Trafficant vows to get re-elected
July 31, 2002 11:18 AM   Subscribe

Trafficant vows to get re-elected from prison. I guess if Marion Barry could be re-elected, why not Trafficant?
posted by milnak (28 comments total)
 
Trafficant vows to get re-elected

I only wish Senator Robert "The Torch" Torricelli could have made the same vow.
posted by flatlander at 11:29 AM on July 31, 2002


just the last sputtering bombast from yet another convicted congresscrook. see ya bye, jimmy. be nice to bubba, now.
posted by quonsar at 11:30 AM on July 31, 2002


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.
posted by Kellydamnit at 11:31 AM on July 31, 2002


Don't laugh. It could happen.

(See my comment on the other Trafficant thread that I won't bother to repeat here.)
posted by mark13 at 11:39 AM on July 31, 2002


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.
posted by insomnyuk at 11:39 AM on July 31, 2002


severe admonishment
posted by insomnyuk at 11:40 AM on July 31, 2002


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

Yawn.
posted by xmutex at 11:46 AM on July 31, 2002


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.
posted by apostasy at 11:48 AM on July 31, 2002


Google Bomb!

apostasy: how does the joke go? Obviously, I couldn't find it.
posted by insomnyuk at 11:51 AM on July 31, 2002


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
posted by mhaw at 11:52 AM on July 31, 2002


I just hope he doesn't escape and stab me in the crotch with his sword.
posted by MrBaliHai at 11:55 AM on July 31, 2002


Trafficant's telling.

I still have no idea why he told it.
posted by apostasy at 11:55 AM on July 31, 2002


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.
posted by ljromanoff at 12:12 PM on July 31, 2002


Insomnyuk, that would be a googlewhack, not a google bomb.
posted by me3dia at 12:14 PM on July 31, 2002


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!
posted by stifford at 12:15 PM on July 31, 2002


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.)
posted by ( .)(. ) at 12:26 PM on July 31, 2002


Oops, sorry me3dia, but I don't do that much whacking.
posted by insomnyuk at 12:27 PM on July 31, 2002


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....
posted by rushmc at 12:29 PM on July 31, 2002


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!"
posted by briank at 12:29 PM on July 31, 2002


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...
posted by mhaw at 12:33 PM on July 31, 2002


but I don't do that much whacking.
[quonsar groans, bites his tongue.]
posted by quonsar at 12:35 PM on July 31, 2002


Sure he can get re-elected. Trafficant differs from the other politicians only in that he got caught and he has a loud mouth.
posted by fleener at 12:41 PM on July 31, 2002


Can a convicted Felon serve in the Senate?

Has anyone checked?
posted by da5id at 12:52 PM on July 31, 2002


He's not in the Senate, he's in the House of Representatives.

In case you didn't know, those are distinct.

Like, duh.
posted by xmutex at 1:07 PM on July 31, 2002


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?
posted by me3dia at 1:23 PM on July 31, 2002


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.
posted by mhaw at 1:27 PM on July 31, 2002


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.
posted by mikewas at 1:40 PM on July 31, 2002


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


quonsar, you, er... "beat" me to it.
posted by slipperywhenwet at 7:44 PM on July 31, 2002


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