Welcome back...

... to the Washminster Blog. Summer, sadly, is now over [though it hasn't been a great one in the UK] - and a busy Autumn (or Fall) beckons. So Washminster will be publishing posts about


- The US elections – which are on November 6th
- The British parliamentary scene – the House of Commons returns this week, and the Coalition must face Parliament after a stormy summer
- British party conferences during September and October
- Forthcoming exams for my Open Students – but all are welcome to read my revision pieces about the British Constitution; English legal System; EU Law and Criminal Law
- The new American Football season
- The conclusion of the Baseball season – which has been pretty spectacular for the Washington Nationals
- And much, much more…

Please do contact me if there are any subjects you’d like to see posts on – or have a contribution you’d like to make.

Baseball - Shock Result!

Democrats defeated Republicans 15-10 on Wednesday night at Nationals Park in the 48th Annual Roll Call Congressional Baseball Game, lifting the newspaper’s coveted trophy for first time since 2000.

Roll Call reports:-

Republican pitcher Rep. John Shimkus (Ill.) gave the Democrats an early lead, allowing 6 runs in the second inning. The GOP hurler started off the inning by walking Reps. Brian Baird (Wash.) and Christopher Murphy (Pa.), who both scored on a double by Rep. Tim Bishop (N.Y.).

Shimkus had thrown more than 50 pitches by the end of the second inning.

The GOP battled back in the top of the third inning, tying it up at 6. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) led off the inning with a base hit, followed by a walk to Rep. Sam Graves (Mo.) and a long hit to the outfield by the GOP second baseman, Rep. Kevin Brady (Texas). Rep. Gresham Barrett (S.C.) hit a three-run triple to the gap in left before later scoring what was then the tying run.

With the game tied at 6, Republican manager Rep. Joe Barton (Texas) replaced Shimkus on the mound with Rep. Adam Putnam (Fla.) in the bottom of the third.

That’s when all hell broke loose for the Republicans.

The Sunshine State lawmaker proceeded to give up five walks, two base hits, a wild pitch, nine runs and, ultimately, the Democrats’ first win in nearly a decade. Graves ended the inning with a dazzling catch in center field after Shimkus had returned to the mound to relieve his reliever.
Republicans mounted a valiant comeback attempt in the seventh and final inning, but scored only 3 runs before freshman Rep. Duncan D. Hunter (Calif.) ended the game looking at a called third strike.

With a win on Wednesday night, Democrats take the first game of a five-game series.
Democratic first baseman Bart Stupak (Mich.) turned in the defensive play of the game, catching a foul pop as he tumbled over the dugout railing in the fourth inning.

Congressional Institution Hits A Hundred

The Congressional Baseball Game is due to be played tonight at the Nationals Stadium (the new Home of the Major League Baseball team, the Washington Nationals). It is a century since this event was first held. Members of Congress play on party teams. A special feature in 'Roll Call' outlines the history and details of the game. The winning team gains the Roll Call Trophy.

The rosters are:

DEMOCRATS

Michael Arcuri HoR New York (Outfield)

Joe Baca HoR California (Pitcher/Infield)

Brian Baird HoR Washington State (Pitcher/Outfield)

Tim Bishop HoR New York (3rd Base)

John Boccieri HoR Ohio (Utility)

Bruce Braley HoR Iowa (Outfield/1st Base)

Sherrod Brown Senate Ohio (Outfield)

Russ Carnahan HoR Missouri (Utility)

Christopher Carney HoR Pennsylvania (Utility)

Ben Chandler HoR Kentucky (Infield)

William Lacy Clay HoR Missouri (1st Base/Outfield)

Joe Donnelly HoR Indiana (Center Field)

Steve Driehaus HoR Ohio (2nd Base)

Mike Doyle HoR Pennsylvania (Manager)

Tim Holden HoR Pennsylvania (Coach)

REPUBLICANS

Graham Barrett HoR S Carolina (Catcher)

Joe Barton HoR Texas (Manager)

Kevin Brady HoR Texas (2nd Base)

Steve Buyer HoR Indiana (Coach)

Mike Conaway HoR Texas (1st Base)

John Ensign Senate Nevada (Pitcher/Shortstop)

Jeff Flake HoR Arizona (Outfield)

John Fleming HoR Louisiana (2nd Base)

Phil Gingrey HoR Georgia (Outfield)

Louie Gohmert HoR Texas (Outfield)

Sam Graves HoR Missouri (Outfield)

Gregg Harper HoR Mississippi (1st Base)

Duncan Hunter HoR California (Pitcher)

Jack Kingston HoR Georgia (2nd Base)

Connie Mack HoR Florida (Outfield)

Thaddeus McCotter HoR Michigan (Outfield)

Pete Olson HoR Texas (Utility)

Adam Putnam HoR Florida (Outfield)

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen HoR Florida (Designated Hitter)

Tom Rooney HoR Florida (1st Base)

Steve Scalise HoR Louisiana (2nd Base)

Pete Sessions HoR Texas (Coach)

John Shimkus Hor Illinois (Pitcher)

Bill Shuster HoR Pennsylvania (Outfield)

Adrian Smith HoR Nebraska (Utility)

Todd Tiahrt HoR Kansas (Outfield)

Zach Wamp HoR Tennessee (Shortstop)

Rob Wittman HoR Virginia (Outfield)

The rules of Baseball can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Official_Baseball_Rules