Powell vs. Soros

Looks like George Soros is trying to buy his way into Washington again, this time through Major League Baseball:

Billionaire George Soros has joined one of the groups bidding for the Washington Nationals, the latest big name in a competition that has become as much about clout as money.

Soros and his Soros Fund Management have become partners in the Big Train Holdco Bid, led by Washington entrepreneur and former Washington Capitals part-owner Jon Ledecky.

"We have one of the greatest investors in history on board to validate our group's financial strength and ability to successfully manage this franchise," Ledecky said Wednesday. "We also have a concerned, caring and committed philanthropist interested in the well being of our city."

There are several groups bidding for the team, and there's another big Washington player in the competition:

Last week, former Secretary of State Colin Powell joined the Washington Baseball Club bid led by Fred Malek and Jeffrey Zients. Peter Fitzgerald, a former Republican senator from Illinois, recently became a partner in a bid group from Northern Virginia that also changed leadership, with Sallie Mae chairman Albert Lord taking over from former telecommunications executive William Collins.

I can't help but wonder if Soros joined the bidding because he doesn't want to see anybody associated with the Bush Administration win anything in Washington. If Soros wins, look for the Nationals to be playing in MoveOn.org Stadium.