As I occasional mention, I love following the exploits of Representative James Traficant. His one minute speeches are deeply loved by staff on both sides. Anyways, it looks like he may final lose his seat, ladies and gentleman a moment of silence.

From National Journal Traficant's District Eliminated In Ohio Redistricting Plan Ohio Republicans Thursday won Democratic support for a congressional redistricting agreement that shores up the political base of Democratic Rep. Tom Sawyer, eliminates the district of Democratic Rep. James Traficant, and provides enough Democratic votes in the state legislature to enact the plan. Ohio is losing one of its House 19 seats, and the plan carves up Traficant's Youngstown-based 17th District among Sawyer, Democratic Rep. Ted Strickland and GOP Rep. Steven LaTourette. The GOP plan has been emerging this week, but did not pick up needed Democratic support until Thursday, when two Akron wards were added to Sawyer's district, improving his chances in an expected Democratic primary contest against Traficant, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Traficant, who goes to trial next month on federal racketeering, conspiracy and bribery charges,has vowed to seek re-election. Sawyer's new district includes Youngstown, where Traficant would have the best chance to compete. A Traficant spokesman accused Democrats of working to eliminate Traficant's district. "The Democrats, both at the state level and on the U.S. House delegation, had an abnormal amount of influence on this process," the spokesman told the Akron Beacon Journal. "His district being eliminated is certainly a result of that." Except for Traficant, the plan gives the state's Democrats districts in which they should be able to win re-election. Democratic Rep. Sherrod Brown, a potential challenger to GOP Gov. Bob Taft, received a district that includes his home in Lorain County. In the Cleveland area, Reps. Stephanie Tubbs Jones and Dennis Kucinich received districts that keep them in Democratic-dominated Cuyahoga County. Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur received a district that retains Toledo, but stretches eastward into Lorain County. The plan also expands Democratic Rep. Tony Hall's district into GOP territory in Warren County. Republicans controlled the process, but they need seven Democratic votes in the state House and one in the state Senate to enact the plan immediately in time for the state's Feb. 21 filing deadline and May 7 primary. — by Mark Wegner

I just hope for America's sake this is wrong, the man makes you laugh at the absurities in American politics and the world.

From Drudge...
FLASHBACK: CLINTON OFFICIAL MET WITH ENRON CHAIRMAN; $100,000 CASH DONATION TO DEMOCRATS TIMED TO PLANT APPROVAL
TIME MAGAZINE
SEPTEMBER 1, 1997

On Nov. 22, 1995 President Clinton scrawled an FYI note to chief of staff Mack McLarty, enclosing a newspaper article on Enron Corp. and the vicissitudes of its $3 billion power-plant project in India.

McLarty then reached out to Enron's chairman, Ken Lay, and over the next nine months closely monitored the project with the U.S. ambassador to New Delhi, keeping Lay informed of the Administration's efforts, according to White House documents reviewed by TIME magazine.

In June 1996, four days before India granted final approval to Enron's controversial $3 billion power-plant project, Enron's gave $100,000 to President Clinton's party.

Enron denies that its gift was repayment for Clinton's attention, and White House special counsel Lanny Davis says McLarty acted out of concern for a major U.S. investment overseas, TIME's Michael Weisskopf reported.

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As I pulled this up, I thought to myself, you know they do need to invesigate this and make sure the current admin didn't do anything wrong, at the same time remember they were donating to both sides and neither party has clean hands....just a little food for thought....want alittle proof?

Texas House delegation members and Enron contributions in 2000 elections (Top Contributors section)
Sheila Jackson Lee(D) $5,000
Larry Combest(R) $7,970
Tom DeLay(R) $8,400
Ken Bentsen(D) $9,500
Charles Stenholm(D) $9,639
from opensecrets.org