Traficant could

[Nic Name]

Is Jimmy running as a Whig?

In the USA this week ...

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio Oct. 29 — Former Rep. James A. Traficant Jr., running an election campaign from prison since he was ousted from Congress, is asking voters to re-elect him to show they don't fear the government.

Two commercials started running this week for Traficant, who is serving an eight-year term in a federal prison in Pennsylvania.

"No American should fear their government," Traficant says in one commercial, filmed the day before he was sentenced in July. "You and I both know that many Americans fear their government."

He tells viewers to show the government they're not afraid by voting for him, running as an independent, in the 17th Congressional District over Democrat Tim Ryan and Republican Ann Womer Benjamin.

"I believe I can do a better job than half the people down in Washington," he says.

The commercial is the first time the public has seen Traficant since he was sent to prison for bribery and racketeering.

In Canada this week ...

The Supreme Court of Canada is drawing mixed reviews after ruling that inmates in federal prisons can vote in federal elections. The court struck down a 1993 law that removed that right on Thursday.

"The right to vote has always been in the constitution ever since it was created. The question is whether the government had the right to limit that," Graham Stewart of the John Howard Society told Canada AM on Friday.

Traficant would have a captive constituency in Canada.

[Griff]

Hmmm... Our House seat is occupied by a Republican car salesman running virtually unopposed (sorry Greens) so "Beam me up Scotty!" I'm thinking of writing in James Traficant an honest criminal.

[hermit22]

I think the whole Traficant running from prison thing is an extraordinarily funny and incredibly sad debacle. The man is either a complete joke, a complete egotistical, self-righteous nut, or some combination of the two. Of course, his bi-annual campaign could become an institution. After he loses too many primaries, he'll hook up with some independent party, probably the Greens, and corrupt their name. Not that I have anything against the Greens, and maybe it's because my jetlag/cold is killing me, but I find the whole concept extremely funny.

[elSicomoro]

The incredibly sad thing will be if people in Youngstown, OH lose their minds and actually vote for him.

[Nic Name]

New Mexico to decide if "idiots" can vote

Fri Nov 1, 1:04 PM ET

By Zelie Pollon

SANTA FE, New Mexico (Reuters) - New Mexico voters will decide on Tuesday whether they want "idiots" and "insane persons" to vote in their state.

Under the state's Constitution, drafted in 1912, "idiots" and "insane persons", as well as those "convicted of a felonious or infamous crime" are currently prohibited from voting.

Proposed Amendment 2 on the November 5 ballot would strike the terms "idiots" and "insane persons" from the Constitution. The measure will better reflect current understanding of mental health and remove archaic language, supporters said.

"There are so many varieties of mental illness with people who are perfectly capable of making a decision," said Bureau of Elections official Denise Lamb.

"I'm more worried about unstable people with guns than I am about unstable people voting," Lamb said.

If idiots can run for office, they should be allowed to vote.

[slang]

<h5>OMG this guy Traficant is funny!</h5>
I just found this link to some of his quotes from the House (of Representatives not "the big") He's always saying "beam me up", maybe Scotty can get him out of jail?

<a href="http://www.thememoryhole.org/traficant/one-minute-1999.htm">I yield back all the flatulence in China paid for by the EPA</a>