Oh no. My favorite democrat, one of the few I’d wizz on if they were on fire, most of the rest are family members, I hate democrats.
He started off as a typical labor union rat after unseating RINO Lyle Williams in 1984 but became increasingly conservative in the 90’s, perhaps starting to vote his conscience. With only 221 Republicans in the House he voted for Hastert as Speaker in 2001, which was met with cheers by the Republican members and caused the rats to strip him of his committee assignments.
http://www.c-span.org/video/?c4049062/traficant-votese-hastert-jan-3-2001
I can’t tell you the last time prior that someone crossed party lines in the Speaker vote, it’s simply not done in the US House, much more frequent occurrence in state legislatures.
I’d have voted “no” on expelling him on those piddling charges while real criminals remained in the House.
He’s dead Jim. Beamed up to heaven.
“....perhaps starting to vote his conscience. ...”
Wow... THERE’S a rarity...
Pigs must be flying somewhere..
I actually having been on the scene in Y-town in those days do believe that he was playing both sides in order to get over on them. At the time there were two rival mob families in Y-town. The mills were closing money was drying up and in steps Traficant.
I do believe that his heart was always in the right place. I do believe that had he stayed with the party line in DC, he would have been protected. He went against the party and they punished him for it. He made mistakes but there are far greater crooks in the House of Representatives right now then Jim ever was.
He was smart, but he went with his heart and his gut. That got him into trouble. He was a character, but it was not for show. That's just who he was. The most important thing to remember about him. He stood up to the government and they tried to destroy him. He took his punishment like a man and came out the other side. That's his legacy. RIP Jim.
