Go, Nats!

The Washington Nationals on Thursday clinched a spot in the Major League Baseball playoffs. Before this season’s remarkable performance, few thought the Nationals capable of rising far out of the basement. Yet they’ve hovered at the top of the National League’s standings most of the year, and many of their players have become household names across the country: young phenom Bryce Harper, too young to drink the celebratory champagne; veteran powerhouse Ryan Zimmerman pounding away; ace pitcher Stephen Strasberg returning for a limited engagement this year following ligament-replacement surgery. …

 He could have phrased it more elegantly

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney wasn’t the only politician this week embarrassed when his own words spoken in a just-between-friends conversation were exposed to the masses. State Sen.Bill Stanley has his own explaining to do. …

 And about that tape

While Stanley’s constituents have Hagerman to thank for letting them in on the behind-the-scenes pressure the state senator exerted on the uranium mining proposal, the tape is creepy in its own right. Hagerman didn’t tell Stanley the conversation was being recorded. And it isn’t the only conversation Hagerman has taped. …

 Run, David, run

Fresh off his successful re-election campaign, Roanoke Mayor David Bowers says he’s thinking about his next potential campaign — running for lieutenant governor next year. What, there aren’t enough ribbons to cut in Roanoke? …

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