By Jim Mendrinos, Political Comedian

I am an election junkie. Doesn’t matter the election, national, mid-term, primary, general, I love them all. Of course if the truth be told, my favorite elections are the off year elections -- the odd numbered years that usually carry a hand full of ballot initiatives, lots of local races, and a few statehouses. Why might you ask?

Simple, I love wackos. And the mother-load of all wackos usually happens on the local levels. Why you ask? Without the glare of a national spotlight these politicians are free to let their freak flags fly. Don’t believe me? Two Words, Marion Barry.

Let’s not forget some of the characters who narrowly missed the cut, Like Louisiana’s Edwin Edwards who once told a group of reporters that “The only way I can lose this election is if I’m caught in bed with either a dead girl or a live boy.” He won. A few years later after some surprising scandals, the Shreveport Journal wrote that the only way he could be elected again was if he ran against Adolph Hitler. His opponent was David Duke. Not quite Hitler, he was only a leader in the KKK.

You just don’t get that candor or drama on the national stage.

I’m also fond of Kentucky’s former Gov, Paul Patton.  He had an extra-marital affair with a nursing home operator, and after she stopped the affair state regulators filed numerous citations and violations bankrupting the nursing home. Say what you want about Bill Clinton, he didn’t go after Monica via the IRS.

Jerry Springer, yes that Jerry Springer, was the Mayor of Cincinnati and a candidate for Governor until he decided to pay for a hooker with a personal check. Note to all future politicians, don’t leave a paper trail.

Now we’ve had some winners lately. Governor Mark Sanford’s inability to tell the difference between the Appalachian Trail and Buenos Aries was fun. Rod Blagojevich showed moxie for not pulling his hair out after being exposed in a bid to sell a Senate seat. And not just any Senate seat, the seat of the guy who just won the Presidential Election. Did he think that wouldn’t come under any scrutiny? If he doesn’t go to prison for corruption, he should for appointing Roland Burris.

The sex scandals are always the juiciest. Often it involves people who work under the politician in question, just so we can get a double dose of adultery and abuse of power in the workplace. Oh joy! Children listen up, study hard in school, pick a live in public service and perhaps one day you can sexually harass someone yourself. Ah, the American Dream.

Sometimes, like in the New Jersey Governor scandal surrounding Jim McGreevey, it is a same-sex scandal. Coming out is hard enough, doing it at a press conference where you’re admitting to a corruption and sex scandal has to increase the degree of difficulty. At least it prevents the corruption and resignation from being the headline. Let’s face it, “Corrupt Governor Resigns” isn’t nearly as good a headline as “HOLY CRAP HE’S GAY!”

That would move some papers.

Overwhelmingly, the dust ups usually involves prostitutes. Stands to reason, can’t exactly put the wedding ring in the pocket and cruise the hotel bar with a throng of reporters attached to you. The prostitute thing was what brought down my Governor, Eliot Spitzer. I don’t even use his name any more, I just say, Client Number 9. How sad, he ran one of the biggest states in the union and he couldn’t even get Client Number 1. I think Charlie Sheen has that honor.

What I remember most about the whole Spitzer fiasco isn’t the collapse of a rising political figure, or Ashley Dupre’s 15 minutes of fame. What I remember most is what David Patterson did when he took over as governor. He admitted everything he ever did. He admitted affairs, cocaine and marijuana use, overdue library books, coveting his neighbor’s goods, lusting after women in his heart. Anything that could have potentially become a scandal he admitted to about 3 seconds after he took the oath of office.

Genius! That’s how you defuse a scandal. Let’s just hope more politicians don’t get wind of that tactic otherwise we might have to stop trying to dig up their dirt and vote for them on their merits.

Heaven forbid.

**Jim Mendrinos is a New York City based comedian, author and pundit. He is a frequent guest on FoxNews.com’s Strategy Room and the host of “To Review” right here on Team Washington. Visit him at http://www.republicancomic.com/, www.twitter.com/jimmendrinos, or write him at GOPlaughs@gmail.com for his schedule and show information. Jim headlines Gotham Comedy Club in New York City October 30 & 31. Call 212-367-9000 for reservations.