Political influence to protect dopers

[Oldman]

As far as I am concerned, this letter is a good thing. The USADA will be forced to bury Armstrong with the evidence, and sooner rather than later. It needs to stop the snowball from gathering speed and mass.

I have been worried the USADA will write a thin document explaining Armstrong's ban that will be mostly conclusions. Armstrong's PR campaign and some foolish legislators buying into it will force the USADA's hand. They will have to provide more than conclusions.

One of the more surprising things is that Armstrong is going down this route, especially at this time. He should have waited a while and stuck with the unfair/unconsitutional system argument until the USADA process played out. Then he could attack whatever evidence came to light. By going with the "there is no evidence" line, he is forcing the USADA to release more information than they might have and release it quicker.

Now that Tyler's on the airwaves and even Good Morning's Matt Lauer is forced to deal with the ugliness involved it would seem a toxic issue. Writing a letter and actually standing up to represent an initiative seen to surpress this exploding onion of crap are not the same thing.
while they may want to protect a charity it will be tough to untie the publicity connections.

 

[ToreBear]

So state senators thought they could get some feelgood pr without doing anything other than sending a letter for someone to look into.

It sounds like they talked to a lobbyist, and did'nt bother to check things out for themselves.

ops.

I doubt those senators had any idea what they were lending their credibility too. Might be too late now though.

If the two congresmembers know a little about the Armstrong case, they will simply ignore the letter.

Or preferably, reply that their letter relates to an ongoing process that they as members of the legislature feel it would be innapropriate for them to comment on at this time.

 

[jonny testaronny]

Feel free to follow me on twitter, I do not see the value of posting here any more

https://twitter.com/TheRaceRadio

I wrote this on the other thread but it's now clogged.


I too might leave here soon.

Dear mods: without these two posters, you will lose a lot of site-hits from lurkers like me, who appreciate a forum where anti-doping--and yes, anti-Armstrong--posters with more knowledge than your common cycling fan can post without being drowned out by the likes of LauraLyn, whoever he is, and the other toilet-cloggers. Wouldn't be worth coming here without the inside info dropped by people like RR and The Hog.

 

[eyemgh]

Personally, I feel there's too much important information to try to keep it all confined in one thread. It gets cumbersome to navigate. I like new RR and Hog threads. Please keep up the good work.

M

 

[nvpacchi]

I wrote this on the other thread but it's now clogged.


I too might leave here soon.

None the less I see it as pure posturing. Let them shutdown USADA or cut their funding or get rid of Tygart. They can't overturn the ban.

---
These types of letters are written all the time demanding a review by congress. What they’re asking for is a review of the process within USADA. The 23 senators can’t simply pass a motion and shut down USADA or change a decision that has already been made. I hope they get their review. I hope they open the books on the case and find out that it didn’t even go to arbitration and I hope all of the evidence comes out with this review.

It’s a pointless futile act with the letter released on the same day as Tyler’s book.

What will become more worrying for the public at large in the coming days as more evidence comes to light is why has it been so easy to influence the judiciary and senators in the state of California for all things Lance Armstrong?

Shouldn't these Senators already know that LA chose not to pursue further actions? If not they all got their heads in the sand while they're being stuffed with LA drivel up the ****.

This letter was a pathetic. All the typical LA BS talking points were there, just phrased differently.

 

[Anonymous]

It is interesting that this was sent to Boxer and Feinstein.

Given the help they gave him on the Federal case you would think they would be distancing themselves from the mess.

Neither Feinstein of Boxer is going to pursue this very far, imo.

The shot across the bow has already happened with McCain getting riled up. I don't think any sitting Senator is gonna roll around in the mud for Armstrong. Too much down side.

 

[summerhill]

Dear mods: without these two posters, you will lose a lot of site-hits from lurkers like me, who appreciate a forum where anti-doping--and yes, anti-Armstrong--posters with more knowledge than your common cycling fan can post without being drowned out by the likes of LauraLyn, whoever he is, and the other toilet-cloggers. Wouldn't be worth coming here without the inside info dropped by people like RR and The Hog.

Ditto to all you say. RR, in particular, gives great insight.

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

Please note that I have posted a sticky thread indicating that multiple threads are allowed, but they must be subjects worthy of having their own thread.

It is difficult to find the right balance of too many threads on one topic and one massive thread. If users will be more careful about opening new threads, it will be easier for all of us.

Susan

 

[thehog]

Personally, I feel there's too much important information to try to keep it all confined in one thread. It gets cumbersome to navigate. I like new RR and Hog threads. Please keep up the good work.

M

Thanking-you.

Perfect point in case is the Liggett thread. Phil speaks to small time regional internet radio station in South Africa. Within two days its hit the front page of VeloNews, VeloNation and CyclingNews. That’s the power of this forum. Condensing it into one thread at this time when so much information is coming out is madness. Pure madness.

I agree it’s way too hard to navigate and to be honest the topics discussed are of a varying nature that require their own thread. It’s like being in a room full of 100 people all trying to having different conversations with one another.

 

[Deagol]

More BS from team LA.

Much more disturbing IMHO is Race Radio leaving this forum. That would be very sad and make the forum lose it`s without a doubt most knowledgeable poster. Say it ain`t so, RR!! Twitter won`t be the same.

Yes, RaceRadio, please do not leave. I'm not on Twitter, for one...

You add much more to this forum than obfustication posters and many of us can see straight through to that..

 

[Hugh Januss]

Neither Feinstein of Boxer is going to pursue this very far, imo.

The shot across the bow has already happened with McCain getting riled up. I don't think any sitting Senator is gonna roll around in the mud for Armstrong. Too much down side.

I really hope you are way more right about this than you usually are about politics.

 

[Cyivel]

I also respect brother radio.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Dear mods: without these two posters, you will lose a lot of site-hits from lurkers like me, who appreciate a forum where anti-doping--and yes, anti-Armstrong--posters with more knowledge than your common cycling fan can post without being drowned out by the likes of LauraLyn, whoever he is, and the other toilet-cloggers. Wouldn't be worth coming here without the inside info dropped by people like RR and The Hog.

I agree completely, although to be fair Hoggie's appeal is a lot more on the entertainment side than RR.

 

[Semper Fidelis]

Wonderboy said he was going to move on, no longer dedicate time to this witch hunt. This was a lie. he is aggressively fighting behind the scenes to destroy USADA.

Livestrong made many friends when they lobbied in California for the Cigarette Tax Increase. They called in a favor from those friends.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/story/2012-09-04/Lance-Armstrong-doping-USADA/57593548/1

Here is the letter

http://sd16.senate.ca.gov/sites/sd16.senate.ca.gov/files/USADA Letter to Boxer-Feinstein.pdf

it appears these lawmakers are unaware that a Federal Judge ruled that the WADA code gives Armstrong ample due process. Instead of addressing the overwhelming evidence of Armstrong's guilt they focus on USADA's funding. Smart deflection.

Over the next few weeks it will become clear that Lance thinks the rules to not apply to him. Political connections helped with the Federal case but I think USADA is too far along for the same dirty games too work here.

Race,,,,,I think someone posted this before way back before the USADA charges came out but anyhow, it was someone who got banned.
They said something along the lines of “Lance was going to lay waste to USADA”. I can’t remember the exact quote. I am looking for the stuff now. If I find it I will edit the post and link it.
Anyhow I think and believe you knew this was the strategy from the beginning. They are going to make an effort to drive USADA out. It is painfully clear.
This is going to be nasty.

 

[Anonymous]

I really hope you are way more right about this than you usually are about politics.

I'll make sense every once in a while, HJ.

 

[Cycle Chic]

Please note that I have posted a sticky thread indicating that multiple threads are allowed, but they must be subjects worthy of having their own thread.

It is difficult to find the right balance of too many threads on one topic and one massive thread. If users will be more careful about opening new threads, it will be easier for all of us.

Susan

THE biggest event in Cycling History and CN wants to limit it to 3 threads - RIDICULOUS.

Yes there are a lot of threads but theres so much happening every day....the moderators should do their job.

 

[Hugh Januss]

I'll make sense every once in a while, HJ.

Even a broken clock.......?

 

[DomesticDomestique]

Here is my letter to Senator Feinstein. I'm sending a similar one to Senator Boxer.

Dear Senator Feinstein,

I'm very upset that you are considering inserting yourself in the affairs of the United States Anti-Doping Agency. I'm a former elite cyclist who competed without the use of performance enhancing drugs and raced against Lance Armstrong and most of the witnesses against him at one point during my career. I have had numerous former teammates and competitors investigated by USADA and some have been sanctioned while others have not. From my understanding, the deciding factor between those who have been sanctioned, and those who have not, has had nothing to do with vendettas or witch hunts, as Mr. Armstrong alleges. It's been strictly based on evidence.

I believe USADA has done an excellent job of investigating and sanctioning athletes for drug use in olympic sports, in accordance with their mission as defined by the Amateur Sports Act. I think their $10 million annual budget is a small price to pay to help preserve fair competition and clean sport, as well as the reputation of United States athletes. No senators or representatives, including yourself, got involved when Phil Zajicek received a similar lifetime ban, for a similar "non-analytical positive." From what I can tell the treatment USADA has given athletes has been very uniform and consistent. What isn't uniform or consistent is legislators choosing to get involved in the process strictly for one athlete, when they never did so for others.

Mr. Armstrong's doping offenses were as great as any other athlete in the history of sport. You would have seen this, had he not opted out of arbitration. His actions had a profoundly negative effect on the image of US sports, the anti-doping process and especially on clean athletes such as myself. If USADA were to ignore these offenses it would be a case of gross negligence.

I would imagine that in justifying your involvement you probably use his foundation as reasoning. Please read the following article: http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoo...rong/Its-Not-About-the-Lab-Rats.html?page=all for more information on the truth behind the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Take careful note of the distinctions between Livestrong.com and Livestrong.org and Mr. Armstrong's choice to use his charity to benefit himself.

Please uphold the honor of the United States Senate and continue to let the USADA do it's job protecting clean sport.

Sincerely,
XXXXXXX

 

[Semper Fidelis]

Fine. But the conversation should be kept together and you should be clear about your sources. I believe the moderators just asked to keep the Lance threads together.

What are you talking about?
Clear about sources? You sound like the usual suspects around here that jump all on someone for being a fanboy etc.
Give it a rest please, or in your case get some sleep.

 

[frenchfry]

California senator Michael J Rubio has a Livestrong banner on his twitter photo. Unreal.

The cancer shield is on full power.

 

[Irish2009]

Is it just me or is it a surprise that Amgen are based in Cali?

 

[Irish2009]

Is it just me or is it a surprise that Amgen are based in Cali?

 

[JMBeaushrimp]

Christ! He signed the license, he knows the rules.

I know Americans may have a hard time coming to grips with the fact that the entire Universe doesn't revolve around them, but this is pretty much 'fait a compli'.

If he wants to p*ss about it, he can go to CAS.

All the political wrangling in the world isn't going to help him...

 

[classicomano]

Here is my letter to Senator Feinstein. I'm sending a similar one to Senator Boxer.

*applause* Well done sir.

 

[darkcloud]

Dear mods: without these two posters, you will lose a lot of site-hits from lurkers like me, who appreciate a forum where anti-doping--and yes, anti-Armstrong--posters with more knowledge than your common cycling fan can post without being drowned out by the likes of LauraLyn, whoever he is, and the other toilet-cloggers. Wouldn't be worth coming here without the inside info dropped by people like RR and The Hog.

Great point.