Comments on: Comments on 18827

Post number 18827

milnak — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 11:18:03 -0800

Trafficant vows to get re-elected from prison. I guess if Marion Barry could be re-elected, why not Trafficant?

By: flatlander

flatlander — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 11:29:59 -0800

Trafficant vows to get re-elected I only wish Senator Robert "The Torch" Torricelli could have made the same vow.

By: quonsar

quonsar — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 11:30:35 -0800

just the last sputtering bombast from yet another convicted congresscrook. see ya bye, jimmy. be nice to bubba, now.

By: luriete

luriete — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 11:31:56 -0800

let the prison rape jokes begin!

By: Kellydamnit

Kellydamnit — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 11:31:57 -0800

I hope he does. Can you imagine four more years of this sort of thing? It would be a gold mine for C-Span to keep this guy in front of a camera.

By: mark13

mark13 — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 11:39:15 -0800

Don't laugh. It could happen. (See my comment on the other Trafficant thread that I won't bother to repeat here.)

By: insomnyuk

insomnyuk — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 11:39:24 -0800

Will someone tell me why Torricelli only got a "sever admonishment" for taking bribes from the mob, and Traficant got 8 years in jail? They usually look out for their own, but I guess he drifted too far from the herd, especially when he says stuff like: "I want you to disregard all the opposing counsel has said. I think they're delusionary. I think they've had something funny for lunch in their meal, I think they should be handcuffed, chained to a fence and flogged, and all of their hearsay evidence should be thrown the hell out. And if they lie again, I'm going to go over there and kick them in the crotch. Thank you very much." _ Traficant's closing statement to the ethics panel. I'll miss him, and I hope he gets re-elected, just so he can thumb his nose at Congress some more.

By: insomnyuk

insomnyuk — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 11:40:19 -0800

severe admonishment

By: xmutex

xmutex — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 11:46:32 -0800

He'd be more interesting if he wasn't just another political crook. Yawn.

By: apostasy

apostasy — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 11:48:01 -0800

I miss Robert Dornan. And hearing Trafficant tell the "red vest" joke on the floor of the esteemed House of Representatives in our nation's austere Capitol building...pure, sublime joy.

By: insomnyuk

insomnyuk — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 11:51:10 -0800

Google Bomb! apostasy: how does the joke go? Obviously, I couldn't find it.

By: mhaw

mhaw — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 11:52:37 -0800

democracy at it's best if you ask me... and just think, don't most if not all politicians take some sort of "bribes" cough... cough... soft money

By: MrBaliHai

MrBaliHai — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 11:55:17 -0800

I just hope he doesn't escape and stab me in the crotch with his sword.

By: apostasy

apostasy — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 11:55:47 -0800

Trafficant's telling. I still have no idea why he told it.

By: ljromanoff

ljromanoff — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 12:12:32 -0800

Can you imagine four more years of this sort of thing? Four? And don't forget China is a dragon eating our assets. Think about that.

By: me3dia

me3dia — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 12:14:37 -0800

Insomnyuk, that would be a googlewhack, not a google bomb.

By: stifford

stifford — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 12:15:38 -0800

MSNBC should hire his ass. "Traficant" sounds like a much more entertaing show than "Donahue" or "Nachman". I do like that "Curtis and Kuby" show, though. A crazed New yorker and a lawyer that's a pothead. THAT's Entertainment!

By: ( .)(. )

( .)(. ) — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 12:26:30 -0800

I don't get the red vest joke. Here's something else to chew on from Traficant's last speech in Congress: Now look, if you drink five gallons of Gatorade, you are going to expend five gallons of Gatorade somewhere in one of these restrooms. Hmmm, a product placement in Congress? How low is that?! I suggest you read the full text; pure gold!!! (I might even order a full tape from CSPAN.)

By: insomnyuk

insomnyuk — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 12:27:22 -0800

Oops, sorry me3dia, but I don't do that much whacking.

By: rushmc

rushmc — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 12:29:41 -0800

Since when is it acceptable to make fun of the mentally ill on Metafilter (since clearly, this individual is). I could have sworn I saw someone speak against that sort of thing here in the past at some point....

By: briank

briank — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 12:29:55 -0800

The red vest joke: The pirate captain calls over the first mate and says "Arr! Today we'll see combat, so bring me my red vest so the hands won't see my blood on my shirt" The mate complies, and the battle begins, but it is even more furious than expected. Just as the other ship is about to take them, the captain calls his mate over and say "Arr! I guess you'd better bring me my brown pants!"

By: mhaw

mhaw — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 12:33:57 -0800

I was big fan of the quite humorous "One-Minute speeches" Traficant was famous for... sadly his website was removed after his expulsion and thus they are no more...

By: quonsar

quonsar — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 12:35:26 -0800

but I don't do that much whacking.
[quonsar groans, bites his tongue.]

By: fleener

fleener — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 12:41:04 -0800

Sure he can get re-elected. Trafficant differs from the other politicians only in that he got caught and he has a loud mouth.

By: da5id

da5id — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 12:52:49 -0800

Can a convicted Felon serve in the Senate? Has anyone checked?

By: xmutex

xmutex — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 13:07:28 -0800

He's not in the Senate, he's in the House of Representatives. In case you didn't know, those are distinct. Like, duh.

By: me3dia

me3dia — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 13:23:48 -0800

Can a convicted Felon serve in the Senate? It's not clear whether a convicted felon can serve in Congress. Most states forbid it, including Ohio, and I've found references to a federal law, but I can't find any direct evidence. (See my previous post here.) It might be an interpretation of the Constitution handed down by the Supreme Court, but I can't find any direct citation. Any consititutional lawyers out there?

By: mhaw

mhaw — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 13:27:47 -0800

I think that he can run, but the board of elections in each state has the right to take any names off the ballot for such reason... in regard to whether he can participate in House business I found this.... RULE XXIII 10. A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner who has been convicted by a court of record for the commission of a crime for which a sentence of two or more years' imprisonment may be imposed should refrain from participation in the business of each committee of which he is a member, and a Member should refrain from voting on any question at a meeting of the House or of the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, unless or until judicial or executive proceedings result in reinstatement of the presumption of his innocence or until he is reelected to the House after the date of such conviction.

By: mikewas

mikewas — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 13:40:09 -0800

mhaw: Get 'em while they're hot! (Search, obviously, for Traficant) Da5id, I looked yesterday for a federal statute banning convicted felons from serving in Congress and could find no reference to one. me3dia: in its recent term-limits case, the Supreme Court struck down certain state limitation on qualification for federal office; I'm not clear on whether that would allow the Ohio statute to restrict Traficant from running. In any event, upon his "election," Traficant might find it difficult to be seated as a member - the House has the Constitutional right to determine the "qualification" of its members and could presumably deny Traficant his seat. Also, if he is in jail, he would be unable to travel to the Capitol for his swearing-in. If he's not sworn in, he cannot vote, and therefore the Constitutional limits on arresting members of Congress on their way to a vote could not apply.

By: slipperywhenwet

slipperywhenwet — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 19:44:15 -0800

but I don't do that much whacking. [quonsar groans, bites his tongue.] quonsar, you, er... "beat" me to it.