President's trip occasions two District 9 luncheons

President George Bush will surely rouse the spirits and generosity of the 300 guests expected to join him at a midday fundraiser for Gus Bilirakis on Thursday. The price of entry for the event  -- $1,000 a ticket or $2,100 for a one-on-one photo opportunity -- even inspired Bilirakis' Democratic opponent. Phyllis Busansky is hosting a separate luncheon in protest. Below is an exerpt of the invitation Busansky's camp is circulating (full version is posted in comments)

If your homeowner insurance rates went up by $1,000 or more, I’d like to buy you lunch – and we can discuss ways we will fight back! And if your rates went up by $2,100 or more, you get lunch and a photo with me!

    Please join me Thursday, September 21st at 1:30 PM at La Teresita restaurant, 3246 W. Columbus Dr., Tampa (located a few blocks southeast of Raymond James Stadium).

Comments

[robin]

EMAIL FROM BUSANSKY CAMPAIGN

Dear Homeowner,

This Thursday the President of the United States is coming to Tampa to campaign against me. He is charging people $1,000 for lunch and $2,100 to get a photo with him and my opponent Gus Bilirakis.

I am fairly certain that Gus will not be asking President Bush to help solve our homeowner insurance crisis. And I am fairly certain there will be no discussion about our rates doubling and tripling while insurance companies are posting record profits. In fact, I am fairly certain the insurance lobbyists will be doling out plenty of $2,100 checks to support Gus!

So I am going to do something about it!

If your homeowner insurance rates went up by $1,000 or more, I’d like to buy you lunch – and we can discuss ways we will fight back!

And if your rates went up by $2,100 or more, you get lunch and a photo with me!

Please join me Thursday, September 21st at 1:30 PM at La Teresita restaurant, 3246 W. Columbus Dr., Tampa (located a few blocks southeast of Raymond James Stadium).

Please RSVP to ebarson@busanskyforcongress.com or (813) 435-5103. Seating is limited because, as you know, many homeowners have suffered rate increases in excess of $1,000 thanks to state lawmakers like Gus Bilirakis.

Thank you so much,

Phyllis Busansky

[Sandra]

Hmmm, I wonder if the Host Committee, Rep. CW Bill Young will also be there promoting the "Military Industrial Complex and the War on Terra"?

There is an alternative on the ballot for District 10 in Pinellas, but apparently it's a secret...

Samm Simpson has "The Hipness Factor" http://tampa.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A112523...

Video: Tampa Media Talk Live http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2335036035230286590&hl=en...

Seek TRUTH! http://www.SammSimpsonforCongress.com...

[Sandra]

George W Bush is coming to town on....
International Peace Day, this Thursday, Sept. 21.
Protest the Tampa Presidential Visit at GOP Fundraiser, Raymond James Stadium

War monger George W Bush and other members of the Florida GOP delegation will hold a fundraiser for Congressional Candidate Gus Bilirakis at the Raymond James Football Stadium, Tampa on Thursday September 21.

This is also the United Nations International Peace Day and we urge peace, labor, environmental, immigrant and other organizations for peace and justice to take the time off and come onto the public sidewalks surrounding Raymond James Stadium to protest the presence of War Criminal George Bush and let them know that we will Give Peace a Vote! … No More War Candidates!

Please arrive by 9:00-9:30 am and we will begin walking down the sidewalks to the entrance of the stadium on W. Tampa Bay Blvd., so that we are stationed by 10 AM, an hour before the president's arrival to avoid being left behind roadblocks and have our signs, banners and noisemakers ready.

Join with Military Families Speak Out, St. Pete For Peace, Code Pink, Food Not Bombs, Gold Star Families Speak Out, Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice, Nature Coast Coalition for Peace and Justice and the Sun Coast Peace Education Group, the Refuge, Tampa Chapter of the Sierra Club, Veterans For Peace, Pinellas Progressive Democrats, and labor, immigrant and environmental groups.

Bring along a musical instrument or noisemaker of your choice and your voice to chant and let the anti-war message be heard. Lets make George and his supporters feel the pressure of our presence throughout his stay at the fund raiser and make him feel as surrounded as GI's in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We will hold a processional march for International Peace Day around the stadium after Bush's arrival and those that remain behind can carry on protesting. We want to send a clear message… to end the occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq, and to end unprovoked attacks on other nations using illegal weapons of mass destruction!

Note*
Parking is available at the K-Mart on Columbus and Himes Road.
You can drop off friends at the ABC-TV Station and park at the K-Mart and walk or ride back up with a shuttle provided by the Refuge of St Petersburg at the K-Mart. You can park on nearby streets east of Himes Rd but avoid blocking driveways, parking on grass, or on private property.

LET'S GIVE RESIDENT BUSH A PINK SLIP
For more info: moondancermom@gmail.com or melissa@stpeteforpeace.org

[Sandra]

Just in case you missed it: {too bad we have to read Miami papers to find out about the Republicans in St. Petersburg)

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/

Say it ain't so, Joe

Pilloried by Democrats for being too close to Republicans, the last thing U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman needs is more evidence of that relationship. Yet here it is: Republican bigwig Mel Sembler is co-hosting a fundraiser for Lieberman in St. Petersburg tomorrow.

Lieberman, the former Democratic vice presidential nominee, is running for re-election as an independent after losing his party's primary to Ned Lamont.

It's a first for Lieberman -- and for Sembler. Asked if he has ever raised money for a Democrat before, Sembler replied: "I'm 76 years old. Not in the last 76 years.''

Sembler is founder and chairman of the Sembler Company, a retail developer. He is co-hosting the Lieberman fundraiser at his office with company president and chief executive officer, Craig Sher, a Democrat.

"It looks like he needs some help, and we were happy to help him,'' Sembler said. "Many people see him as a man of conviction.''

Vote all incumbents out!

[gatordem]

The rethugs are at it again. It’s not enough that they have held this seat, I dunno, like forever. Now they want to pass this seat from father to son. Mike Billirakis has been a reliable Bush toady, and Jr will be just more of the same. I thought we fought a revolution in part to get rid of hereditary rulers. Apparently the R’s have forgotten that.

Well, we haven’t! We have had some recent experience with sons holding the office that their father used to hold. And we all know how that’s turned out!

The FL-09, without a long term incumbent, is a swing district. The registrations in this district are much more favorable for Dems than FL-13. and in FL-13, Dem candidate Christine Jennings is leading by 8 points. A Dem leading by 8 points in Katherine Harris’ old district!

Well, if Jennings can be doing that well in that much of an R district, imagine how good a shot Phyllis Busansky has in FL-09!!!!!

Phyllis Busansky is a great candidate. A former Hillsborough County Commissioner, Phyllis has made a real difference in everything she has ever attempted. That’s one of the reasons the R’s are pulling out their big guns and aiming them at Phyllis. Dumya is here today. Shotgun Cheney has been here once already. Denny (the majority of the majority) Hastert has been here. All to help poor Jr. try and keep his Daddy’s seat in the family.

I say, let’s not let them get away with it! Phyllis is on the Red to Blue list. We need to give her all the support we can. If you live in the Tampa Bay area, get in touch with Phyllis and give her some time.

Phyllis Busansky is a Representative for the People! Imagine a candidate buying YOU lunch! Way to go Phyllis and You've Got My Vote!

[GOPGator]

Oh, is that the only issue here? I thought maybe you Dims, (I mean, Dems) would try to use issues and logic in this campaign, but all it comes down to is whining about how it's been a Rep seat for sooooo long and now, (gasp) his SON is running! I bet that will be a winning strategy for you! Keep it up!

[Sandra]

GOP You're fired!

Americans Overwhelmingly Disapprove Of The Republican-Controlled Congress...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

Realistic folks are left to wonder what Phyllis will be doing in 2007, because she won't be serving the people in D.C.

Maybe she'll be serving people breakfast at Cracker Barrel.

[Susan S]

GOPGator,

Logic? Here's some logic: The Republicans have been in total control of our federal government for the past six years. We are in a Middle East quagmire, created by Bush, that has destablized a critical part of the world. We have lost all credibility with our allies. Bush has incompetently fought the Iraq War and has allowed our victory in Afghanistan to fail. The economy is shaky for many Americans. The cost of college is out of reach for many American families. The Bush administration is attempting to obtain pardons for themselves for breaking the law by changing FISA requirements and by doing away with habeas corpus and the(quaint) Geneva Conventions. Inflation is back. Bush economic policies have taken us from a surplus to huge deficits. The administration has failed to implement the 9-11 Commission recommendations. (oh, and where is Osama?)

Bilirakis is tying himself to his father's name so why shouldn't we expect him to be a rubber stamp for Bush just like his daddy. He has been in the state legislature and has done nothing to solve the homeowners insurance crisis. He has taken major donations from the insurance industry.

Phyllis Busansky led the way in creating a healthcare plan for Hillsborough County that saved taxpayers millions of dollars. As executive director of Florida's welfare to work program, she reduced the welfare rolls by 80% when she moved people into productive jobs. She has been recognized as an outstanding leader by Governing magazine and the Ford Foundation.

Phyllis will better represent the citizens of FL-9. She will work with Democrats and sensible Republicans to end our involvement in Iraq's civil war and is pledging to hold the Bush administration accountable for its disastrous policies.

Susan S: Chill out!! That is the problem with the Dims, they rant and rave and never, ever listen. You are made up of goofy fringe groups that have only one issue and no consistant or uniting theme.

yeah! Sandra chill out also!

[Adam's neighbor]

Cute idea.

[Sandra]

Gee, I wonder who's brave enough to ask the important questions ?

What will CW Young put on the Auction Block next?

http://www.dccc.org/gopauctionhouse/members/CWYoungFL-10.html

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HOW YOUNG RESPONDS TO HIGH ENERGY PRICES
Rep. Young voted against cracking down on the oil and gas industries price gouging.
Big oil and gas industries have given Rep. Young $18,050. Any surprise?

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REP. YOUNG PUTS BIG BUSINESS AHEAD OF AMERICAN WORKERS
Rep. Young voted to strip overtime protection from millions of workers.

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GOP "HEALTH CARE"
Big drug interests have given $57,441 to Young over the Representative's career. They know who their friends are.
Rep. Young voted for the GOP Medicare Prescription Drug Bill that will give billions to businesses and the health care industry, while forcing seniors to accept annual increases in premiums and deductibles and a growing gap in coverage for the prescription drugs they buy.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIES WITH THE GOP LEADERSHIP
Young voted with President Bush 88% of the time.
Young voted the GOP party line 94% of the time.

http://www.house.gov/young/photos/photos%20with%20President%20George%20Bush.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIES WITH TOM DELAY
Young has:
Voted to weaken House ethics rules when DeLay proposed doing so as GOP Majority Leader.
Voted with Tom DeLay 89% of the time (through 3/31/2006)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIES TO DISGRACED FORMER CONGRESSMAN RANDY "DUKE" CUNNINGHAM
Young has taken:
$1,000 from MZM founder Mitchell Wade, whose purchase of Cunningham's home for a hugely inflated price was recognized as a thinly-veiled bribe.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS
Rep. Young voted to continue awarding contracts to Halliburton even if the Pentagon's own audit processes found that more than $100 million of their contractor's costs in Iraq were unreasonable. No surprise that Halliburton gave Young $29,500.
Rep. Young opposed expanding access to the military's TRICARE health insurance program to thousands of Reservist and National Guard members, even though 20 percent of all Reservists do not have health insurance, and 40 percent of Reservists aged 19 to 35 lack health coverage.
Rep. Young voted against granting a bonus to grant a $1,500 bonus to every American service member serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, including National Guard and Reserve forces.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE ENVIRONMENT
Rep. Young voted against bipartisan reform of the Endangered Species Act.
Rep. Young voted for a massive sell off of public lands to mining interests.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW DOES YOUNG SUPPORT....

HIGHER EDUCATION?
While tuition costs are rising for ordinary Americans, Rep. Young voted to cut Federal student aid by $12.7 billion -- the biggest such cuts in history.

SOURCES
1 Vote on price gouging: HR 3402, Vote #500, 9/28/2005 No
2 Contributions from oil and gas industries: www.opensecrets.org $18,050
3 Vote to block the stripping of overtime protection: HR 2660 , Vote #351, 7/10/2003 No
4 Contributions from drug interests: www.opensecrets.org $57,441
5 Vote on GOP Medicare Prescription Drug Bill: HR 1, Vote #669, 11/22/2003 Yes
6 Voting percentage with Pres. Bush:
calculated through: www.cq.com 88%
7 Voting percentage with GOP caucus:
calculated through: www.cq.com 94%
8 Vote to weaken ethics rules: H Res. 5, Roll Call #6, 1/4/05 YES
9 Voting percentage with DeLay: calculated through 3/31/2006: www.cq.com 89%
10 Contributions from Wade: www.tray.com $1,000
11 Vote to stop contracts to corporations that overcharge: HR 4939, Vote #60, 3/16/2006 No
12 Contributions from Halliburton: www.tray.com $29,500
13 Vote to expand access to TRICARE: HR 1815 , Vote #221, 5/25/2005 No
14 Vote for bonus for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans: HR 3289, Vote #554, 10/17/2003 No
15 Vote on Endangered Species Act reform: HR 3824, Vote #505, 9/29/2005 No
16 Vote to sell off public lands: HR 4241,Vote #601, 11/18/2005 Yes
17 Vote to cut Federal student aid: S 1932 , Vote #670, 12/19/2005 Yes

Any questions ?

http://www.SammSimpsonForCongress.com

"A voice for the people of Pinellas"
Florida's 10th Congressional District

[Susan S]

Hey,
I'm chillin'.

BTW, where does Gus stand on implementing the 9-11 Commission recommendations? the war? holding the administration accountable for its failures and incompetence?

I thought you wanted to talk about issues?

Gus will have to ask Daddy how to vote on these complex issues

[Zhombre]

I don't think it is appropriate to turn this site into a forum for partisan political advertising. Generally newspapers charge for this sort of thing, no? The moderator here really should delete Sandra's posts. Btw I've met Samm Simpson --- very lovely person, little chance of being elected --- but her supporters ought to show a little more restraint here.

[gatordem]

zhombre

A little more restraint? Like you R's have been so restrained? LOL

Haven't heard anything that funny since I heard Gus try to talk last week.

BTW - I asked Bill Young (re the Medicare Drug Industry Giveaway Bill) if he had his own company, would he tell his employees NOT to negotiate for the lowest prices they could get?

Wait for it - here comes the answer - wait - OK - here it comes - He said "that bill didn't come out of my committee". What - is he only responsible for what his committee does? How about his floor votes? Oh yeah, Tom DeLay told him how to vote on those.

I will never eat at La Teresita again.

[gatordem]

So now we know how you R's REALLY feel about your Cuban "friends".

[Sandra]

Viva free speech!

Frankly, I wouldn't have to blog it if it was being reported anywhere in the local media.

Typical GOP "Swiftboating" response... don't like the message so attack the messenger!

Prediction

Bill Young 82%
That Lady hes running against 18%

At least yall will keep Bill Nelson in the Senate

[Robert Becker]

9:51 Attention "anonynous" - I am Phyllis Busansky's campaign manager - No need to boycott La Teresita... We are renting the room and paying for the whole lunch... and our guests have all been walloped by homeowner insurance bills in excess of $1000... thanks to pro-insurance legislators like Gus Bilirakis.

Nothing beats having a picture of dennis kucinich on your home page...
Its hard to be more of a kook than "screech" Dean but Dennis is.

I wonder how popular he is in Pinellas County?

Thats about as good as Candy Jovan bragging about being the pinellas chairman of the Dean campaign

I figured a congressional campaign manager whould have a lot of work to do instead of blogging.

Robert Becker, I'm glad to see you have nothing better to do with your time than sit around and argue with anonymous morons.

Seems like it takes no time at all to realize what a shill Gus is, and about 2 seconds to post pointing that out.

Just sayin.

The democrats sure know how to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory

[Sandra]

Yes, well Congressman Dennis Kucinich "Department of Peace" http://www.thepeacealliance.org/ is in stark contrast to the "Military Industrial Complex" King of Defense Appropriations.

Put on a uniform blog warrior!

[Rich]

Looks like the SP Times blog is getting bombarded with more moveon.org and dailykos liberals. No need to respond to all these ridiculous comments. They only represent a small minority of the population.

Sandra - You'd be surprised how many of us have donned a military uniform. You might take an oath and strap one on yourself. Give back to the country that has given you so much.

I can't think of anything better than Gus and Bush speaking back to back . . . complete with awkward silences and scattered applause as the audience tries to figure out incomplete sentences and mispronunciations of one syllable words . . . and the award for best public speaking duo (suited for a retarded clown convention) goes to . . .

[Sandra]

10:33 Been there and done that 20+years; retired USAF.

10:27 Free Republic 'minority' misses you!

Another prediction:

Gus Bilirakis 75%

Whats her face 25%

"Domestic violence survior"

Wow. That kinda advertising says it all.

I guess?

10:38-
That made me laugh out loud in my office.

[DonkeyHunter]

I wonder if the crazy chiro will end up getting a better percentage than what's her face?

[GOP Junkie]

gatordem, heriditary rulers? What about the Kennedys and the Gores?
And Sandra, have you checked out lately which companies are contributing to your Democrats? They don't give only to one party. Check your beloved Pelosi's donors- they range from large corporations like Lockheed Martin, Bechtel, and Occidental Petroleum; to drug companies like Eli Lilly; insurance companies like Prudential. The list goes on. Stop the pretending that the Democrats are a lilly white breed of For the People public servants.

[gatordem]

Junkey,

You need a new fix of Kool-Aid. I'm not entirely sure, but I don't think either a Kennedy or a Gore handed a seat off directly to an offspring.

Am I wrong about that?

Sandra and you other leftie whack-jobs... As a proud Democrat, I have one request.. please don't help!!!

[David]

gatordem,
Do you make it a habit of teasing people who have disabilities? Gus has a hearing disability which makes it nearly impossible for him to hear his own voice -- thus the problem with talking.

While you're at it, make fun of people in wheelchairs, or blind people. Don't stop now, you're showing your party supports all the people.

David- while I don't doubt that Gus has some sort of disability (although I am not sure it is hearing related) I find it extremely hard to believe that he can't hear his own voice. I mean come on, there is enough empty space in his head that his voice should bounce around and echo for days!!!

Gus' problem is not that he has a hearing problem. It is that he is simply a first class, grade-A dolt!!!

Gus is a horrible candidate who the electorate would never even consider voting for if he didn't have the last name of Bilirakis. If his name was Gus Jones, he wouldn't even get a second look and Phyllis would be coasting to a seat in Congress.

[David]

If you've ever met the man, you'll notice he wears two hearing aides. That's called a disability.

You Democrats amaze me -- you're the "big tent" party but you pick on people who aren't like you.

David - I have known Gus for several years and have never seen him with a hearing aid in his ear. His and Mike's seats at Raymond James Stadium are near mine and I see them at every Bucs home game. I have seen him out socially and professionally and never have I seen a hearing aid in his ear. Try again. You can't just make shit up and expect everyone to believe it just because you said it is so.

OK, David, I will give you the whole "disability" thing. Now ask yourself this.... If Mike's "disabled" son is qualified to run for Congress, should the Democrats run Rosemary Kennedy for President? I am sure you would vote for her since you are all about putting people with disabilities in public office.

[David]

11:45,
I don't make up anything. I guess the Florida Division of Blind Services has it wrong when it says, "Rep. Gus Bilirakis who has both a vision and a hearing disability..."

http://dbs.myflorida.com/newsletter/EyeOnUs/0506.html

Or the Florida Association of the Deaf who says, "Bilirakis, who is hard of hearing himself..."

http://www.fadcentral.org/pdf/Spring04color.pdf#search=%22Gus%20Bilirakis%20hearing%20aid%22

Stop being such a putz.

His hearing disability aside, he is still an idiot!!!

Then you'll have an idiot for a Congressman because he's not losing.

The national D's have already figured this out, maybe you should too.

11:35, That is the absolute truth.

And whether he has hearing aids or any disability at all, he’s an idiot and has no business running. The saddest part about it all… the D’s dumped a sharp, fresh, Christian up-n-comer in Rublee, for a retread with no chance against the idiot’s name rec.

Can you say McBride! “Lost another one to drytec”

Brilliant Busansky! Absolutely brilliant!

I’ll give you that, 1:05. Just not sure it’s enough to overcome the $, and the lemmings in the “R” Party. Jumping off the cliff together, one right after the other… and taking our country with them.

HYPER PARTISANSHIP

http://www.billoreilly.com/currentarticle

Everyone should read this article. Hyperpartisans need to chill out, on both sides.

Here's the beautiful rub about all of this nonsense coming from the Gus haters...

None of it matters.

Gus wins by a landslide no matter what you say. He's so far ahead in the polls that a no-namer, retread candidate like Busansky can never make up enough ground. Polls show that Gus has more positive name recognition among registered Ds in Hillsborough!!! How sad is that for Phyllis.

So, to coin an old sports taunt... "SCOREBOARD!!!" Just look at the scoreboard, folks. Gus is winning by a ton...

And all that stuff making fun of Gus's hearing disability is just low-class trash.

He does wear hearing aids, every day.

And about that rubber stamp insult, check out the endorsements of the liberal-darling St. Pete Times.. The SPT's editorial board specifically mentioned that Gus has shown an impressive independent streak opposing Jeb Bush on his major initiatives.. Jeb knows that Gus never rubber-stamped him. And so does the Times.

2:14, you are undoubtedly 100% correct. The voters in district 9 are going to vote for Gus. I am just glad that I live in district 13. The folks in 9 deserve whatever they get, namely, piss poor, ineffective representation.

[GOPGator]

Susan S & Sandra,
Are you guys writing speeches for Hugo Chavez? Or are you just using his words without his permission? I think the only thing you've left out is the line about smelling sulphur! I can't tell who's copying who!

[BoilerGOP]

GOPGator,

You can blame me. I outed 3 people on this blog that were spouting talking points from dailykos. They got upset, posted this blog there and how we were outing them. Now there are not 3 dailykos liberals spouting hate Bush and republican rhetoric, but about 15.

[macaby]

Congress has a 27% approval rate, but people seem to love their own representative. Do we love Gus? I don't. He may be a great guy, but he needs to quit hiding behind Daddy's suit. Gus, come on out and debate Phyllis; you owe it to your future constituents! Where do you stand on the deficit? Are you going to use your "independent" streak to balance the budget? What about recognizing Florida's Constitutional Right of Privacy in end of life, embryonic stem cell research and abortion issues? Do you believe in Intelligent Design to be taught in the schools? Unfunded mandates that brought us the FCAT? Come on out, buddy! Show that fightinmg spirit and let it rip on those Dems! Let people realy see you are not a clone of your dad!

Why should he debate Phyllis?

If I were advising him, I'd strongly urge him not to debage Phyllis.. Debating her would only add credibility to Phyllis's compaign, which she so desperately needs. Phyllis has to prove that she's a legitimate threat before she can earn the right to debate Gus. And as far as the polling data goes, she's so far behind that Gus doesn't need to debate her. That's one of the perks of being so far ahead.

A debate is Phyllis Hail-Mary shot at gaining ground. Why should Gus give her that opportunity?

I dunno. Maybe if Gus was a domestic violence survivor he'd appeal to more people. lol

[SensibleGator]

Well something I'd like to ask about little Bilirakis, is why doesn't he ever say anything himself? Phyllis is the only one I actually hear out in the community, Guy is hiding - as he should be and will be if he's put into office.

11:17....

Uh, could it be that the reason why you only hear about Phyllis is because you are on Phyllis's staff????

In case you missed the coverage, Gus was mingling with hundreds of his supporters on Thursday at Raymond James..

I got a question for retread Phyllis and her bunch...

Hey Phyllis.. How many times did you vote to raise taxes and fees as a Hillsborough County commissioner?

Voters want to know.