Free Republic

Mr. Speaker, the Democrats have claimed another victory. The Democrats were successful in stripping the Traficant amendment that would allow troops on the border from the defense bill, and all the Democrats are excited about it, even though our troops are vaccinating dogs in Haiti, they are building homes in Italy, they are guarding the borders in the Mideast, and they are filming political parties at the White House. Mr. Speaker, a new report that just came out states that the use of heroin by 12- to 17-year-olds in America is at historic levels and our borders are wide open....

Among the litany of people that billionaire Donald Trump listed as giving to his veterans’ organization last week was a northeast Ohio businessman who pleaded guilty to making a false statement for not disclosing money given to his daughter’s failed congressional campaign. (SNIP) J.J. Cafaro also pleaded guility to a 2001 charge of attempting to bribe then-Rep. Jim Traficant, D-Youngstown.

For a moment, earlier this year, Donald Trump was being taken seriously for his supposed straight talk, the idea being that he said what others were thinking but were held back from saying because of political correctness or some such thing. (SNIP) “The Donald” is theatrical on some (boorish) level, intentionally going without a Hollywood hairstylist or a politician’s conventional coiffure. Remember the felonious Rep. James Traficant of Ohio and his noteworthy hairstyle? It worked for him, too. He got noticed. (SNIP) Trump is a caricature of a populist, come to life, who exists before the television camera and for...

It wasn’t obvious at first, but then it dawned on me. Donald Trump and James A. Traficant, Jr., though they may be different in one sense, are very much alike. In case you don’t recall, Traficant was a Congressman from Youngstown, Ohio, who was expelled from the House in 2002. (SNIP) Trump can afford to hire a battalion of America’s best attorneys. Traficant represented himself in 1987 in a tax evasion case. And won. Trump is always dressed to the nines. Traficant always looked like he just walked out of a thrift store. Standard garb was cowboy boots, skinny ties...

Just the banner.

James Traficant, the colorful Ohio politician whose conviction for taking bribes and kickbacks made him only the second person to be expelled from Congress since the Civil War, died Saturday. He was 73.

Former U.S. Rep. James Traficant Jr., who spent time in prison on corruption and racketeering charges, has been critically injured in a tractor accident at his northeast Ohio home. Traficant’s wife, Tish, told The (Youngstown) Vindicator that the 73-year-old former congressman was in “very critical condition” on Wednesday following the Tuesday night accident on his family farm in Greenford.

Jim Traficant, Ohio 17, lays out his case for re election.

CLEVELAND – Outspoken former Democratic congressman Jim Traficant, who served time in federal prison for corruption, has fought his way back onto the Nov. 2 ballot to again run for a U.S. House seat — this time as an independent.

Restrictions on reproduction apply; see article at link. As reported in the article, the Trumbull county board of elections today will certify that Jim Traficant has 11 signatures more than necessary to qualify as an independent candidate for U.S. Rep. for the 17th Ohio congressional district.

It’s a wild political climate out there. In keeping with the blistering heat afflicting previously ultra-safe incumbents, a happily retired Queens businessman by the name of Bob Turner thinks he can unseat his Democratic congressman, six-term representative Anthony Weiner. It’s a long shot, but crazier things have happened. Just ask Sen. Scott Brown. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -...

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Friday called ethics charges against Democratic Rep. Charlie Rangel "very troubling" and said he hopes the longtime lawmaker can end his career with dignity. Several House Democrats went further, flat-out urging the New York congressman to resign."He's somebody who's at the end of his career," Obama said in an interview that aired Friday on "CBS Evening News with Katie Couric." "I'm sure that what he wants is to be able to end his career with dignity. And my hope is that it happens."Obama, speaking on the issue for the first time, praised the 20-term...

... Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, ranking member on the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, said Rangel was given an opportunity to settle charges during the investigative process, and that time has passed. "Let me be clear that Mr. Rangel under these rules was given opportunities to negotiate a settlement during the investigation. Let me be clear that I did not participate in any attempts to cut a back room deal behind closed doors," McCaul said at the start of a hearing on possible corruption charges. McCaul said it's not lost on any member of the panel that the...

WASHINGTON — Veteran New York Rep. Charles Rangel said Thursday there's no deal yet to settle his ethics case and avoid an election-season trial on charges of violating House rules.

Per Foxnews, a local affiliate is reporting Rangel has struck a deal. FNC is working to confirm...

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Former Ohio Rep. James Traficant has been disqualified in his bid to return to Congress after seven years in prison. Political adviser Linda Kovachik says elections officials in Trumbull County ruled Tuesday that Traficant was short of the number of petition signatures required to get on the fall ballot. She says Traficant plans to appeal. Elections board officials did not immediately return a call seeking comment. Traficant was hoping to run as an independent in his Youngstown-area home turf against Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan. Traficant represented the region in Congress as a Democrat for nearly two decades....

A former congressman from northeast Ohio wants to make a political comeback after serving seven years in prison for corruption. James Traficant (TRAF'-eh-kehnt) filed petitions Monday morning to run as an independent in the region's 17th Congressional District. That's the seat he held for nine terms. The seat is currently held by Democrat Tim Ryan, who once worked for Traficant. [Snip] The 68-year-old Traficant was convicted of racketeering, bribery and other crimes. He left federal prison in September.

Will an ex-convict stage a political comeback? By MEGHAN BARR, Associated Press Writer Saturday, May 1, 2010 at 9:16 a.m. BOARDMAN, Ohio — A hero of the tea party movement is seated in a corner booth at his favorite diner, his famous toupee sticking out above the wooden slats like a warning. That mop of hair, possibly more famous than the man himself, tells the regulars bent over coffee mugs all they need to know: Jimbo has entered the building. He has arrived, as usual, with an entourage. But ever since he was released from prison last fall, Jim Traficant's...

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (Associated Press) -- A former Ohio congressman who served seven years in prison for corruption says he's leaving the Democratic Party and considering a run for office as an independent. James Traficant (TRAF'-eh-kehnt) made the announcement Saturday on his talk show on WTAM-AM in Cleveland. He did not specify which seat he was eyeing for a run. Traficant was elected to nine terms as a Democrat from Youngstown before serving time for racketeering, bribery, obstruction of justice and tax evasion. He was released in September.

YOUNGSTOWN — Former congressman James Traficant says he's considering a run as an independent, calling it "painful decision" to leave the Democratic party. Traficant made the announcement Saturday on his talk show on WTAM-AM in Cleveland, two days after he passed up a deadline to run in Ohio's congressional Democratic primary Traficant spent years in prison for corruption and has vowed he'll return to politics. He did not specify Saturday for what seat he would run, but says he'll see where he has a chance as an independent. He says it would have been "hypocritical" to have filed as a...