Traficant lives up to bloviator reputation

Ever since he walked out of federal prison in September, James A. Traficant Jr., the Mahoning Valley’s most famous convicted felon, has played the victim card to the hilt. “I was the target of a grand conspiracy by the federal government,” Traficant has whined to the wingnuts, tea party attendees, and those members of the criminal class who refuse to take responsibility for their lawlessness.

And, the former 17th District congressman — he was unceremoniously drummed out of the House of Representatives after 17 years — has kept himself in the public spotlight by luring the press with red meat: I’m going to run for Congress; I’m going after the FBI, the IRS, the Justice Department and anyone else responsible for my being in prison for more than seven years; I’m going to star in a movie, a TV show; I’m going to write a book; I’m a radio talk show host (no, I’m not paid by the station.); I’m going to help a group of native Americans establish a casino in the Mahoning Valley.

But in the end, he has been nothing more than a bloviator.

Case in point: Traficant’s failure to file nominating petitions for Congress by Thursday’s deadline. This, after having one of his disciples take out the petitions on his behalf, and having another insist to reporters time and time again that the disgraced ex-congressman was really, truly contemplating a run for a House seat.

Out-of-town journalists

Indeed, Traficant kept the farce alive by attracting the attention of out-of-town journalists. There was a story on him in the Wall Street Journal, an editorial in the New York Times and a centerpiece in the Akron Beacon Journal.

While references were made to his criminal past, his mercurial personality and the adulation of his Jonesesque followers (remember Jim Jones of Jonestown, Guyana, fame?) there was little mention of the disdain thoughtful residents of the Mahoning Valley have for this man.

The more the press pants after him, the more Traficant convinces himself that he is important, that society somehow benefits from his mere existence.

Well, the bloviator had a chance to test the extent of his support in this region and he blinked. He chickened out. He went all squishy.

Thursday’s deadline came and went and Traficant’s name was nowhere to be found in the list of candidates in the 17th or 6th congressional districts. What happened? Reality.

Had he run for the Democratic nomination in the 17th District, he would have faced Congressman Tim Ryan of Niles, who has become one of the leading young Democratic legislators on Capitol Hill. There would have been comparisons between Traficant’s and Ryan’s records and each one’s willingness and ability to work with local political and community leaders.

In addition, Traficant’s criminal record would have been an issue in the election. Why should voters send you back to Congress when you’ve already shown yourself to be a two-bit, greedy politician who used his public position for person gain? he would have been asked, by reporters and, hopefully, residents.

Stealth campaign

Of course, he could have conducted a stealth campaign, which is to say appear only before friendly audiences and refuse to acknowledge journalists who have been unyielding in their criticism of him.

And he just might do that, because even though he did not file nominating petitions on Thursday, his factotums are keeping alive the possibility of Traficant’s being on the ballot this year — as an independent.

He did that once before, in 2002 after he was expelled from the House in the aftermath of his conviction on 10 federal criminal charges — and managed a meager vote.

Should he decide to toss his hat in the ring this November, he will learn that his brand of politics is no longer welcome in the Mahoning Valley.

We hope.

On the other hand, it may be worthwhile to encourage him to run. That way, when he is soundly defeated in the general election he will slither away and spare us the pain of hearing his rants.

We hope.

Hope does springs eternal — when it involves James A. Traficant Jr., convicted felon, ex con and stark reminder of this region’s history of political corruption.