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When you think of U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis,R-Palm Harbor, what comes to mind
first is Hollywood hunk. So why should we be surprised that actor Armand Assante will be the special guest Saturday at a $500-per-person fundraising reception for Bilirakis in Clearwater?
We hear Bilirakis has never actually met Assante, who is the special guest of the event's hosts, Dr. and Mrs. Russell Patterson.
Adam Smith, Times Political Editor
 From the writers of the St. Petersburg Times, Bay Buzz offers the latest news on Tampa Bay politics. This is a public forum sponsored and maintained by the St. Petersburg Times. When you post comments here, what you say becomes public and could appear in the newspaper. You are not engaging in private communication with candidates or Times staffers.
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Also expected is Buddy Johnson - someone that Gus Bilirakis supported last election.
Posted by: Betty | July 15, 2009 at 02:53 PM
Who? Never heard of Assante. How about giving us some background? You say he was an actor. Ok, in what?
Posted by: Zen Master | July 15, 2009 at 03:28 PM
Have you heard of Jay Odom? He gave the GOP over $1,000,000.
Bill McCollum is planning on keeping all the money he received from Odom.
How much did Bilirakis get? And, is he too going to keep it?
Posted by: Bill | July 15, 2009 at 03:48 PM
Gus is for Us!
Posted by: E | July 15, 2009 at 03:56 PM
I know Gus is very close to Buddy Johnson but I don't think he received much if anything from Rep. Sansom.
Posted by: Kevin | July 15, 2009 at 04:05 PM
Hey Guys...The Congressman is not close with Buddy Johnson.
Posted by: Newsflash | July 15, 2009 at 04:30 PM
Dear Mr. Newsflash -
Who did Rep. Bilirakis support for Election's Supervisor in Hillsborough County?
As I recall, it was Buddy Johnson.
Posted by: Tom | July 15, 2009 at 04:45 PM
Tom,
Supporting one candidate over another does not mean they were "close".
Posted by: Newsflash | July 15, 2009 at 04:55 PM
Tom -
I agree with Newsflash. Supporting a candidate means that you share the same values and vision of how government should run, not that you are close friends.
While Gus Bilirakis believes that Government should be run the way Buddy Johnson did, they may not even know each other.
Posted by: Kevin | July 15, 2009 at 05:00 PM
I am supporting Gus Bilirakis.
Posted by: Buddy Johnson | July 15, 2009 at 05:26 PM
Why are you people trying to tie Gus Bilirakis to Buddy Johnson? Let's talk about what the post was originally about....campaign fundraising.
Posted by: Hillsborough Voter | July 15, 2009 at 07:25 PM
Congressman Bilirakis has always been very kind to me and my family. I hope this event is very successful for him.
Posted by: John | July 15, 2009 at 07:27 PM
Gus has always been kind to me and my political friends. I hope this event is very profitable.
Posted by: Buddy Johnson | July 15, 2009 at 07:52 PM
Gus Bilirakis is the best Congressman our area can ask for. He's representing the people for all the right reasons. Keep up the good work Gus!
Posted by: Lisa | July 15, 2009 at 08:42 PM
This sounds like a lovely event.
Posted by: D | July 15, 2009 at 08:43 PM
$500 per head - that should keep out the riff raff (i.e. average people).
Posted by: Big Money for Gus and Buddy | July 15, 2009 at 08:49 PM
Assante was at the most recent Gasparilla International Film Festival. Charming guy. He starred opposite Antonio Banderas in Mambo Kings. He has been in a gazillion other films (Striptease, Private Benjamin, American gangster, etc). He is a great guy to hang out with and a real gentleman.
Posted by: Eric Odum | July 15, 2009 at 10:48 PM
I had the opportunity to meet Armand Assanti at the Gasparilla Film Fest. He was a nice guy I guess, but certainly not worth paying $500 to talk to.
Cliff Gephart
Posted by: Cliff Gephart | July 16, 2009 at 08:54 AM
Okay - I don't live in his district, so I have to ask: Does he have a mild form of retardation? From the looks of it, he certainly does.
Posted by: What is wrong with Gus B? | July 16, 2009 at 01:53 PM
So, is Gus still the lowest ranking house member in terms of power and influence?
Posted by: # Please | July 16, 2009 at 01:54 PM
No he is NOT retarded. He is a nice man with a good heart. You people on this blog attack him and you've never even met the guy!
Posted by: Fired Up | July 16, 2009 at 03:49 PM
Have you ever heard Bilirakis speak? Yes, he is retarded. I heard he got lost in the Tallahassee airport. Seriously. The smallest airport in the state. 10 gates and this dork gets lost.
Posted by: Duh | July 16, 2009 at 09:16 PM
Hello Duh-
Having a hearing aid doesn't make someone retarded you idiot!
"I heard he got lost in the airport" whatever, you don't even know him.
And didn't your mother teach you not to believe everything you "hear" ???
Posted by: Fired Up | July 16, 2009 at 10:31 PM
Fired up, you are washed out....
Out of all members of the House, including PR and DC, what is Bilirakis' power and prominence ranking? LAST. He is freaking last behind all other House members: the freshmen, and those that don't have a binding vote on legislation from PR and DC. Last! He has no influence for his district. Pathetic.
And yes, Gus got totally lost in the Tally airport. He was found trying to buy Skittles out of the condom machine in the mens bathroom.
He is a moron on multiple levels and those that continue to support a congressman who voted 100% of the time with Bush's agenda are idiots as well.
And while yes, I did hear my momma say not to believe everything you "hear" - my only question is: Did Gus?
Posted by: Washed out is more like it | July 16, 2009 at 11:41 PM
I'm sorry mister handicap man, do you speak sign language? can you read lips? alright, let me break it down for you:
if you don't answer me when i talk to you, i'm gonna put my foot in your @$$. is that understood?
Thir, yers thir!
ROFLMAO
Posted by: Major Payne | July 16, 2009 at 11:47 PM