Dem Wonders: Are we even trying?

There is a new post on DailyKos regarding this seat. The title, FL-10: Are we even trying? , suggests a certain frustration level with the candidate line up so far. Here is the money quote for me:

I complain, I worry and I vent because FL-10 is a pickup opportunity with or without Rep. Young retiring (which is a possibility). The status quo from the left -- (Samm) Simpson running her campaign the same way as in the past and/or lacking another Democratic challenger who can fundraise against Young -- is just blowing this chance.

The author urges Kossacks:

both nationally and locally to try to get involved with Samm Simpson and help give her the proper direction to victory.

It is the author's hope that

Simpson will focus on her opponent and not on literary allusions that blasts the president. Focus on the issues facing the local populous and not on the conspiracy theories behind 9-11 and the invasion of Iraq.

If Simpson ever hopes to be a serious candidate, i.e, one with a chance of winning, that would be good advice to listen to.

Does anyone want to volunteer to take up that issue with Samm?

Bill Young Resources

For those interested in learning more about Bill, here are a list of relevant resources:

FPC Wiki Page

Official House Site

Official Campaign Site

Wikipedia Page

Congresspedia Page

WaPo Voting Database

FEC Report

On the Issues

Open Secrets.org

Project Vote Smart

Bill Hates Children and the Elderly

Congress recently had a chance to help out children and seniors across the country. Guess which way the Florida delegation voted?

FL-1: Jeff Miller (R) - Nay
FL-2: Allen Boyd (D) - Yea
FL-3: Corrine Brown (D) - Yea
FL-4: Ander Crenshaw (R) - Did not vote
FL-5: Ginny Brown-Waite (R) - Nay
FL-6: Cliff Stearns (R) - Nay
FL-7: John Mica (R) - Nay
FL-8: Ric Keller (R) - Nay
FL-9: Gus Bilirakis (R) - Nay
FL-10: CW Bill Young (R) - Nay
FL-11: Kathy Castor (D) - Yea
FL-12: Adam Putnam (R) - Nay
FL-13: Vern Buchanan (R) - Nay
FL-14: Connie Mack (R) - Nay
FL-15: Dave Weldon (R) - Nay
FL-16: Tim Mahoney (D) - Yea
FL-17: Kendrick Meek (D) - Yea
FL-18: Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R) - Nay
FL-19: Robert Wexler (D) - Yea
FL-20: Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) - Yea
FL-21: Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R) - Nay
FL-22: Ron Klein (D) - Yea
FL-23: Alcee Hastings (D) - Yea
FL-24: Tom Feeney (R) - Nay
FL-25: Mario Diaz-Balart (R) - Nay

Let these people know what you think about them. Go to their page at the FPC Wiki to find their contact info.

Listen to the DCCC ad targeting Bill Young

Young Reacts "Angrily" to DCCC Ads

Bill Young

angrily pointed to a new radio ad campaign this week by Democrats accusing him of opposing increased benefits in Medicare for seniors.

Here is the text of the ad to which Young reacted angrily:

The DCCC is responsible for the content of this advertising, not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Did you know Bill Young receives health care at taxpayers' expense, but voted against lowering senior's Medicare deductibles and co-payments for preventative care? Tell Congressman Young to put seniors first.

The ad is in response to Young voting against H R 3162 to extend and improve the children's health insurance program, to improve beneficiary protections under the Medicare, Medicaid, and the CHIP program. ROLL CALL 787, 8/1/2007.

Young's angry reaction was in response to being asked about whether or not he plans to retire after 38 years in Congress. Here is what he had to say:

All I can say is that if they (Democrats) think they can do it (convince him not to run) by pressuring me, they’re wrong.

So when did Old Bill Young get to be such an angry old man?

Young to Miss Rove

If you needed any more reason to target Young for retirement:

GOP Rep. C.W. Bill Young says he’ll miss Karl Rove at the White House, but understands his decision to leave the Bush administration at the end of August.

“He was always somebody I was able to get to, to deliver a message to the president,” said Young, of Indian Shores.

But Young added: “I certainly understand Karl’s wanting to begin a new phase of his life.” Young, 76, said he does not anticipate much of a direct impact on Florida.

But Young suggested that if former Gov. Jeb Bush or George P. Bush decide to continue in politics, Rove could be involved in those campaigns.

Bill is a Target

Naked Politics:

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is running a week of radio ads to target three Florida Republicans - Reps. Vern Buchanan of Sarasota, Tom Feeney of Oviedo and Bill Young of St. Petersburg.

DCCC chair Rep. Chris Van Hollen said the three will be targeted for voting against a proposal to expand health insurance to children. Only 5 Republicans voted for the bill and President Bush has threatened a veto.

"Republicans who continue to vote in lockstep with President Bush and against seniors and children in their districts will be held accountable," Van Hollen said.

FDP Young Site

The Florida Democratic Party has a site dedicated to Bill called He Knew. And He Did Nothing. Check it out...

Congressman Young - Do You Want to Associate Yourself With This?

Congressman Bill Young has served his country and his district honorably for a very long time. He is a fine, old gentleman, and has always been very gracious to me. It really is too bad some of his "supporters" can not bring themselves to behave in the same manner.

Over on the St. Pete Times Buzz Blog, so called supporters of Congressman Young are behaving like anything but ladies and gentlemen. These anonymous supporters of the Congressman can't seem to be able to bring themselves to just say nice things about the old boy. Nope. They seem to feel that it is necessary to engage in ceaseless ad hominem attacks against anyone who might suggest that Congressman Young deserves a long, happy retirement.

Here is a small sample of what passes for discourse from the Young supporters:

Gene, you are pig.

Gene ... you are a pathetic loser... You are one sick puppy ...

How stupid are you? Pretty stupid. You better quit referring to Bill Young as Old

FBI really needs to take a close look at you Gene... Hope they waste their valuable time on you, along with the other public restroom freaks you hang out with.

Those quotes came from brave "anonymous" posters within a 37 minute span.

Congressman Young, do you really want the support of folks who behave like this? You really are a class act and deserve better representation than this. Would you care to disassociate yourself from these remarks?

Justice for Old Bill Young?

The St. Pete Times Buzz Blog has this little tid bit: Congressman Charlie Justice? currently up. It seems State Senator Charlie Justice was seen:

last week talking with Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman Chris Van Hollen and DCCC staffers about possibly running against Republican U.S. (Representative) C.W. Bill Young

Why in the world would a newly elected State Senator be thinking about taking on the God like Bill Young? According to the Buzz:

A lot of people have been asking me to at least think about it, consider it,'' said the St. Pete Democrat, who is doing just that and said his running would not necessarily depend on Young, R-Indian Shores, retiring.

But why would anybody think there is a chance in hell to defeat Congressman for Life Old Bill Young? Here's Charlie Justice:

We all know he does his share of bringing home money for Florida and for the district but there's concern that on the big issues there are parts where he's out of touch, Justice said of Young, citing Iraq and No Child Left Behind.

Then of course there is the little controversy about the treatment of our wounded troops at Walter Reed hospital. It seems a Washington Post article found wounded U.S. troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan faced neglect at Walter Reed, the premier U.S. military hospital. The Washington Post article found soldiers were living in a run-down building that was infested with mice, mold and cockroaches. Many soldiers also struggled with red tape in trying to get treatment.

It also seems that Bill Young, who to his credit makes numerous visits to wounded troops, knew about some of the substandard care the wounded heroes were receiving. However, even as the extremely powerful chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Young failed to get the situation corrected. This led to state Democratic chairwoman Karen Thurman's charge that Young had let down veterans by not doing more to fix problems at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. It also increased the ever present speculation that this might be the year that Old Bill Young would finally retire.

Justice was instrumental in making a change in Florida's resign to run law that exempted candidates running for Federal offices. Again, per the Buzz:

Justice, whose name is also in the mix of potential St. Pete mayoral candidates, would not have to resign his senate seat to run for Congress, so taking on Young might boost his name recognition if Young waits awhile to retire. "I don't get into campaigns to raise my name i.d. for future races or to set myself up for mayoral race,'' said Justice, who would face a likely primary challenge from Samm Simpson. "If I did it I would run to win.

I wonder if Old Bill Young actually remembers how to run a campaign?

Welcome

This is a new local blog for Florida's tenth Congressional district and watching the actions of CW "Bill" Young, the Republican representative who misserves us in Washington.

If you are interested in posting at The Bill Young Dispatch, drop me a line at quinnelk@hotmail.com with some idea of your Democratic and/or progressive credentials and I'll add you as a blogger.