Congressman 'cleanses' Traficant aura from office

CNN.com ^ | 1/31/2003 | AP

[apillar]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former Ohio Rep. James Traficant is gone from Congress -- banished last year after his conviction on bribery and racketeering charges.

Now the new tenant claims he has rid his Capitol Hill office of Traficant's taint.

Democratic Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, who moved into Traficant's old office last month, held a "cleansing ritual" Wednesday in an effort to erase any legacy left behind by the Ohio Democrat, who was notorious for his flamboyant speeches, 1970s-style suits and unkempt hair.

[apillar]

That's just.... Strange....

Can you imagine the anger and calls to resign by Indian groups if this had been a Republican?

[anniegetyourgun]

Lib/dems can only trade in one nut for another. That's all they've got in the corral.

[tje]

No one knew it was a toupee?!?! These people are blind!

[MrB]

No one knew until he went to prison that it was really a toupee.

Yes, most of us thought it was an opossum.

I will miss him, though. The "beam me up" speeches were great.

[Puddleglum]

It was a touppee?!?!?!? Who'da thunk it?!

[anniegetyourgun]

You'll get a kick out of this one. Truth truly is stranger than fiction.....

[TommyDale]

>i>"No one knew until he went to prison that it was really a toupee."

Only CNN could come up with anything that stupid!

[TommyDale]

Oops. "No one knew until he went to prison that it was really a toupee."

Only CNN could come up with anything that stupid!

[Fixit]

[alisasny]

I would gladly take just the Traficant aura over the stench Clinton left behind.

[Fixit]

While there was no debate that it wasn't real hair, there was a bid of debate over just exactly what it was.

(Courtesy The Daily Probe)

[shiva]

In Traficant-inspired clothes -- a blue-denim leisure suit and a black Elvis wig -- Blumenauer joined Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, in burning dried herbs to "exorcise" Traficant's spirit.

These are the people Democrats vote for!!! THE'RE NUTS! Can you imagine Bush in a clinton wig, cigar in hand, fumigating and burning dried herbs to "exorcise" Clinton's spirit. Bush would be crucified!!!!

[TommyDale]

Well, Bush actually DID have the Oval Office scrubbed, and carpets ripped out and replaced, as his inauguration was underway!

[Howlin]

This could become quite a ritual up on the Hill, couldn't it?

Imagine if Bush had done this at the White House! They'd raise holy hell.

[sr4402]

Can you imagine the anger and calls to resign by Indian groups if this had been a Republican?

DeFazio lit a smudge stick, a collection of dried herbs that is a tradition for many American Indian tribes. Smoke from the stick is said to attach itself to any negative energy present.

If Defazio was smart he would leave the Democrapic party... Smells to much and too much Negative energy.

[fieldmarshaldj]

But who's going to exorcise the "aura" of the Oregonian twits Blumenauer and DeFuzzio (sic) ? That's some really bad mojo right there, dude.

[Willie Green]

Imagine if Bush had done this at the White House! They'd raise holy hell.

Do you mean Dubya DIDN'T scrub the place down with Lysol before he moved in?

Ewwwwwwww....

[RayBob]

"...in burning dried herbs... "

EARL BLUMENAUER: "Hey, Petey, wanna burn one?"

PETER DEFAZIO: "What if someone walks in?"

EARL BLUMENAUER: (Showing the effects of burning one earlier) "Hee, Hee, Hee....we'll say its a 'cleansing ritual' and we're burning herbs..."

PETER DEFAZIO: Good one... I'm in...but to make it really funny, can you wear that blue liesure suit?

[Man of the Right]

I knew Blumenauer personally years ago. He's not much better than Trafficant.

[Dane]

The burning herbs, primarily dried sage, had an odd smell that prompted some to joke it was marijuana, and as DeFazio waved the stick, he lightheartedly told the crowd of several dozen aides, staffers and others who had gathered, "Everybody inhale. We may all be arrested."

Oh sheesh, now a cascade of "Blumenaur for Predident" replies from the Libertarians will spam this thread.