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Politics
Bush visits for lunch fundraiser
The president will dine with donors who have paid $25,000 to attend the Pinellas Park event.
By EILEEN SCHULTE, Times Staff Writer
Published October 12, 2007
What are you doing for lunch today? Fast food? A ham sandwich? Chances are good you won't be eating it with President Bush. But a select group of rich folks will be. They have forked over $25,000 to eat lunch with W today. The event is a Republican National Committee fundraiser, and it's being hosted by developer Brent Sembler and his wife Debbie poolside at their Tuscany-style home in Pinellas Park. Michael's On East in Sarasota is doing the catering and Redman Steele Floral Design Studio of St. Petersburg is decorating the estate with loads of leonidas roses mixed with black chili peppers for a festive fall look. The guests are scheduled to arrive at the Sembler residence in the Bayou Club community no later than 9:30 a.m. Bush is expected to touch down at St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport aboard Air Force One about 10 a.m. After he disembarks, he'll greet Brenda Corace Guinand, 27, a longtime volunteer with the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, on the tarmac. Guinand began offering comfort to terminally ill people in 1997 when she was a student at Palm Harbor University High School in the international baccalaureate program. She volunteered for the hospice while attending the University of Virginia, organizing the first hospice volunteer program in the college's history. She and her two golden retrievers, Bella, 4, and Lola, 3, visit patients to help lift their spirits. She and Bush, who created USA Freedom Corps to expand volunteer service, will exchange pins. "I'll thank him for the priority he puts on service," Guinand said. Eileen Schulte can be reached at schulte@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8785.
[Last modified October 12, 2007, 01:45:41]
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by Ed
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10/12/07 11:39 PM
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What a sweet story. How about some nice photos of blown off limbs or... a photo of a family without a father who died in an illegal war. Maybe 4000 coffins?
Go George Go. Iran anyone?
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by MAGGIE
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10/12/07 09:33 PM
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My last day visiting my brother who is Sembler's neighbor was spoiled by the Feds crawling around,so glad to be home in Canada,such a strange place Florida is,so much $, such moral poverty, waste& extravagance, the man just denied kids health care!
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by Rob
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10/12/07 04:29 PM
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No mention of the unbelievable traffic backups caused all around the SP/CLW airport and through Pennyless Park. It was horrendous for us, great for the idiot-in-chief. $25,000? Money to piss away!
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by Lucia
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10/12/07 01:58 PM
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Imagine what all those sick, uninsured kids could do with just one of those $25,000 plates!
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by JT
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10/12/07 01:10 PM
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President Bush is beginning to sound as wasteful as The Rodhams were during her previous 8 years in office. She didn't hike, bike and swim to those 80 foreign countries she brags about going to. No more Bush, Clinton or Kennedys need apply.
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by TOM
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10/12/07 12:04 PM
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Incredible, to think I could live to see one earth shaking event but to see two in one day is mind boggling---Al Gore receiving Noble Prize and Pinellas Park being visited by the President of the United States.
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by Sean
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10/12/07 11:34 AM
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Oh Yeah - It's nice to see the editors put only negative comments up here. Good unbiased editorial journalism there.
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by WTF
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10/12/07 11:20 AM
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I wonder if $$ money from this event will benefit folk that makes less than minimun wage or thats barely getting by? If 10 people show up, thats $250k. 20, $500k. C where Im going? There r loads of hard workin folk that could use some relief ASAP!
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by WTF
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10/12/07 11:09 AM
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u mean to tell me that I was late to work because the worlds most hater leader arrived in town? And at my expense? talk about some BS! And for what? Lunch? $25k a plate? When there are 41 million that are barely getting by & countless others homeless
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by Alexandra
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10/12/07 11:09 AM
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It's cool if he's here...just please don't block US 19 or the bridges during rush hour!
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by Patty
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10/12/07 11:02 AM
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Our entire company stood outside to see OUR President pass by enroute to the fund raiser. Wait until next year - NO ONE will have money for fund raisers when the Dem's are in charge.
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by Bullman
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10/12/07 11:01 AM
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His visit is great for our area...I have no negative comment...I'll leave those for the whiners
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by Monte
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10/12/07 10:41 AM
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I'll thank Bush for making torture part of the American character. I'm proud that America has legalized torture!
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by Andy
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10/12/07 10:38 AM
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Guinand is Bush's excuse to use Air Force 1 to collect money for the Republican money machine. Democrats are not much better. Time for a moderate party and throw the far left and right to the curb. The middle class is getting screwed.
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by Martin
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10/12/07 10:21 AM
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This sickens me. To couple a gluttonous, gladhanding luncheon with a celebration of a dedicated volunteer's work to a great organization is ridiculous. Hospice could sure benefit from the money raised at this luncheon ($25,000 a head?)
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by Debbie
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10/12/07 10:09 AM
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But I bet you wouldn't have a complaint in the world if it was Hillary or Bill doing the fundraising, would you?
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by Marianna
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10/12/07 09:48 AM
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Give me a break you "do gooders". There isn't a candidate who isn't TOTALLY about money. Yours are as bad as ours. We need a revolution.
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by Paul
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10/12/07 09:39 AM
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Oh well, there goes the neighborhood.
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by Tim
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10/12/07 09:13 AM
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And remember one of his latest quotes..
"Childrens do learn"... gotta love it
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by Linda
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10/12/07 09:05 AM
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In the tradition of the Robber Barons. Can you see Jimmy Carter spending $ on flowers when he could help Katrina victims? Shame on you Mr. Sembler.
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by patty
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10/12/07 08:57 AM
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I would be hard pressed to hold my lunch down in his presence! I hope they have pepto!
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by Al
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10/12/07 07:57 AM
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Nice to know that our tax dollars fund our irresponsible wag of a president flying around to collect donations from wealthy developers...hooray corruption and private interests...
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