He’s tanned (not really), toupee’d, and ready to… why, he’s ready to do anything at all for OH-17, really.
BOARDMAN, Ohio — Seven years in prison doesn’t appear to have changed former U.S. Rep. James Traficant’s style whatsoever, and the 1,200 supporters who gathered at a Boardman banquet hall Sunday afternoon loved him for it.
“I was a quarterback. I was a congressman. Now I’m a convict,” Traficant said, his signature toupee firmly back atop his head. “I wouldn’t change one single thing. And to the powerful enemies that I have, I’ll just say this to you: They had to cheat to convict me.”
The crowd roared. After 15 minutes of remarks, hundreds swarmed the make-shift stage to shake his hand or ask for an autograph.
The precise definition of ‘anything’ will have to wait until at least his Friday interview with Greta Van Susteren of Fox, but I can’t help but notice that it’s not every convict Congressman who can get 1,200 people to come to his I Got Out Of Jail! party. I also can’t help but notice that he’s apparently only able to run for federal office in Ohio. Or that current holder Tim Ryan (D) is swiftly losing (or already lost) his pro-life credentials (Traficant had excellent ratings from the NRLC, back in the day), which is probably the most interesting thing about him. Or that this is shaping up to be a bad election cycle for reflexively supporting the party in power’s policies. Or that I’m not the only one not laughing at the very thought that Traficant might try to get his seat back. Not that I’m suggesting anything, of course.
That would be mean.
Moe Lane
Crossposted to Moe Lane.
Aaron Gardner
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
KnightsofMalta
Dan Spencer
Dan McLaughlin
Traficant couldn't make in the Democratic Party today.
mbecker908 (Diary) Tuesday, September 8th at 8:43AM EST (link)He’s too honest.
He couldn't make it in the Dem Party back then, either.
Crowe (Diary) Tuesday, September 8th at 10:51AM EST (link)It’s why they stopped protecting him and let the Feds convict him on charges that pale in comparison to what Dodd, Rangel, et al. are guilty of.
“We sleep soundly in our beds only because
rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence upon those who would do us harmDear Leader Obama gives us leave to do so.”He was the most interesting Democrat in the past couple decades
bk (Diary) Tuesday, September 8th at 8:46AM EST (link)an example, though anyone could find dozens of them
bk (Diary) Tuesday, September 8th at 8:56AM EST (link)The Hair Hat Returneth !
Kenny Solomon (Diary) Tuesday, September 8th at 9:04AM EST (link)Bring it on, Mr. Trafficant….. Please.
Really.
Might not agree with you on most things, but I admire your honesty and love your passion and no-quit attitude.
Cheers !
Like Rush says, the good stuff always happens
blooch Tuesday, September 8th at 9:14AM EST (link)when he is on vacation. I can’t wait to hear Rush’s take on his old buddy’s resurrection
“Lieutenant Dike wasn’t a bad leader because he made bad decisions. He was a bad leader because he made no decisions.”
I voted for Traficant twice...
Crowe (Diary) Tuesday, September 8th at 10:49AM EST (link)…and if I weren’t in a Blue Dog’s district I’d do what it took to move back up there and vote for him again. I grew up in his district, parents still live there.
Tim Ryan was first elected after he beat uber-liberal Tom Sawyer in a primary. He won because he had a pro-life, pro-gun record in the OH state senate… my how things change, and how Washington changes lightweights. Ryan is a nit-wit backstabbing ladder-climber and I looooved it when Gov. Strickland treated his desire to run for OH LtGov like snooty beauty queens treat pimply faced dweebs with halitosis and an overdeveloped (and entirely undue) sense of popularity who ask them to prom.
My favorite Traficant moment was watching him vote for Hastert for speaker back in the late nineties. Gold.
Run, Jim, run!
“We sleep soundly in our beds only because
rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence upon those who would do us harmDear Leader Obama gives us leave to do so.”I also voted for Traficant...
snowyowl (Diary) Tuesday, September 8th at 5:12PM EST (link)…and campaigned for him back in 1982 as part of my government class requirements (campaign for the candidate of your choice).
All kidding aside, Jim was one who pulled no punches, and at least gave the appearance of working for his constituents, if not actually doing so.
Personally, I’d like to see him take out Tim Ryan. Ryan is little more than a pork-loving puppet of the left. However, I believe he actually lives in Charlie Wilson’s district (which is mine).
}8-
I'm also in Wilson's district.
Crowe (Diary) Tuesday, September 8th at 10:33PM EST (link)Come to think of it I think you’re right. Traficant, If I recall correctly, lives in Poland, where my brother lives. That’s the top edge of the sixth… Hmmmm…. If we can get Traficant to primary Wilson–or even hint that he’s considering it–I think that’d put the fear of God in Wilson and help him get over his inexplicable recent flirtations with the Pelosi monster.
“We sleep soundly in our beds only because
rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence upon those who would do us harmDear Leader Obama gives us leave to do so.”Traffy v. Ryan
Repair_Man_Jack (Diary) Tuesday, September 8th at 8:44PM EST (link)I’d suffer cognitive dissonance. I’d no longer be able to vote my customary straight R ticket.
” I side impenitently with the human race against the modern reformer.” – C.S. Lewis
Straight anything ain't worth it.
Crowe (Diary) Tuesday, September 8th at 10:37PM EST (link)My folks have been registered Dems forever, but are as conservative as anyone. In Youngstown, Ohio (as in many urban centers) ya gotta vote in the Dem primary to have any say in local politics because the Dem will win in November. Period. I voted for Traficant twice, while registered R in that area.
“We sleep soundly in our beds only because
rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence upon those who would do us harmDear Leader Obama gives us leave to do so.”