So you think you can unseat U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young?

Bob Hackworth was a political nobody when he beat a respected longtime incumbent for the Dunedin City Commission in 2002. Now he's up against a congressman who may be Pinellas County's most revered politician, a 38-year incumbent who has scattered his name and millions of dollars across his district.

Read Stephanie Garry's story here.

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Comments

"Bob Hackworth was a political nobody..."

WAS?... ummm, never mind.

[The Meatball]

Hack will disappear from the scene, CW will win and retire mid-term to set up a Special Election favoring a local pre-selected female R, Hack will announce for BOCC District 4 against Billaris in 2010.

Exactly as we planned it.

[Gene Smith]

Meatball,

You want to check the record on results of House special elections in Republican held districts lately?

Hasn't worked out so well for the R's. Resigning mid-term does not sound like a brilliant plan to me. Also, if it were to happen, I'm betting that Congressman Young is too classy to do something like that strictly for political reasons.

[Ron Lincoln]

Gene Smith just made a little sense.

After Hackworth gets 42% in Nov he will run for either the state legislature of county commission and lose.

Since Biliris is supporting Rene Flowers over Bostock will she be running as a D or R in 2010?

[The Meatball]

As the Primary Elections in Pinellas should have shown Gene… assumptions are dangerous. Several of the so-called “establishment” choices with all their so-called “status quo” endorsements lost.

Like I said: Hack will disappear from the General Election scene, the DNC will invest nothing in this race, CW will win and retire mid-term to set up a Special Election favoring a local pre-selected female R, Hack will announce for BOCC District 4 against Biliris in 2010.

Exactly as we planned it.

Bill Young has only had two real races in 38 years. The Mayor of Clearwater,
Gabriel Cazares in the late 70's and Karen Moffitt, as in Lee Moffitt the former Speaker of the Fl House, about 16 years ago.

How would anyone know how well a credible candidate like the popular Mayor of a midsized community do?

Bill Young votes with George Bush about 95% of the time.

"How would anyone know how well a credible candidate like the popular Mayor of a midsized community do?"

First of all, there isn't one of those in this race... and second, a Republican will not trash a Republican.

[Gene Smith]

Meatball,

Not to get too picky here, but the DNC never invests in Congressional races, but the DCCC does. They may or may not play in this seat with Bill Young on the ticket, but they have long been drooling about the day they can play here without Young on the ballot. If that were to occur in a special election, you could expect the DCCC to pull out all the stops to pick up this seat. Sorta like they've done in the past 3 special House elections. including Denny Hastert's seat in Illinois.

ummmmm... your point?

Meatball:
The name suits you. You are probably Karen Seele herself. She has wanted to portray herself as the person Bill Young would LIKE to take his seat when he retires. Well a big surprise to Meatball and Karen. "Not gonna happen". If Karen is looking to ride on someones coattails, she picked the wrong guy. He is a gentleman, kind and polite. Doesn't mean he likes her MO. And Gene Smith, you are right on target. Young has too much class to pull a political "stunt". Not his style, he doesn't need it to be.

Hackworth:
Don't let your accidental win go to your head. You beat Samm Simpson, whoop. And beating Max Linn is a no brainer. He beats himself. Hackworths political career is over. He made more stupid mistakes and stupid remarks than a kid on drugs.

[The Meatball]

You can't even spell her name right... and I'm the schmo. HA!

Like I said: Hack will disappear from the General Election scene, the DNC will invest nothing in this race, CW will win and retire mid-term to set up a Special Election favoring a local pre-selected female R, Hack will announce for BOCC District 4 against Biliris in 2010.

Exactly as we planned it.

1:43, Just for the record, it was Karen Moffett, not Lee Moffett.

Meatball: tell us how you really spell "her name". shows how popular she is.

[The Meatball]

Save it for the Young Pot Smokers Club at the DEC... We own you pinkos and you know it. Hell, half you elected's are ours.

Like I said: Hack will disappear from the General Election scene, the DNC will invest nothing in this race, CW will win and retire mid-term to set up a Special Election favoring a local pre-selected female R, Hack will announce for BOCC District 4 against Biliris in 2010.

Exactly as we planned it.

What mistakes did Hackworth make? It looks like he won pretty handily so if mistakes were made they had no impact

6:00 pm, he had NO opponents he should have done better than that.

[AJS]

Gene,

You are making it hard for me to criticize you today.....

the mistakes he made was jumping party when his constituents voted him in republican. He didn't do good, and don't let him make yout think he did. Max linn is a whack job and never was going to win anything and poor Samm has no hope in politicals. That is not a win, that is a fluke.

Gene:
I am a democrat also and live in Pinellas County. I have watched Young help people, actually help save their lives without any fanfare or entourage or media. That is not his style, he only wants to use his time and power to help people. Same goes for that very focused staff he has. He isn't going to quit mid term, ecspecially because some bimbo says he will, he still has a lot of things he can accomplish over the next two years. Young has a huge support group of democrats, both personally and financially, including myself, because Young doesn't play political games. Never has, never will. Even if poor pathetic meatball wants him to. Meatball, get a crystal ball, you would do a lot better.

I understand Gene and Mr. Young are close personal friends, even though they differ on some issues but still are able to talk them out. Now that is what politics should be about. Agreeing to disagree.

I read that comment from Gene Smith and damn near fell off my chair. There is a kinder, gentler side of that man after all. I apologize Gene, for slamming you before. It takes a big man to apologize, and I am pretty big!@

Busy today, aye AJS?

Say... maybe you and your new buddy Gene can get together with CW to get those earmarks for the CW/Gene Smith/AJS Center for Homeless Veterans!

You will get right to work on that, won't you sport?

HEY 9:20:
WE HAVE ALL HEARD ENOUGH OF YOUR BIG MOUTH ABOUT HOMELESS SHELTERS FOR OUR VETS AND YOUNG. WHY DON'T YOU GROW SOME AND CALL YOUNG, GET A MEETING AND DISCUSS HOW THIS COULD BE DONE? yOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE ALL YOU ARE IS A BIG MOUTH. YOU COULD CARE LESS ABOUT OUR VETS OR ANYONE ELSE, YOU JUST WANT TO SPEW HATRED TOWARDS YOUNG AND USE OUR HEROES AS A VEHICLE. THAT IS BAD, SO BAD. IF YOU CARED ANYTHING ABOUT OUR HOMELESS VETS YOU WOULD TAKE ACTION. NOT MOUTH ACTION, BUT PHSYICAL ACTION. YOU ARE A BIG MOUTH, HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A BIG MOUTH ADN YOU ARE A LOSER AND DON'T DESERVE THE RESPECT OF ANY OF OUR VETS.IF YOU HAVE THE ANSWERS TO HOMELESS VETS, YOUNG WOULD LOVE TO HEAR THEM. SCARED? PROBABLY, BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU ARE A BIG MOUTH AND DON'T HAVE ANY BRAIN TO BACK UP YOUR MOUTH. IF YOU LOVE THE VETS, GET OFF OF YOUR A S S AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. QUIT COMPLAINING ABOUT WHAT OTHERS DO OR DON'T DO. DO IT YOURSELF, YOU LAZY BUM.

what's the matter 9:20? Mommy won't let you sleep in her bed with her tonite. Maybe she has someone more important in that bedroom to take care of than you. don't take it out on everyone else. Sport.

Oh, now I get it! All along you dopes have been trying to tell me that CW has no clue that there are even homeless vets in this country. That in fact they make up about 22% of the homeless population. You lackey tag pimps should let him know about these things.

There's more to representation than making sure your big contributors can drink off our dime! What was I thinking? Jobs for the boys are prority one for "the hero".

Thanks for setting me straight, sport!

[AJS]

Anytime you want to compare your record for helping our nations Veterans with Mr. Young's I would welcome the debate....

You all sure have a difficult time staying on topic. The reason Hackworth will prove uncompetitive is simple: he is unable to raise money to fund a credible campaign, which will lead to a certain desperation, which will lead to poor campaign decision-making, which will just reinforce his weakness as a candidate. Sure, he got a small bounce from his primary win, but that race was a gimme. Who could lose to Max and Samm? But that race also illustrated his inability to raise money or build a campaign organization, and the poor decisions he made along the way. A few of those decisions will come back to haunt him. He's hoping no one noticed or will say anything. He is mistaken, of course. Any of you care to speculate what those decisions were?

Hackworth: Your 15 minutes are up.

Hackworth has hired an out of state consultant to run his campaign. Whats the matter Hackworth, can't run your own campaign? Are you that stupid and inexperienced? Second, there are plenty of professionals here in Pinellas County that could do that. Is this county not good enough for you? An outside campaign consultant can only do one thing for lack of not knowing your opponent. A smear campaign. Big mistake, Hackworth, huge mistake, Hackworth. Again.

22% of vets are homeless. where did you get your numbers, big mouth? second, every member of congress should take care of his own congressional district of vets. not youngs fault, but of course you believe otherwise. Are you aware many vets have been offered public housing but prefer living on the outside. The say it is there comfort zone. Of course you don't know that, because all you are is a big mouth and you spew numbers that you read "somewhere". You have have obviously never been a vet, never will be a vet and don't care about a vet. all you care about is something THINKING you have an ounce of intelligence, but Susan Smith, we all know you are nothing but a big Mouth that slobbers.

Ok you Young boys, get back to work at the jobs our taxes bought you.

Hey AJS!... how those earmarks coming for the CW "Pork" Young Center for Homeless Veterans?

The out of state consultant has acutally worked in Pinellas County before and won the primary for him. It seems like the out of state guy did and is doing pretty good.

How much money is the DNCC kicking in to help the Hack?

[The Meatball]

Man, you people really ARE thick! How many times to I have to tell you?

Hack will disappear from the General Election scene, the DCCC (Dopes Can't Come Close)will invest nothing in this race, CW will win and retire mid-term to set up a Special Election favoring a local pre-selected female R, Hack will announce for BOCC District 4 against Biliris in 2010.

Exactly as we planned it.

Hacks mistakes:

The list go on, but the major mistake is running for an office that he has no grasp on. Obama will not go to work with him.

I'm all for change, but it won't come from Hack. The learning curve is too big. This year we must keep Young in place, until a person who has knowledge steps up, in 2 years.

She'll be stepping up in 1-year... and she's cluless.

tell the out of state consultant he is an idiot also if he thinks he won this election for Hackworth. Hackworth, are you that stupid to believe that. You won because the democrats didn't put up a viable candidate because they like young. You are a yellow dog accident and paying someone big money to take credit for that shows more of your stupidity.

5:18 the only one stupid here is you. You obviously are clueless about anything and everything pretaining to politics. Hackworth was outspent 5-1 and still won handily. Young is vulnerable and going to lose is Hackworth raises the money to be competitive.

10:21 he was outspent by Max Linn, stop acting like Hack had this triumphant victory over a tough competitor. Hitler could beat Linn in an election in Israel.

Ok you Young boys, get back to work at the jobs our taxes bought you.

10:21 aka Hackworth: no you are the stupid one. money does not buy votes. you can raise all the money in the world and most people can't be bought and sold. Money doesn't buy votes, actions and hard work receive votes. Another mistake. More to come.

Bill Young number one contributors are defense contractors. I guess that has nothing to do with why he continues to support the war in Iraq. Bill Young needs to held accountable for his elderly mistakes he has made over the last eight years.

"Not so Young anymore"

[plublius]

RETIRE YOUNG - That should be the goal of all Democrats, Republicans and Independents and it can be done in "08

Uh, excuse me, but just for the record, Hack's consultant, up until the end of July, was a Tampa resident. Perhaps you are referring to Hack's campaign manager? While from Louisiana, he has worked a number of Florida races over the past few years. But he is gone too. For now, Hack is on his own.

Go back to bed, Susan Smith of the Hillsborough County executive Committee. You are so old, ugly and boring. Your Hillary lost and broke your heart, you were so sure "she will win and you will all be crying". Well, we're not crying and your new little trick, he's gonna lose too. Find a new life other than your bottle.

NOt so YOUNG anymore? Neither are you. Did you become ignorant when you got older or just plain stupid.

[CD-10 Dem]

Hackworth may be "betting on Obama". But the Obama campaign is NOT betting on him. In fact, Obama's Pinellas Field Organization is distancing themselves as far as possible from his candidacy! Dsitrict 10 voters should take note.

You Young boys should not stay up so late. You have to get up early and get to those jobs we taxpayers bought for you.