Group says ..(Jailbird Traficant) is considering a presidential bid

[Nambe]

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON – Jailbird James Traficant appears to be eyeing the West Wing.

A group called "Draft Traficant for President 2004" communicated with the imprisoned former Ohio congressman by mail and received permission to start a campaign. They filed a signed "Statement of Candidacy" form with the Federal Election Commission this week.

"Myself and several of my friends were thoroughly dissatisfied with the current choices in the Democratic field," said Marcus Belk of Jersey City, N.J.

The group says it plans to get Traficant's name on ballots for primary elections and raise $100,000 to qualify for federal matching funds. ---

[FlashHarry]

1. Was it signed by Karl Rove? N/T

[maxanne]

2. yay!

His toupee can run as VP!! :evilgrin:

[Khephra]

3. That's funny

I was wondering what was up with Traficant just last night.

[indictrichardperle]

4. Traficant opposed the war

and you can bet he would be calling for an Impeachment.

I can think of many pro-war neo-con congress critters i would consider worse.

[clarkbarr]

19. Socialist Eugene Debs came close to a million Presidential votes 2x

because he stood for something.

The only thing Traficant stands for is his William Shatneresque toupéé

[jfxgillis]

5. Hey. Traficant as a 3rd Party

independent conservative would Naderize Bush.

Traficant's constituency is right-populist.

The conservative anti-war crowd (Pat Buchannan, etc) and the anti-immigration crowd would fall for Traficant like virgin boy for a whore.

[kysrsoze]

6. I can't imagine a guy doing time has a large group of supporters, but

it would be funny though, wouldn't it? Would he do the debates via jailphone?

[jfxgillis]

13. First of all ...

... it's happened before. J. Michael Curley served a term in Congress and a term in jail concurrently.

Second of all, that would serve to HIGHLIGHT Traficant's persecution complex and, more importantly, the persecution complexes of his followers.

Third of all, I've been wracking my brains to come with a right-populist candidate who could bleed Bush, a Perot or a Buchanan or whoever and this Traficant news hit me like a bolt from the blue.

He fits all the criteria and then some.

[kysrsoze]

16. Well, now that weiner is running it should get even more interesting

Next thing you know, Trent Lott will be running.

[SyracuseDemocrat]

7. I know this is way beyond being a long shot...

but if he somehow became President could he pardon himself? :P

[SyracuseDemocrat]

8. He is in

a federal prison, isn't he?

[jfxgillis]

15. The Consititution does not prohibit it except ..

.. in cases of Impeachment!!!!!

So it would be a race against the clock: Congress would have to impeach and convict him before President Traficant could issue himself the pardon!!

[RobertSeattle]

9. Yep, he's real Presidential Material

[kysrsoze]

10. Ha! I wouldn't trust that motherfucker to park my car!

Come on! He's obviously got some serious problems. Did you see that tirade he gave? Then again, take that small animal off his head and he looks a little like Cheney. I think he just needs an image consultant.

[Catshrink]

20. That rug looks like a fez on a Shriner.

Didn't he used to say "Beam me up Scotty" on the floor of the House?

[snippy]

11. Davis should get him on the California recall ballot.

[curse10]

12. He wouldn't be the first man to run from prison

I believe Eugene Debs did it. But Debs was MUCH cooler than jackass Traficant will ever be.

[KamaAina]

14. Yes! The Bad Rug Party!

Sam Donaldson for VP!

If all the rug-wearers out there would get behind Jim, we'd be home free, since most of them are probably Bush* supporters anyway.

Traficant/Donaldson 2004: Why be stuck with a Bush* when you can have a RUG?

[maxanne]

17. how 'bout

Trent Lott or former NH Senator (and former US Presidential candidate) Bob Smith? Ted Koppell?

Stand back when these guys throw their toupees into the ring!!

[MercutioATC]

18. Will he run the toupee as his VP?

.