For a policy wonk, Washington dashes your best hopes so often, it's a cliche.  Last night, as I sat freezing above home plate one out away from a 2-1 home opener win in the top of the ninth for the Washington Nationals over the Atlanta Braves, I knew it was too good to be true.

Sure enough, Nats catcher Paul Lo Duca failed to stop an overthrown fastball in the dirt and the tying run scampered home from third. A thunderous groan went up at the prospect of another Washington sports debacle -- in extra innings on a cold night to boot.

Then, with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Ryan Zimmerman hit a 1-0 fast ball over the center field wall on a rope for a walk-off home run.  It doesn't get any better than that in Washington.

I grew up a Yankee fan in Stamford, CT, but George Steinbrenner drove me away.  Then I became an Orioles fan, but Peter Angelos drove me away and destroyed the team.  Now I'm a Nationals fan.  Ted Lerner and his family are great owners.  It's spring.  The cherry blossoms are in full bloom on the Tidal Basin, and hope of a World Series win is not far away.  Life is good in Washington after all!