Outgoing party chair says Democrats held back in '04

Outgoing Democratic chairman Terry McAuliffe on Thursday outlined mistakes he said his party made in Sen. John Kerry's unsuccessful 2004 presidential campaign, including the failure to attack the Bush administration record at the national convention and loss of support among Roman Catholics. -More-

Why I'll Miss Jim Traficant

This is a fascinating commentary on politicians, straight talk, and of course, Jim Traficant:

Why I'll Miss Jim Traficant
By Susan Jones
CNSNews.com
Morning Editor

July 19, 2002

Beam me up!

Rep. Jim Traficant, the Ohio Democrat who votes with Republicans and calls himself an independent, may be booted out of the House of Representatives for violating House ethics rules. This comes three months after he was convicted of various felonies at his federal racketeering trial.

I know right from wrong when I see it. I respect the rule of law, and I don't buy the conspiracy theories that roll so trippingly off Traficant's tongue. But still, I'll be sorry to see him go.

Traficant is a rarity in Washington - a politician who can plainly say what he plainly means, even if some of what he plainly says is just plain silly.

A case in point: On April 25, 2001, with the pressing issues of taxation, rising energy prices, and education confronting Congress, Rep. Traficant gave a one-minute speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to discuss the evolution of the bra.

"It started with a training bra," he said. "Then came the pushup bra, the sport bra, the Wonder Bra, the super bra. There's even a smart bra. If that's not enough to prop up your (pause) curiosity, there's now a new bra. It's called the holster bra, the gun bra - a brassiere to conceal a hidden handgun.

"Unbelievable!" Traficant thundered on that April morning. "What's next? A maxi-girdle to conceal a stinger missile? Beam me up! I advise all men in America against taking women to drive-in movies who may end up getting shot in a passionate embrace..."

It was vintage Traficant: Nothing sophisticated, nothing intellectual; but something easily understood and somewhat ridiculous. It was more cultural commentary than the stuff of policy, but hey! Give the guy a break. His one-minute speech made as much sense as anything anyone else said on the House floor that day.

And at least Traficant's speech had the added advantages of being memorable - and not endangering the rest of us with calls for higher taxes, more government programs, etc.

Jim Traficant, in his offbeat and colorful way, was onto something: Americans like politicians who give it to them straight - or appear to give it to them straight.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) won praise, much of it from reporters, for his Straight Talk Express during the 2000 presidential campaign. It wasn't really straight talk, but it took some people longer than others to figure that out.

I think part of George W. Bush's appeal is his (mis)use of language. Anyone who mangles the mother tongue must be speaking from the heart - not from the findings of a focus group. I think Americans tend to believe people like that.

Washington is a place where reacting comes more naturally than taking action. How often have you heard politicians say they are "troubled" or "concerned" or "disappointed?" Jim Traficant would have none of that "garbage."

Here's how he expressed his "concern" one day: "It's time to call in the dogs, throw the coffee grinds on the fire - the hunting's over," he bellowed. There's concern for ya!

In an age dominated by notions of political correctness, most Americans wouldn't dare to say what they really think, especially in public. We censor ourselves for fear of censure.

On top of that, we don't speak simply anymore. We use big words and clumsy phrases when simple words and short sentences would better explain what we mean.

No wonder voters are so confused. They don't understand what many politicians say, so they're free to interpret. And that leaves the politicians free to spin and "clarify." I think America is worse off for our unwillingness to clearly say what we clearly mean.

Rep. Jim Traficant faces sentencing for ten felony convictions, including tax evasion and misusing his office for personal gain. In plain language, he's a crook. He faces expulsion from the House. In plain language, he's an outcast.

As his political career presumably nears an end, Jim Traficant is not going quietly. He's "kicking them in the crotch," to quote a phrase Traficant used in summing up his testimony before the House ethics panel on Wednesday.

In the nation's rogues' gallery, there are plenty of crooked politicians. Some have gone to jail; some have resigned in disgrace; and some have lied under oath.I do not know what will become of Rep. Jim Traficant.

But I do know that Washington - a city that would be much better off without most of its crooks - will be far duller and, ironically, less honest - without Traficant to say it like it is.

(Susan Jones is the morning editor at Cybercast News Service (CNSNews.com).

Letter from Prison: Jim Traficant Speaks

Letter from Prison: Jim Traficant Speaks

The following is from a correspondent who wishes to remain anonymous:
"I sent James Traficant a Christmas card a few months ago. I received this reply today":

***************

Dear (anonymous),

Thank you! Thank you for thinking of me and my family. Life is hectic and fast-paced-- and for you to have thought of me, and then to stop and take time from your precious life to write me-- is an honor. And once again, I thank you! Most of the people who write me say they cannot understand why the government targeted me with such a passion. Every rumor and innuendo that any political opponent would plant and foster became public and, before long, developed into an indictment without any physical evidence-- only the testimony of subjects who were able to avoid jail by fabricating falsehoods about me. Lies and half-truths became 'facts'; and ultimately became a 10 count indictment. My evidence, that would have proved they were lying, was not allowed to be presented -- either before the Congress or the Federal Court!

However, I know why I was targeted: I was not afraid of the government, and I had learned too much! The beginning of all of this was my first trial, in 1983, when I became the only American in history to defeat the U.S. Department of Justice in a RICO case-- pro se (representing myself), and me not being an attorney. They were embarrassed!

The straw that broke the camel's back was when I proved that John Demanjuk was not the infamous Ivan the Terrible of the Treblinka death camp in Poland. The government was stunned and in shock. The real Ivan was nine years older, taller, and had black hair and a scar on his neck; his name was Ivan Marchenko. My investigation, in conjunction with John Demanjuk's beautiful family, proved not only that John was innocent, but also that the Justice Department knew he was not guilty-- even before they took him to court!

Shame, shame!!

They lied to the court-- gave false testimony and presented false witnesses-- knowing that he would be put to death! Shame!! The Justice Department then came after me with revenge, and a passion! I lost my respect and my faith in our government. Because this case was 'too sensitive,' Congress would not even hold a hearing on my evidence... Congress, all of them, at the time-- turned their back, worried about reelection!! The Democrats were in charge then, and they knew of my investigation in Congress... hoping I would abandon it! I did not! I sent my findings to the Israeli Supreme Court-- and they had no choice: They released John Demanjuk!

In fact, they delivered him to me at the airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, and I personally brought him home, along with his son, his son-in-law, and Israeli bodyguards!

I am proud of what I did. No one else, in the House or the Senate, would even talk to the family-- afraid of media power and the vindictiveness of the Justice Department. But even today, John Demanjuk is still being persecuted.

Shame!

The government agents that destroyed Demanjuk's life should be in jail! That was just the tip of the iceberg. When people saw what I had done for the Demanjuk family they came to me with unbelievable information.

The information is so powerful that it is hard to believe, and the government knew I was getting sensitive information that could damage the American people's confidence in the government. People came to me with facts about Waco, Ruby Ridge, Pan Am Flight 103, Jimmy Hoffa, and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. It may all sound far-fetched, but I do know what happened to Hoffa and J.F.K. The government knows that I know-- and so they had to ruin my voice by destroying my credibility. I may yet divulge this information if I can get the proper forum.

As you know, I was the dreaded enemy of the I.R.S. My legislation in the last I.R.S. Reform Bill changed the Burden of Proof law. Before that, you had to prove you were innocent in a tax court. The burden of proof was on the taxpayer. The I.R.S. said you owed... but the I.R.S. did not have to prove it. Unbelievable! Now that the I.R.S. has to prove their charges, the following statistics tell the true story. Comparing One Year Before the changes to One Year After: 1. Wage Garnishments dropped from 3.1 million to 560,000; 2. Taxpayer Property Liens dropped from 680,000 to 161,000; 3. Foreclosures on individual family-owned homes dropped from 10,063 to 57! That's right: only 57 homes in all 50 states! Fact is, the I.R.S. was seizing our homes-- over 10,000 every year-- when they had neither proof nor the right to do so! Congress allowed the I.R.S. to intimidate us and frighten us. Think about it! And then maybe you can begin to understand why I love America but hate the Government -- and why the Government hates me. The Justice Department had to get rid of me, but I'll be damned if I would back down!

America is in trouble... not from without, but from within! The Central Government has become too powerful. Citizens fear the Government. This is wrong. This is dangerous! I know the Government covered-up and promulgated LIES about Waco, Ruby Ridge, Pan Am Flight 103, Hoffa, and J.F.K. The Government knew I was right when I called Janet Reno a traitor. Janet Reno sold us out when she refused to investigate a $10-million payoff to the Democratic Party from a general in the Red Chinese Army (no less!). Think about it! And the Government knew that I had known why Reno was forced to betray America! I'm proud that I tried to do something about it! Someday the truth will come out. (I hope China never attacks us!) Many of you have asked what you can do for me. I appreciate this. You can help my family:
Mrs. Tish Traficant 429 N. Main Street Poland, OH 44514
Thank you for remembering me... for thinking of me... for caring!

God Bless!
(Signed)
Jim Traficant