A man who should need no introduction. Even though he is no longer a member of Congress, we include him in a special "Recently Departed" category so that we do not forget how low some members of Congress will stoop.

Notable quote: “If these people hadn't been poor and black, they wouldn't have been left in New Orleans in the first place.”

Jefferson has the distinction of receiving the longest sentence ever imposed on a member of Congress for for bribery: 13 years.

Coming soon to the Hall of Shame...

Alcee Hastings is a former federal judge who was removed from office for corruption and bribery. He quickly was elected to Congress where his skills as a corrupt politician were more appreciated. Thanks to the people of Miami for sending a crook to the House.

Notable quote: on Sarah Palin -“...anybody toting guns and stripping moose don’t care too much about what they do with Jews and blacks.”

Background: Hastings was appointed to the federal bench by Jimmy Carter in 1979. In 1981 he was charged with accepting $150,000 in bribes in return for lenient sentences. Although acquitted in a jury trial, in 1989 he was finally impeached from the bench by the Senate, the sixth federal judge to ever be removed. In 1990 he ran for Secretary of State in Florida on a platform of legalizing casinos, but lost. In 1992 he ran for and was elected to the House of Representatives from the 23rd District.

Finally, he found a home where neither voters nor colleagues seem to have any problems with proven corruption. For example, Hastings was Nancy Pelosi's first choice to head the House Intelligence Committee until she was pressured to change her mind.

Notable quotes: Boxer interrupting General Michael Walsh during his testimony on Katrina repairs - "You know, do me a favor. Could you say ’senator’ instead of ‘ma’am?’ ...I think I earned it"

"Those who survived the San Francisco earthquake said, 'Thank God, I'm still alive.' But, of course, those who died, their lives will never be the same again."

Barney Frank, member of Congress since 1980. He refuses to acknowledge that maybe forcing banks to give sub-prime loans had something to do with the mortgage crises.

Notable quote: to a constituent at a town hall meeting who disagreed with him -"What planet are you from?"

Background: Frank was first elected to the House in 1980 and has been re-elected 13 times. Frank ran into an ethics debate when Steve Gobie, a male hustler living with Frank, was accused of running a prostitution ring from Frank's home. Frank confirmed that he had once paid Gobie for sex, hired him as an aide, and wrote letters on congressional stationery to state probation officials on Gobie's behalf.

Congress found no serious ethical questions but did vote to reprimand Frank for using his Congressional office to fix 33 parking tickets Gobie received.

Thank you voters of central Florida. You have put one of the all-time buffoons into Congress. He is a natural to be named our Clown of the Month for October.

Notable quote: "The Republican health plan is that you die ...quickly."

Backqround: Grayson has an interesting history. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School and received a masters from the John F. Kennedy School of Government. He is ranked as the 12th-wealthiest member of Congress based on financial disclosure forms with a minimum net worth of $31.12 million. So, granted he is not stupid, then what is his agenda?

Notable quote: As a T.V. commentator during the 1992 Los Angels riots, Waters said "If you call it a riot it sounds like it was just a bunch of crazy people who went out and did bad things for no reason. I maintain it was somewhat understandable, if not acceptable. So I call it a rebellion."