Growing up in Youngstown, Ohio, in the '80s & early '90s, then returning & working in journalism during his trial, he was so many things.
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At his best, he saw himself as a populist standing up for that city & its people. He rose to local fame as sheriff refusing to evict people.
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And, out of that, he built a congressional career, and became the "beam me up" congressman who was mad as hell and pressed populist themes.
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At his worst, though, he believed that being that man meant he deserved power & deference & the things that, in his mind, went w that power.
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Of course, there were other areas in which he fell short. But, as w so many before him & since, it was that belief that led to his downfall.
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In all, Traficant gave me my first lessons about politics -- the good, the bad, & the ugly -- & that education has proved invaluable to me.
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RIP, James Traficant.
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A bit more on the topic of James Traficant, who died today, and what he taught me about politics, over on Tumblr: http://bit.ly/YtG7US
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