E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Former Congressman/felon Jim Traficant will not be allowed on the ballot for an independent run for Congress in Ohio.
AP:
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP) -- 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. He left federal prison in September after serving time for corruption.
Leave a Comment:
Ever notice how so many loonies run for political office (and some get elected) on both sides of the poltical isles? Don't you often ask yourselves just how these folks got elected, or are these people the best the country can offer to govern this country? When one condsiders some of the people who run for office as well as those who get elected I find it amazing that we are able to exist as a country at all.
Anyone with any brains would not run for public office. The idea being no matter what you do comes under extreme criticism from the people and other candidates. It is a no win situation.
I so agree, CA. I believe there are several reasons.
1. Politics has devolved into a mud-slinging, knock-down-dragout, combat zone of character assasination and good people want no part of it. Bad people don't care--they'll game the system with eyes only focused on power-not the public good.
2. Voter apathy--Try getting people (anywhere) to turn out for a local election--to give it the same importance as a national election. And..."all politics is local" so the minority that does turn up (the motivated ones that have an agenda) effectively rule us all.
3. Lack full disclosure and information on candidates. We need to know our candidates and their positions before voting for them. I've yet to find a reasonable bio to go with a ballot so that I could make an informed decision. Why not make each candidate take a lie detector test, fill out a detailed questionaire, and submit it for vetting as part of the election process? I'm just brain storming here, folks. Feel free to submit your own ideas!
4. Too much money chasing too few qualified candidates
Again, I'm right there with ya on this, CA!
How is it possible someone who just got out of federal prison could reenter politics? This almost reads like a drug dealer that can't wait to get back into the fray because the money's so good! Well this should give Blagojevich something to think about but I wouldn't be surprised if we see his name on a national ballot someday...if all he has to do is get a few names on a petition.
Ursula,
Spot on about Blago! The guy is a grade 'A' narcissist!
What an embarrassment...
Blago's big achievement with this court case is the National Media attention: he has had his name all over the Nation and in a decade or so, folks will forget Why he was all over National TV and will have the 'Name Recognition'. I can only hope that people will actually Remember WHY he had his name all over, with the proper shame attached to it!
I have two words for you Ursula...
Marion Barry.
Case closed.
One of my favorite Authors, Frank Herbert (he wrote Dune amongst others) stated that "It is not so much that Absolute Power corrupts Absolutely, it is more the fact that Absolute Power ATTRACTS the Corrupt and/or easily corruptible." (my caps) Which speaks loudly about our present state of Government, at nearly all levels.
Hey B. Honest - love the Dune series and enjoy that Frank's son Brian is continuing this most awesome saga. Sure nailed it that Absolute Power attracts the most Corrupt of us - politicians who used to be ambulance chasing lawyers. Can't wait for the final Dune book next month.
Good to see corrupt Trafficant can't run. Don't care if he was a Democrat, corrupt is corrupt and atleast Democrats get rid of their corrupt politicians so unlike the repugnant ones who rally around defending their corrupt politicians like Prostitute Patron Vitter, Momma's Boy Ensign, Bathroom Pervert Craig or Pedophile Foley.
I have a question to all. Do you believe as I do, that now news is instantly broadcast via the web, that nothing is being swept under the carpet, like in years past. More policticans are getting caught for various reasons, be they scandalous or otherwise. I think we are a more informed nation than ever before. I realize not everyone follows the daily events like people I continue to see on this posts, but there are hundreds of these blogs. People just don't believe all the bs we're being fed anymore. Agreed?!?
Agreed MAC, and I think that the last couple of generations are less likely to believe commercials, infomercials and political ads, they KNOW that ALL advertising hypes some points and hides others. Not like us older generations who have been indoctrinated, slowly, to the advertising so that we are more likely to go along with it than not. At least, those who do not do their own thinking are much less likely to have any resistance to them.
Thank the Gods that there are a greater number of free thinkers out there!
MAC in OK:
To a degree you are correct--I believe is a lot more vetting of news now than in the past--however, there is a LOT more disinformation as well. Bold-faced, disprovable lies from mainstream media (Fox Noise). Less msm investigative journalism (Rolling Stone notwithstanding).
Let me get this straight. It was only because he didn't get enough signatures but if he had, he would have been allowed on the ballot. Okay, there are some states that if you are convicted of a felony, you can never vote again, never serve on a jury but you can RUN FOR OFFICE? That is just nuts.
With his record if the people were to elect him they would show their stupidity but would get what they voted for. Traficant reminds me of the Mafia Boss Traficante. Hmmm, I wonder if there is some connection.