Vito Fossella Hopeful That New Yorkers Might Desire an Drunk-Driving, Secret-Family-Fathering Politician Down the Line

In an environment where a $298 tax lien disqualifies you from serving in the Obama administration, you'd think that any politician with so much as a jaywalking infraction wouldn't dream of running for office right now.

To say nothing of a politician with a drunk-driving arrest. Or a multi-year affair. Or one who fathered a child from that affair and lived with a shadow family while his real wife obliviously waited at home.

If that were you, you'd never dream of running for office again in your life, right?

Well then you, friend, are obviously not named former Rep. Vito Fossella (R-NY)...

New York political observers have wondered lately whether (yes, disgraced) former congressman Vito Fossella might be contemplating a comeback to public service.

Fossella sure has been looking the part of interested potential political candidate. In the past week or so, he has attended an area Lincoln Day Dinner, read to school children in his district - complete with a photo-op - and participated in the opening of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's campaign office...

Just before he left the House late last year, Fossella said he had "no plans whatsoever" to run for office again. But Newsday reports the former congressman last week "seemed to sidestep a question" about whether he'd seek elective office again.

Should Fossella decide to run for his old seat (and as political comedy writers, we're praying that he does), look for him to face steep opposition from Democrat Mike McMahon, who took over in January and has already mastered the art of Congressional earmarks, thus making him a strong incumbent.

And if Fossella should somehow win, look for David Vitter to run for president.