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Bill Young faces first GOP opponents in 42 years
Tampa Bay Times ^ | August 10, 2012 | Craig Pittman

Posted on 08/10/2012 7:36:48 AM PDT by Stingray51

U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young has been in Congress since 1970. That was the last time he faced a Republican opponent in a primary, too. Every Democrat who has tried to unseat him has lost badly.

Thanks to his longevity and his savvy at funneling federal money to his district, Young has literally become part of the Tampa Bay landscape, with several government buildings and a 15.5-billion gallon reservoir named after him.

Now, for the first time in 42 years, the 81-year-old political veteran is facing Republican opposition.

Young has drawn not one but two Republican challengers for Tuesday's primary. Both Darren Ayres, 53, and Madeline Vance, 78, are first-time candidates with religious backgrounds whose campaigns are affiliated with the tea party. Both contend it's time to send someone different to Washington.

(Excerpt) Read more at tampabay.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: defense; pork; teaparty
A forty year veteran of Congress with multiple taxpayer-funded buildings and a reservoir named after him is certainly not my cup of tea! But two opponents sounds like a bad idea - anyone down there have a sense of where this primary is headed?
1 posted on 08/10/2012 7:37:00 AM PDT by Stingray51
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To: Stingray51

Young wins in a landslide. He is firmly entrenched in Florida politics. He’s been my Rep since I could vote, and he’s never done anything that I necessarily question. He’s an NRA A-rated politician, he’s very “giving” to our communities (via pork in many cases), but I do agree that it’s time for him to retire and turn over the reigns.

The problem is name recognition. He’s so well known that trying to fight his political machine is like fighting a tank with a toothpick.


2 posted on 08/10/2012 7:43:15 AM PDT by rarestia (It's time to water the Tree of Liberty.)
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To: Stingray51

Even if he is the greatest congressman on Earth, it is time to go. Enjoy your retirement for goodness sake. Your 81 years old....


3 posted on 08/10/2012 7:45:25 AM PDT by napscoordinator (Attention Republican National Convention voters....Santorum/Bachmann 2012! Dump liberal Romney NOW!)
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To: napscoordinator

You forget that thing called vanity. It keeps old folks from letting go.


4 posted on 08/10/2012 7:56:49 AM PDT by RobbyS (Christus rex.)
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To: rarestia

Well, I have to question how effective he has been in running the defense appropriations subcommitee. It seems that he has had very little success in controlling the huge price of Air Force procurement programs (F-22, F-35), for one thing. Plus, I certainly do not feel that we are getting our money’s worth in Afghanistan, where we are wasting tremendous amounts of money building gold-plated facilities for our Afghan “allies”. In any event, I don’t think that anyone belongs in Congress for over forty years.


5 posted on 08/10/2012 10:02:06 AM PDT by Stingray51
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To: Stingray51

We’re on the same page, Ray. I agree with you. His time has come, I believe.


6 posted on 08/10/2012 10:04:08 AM PDT by rarestia (It's time to water the Tree of Liberty.)
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To: Stingray51
his savvy at funneling federal money to his district

If this statement doesn't say everything you need to know about the stupidity of the average voter in this country, nothing will.

7 posted on 08/10/2012 10:09:41 AM PDT by ssaftler (11/6: Repeal of One Bad Ass Mistake, America.)
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To: Stingray51

what we got here is a Term Limits Poster-Boy!!!


8 posted on 08/10/2012 10:18:30 AM PDT by mo (If you understand, no explanation is needed. If you don't understand, no explanation is possible.)
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