Possumblog

Not in the clamor of the crowded street, not in the shouts and plaudits of the throng, but in ourselves, are triumph and defeat.--Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

REDIRECT ALERT! (Scroll down past this mess if you're trying to read an archived post. Thanks. No, really, thanks.)

Due to my inability to control my temper and complacently accept continued silliness with not-quite-as-reliable-as-it-ought-to-be Blogger/Blogspot, your beloved Possumblog will now waddle across the Information Dirt Road and park its prehensile tail at http://possumblog.mu.nu.

This site will remain in place as a backup in case Munuvia gets hit by a bus or something, but I don't think they have as much trouble with this as some places do. ::cough::blogspot::cough:: So click here and adjust your links. I apologize for the inconvenience, but it's one of those things.


Tuesday, October 29, 2002

Jimmy the Rug Sings--Imprisoned former congressman's election campaign airing low-budget ads
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP) -- 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."
Especially those Americans who can't quite get their brain cells around the concept of "law abiding."
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.
Sad thing is, he's probably right.
The commercial is the first time the public has seen Traficant since he was sent to prison for bribery and racketeering.

Traficant does not appear in the second commercial. It shows projects he supported, including a federal courthouse and federal prisons, and closes with a voiceover: "Say what you want about him, but Traficant gets the job done."
'Heh, heh--yeah, say whacha want--but youse might wanna be careful--IF youse know what I mean...'
Youngstown State University professor Bill Binning said the low-budget campaign ads are part of Traficant's image.

"They defy modern advertising. Not professional, not colorful, not upbeat," said Binning, comparing them to home movies.

Traficant's campaign has spent $32,976 on "media time," according to its latest Federal Election Commission report.
Only 32K? Better get to work selling some cigarettes...or something. (Shame the Feds won't let him wear the toup in the slam--could have prolly made some big bucks playing "hide the ferret.")


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