Barry in 2010

D.C. Council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) is back in trouble with federal authorities over his income taxes.

Federal prosecutors are seeking to revoke Barry's probation on misdemeanor tax charges because, they say, the former mayor has failed to meet his promises to pay old tax debts and also did not file returns for 2005. (Washington Post)

God, Barry is awesome.

After getting busted for not paying taxes for years, he gets a slap on the wrist so gentle, it can barely be called a slap. More like a caress. At this point, most people would just bend over for The Man, and pay up.

Not Marion Barry, though. Not only did he not bother paying off the back taxes he owes, he didn't even bother filing a return last year. Say what you will about the guy, but you have to admit, that takes stones.

Hey, I know, let's make him mayor again. What do you say, guys? Please?

Look, Fenty's been really fucking boring, what with him spending all his time on things like education and homelessness and crime. How many times has he been arrested since taking office? How many hookers has he been videotaped snorting coke with? I mean, if we wanted freaking Mother Theresa as mayor, we would have voted for Mother Theresa. Am I right or am I right?

A Washington with Marion Barry in charge would be like Disneyworld, Las Vegas, and Narnia, all rolled into one. You know Gavin Newsom? The mayor of San Francisco who banged his friend/campaign manager's wife and then entered rehab for alcoholism? In a Barry Administration, that would be a slow news day.

Yeah, there are all kinds of "practical" reasons why we shouldn't reelect Marion Barry as mayor. But come on. You can't deny it would be fun. And in the end, isn't that what's really important?