James Traficant, Ex-Con and Former Congressman, on Ballot in Ohio

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: Politics Daily

Beam him up, Scotty! James A. Traficant, the wild-haired ex-convict who was ousted from Congress in 2002, has qualified for the ballot in Ohio and will run for his old U.S. House seat as an independent.

The Trumbull County Board of Elections ruled Wednesday that Traficant -- bell-bottom pants, cowboy boots, distinctive toupee, and all -- is good to go in Ohio's 17th District, encompassing Youngstown and parts of Akron. He rounded up 2,154 valid signatures, 11 more than he needed, the Associated Press reported.

Released from prison last year after serving seven years for bribery and other corruption-related charges, Traficant was disqualified from the ballot in July when his petition was thrown out for invalid signatures. But he didn't give up the fight. Trumbull Board Director Kelly Pallante says other election boards in the northeastern Ohio district will be notified to put his name on the ballot, the AP said.

During his last term in the House, Traficant became estranged from the Democratic Party and this summer he spoke at Tea Party events in Ohio. But he said Wednesday that the Tea Party looks "like they've joined the Republicans at this point."

Read more: http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/09/02/james-traficant-ex-con-and-former-congressman-on-ballot-in-ohi/

[madmom]

1. Why not? He paid his debt to society ( he served 7 years in jail) that's more than

I can say about quite a few who are in our political system. He may be a crack-pot, but that just puts him in-line with most of the others.:shrug:

[lib2DaBone]

2. He was put in prison to shut him up....

He has done some scathing interviews since his release.. implicating the Neocons and Corporate corruption. Traficant IS a loose cannon.. he better watch out or he will find himself suicided.

[NBachers]

3. He'll fit right in with Mean Jean Schmidt

[Wednesdays]

4. the Tea Party looks "like they've joined the Republicans at this point."

Huh. Ya think?

[slackmaster]

5. WWKD?

[provis99]

6. amazing. as an ex-con, he can't get a job with the federal government,

except if he's a Congressman. Ie., the standards for being a Congressman are lower than being a garbage collector at the Capitol building. That tells you everything you need to know about our politicians.