Posted on 09/02/2009 9:57:04 PM PDT by Wardenclyffe
Youngstown -- Federal inmate 31213-060 is heading home today to a city where many still revere him, despite a conviction that made him a national disgrace.
James Traficant, the former Democratic congressman fond of staccato rants, cowboy boots and a weather-beaten toupee, is scheduled to leave a federal prison in Minnesota sometime today after serving seven years for bribery.
Some residents today will wear "Welcome Home Jimbo" T-shirts and boast of his release. Others will tune out the banter, having grown tired long ago of the Traficant road show.
In his speeches on the floor of the U.S. House, spittle flew and syntax died, but voters loved him. He loathed trade policies that he believed hurt Youngstown and wanted to abolish the Internal Revenue Service, views that made him wildly popular in the Mahoning Valley.
"People in this valley adored Jim Traficant," said John Thompson, the owner of Tomasino's Pizza in Youngstown. "He actually cared about people here. He spoke for the little guy."
(Excerpt) Read more at cleveland.com ...
John Thompson?
Well beam me up, Traficant is out of jail.
No one has done 1 minute speeches on the floor like him....beam me up scotty....He would make a good stand up comedian...
Pictures like these remind me of the yesteryears on FR.
Hey, the “beam me up” boyo is back!
bttt
Traficant was every Republican’s favorite Democrat back in the day.
FreeRepublic should send him something. I mean it.
WRKO, AM 680, Boston?
He'd be felon #2.
Trafficant is an ass. He was screaming for Clinton’s impeachment for years. Then when the House had the opportunity to impeach CLinton, he voted AGAINST all 4 articles. Stinking hypocrite. Let him rot, I say. Flaming Democrat Hypocrite.
I wonder if, since he’s now free, he’s gonna get that sword and stab people in the crotch.
Traficant with Someone named "Mr. Chase."
< 
The same guy with the greatest president in my lifetime: President Reagan.
He was a hoot!
VIDEO-Traficant one minute floor speech on Farm Animals and the Dept. of Agriculture
I hope he runs for office again. This guy gives the Dems fits...and I kinda enjoy listening to his diatribes.
bookmark
Traficant spent eight years in jail for crimes that are chump-change compared to what Charlie Rangel has done.
As goofy as he was, I agree with him on some things, esp. abolishing the I.R.S. and going on a flat tax.
But the hair piece is something else!
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