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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"Bob Hackworth was a political nobody..."
WAS?... ummm, never mind.
Posted by: | September 02, 2008 at 12:02 PM
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.
Posted by: The Meatball | September 02, 2008 at 12:04 PM
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.
Posted by: Gene Smith | September 02, 2008 at 12:39 PM
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.
Posted by: Ron Lincoln | September 02, 2008 at 12:54 PM
Since Biliris is supporting Rene Flowers over Bostock will she be running as a D or R in 2010?
Posted by: | September 02, 2008 at 12:56 PM
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.
Posted by: The Meatball | September 02, 2008 at 01:39 PM
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.
Posted by: | September 02, 2008 at 01:43 PM
"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.
Posted by: | September 02, 2008 at 02:25 PM
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.
Posted by: Gene Smith | September 02, 2008 at 02:31 PM
ummmmm... your point?
Posted by: | September 02, 2008 at 02:35 PM
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.
Posted by: | September 02, 2008 at 02:46 PM
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.
Posted by: | September 02, 2008 at 02:47 PM
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.
Posted by: The Meatball | September 02, 2008 at 02:54 PM
1:43, Just for the record, it was Karen Moffett, not Lee Moffett.
Posted by: | September 02, 2008 at 03:07 PM
Meatball: tell us how you really spell "her name". shows how popular she is.
Posted by: | September 02, 2008 at 03:10 PM
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.
Posted by: The Meatball | September 02, 2008 at 03:44 PM
What mistakes did Hackworth make? It looks like he won pretty handily so if mistakes were made they had no impact
Posted by: | September 02, 2008 at 06:00 PM
6:00 pm, he had NO opponents he should have done better than that.
Posted by: | September 02, 2008 at 07:09 PM
Gene,
You are making it hard for me to criticize you today.....
Posted by: AJS | September 02, 2008 at 07:17 PM
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.
Posted by: | September 02, 2008 at 08:06 PM
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.
Posted by: | September 02, 2008 at 08:10 PM
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.
Posted by: | September 02, 2008 at 08:11 PM
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!@
Posted by: | September 02, 2008 at 08:13 PM
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?
Posted by: | September 02, 2008 at 09:20 PM
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.
Posted by: | September 02, 2008 at 10:39 PM