The recent spectacle of Congressional hearings on the alleged use of steroids and/or Human Growth Hormone (HGH) by Roger Clemons, a professional baseball player nicknamed "the Rocket," throws into question the viability and functionality of a Congress controlled by the Democratic Party.

The House Government Reform Committee, chaired by Representative Henry Waxman (D-California), carried out its own made-for-television version of Court TV, grilling the All Star pitcher and his former trainer over their contradictory statements as to whether or not Clemons actually was injected with a banned performance enhancing substance. While this hearing was underway, thousands of miles away, in Iraq , American service members continued the ugly business of occupying Iraq . That Waxman would abuse his position by pursuing such trivia while Americans continued to fight and die in a war built exclusively on a framework of lies is disturbing.

More than 1,000 journalists gathered in the Kremlin for the news conference, which has set a record lasting about three and a half hours.

Putin says he never considered running for a third term. Nor was he tempted to change the Russian constitution, which forbids him from doing so.

Vladimir Putin has sought to ease concern about a possible power-sharing row if he becomes Prime Minister after March’s presidential election. He’s told his last annual news conference that if favourite Dmitry Medvedev wins the election, the pair will work in a ‘practical relationship’.