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Bent: You know if it really was Jim Brannon “doing this,” you wouldn’t know it. In fact, I wonder if 
Jim Brannon is still alive. It’s reminds me of a bad Weekend at Bernie’s movie. All I ever hear from this guy comes from the fringe group that supported his campaign. Does this guy ever speak for himself…??? Cabbage, I know that you like this guy and all, but come on, how can you get behind someone who still hasn’t come out from behind his mama’s skirt? A little controversy and this guy is looking for rocks to crawl under… Partisan politics aside, don’t you want leadership in that position…???
Question: In the comments this morning, Cabbage Boy defends Brannon’s seeming reluctance to speak for himself. (See full comment below) Do you think this lawsuit was his on doing? Or the work of others?
@Bent,
Since you are a reasonable man, I will give you my best reasonable response. You need to understand that Brannon has spoken. He has addressed issues, but you won’t read it here. He has spoken to the Coeur d’alene paper. I don’t care much for the Press, but at least they are local. The S-R decided to ax their CdA coverage some time ago. Of course there is this blog, but I don’t blame Brannon for not responding to DFO’s sensationalism.
Nobody here gave him a chance in hades to win the election. With the coverage and perception here, he deemed incompetent and a coward. But he ignored the sensational garbage spewed here and came within 5 votes of beating Kennedy who spent 5 times as much money.
Now nobody here gives him any chance on this challenge. I am sure he doesn’t give a lick about opinion on this blog and if the election is any indication, rightfully so.
Spencer has been asked to take his issues elsewhere. I don’t understand that guy and he may have helped Kennedy win some votes. But as we all know, once Spencer is on a scent, it is hard to quiet his baying. So don’t judge Brannon by the Spencer’s bark, nor think he is silent because he doesn’t comment here.
D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.
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Phaedrus on December 01 at 9:07 a.m.
I think Jim Brannon is a pawn, he has consistently failed to show any leadership, either with H4H, or as a city council candidate. he failed to show up for his own campaign announcement and refused to talk to the media about his no-show, he let Jim Doty take him by the hand to Mike Patrick after he was let go by H4H (and asked them to keep his dismissal quiet until after the election) and then he allowed Duane Rasmussen to lead him by the nose to the CdA Press after the Zito flier circulated. I think he spends most of his time hiding in the back of his campaign office.
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Cabbage Boy on December 01 at 9:14 a.m.
Phaedrus, that is certainly a valid opinion. Especially when one's opinion backed by a pre-formed dislike and then formed from reading comments on a blog.
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bpoole on December 01 at 9:21 a.m.
Absolutely not. He couldn't take a leadership role in his own campaign, I doubt he could put together this lawsuit.
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Bent on December 01 at 9:44 a.m.
Hey CB, I am totally aware of the bias on this blog, and I consider myself a well rounded and informed person. Still, I have to agree with Phaedrus and others. It doesn't appear Brannon can take the heat.
I agree that Brannon('s campaign) did a good job at getting the voters out — especially the absentees. But I can't help thinking we wouldn't be in this situation if Brannon would have:
1) showed up at his announcement
2) delt with his dismissal gracefully
3) demonstrated a little moxy when dealing with the press
4) quelled the screeching of some fringe supporters
But he did none of that openly where I could see it. From my perspective (and I read the Press everyday), he played dumb and made excuses. And, he is still doing it.
I don't begrudge Brannon his day in court. I just don't get the feeling that this is Brannon's day in court. The press release was a show of weakness in my book. Maybe that's the old journalist in me, but I can't help thinking others are getting that from this guy as well.
All I'm saying is he would be wise to quit hiding and start showing some leadership. If he is successful, he has another election to endure… his campaign for that election started yesterday, and on a weak foot in my opinion.
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Phaedrus on December 01 at 9:46 a.m.
Cabbage Boy, you are probably predisposed to not believe me, but I had no hard-set opinion of Jim Brannon prior to this election. I disagreed with his positions in the 2007 election and I disliked the fact that he used the Habit 4 Humanity logo for his political campaign, but I thought that he believed in what he was doing. My opinion of Jim Brannon began to change when he was let go from Habit for Humanity for very valid and completely non-political reasons and he failed to stand up to his supporters who attacked that non-profit organization, falsely and without proof. As events unfolded throughout the campaign he continued to display a complete lack of character and leadership. I talked to numerous people who worked with him at his various places of employment and most had unfavorable opinions of his temperament, his work ethic and his willingness to take responsibility for himself. His actions during this campaign have supported those opinions. His willingness to be manipulated by the Reagan Republicans and his association with the ethically challenged (secret tape recordings and numerous factual misrepresentation) Mary Souza further erode my opinion of the man.
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Cabbage Boy on December 01 at 9:49 a.m.
And I agree with you on some of those items Bent. But see Alison Boggs comment in the other thread. An story in the paper doesn't tell the whole tale.
I differ on the Campaign announcement. That was hijacked in a political move. I commend him for putting his job over the campaign. Knowing what was to come, it is even more admirable.
I think he should have squelched some of the fringe much sooner. But again, some blood hounds will keep baying to their dying breath.
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Bent on December 01 at 9:54 a.m.
I hear you too, Cabbage. I am sure Brannon is a great guy, but he just hasn't rang the leader bell in my mind yet.
And I just saw Alison's post, and I have changed my opinion on the press release.
As for him not dealing with this blog, that was a mistake in my mind. I think he should do a Q&A with DFO… It might help…
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nic on December 01 at 9:56 a.m.
@CB - “I differ on the Campaign announcement. That was hijacked in a political move. I commend him for putting his job over the campaign. Knowing what was to come, it is even more admirable.”
So, are you saying that Brannon knew he was going to be dismissed when he skiped out on his campaign announcement? Gosh, I guess that means the pre-debate hubub wasn't that much of a surprise then. So that also means that H4H is not guilty of sabotaging Brannon's campain since he knew it was going to happen.
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Cabbage Boy on December 01 at 10:06 a.m.
No nic, read it again. “Knowing what was to come” doesn't say anywhere that Brannon knew what was going to happen. It means, In hindsight.
Nice try.
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Cabbage Boy on December 01 at 10:09 a.m.
Phaed, nice soliloquy there. But rather hollow. Kennedy did as many things to question his decision making. In fact his late campaign decisions came across as angry and desperate.
So even not being predisposed to not believe you, I still don't.
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Phaedrus on December 01 at 10:10 a.m.
I commend him for putting his job over the campaign.-CB
Really? So you have inside information that has not been shared with the public, by the Brannon campaign? Because the story that he was at an “emergency board meeting” is just that, a story. there was no emergency board meeting that day. And co-workers report that Jim walked into his office that day, closed the door and refused to take any calls. And one Brannon supporter commenting on the lack of attendees who showed up at the 'announcement; said, 'He didn't call anyone.” What do you know that you're not telling?
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Joker on December 01 at 10:11 a.m.
I wonder if many on this blog aren't long lost cousins of Mary Souza and her gang of rabble rousers. Don't believe me, switch the names of who your supporting around and you'll find the same tone and level of discourse.
Phaedrus provides a classic example, “I think Jim Brannon is a pawn.”
How many times has Mary written that the current council and mayor are “pawns” for rich bankers and developers. Sounds like Phaedrus and Mary share the same DNA.
Jim Brannon is not a pawn. He is part of a movement to oust the status quo. He almost won, so he can't be that ineffective as a leader or communicator.
The supporters of the status quo had better come to terms with the fact Jim Brannon and company aren't going away and they're eventually going to break down the doors unless changes are made.
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DFO on December 01 at 10:11 a.m.
@ Bent re: “I think he should do a Q&A with DFO.”
Brannon and his allies monitor this blog closely. If Brannon wants to do a Q-and-A here, all he has to do is call.
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Joker on December 01 at 10:21 a.m.
Sorry DFO Jim Brannon isn't calling. Do you go swimming in shark invested waters with multiple bleeding wounds.
He's got all the support he needs from the Coeur d'Alene Press and OpenCDA.
I've also noticed Larry Spencer hasn't returned since he was lit up like a Christmas tree. The opposition maybe a gang of bumblers and crazies, but they're not that stupid.
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Cabbage Boy on December 01 at 10:22 a.m.
Phaed, master internet archives surfer. Go back and get your facts straight.
Your wrong and I think you know it.
Btw, tell Gary hi. I know he was upset, but that doesn't mean Brannon didn't call “anyone.”
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