halladay, who'll be opposed by Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann, will face the same lineup that Washington ran out vs. Kyle Kendrick in the series opener.
Published 3:37 p.m., May 22 2012 in Nationals Watch
Stanley Cup Final schedule set
Game 1 will be May 30 at either New York or New Jersey.
Published 3:23 p.m., May 22 2012 in Capitals Watch
Nationals place Mattheus on DL, activate Wang
The Washington Nationals were hoping to get good news when right-handed reliever Ryan Mattheus visited with a foot specialist in Baltimore on Tuesday but they apparently did not. According to a club source, Mattheus is expected to be placed on the 15-day disabled list with a partial tear in the plantar fascia in his left foot before Tuesday night's game. The team is expected to activate right-hander Chien-Ming Wang to assume his spot on the roster.
Published 1:55 p.m., May 22 2012 in Nationals Watch
GOP lawmaker hits Obama over Cuba visas
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, Florida Republican, assailed the Obama administration Tuesday for granting visas to "high-level members of the Castro regime" — taking particular aim at the decision to allow the daughter of Cuban President Raul Castro to enter the country.
Published 1:25 p.m., May 22 2012 in Inside Politics
Arbitrator dismisses Redskins salary cap grievance
The Redskins' grievance regarding their $36 million salary cap penalty was dismissed by arbitrator Stephen Burbank, NFL executive vice president and general counsel Jeff Pash told reporters Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings in Atlanta.
Published 12:14 p.m., May 22 2012 in Redskins Watch
Reid: GOP must accept tax increases on fiscal deal
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Tuesday that the next step in the looming fiscal showdown belongs to Republicans, who will have to signal they are open to tax increases on the wealthy in order to have any chance at striking a deal.
Published 10:58 a.m., May 22 2012 in Inside Politics
PICKET: NATO 2012 protest video gallery
NATO 2012 Protest Video Gallery
Published 10:38 a.m., May 22 2012 in Water Cooler
Ian Desmond offers interesting take on Henry Rodriguez's wildness
After Monday night's game, Ian Desmond offered an insightful theory and I wanted to share it in its entirety. Asked what it was like to be in the field when Rodriguez struggles the way he did Monday, Desmond drew an interesting comparison.
Published 12:33 a.m., May 22 2012 in Nationals Watch
X-rays negative on Mattheus' foot, will see specialist Tuesday
The X-rays taken on Ryan Mattheus left foot Monday afternoon in Philadelphia came back negative. The Washington Nationals' right-hander will go to Baltimore on Tuesday to be examined by a foot specialist to figure out the best course of action for the pain he felt Monday while doing some running at Citizens Bank Park.
Published 12:16 a.m., May 22 2012 in Nationals Watch
In Nationals win over Philadelphia, questions arise at closer
The Washington Nationals won Monday night. They beat their division rival Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 on a misty, occasionally rainy, night at Citizens Bank Park. They got six nearly unhittable innings from left-hander Gio Gonzalez and all the runs they’d need off the bat of Ian Desmond. But sitting stonefaced in their dugout with one out in the ninth inning was Henry Rodriguez. He was no longer on the mound, that spot taken by Sean Burnett, the left-hander who’d been summoned to bail out the Nationals’ flamethrowing closer for the second time in his last four appearances.
Published 12:07 a.m., May 22 2012 in Nationals Watch
Obama administration hires PR firm to promote health care law
The Obama administration is paying a public relations firm $20 million to educate Americans about the sweeping new health care law.
Published 7:15 p.m., May 21 2012 in Inside Politics
Mattheus dealing with left foot injury, Lidge to throw bullpen & other injury updates
Reliever Ryan Mattheus was running Monday in the outfield at Citizens Bank Park when he felt some soreness that had been bothering his left foot for a few weeks flare up. He came in and iced it but the Nationals' trainers were concerned enough with the aggravation that Mattheus received X-rays in Philadelphia and will see a specialist in Baltimore on Tuesday.
Published 7:01 p.m., May 21 2012 in Nationals Watch
Nationals not expecting Stephen Strasburg to miss a start
Washington Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg was out in the outfield at Citizens Bank Park Monday morning, taking part in the near-daily pitchers' ultimate frisbee game -- the latest indication that the tightness or fatigue that he was feeling Sunday was indeed normal. Nationals manager Davey Johnson reiterated Monday that the team does not expect Strasburg to miss a start.
Published 6:49 p.m., May 21 2012 in Nationals Watch
Mystics look to bounce back from home opening loss
The Mystics begin the season at 0-1, after losing to Chicago on Saturday at Verizon Center. Hard at work during Monday's practice, they are determined to right the ship quickly.
Published 4:45 p.m., May 21 2012 in Mystics Watch
GREEN: NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko resigns, White House mum on harassment charges
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Chairman Gregory B. Jaczko announced his resignation today after a drawn out controversy over his managerial style.
Published 2:49 p.m., May 21 2012 in Water Cooler
Mike Shanahan involved in on-field collision during OTAs
Head coach Mike Shanahan was banged up in an on-field collision during Monday's organized team activity.
Published 1:35 p.m., May 21 2012 in Redskins Watch