Items by Tim Russo

• Jennifer Brunner vs. Sherrod Brown

  —Plunderbund

  I’m having one hell of a rotten month, so this game we’ve been playing with the Brunner campaign is supremely ill-timed.  But I’m gonna take something positive from it.  WARNING – inside blog drama below. It was almost exactly four years ago that I and other bloggers reported – that’s right, [...]
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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 3:51pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• The Lancer – an opportunity for Lebron and Shaq

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 3
  As with all tragedy, there is opportunity.  The destruction by fire of one of Cleveland’s most treasured African American institutions is yielding a lot of declarations of support.  But in a city that has been careening downhill for decades, there is precious little money to bring the Lancer back to [...]
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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 1:00pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• George Dixon vows to rebuild The Lancer, suspicions build on cause of the fire

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 1
  PD’s been on top of this story, good for them. A passerby reported the building ablaze at 5:30 a.m. Sunday. Fire officials said Monday they are still seeking the cause but that, so far, nothing appears suspicious. Dixon is not so sure. His alarm company notified him of something amiss before dawn [...]
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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 11:05am EST
  by Tim Russo

• Brunner cancels interview her blogger unilaterally scheduled

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 5
  We’ve just been notified, 2.5 hours ahead of time, that Jennifer Brunner needs to reschedule the interview her campaign requested to clarify her position on Afghanistan, scheduled themselves, and announced unilaterally through their blogger Jeff Coryell on Saturday around midnight. What the hell is going on over there? Share on Facebook [...]
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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 8:04am EST
  by Tim Russo

• Tiger Woods’ valiant defense of marriage

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 10
  As we begin to learn that Tiger Woods has more mistresses in his cell phone than clubs in his er…bag, I simply must comment. Tiger is a hero of mine, because I play golf, I love golf, and I love watching great sportsmen excel at the most difficult sports.  The only [...]
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  Posted: December 07, 2009, 9:09pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• Great moments in commenting – David Bentkowski penis email edition!

  —Plunderbund

  Sometimes, Cleveland.com can be quite funny.  Case in point – nothing can escape the matter swallowing black hole that is the endless Republican obsession with genitalia, not even…. Hey Bentkowski,” stop holding your own” and get the friggen leaves off my treelawn. They have been there for weeks. You sir are [...]
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  Posted: December 07, 2009, 6:03pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• Brunner on PB Tuesday, Dec. 8, 10 am, to discuss Afghanistan flip flop

  —Plunderbund

  We’ve nailed down a BlogTalk interview with Jennifer Brunner for tomorrow, 10 am, right here at Plunderbund.  For the record, this interview was at the Brunner campaign’s request, in response to this post noting that Jennifer Brunner supported Barack Obama’s increase in troops to Afghanistan in February, which she now [...]
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  Posted: December 07, 2009, 11:46am EST
  by Tim Russo

• Republican Seven Hills mayor Dave Bentkowski’s 9 page discussion of his penis size

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 7
  Mike McIntyre of the PD has himself one of the finest emails of all time – a dissertation on the size of Republican Mayor Dave Bentkowski’s penis – written by Dave Bentkowski, Republican mayor of Seven Hills – about his own penis. Repeat. Republican mayor of Cleveland suburb Seven Hills, David Bentkowski, [...]
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  Posted: December 06, 2009, 4:21pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• Brunner campaign staff Jeff Coryell defends Afghan pander

  —Plunderbund

  And announces a Brunner appearance on Plunderbund, Tuesday at 10am, to have a “debate” about Afghanistan.  We have yet to confirm any of that on our end, but I guess Jeff gets to make those decisions for all of us! I’m not going to address Jeff’s arguments, as he claims to [...]
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  Posted: December 06, 2009, 1:38pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• Pam Geller loses her shit over Plunderbund!!

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 1
  Breaking!!!!  See you in Columbus, Pam, I’ll be the one in the burqa….OOPS!  Just blew my jihadist cover!  Alert Patrick Poole! Share on Facebook [...]
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  Posted: December 06, 2009, 12:45pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• The Lancer, a Cleveland institution, burned to the ground this morning

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 6
  What a sad piece of news.  The Lancer Steakhouse, one of the most venerable African American businesses in Cleveland, was completely destroyed by fire early this morning. No one was injured, but there was no insurance. The Lancer was one of the centers of African American political and social circles in [...]
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  Posted: December 06, 2009, 10:47am EST
  by Tim Russo

• How to get Vice President Palin

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 2
  To all the anti-war pacifists in my party.  Please remember the following. No Democratic candidate for president in 2008 who advocated what you now advocate made it past the Iowa caucuses. Not one. If Barack Obama had changed his Afghanistan proposals, which he has held to, without variation, for more than 3 solid [...]
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  Posted: December 05, 2009, 8:44pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• I think I’ve found a video opportunity!

  —Plunderbund

  This batshit crazy bitch better bring her A-game Dec. 22. Share on Facebook [...]
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  Posted: December 05, 2009, 11:49am EST
  by Tim Russo

• Brunner supported troop increase to Afghanistan in her announcement thread at BSB

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 1
  When Jennifer Brunner announced her candidacy in February in a thread at BSB, I asked her point blank about a troop increase in Afghanistan. Jennifer, as a US Senator, you will be an integral part of the foreign policy decision making of the country. What is your vision of the US [...]
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  Posted: December 04, 2009, 3:44pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• Unemployment rate dips, Bizzyblog pulls out the logic-twisting pretzel machine

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 2
  Down to 10% from 10.2% in October, with revisions DOWNWARD in job losses going back to September.  All of which is WAY better than expectations.  Month to month numbers are notoriously unpredictable, particularly at the bottom of a recession, but this is a good sign that the recession is beginning [...]
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  Posted: December 04, 2009, 8:37am EST
  by Tim Russo

• Peggy Zone Fisher steps into Aunt Jemima cartoon controversy

  —Plunderbund

  Here we go.  The Diversity Center, whose president & CEO is Lee Fisher’s wife, Peggy Zone Fisher, today issued a condemnation of the Aunt Jemima depiction of Nina Turner by George Forbes’ Call & Post. We call on the Call and Post to retract its November 25, 2009 depiction of State [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 9:43pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• PB Latenight Theatre – Eats Tapes

  —Plunderbund

  Share on Facebook [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 9:10pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• Enough with the pandering, please

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 1
  So the president makes a decision, the orders are given, it’s done.  Cue the cowardly pandering. Nothing says “courage” quite like waiting for the precise moment that your “principled” position is literally an impossibility before you run out to tell us all that NOW, yes NOW, after the troops are literally [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 12:46pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• Lee Fisher’s continued descent into oblivion

  —Plunderbund

  In the past week, two things happened which further proves that Jennifer Brunner will be our US Senate nominee in 2010.  Lee Fisher pandered to the base on Afghanistan, proving to us all that he believes he has a primary, and the GOP yawned, attacking Brunner over Afghanistan instead. Lee’s done.  [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 9:42am EST
  by Tim Russo

• It’s Humphrey Bogart month on TCM, hell yeah

  —Plunderbund

  Anyone who’s been over to my place knows that there are largely four channels on my TV – wherever the Cavs are playing, MSNBC, the occasional PBS doco, and TCM.  I learned last night that this month’s Star of The Month on TCM is Humphrey Bogart.  Which means I’m gonna [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 9:18am EST
  by Tim Russo

• PB Latenight theatre – Cavs Delonte West KFC Rap

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 1
  Share on Facebook [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 9:12pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• Barack gets it – you’re pacifists. That’s ok.

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 5
  I like being in a political party, the Democratic Party, so resolutely anti-war at its core, and within its base.  There is no “pro-war” Democrat.  Those people are Republicans.  Anti-war Democrats include us all.  It means when we decide to fight a war, we make sure we do it right, [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 4:10pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• The Cleveland racial circus goes big time – pull up a chair

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 2
  Welcome to the circus of Cleveland racial politics, everyone!  Woohoo!  Make sure you have plenty of popcorn!  So what the hell is going on here?  Simple. If you had any doubt that Issue 6’s passage in Cuyahoga County has created in a single county executive one of the most powerful elected [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 9:15am EST
  by Tim Russo

• On the speech – Hang on to your hats next summer

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 3
  onight’s speech was nothing less than a total repudiation of the Bush doctrine by President Obama, in every way.  There is no open-ended war.  No good vs. evil.  We know when, and precisely how, the war in Afghanistan will end.   Barack put American values ahead of American might.  And by [...]
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  Posted: December 01, 2009, 9:14pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• What I’m looking for in tonight’s speech

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 5
  I’ve spent most of the day amazed by the response to my Kos diary, which spent all day at the top of the rec list, now at over 1,400 comments.  Wow.  I’m not really going to have a lot to say about the decision until I see the speech, but [...]
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  Posted: December 01, 2009, 2:48pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• Ah, those Kos kids and Afghanistan

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 2
  I couldn’t sleep at all last night, posted a diary at Kos, got so depressed I finally fell asleep, and this morning, it’s on the rec list.  It’s depressingly predictable.  But here’s the diary. All people who run for office, every single one, somewhere in their deepest soul, believe they are [...]
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  Posted: December 01, 2009, 8:47am EST
  by Tim Russo

• “Success” in Afghanistan means the end of Bin Laden – see Brunner’s Kos diary

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 7
  I always appreciate it when a candidate opens up to questions online, which Jennifer Brunner did today at DailyKos on the subject of President Obama’s Afghanistan speech tomorrow.  I like it even better when the candidate is responsive, which Jennifer was.  When the issue is Afghanistan, and a couple of [...]
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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 11:06am EST
  by Tim Russo

• Dick Cheney at Republican fundraiser in Cleveland Thursday

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 1
  I wonder if I’m invited? 2010 Finance Committee Renewal Dinner with Former Vice President Dick Cheney: VIP Reception – 5:30 p.m. & Dinner – 6:30 p.m. RSVPs must be received by November 30, 2009. 5:30 pm Cleveland Marriot Downtown – 127 Public Square Contact: For more information, please contact Kathi Paroska at (216) 502-0040 [...]
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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 9:02am EST
  by Tim Russo

• Hey guys, the teabaggers love my videos!

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 8
  I wander over to the teabagger websites on occasion, sometimes to see what they’re up to, sometimes to find opportunities to put lunatics on Youtube….and what did I see this morning on the Cleveland Tea Party Patriot blog? Two of the videos on the Cleveland Tea Party Patriots’ blog video feed [...]
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  Posted: November 29, 2009, 1:52pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• PB Weekend Theatre – Megachurch at Studio-a-rama

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 2
  Share on Facebook [...]
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  Posted: November 27, 2009, 5:12pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• Hey tebaggers – your 2 weird fetishes do not amount to political thought

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 6
  It’s irrational to find the underside of a toe nail sexually arousing, and yet, for those so aroused, it’s addictive.  It’s called a fetish. If you understand that your fetish is just that, great.  Go suck the underside of a toe nail, see if I care.  If you think your fetishes [...]
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  Posted: November 27, 2009, 8:17am EST
  by Tim Russo

• Indy pieces on county reform, and Phillip Morris

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 1
  The new issue of the Independent is out, and I’ve got two pieces in it.  The main piece handicaps the coming county executive and council races….who’s the front runner?  You’ll have to read it to find out! My second piece details a Cleveland event where PD columnist Phillip Morris decided to [...]
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  Posted: November 25, 2009, 3:34pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• Kyle Sisk quietly removes picture of innocent man from his racist post

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 4
  Well, well, well. After Modern notices how Kyle Sisk decides to smear an innocent man by using the man’s picture purely because the innocent man is black, Sisk removes the picture, and edits the line that puts him on the hook for defamation. Granting clemency to murderers never sits well with [...]
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  Posted: November 25, 2009, 2:41pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• McCain Palin Mob will hit 2 million views this weekend, and counting

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 2
  The video that launched a thousand camera carrying bloggers at the vapid soul of the conservative movement, which became the #7 Most Viral Video of the 2008 presidential campaign, and created an entirely new genre of cinema verite starring the most ignorant fools ever to engage in political discourse….the McCain [...]
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  Posted: November 25, 2009, 9:12am EST
  by Tim Russo

• Time to play the blame game again. And again. And again.

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 5
  I’m a former campaign hack, so despite my aspiration to think long term, I’m always thinking about the next election.  Pinning the blame on George W. Bush and through him Republicans for the economic nightmare we currently are fighting, and pinning that blame on Republican ideology once and for all, [...]
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  Posted: November 24, 2009, 9:02am EST
  by Tim Russo

• PB Latenight Theatre – Ryann Guitar Anderson – a Tremont fixture

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 1
  Ryann Guitar Anderson has been playing around Tremont ever since I can remember, and here’s one of his performances at the Literary Cafe’s Talk Show night, introduced by a very Cleveland-looking Richard Trainer, who’s been hosting the talk show for god knows how long. Share on Facebook [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 10:53pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• What I’m thankful for

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 7
  With Thanksgiving week upon us, we’re all supposed to be thankful for stuff.  Which I guess is fine.  My last few Thanksgivings haven’t had much on that front, but this year is different, so here goes. I’m thankful that my country is no longer ruled by a bunch of incompetent ideologue [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 8:21pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• Palin Man – musta been under a tent when we were there

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 3
  This guy says he was camping out in Columbus and ended up at some other Palin book signing….we missed him.  Maybe he wasn’t suited up yet.  Via…who else….Wonkette. Share on Facebook [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 4:03pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• Lebron & Shaq vs. Rush & Beck – It’s time.

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 6
  Diaried at Kos. This week, Cleveland’s city planning commission denied permission for Nike to replace the giant 10 story Lebron James banner across the street from Quicken Loans arena with this new one… …for obvious reasons. Commission member Norman Krumholz called James’ image on the mural “terribly negative.” James’ grim visage and hardened stance [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 7:17am EST
  by Tim Russo

• DJ Steph Gloss – Cleveland State of Mind

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 10
  CelebrATE 2 AND…..wait……..never mind……..Go Chiefs!! Share on Facebook [...]
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  Posted: November 22, 2009, 4:24pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• The twitching rage of the irrational Republican when you tell them they fucked up our country

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 10
  Update: You ask. We answer. For those wondering if Republicans are fucked up, thanks for searching and stopping by. Your answer is below. Hanging around the Palin idiots as much as Eric and I did yesterday really gets you down.  It’s hard to believe there are this many people in America [...]
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  Posted: November 21, 2009, 12:04pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• Video from all-night Palin booksigning campout in Dublin

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 10
  Update: Welcome Wonkette, DailyKos, and Crooks and Liars readers! Thanks for the support. We hope you’ll bookmark and RSS Plunderbund and come back often. [We won't link there, but we got Freep'd too!] ot sure, but this may be the first blogger produced video shot at a Sarah Palin book-signing campout.  [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 7:57am EST
  by Tim Russo

• Republican lemmings following Sarah Palin over a cliff

  —Plunderbund

  The PalinPalooza continues, indeed accelerates.  For a woman who incessantly mocked the “celebrity” of Barack Obama, Sarah Palin is making Barack look like an amateur.  The Republican Party, and all their organs of manipulation, play right along. They’re all in.  Good.  Because nothing is more certain in today’s media environment than [...]
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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 7:41am EST
  by Tim Russo

• Plain Dealer’s Phillip Morris threatens to “take it outside and kick your ass” – twice

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 2
  Details coming soon in next week’s Independent! Share on Facebook [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 8:31pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• PB Late Night Local Theatre: Saintseneca at WRUW Live from Cleveland

  —Plunderbund

  On occasion, we’re gonna try and focus PB Latenight theatre on local bands.  Here’s Saintseneca playing in the studio at WRUW earlier this month: Share on Facebook [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 9:51pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• I just unfriended Marilyn Brown on Facebook, you should too

  —Plunderbund

  Got into a discussion about our homophobe gay baiting neanderthal blonde Sarah Palin Democrat Jennifer Garrison today, and it was just depressing.  Then I look at my Facebook feed, and there’s an update from Marilyn Brown, Garrison’s former opponent in the primary for Secretary of State. So I unfriended Marilyn Brown.  [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 6:58pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• Dear Republicans; please continue your obsession with bows, et al

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 4
  Mrs. Bitch, I believe I love you. Amazing. Dickless Cheney is giving advice on proper Presidential etiquette. On the world stage, Cheney is the equivalent of Muammar Gaddafi when it comes to diplomacy. Oh yeah, he’s the first person I’d run to for pointers if I wanted to really make a good impression on [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 3:54pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• David Potts sockpuppets his own fundraising drive

  —Plunderbund

  Number of comments: 10
  I’d like to echo this point from Eric’s post about the Ohio blogosphere, with a real time lesson. David is basically arguing that we need to go beyond the “rhetoric” and start raising money. One problem with that. We don’t have the numbers of readers to effectively raise cash. We joke [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 10:30am EST
  by Tim Russo

• Farewell to this blog, hello to my new one.

  —blogger interrupted

  Number of comments: 8
  “In the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.” Barack Obama, January 8, 2008 When I started this blog over a year and a half ago, I had no idea where it would lead.  That road leads me today to a new venture at Plunderbund, where [...]
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 8:25am EST
  by Tim Russo

• Indy piece on Lee Fisher forgetting his primary

  —blogger interrupted

  Number of comments: 1
  Finally up online.  Read closely, you might get a hint at the BIG NEWS!!! [...]
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  Posted: November 07, 2009, 4:26pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• BIG NEWS coming

  —blogger interrupted

  Number of comments: 1
  You’ve heard the rumors.  Now listen to some phat phunky phreak out to get yo asses ready, bitches. [...]
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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 8:05pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• John Stewart captures Glenn Beck for the ages

  —blogger interrupted

  Number of comments: 7
  Easily, without question, the finest, most accurate piece of parody John Stewart has ever done. [...]
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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 8:24am EST
  by Tim Russo

• Bachmann for President?

  —blogger interrupted

  Number of comments: 3
  Excellent. But one thing about the rally proved sparklingly clear: Michele Bachmann is a major star. When she stepped up to the podium on the Capitol steps, the crowd went wild. It wasn’t too hard to imagine the event as a warm up for the 2010 presidential election, where Bachmann might [...]
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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 7:33am EST
  by Tim Russo

• Lee Fisher’s losing ways infect Dayton mayor, who just endorsed Lee, and just lost

  —blogger interrupted

  Modern notes the wicked irony of Dayton mayor Rhine McLin endorsing Lee Fisher in September because of his record on JOBS, then losing her own JOB in November….because of JOBS.  Lee Fisher is such a habitual loser, he infects everyone else with losing.  But the real kicker is that McLin [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 2:12pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• My return to DailyKos – a discussion of turnout

  —blogger interrupted

  Number of comments: 7
  I’ve had a long, bumpy history with the Great And Powerful Kos.  I’ve been banned from his site so many times, I’ve lost count.  We mixed it up in the UK in 2005 when he blogged for the Guardian, and I worked for Labour.  For a while during the 2006 [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 7:26am EST
  by Tim Russo

• From one year ago today, to NY-23

  —blogger interrupted

  Number of comments: 1
  One year ago today, America elected it’s first African American president.  The magnitude tends to get lost in the day to day rough and tumble of governing.  But this awesome achievement will only grow moreso the further away from that day we travel.  I’ve written before that if Barack Obama [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 9:53am EST
  by Tim Russo

• Issue 6 passes, another most awesome council race for me?

  —blogger interrupted

  Cuyahoga County council?  Hmmm…. [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 8:43am EST
  by Tim Russo

• Cuyahoga voting problem – voters not notified of polling place changes

  —blogger interrupted

  Number of comments: 2
  I don’t know how many times the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections has to make a god damned fool of itself before they get the most basic election processes correct, but this is one Tremonster who’s gonna make damn sure it’s documented, even in a low turnout, off year, muny [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 5:41pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• Like all things Republican, low turnout in NY-23 mutates reality

  —blogger interrupted

  When I was deciding how to specialize my political work, I decided to focus on GOTV (get out the vote).  As a field guy, this was natural – most field guys end up being GOTV guys, too.  But turnout decides the story, every time, and that’s where I wanted to [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 11:13am EST
  by Tim Russo

• How social media saved my life

  —blogger interrupted

  Number of comments: 3
  So the new social media business is up and running.  I’m getting some traction here and there, but I’ve started out slow, on purpose – I’ve always got a method to my madness.  I’m pretty confident in the long term, because I’ve got something no other social media consultant can even [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 10:14am EST
  by Tim Russo

• How unprecedented is the NY-23 putsch?

  —blogger interrupted

  Number of comments: 2
  I may have to ask Jennifer Brunner campaign manager, David Dettman, for some help here  - David, if Jennifer will let you, feel free to chime in. Dettman and I are NDI alumni, both of us learning under the fine tutelage of the late Nelson Ledsky who oversaw NDI’s efforts in [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 7:47pm EST
  by Tim Russo

• Realpolitik returns to American foreign policy in Afghanistan

  —blogger interrupted

  Number of comments: 2
  Since I’m Ohio’s only foreign policy expert who blogs, time to address the Karzai situation.  If you’re not interested in the types of memos that get circulated among the diplomatic corps, move along! The entire US effort in Afghanistan has narrowly averted a total meltdown with Abdullah’s decision to withdraw from [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 11:54am EST
  by Tim Russo

• NY-23; Frank Rich’s pre-autopsy on Republicanism

  —blogger interrupted

  Number of comments: 4
  I didn’t think the GOP would go this far, this fast into the maggot pile, but boy is it enjoyable to watch.  Frank Rich details it masterfully in his piece today. I’ve worked with a lot of political parties, all over the world – left, right, centrist, ruling, opposition, parliamentary, local, [...]
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  Posted: November 01, 2009, 11:00am EST
  by Tim Russo

• Scozzafava drops out in NY-23 – pass the popcorn!

  —blogger interrupted

  Number of comments: 1
  This fills me with glee.  Another Republican quitter.  I actually now want Hoffman to win – nothing will be more useful to Democrats than to have some teabagger dude in DC showing every day, with every word out of his mouth, what an empty airbag of birther paranoia lunacy the [...]
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  Posted: October 31, 2009, 11:47am EDT
  by Tim Russo

• Tom Blumer’s cartoon carries on – all because the stimulus worked

  —blogger interrupted

  It’s a guilty pleasure, I admit.  Reading Tom Blumer at first was work, because I had to in order to keep up with Ohio’s insane hard right blog swamp during the election last year.  Then it became a chore, after Barack won.  Now it’s just entertainment.  It’s the real time [...]
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  Posted: October 30, 2009, 10:01am EDT
  by Tim Russo

• Lee Fisher panicking over Cuyahoga, bizarrely endorses county reform Issue 6, abandons black vote

  —blogger interrupted

  Number of comments: 3
  Lee Fisher just tipped his hand – he’s in big trouble in Cuyahoga County, and his endorsement yesterday of Issue 6 is proof positive. On the substance – I’ve decided to vote against both Cuyahoga reform Issues 5 & 6.  Neither of them are sufficiently understandable to me, an obsessive political [...]
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  Posted: October 29, 2009, 9:32am EDT
  by Tim Russo

• NY-23 in a nutshell – Republican base gets used again, then is shown the door. What a surprise.

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  Number of comments: 4
  My dear teabaggers – how’s it feel to be bent over like a bunch of cheap whores for the 10 zillionth time by the Republican Party?   Do tell us. There’s a reason why August recess was so….how should I put it……well packaged.  It was paid for.  All that “grassrootsy” excitability [...]
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  Posted: October 28, 2009, 8:32am EDT
  by Tim Russo

• A perk of doing internet video

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  Shooting video for BLACKHEARTCleveland is some of the most fun anyone can have in Tremont.  Last night was close to the top – a bartender exchange between Cleveland and Chicago hosted by Paulius at the Velvet Tango Room, featuring the creations of Bar Deville in Wicker Park.  Both bars feature [...]
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  Posted: October 27, 2009, 2:20pm EDT
  by Tim Russo

• Cavs spokesman Tad Carper freaks out over Rush Limbaugh & Glenn Beck

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  Number of comments: 1
  Only at BLACKHEARTCleveland. [...]
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  Posted: October 27, 2009, 12:25am EDT
  by Tim Russo

• Ask Marriott if Fox is a news organization

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  Number of comments: 4
  Having pulled myself a bit away from the daily blog grind, I’ve been very much enjoying the Fox News push back against being tagged by the White House as precisely what they are proud to be – a big fat blow hole of right wing Republican horseshit.  And it really [...]
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  Posted: October 26, 2009, 9:48am EDT
  by Tim Russo

• LOVE THIS

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  Number of comments: 1
  [...]
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  Posted: October 23, 2009, 9:09pm EDT
  by Tim Russo

• Dear Jennifer Brunner – just file your petitions.

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  After reading Jennifer Brunner’s post at various blogs, I found this most compelling. For too long we have relied on a political system the sends people to Congress based on their skill in sitting in a room making telephone calls to the wealthy and powerful to raise campaign money. Some candidates [...]
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  Posted: October 23, 2009, 8:32am EDT
  by Tim Russo

• Nov. 5 Independent will revisit Fisher-Brunner

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  Number of comments: 1
  My piece for the next issue of The Cleveland Independent will star the latest tool in Lee Fisher’s increasingly pathetic attempt to win an election before his opponent files for that election.  I’ll be contacting said tool for comment. [...]
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  Posted: October 22, 2009, 12:02pm EDT
  by Tim Russo

• Rich Cordray has a Russell Hughlock problem

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  Number of comments: 6
  There is no known universe in which it is kosher for a person on the government payroll to own, and attempt to control the editorial content of, a media outlet.  Apparently, Russell Hughlock thinks such a universe exists.  Time to disabuse him of that notion. Russell Hughlock owns the domain for [...]
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  Posted: October 21, 2009, 12:41pm EDT
  by Tim Russo

• Stan Greenberg’s conclusions don’t add up. And Carville? You should know better.

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  Number of comments: 5
  The recent Carville-Greenberg study of the teabagger Republican base had two big headlines.  The first is that the Republican base lives in a bizarro world of paranoia. The report concludes that the extreme GOP voters are not simply at the far end of a standard political continuum that runs left-center-right, but [...]
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  Posted: October 20, 2009, 6:30am EDT
  by Tim Russo

• White House extends the Limbaugh strategy to Fox News – genius, and kinda historic

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  Number of comments: 7
  I’m on the road the next two days, but I had to comment on the news over the weekend that the White House seems to have decided strategically to completely delegitimize Fox News, in precisely the same way as they’ve done with Rush Limbaugh.  And yes, that’s news. Rupert Murdoch likes [...]
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  Posted: October 19, 2009, 8:36am EDT
  by Tim Russo

• A random cool thing

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  Number of comments: 1
  When I get busy with work, my online reading tends to gravitate toward fun stuff.  And among the quirky nuggets of fun I can’t resist is anything regarding architecture in New York City.  Here’s a cool one in the New York Times, which is so often a treasure trove of [...]
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  Posted: October 16, 2009, 5:46pm EDT
  by Tim Russo

• Now, AT&T falsely advertises Iphone upgrade in phishy email

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  Number of comments: 1
  My saga with AT&T over upgrading to Iphone just took a real bad turn.  Two weeks ago, a several hour ordeal ensued when I got the free phone AT&T sent me to replace my dysfunctional one.  I tried to activate the new phone myself with AT&T customer service, and the [...]
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  Posted: October 16, 2009, 9:58am EDT
  by Tim Russo

• Again, with feeling – Brunner will beat Fisher in May

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  Number of comments: 1
  I think it’s time to jump back into the Fisher v. Brunner primary, with a little reality check.  So much of the current hand wringing about whether or not Brunner will get out, or be forced out, is so predictable, I have hesitated pointing it out.  But I’m finally tiring [...]
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  Posted: October 15, 2009, 8:46pm EDT
  by Tim Russo

• So I hear Mark Cuban got asked about Limbaugh today?

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  Number of comments: 4
  Why are the Cavs so reluctant to talk about this, but Mark Cuban isn’t? Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said the chances of NFL owners welcoming Rush Limbaugh into their club are very slim. Cuban, writing in his blog, said the league “would be crazy” to align itself with him. Here’s my [...]
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  Posted: October 14, 2009, 6:50pm EDT
  by Tim Russo

• Light blogging alert, as if you haven’t noticed

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  I’m starting to get so busy, I need to have Google Calendar control my life, and I have almost no bandwidth for blogging.  I’m heading to Cincinnati tomorrow to give a talk on social media to a regional meeting of a major labor union – awesome.  Work in Cbus on [...]
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  Posted: October 13, 2009, 10:10pm EDT
  by Tim Russo

• Step away from the computer, Andrew Sullivan – the hissy fit does not become you

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  Number of comments: 7
  I’ve been giving the business to John Aravosis for a while, in response to his ever more hysterical hissy fit over the perceived slowness of the Obama administration on gay rights.  Aravosis has so thoroughly jumped his own shark, I don’t even read his blog anymore.  Until now, Andrew Sullivan [...]
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  Posted: October 12, 2009, 10:25am EDT
  by Tim Russo

• In support of escalation in Afghanistan

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  Number of comments: 2
  Now that the debate over Afghanistan has been engaged in full, I’ve got my head around the issue.  And I’ve decided I’m in favor of escalation – not necessarily the McChrystal escalation, but a substantial one.  I’ve discussed the larger reasons why I support military action in Afghanistan many times [...]
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  Posted: October 11, 2009, 9:13pm EDT
  by Tim Russo

• NFLPA chief opposes Limbaugh bid to buy Rams

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  Number of comments: 1
  What’s a Clevelander to do when the Browns game is such a sorry display of football it causes involuntary stomach ailment?  Read ESPN.com!!!  Where you can learn that Rush Limbaugh’s bid to buy the St. Louis Rams is meeting with loud opposition – from the players union. At least seven NFL [...]
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  Posted: October 11, 2009, 3:29pm EDT
  by Tim Russo

• Thoughts on social media, politics, Karl Rove, Mark Penn

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  I’ve been giving some thought to my new social media practice, and how my background in politics fits in.  Two posts at my consulting website discuss the nature of the beast, and how Rovian politics compares.  What do you guys think? [...]
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  Posted: October 11, 2009, 9:12am EDT
  by Tim Russo

• Obama administration foreign policy victory – Armenia & Turkey sign historic agreement

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  Number of comments: 6
  Allow me a point of personal privilege (since I lived and worked in Armenia for over a year) to comment on today’s huge news that Turkey and Armenia have agreed to normalize relations, and open their border, which has been closed for over a decade. It’s hard to overstate the importance [...]
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  Posted: October 10, 2009, 5:39pm EDT
  by Tim Russo

• Another great art walk night at Asterisk in Tremont

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  Wrote it up for BLACKHEARTCleveland…..my Rothko itch got scratched. [...]
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  Posted: October 10, 2009, 1:08pm EDT
  by Tim Russo

• Obama Nobel – Limbaugh admits he’s on the side of the Taliban – again, this will stick

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  When I told my mother this morning – a woman who voted for Ronald Reagan AND George W. Bush, who I’ve long described as the Platonic form of the Ohio swing voter –  that Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace prize, her reaction was pure joy.  ”Really!?” she said.  ”Wow, [...]
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  Posted: October 09, 2009, 2:23pm EDT
  by Tim Russo

• Barack Obama wins Nobel Peace prize – Republicans choke on their own vomit

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  Number of comments: 6
  Can’t wait to hear how hard they root against America this time.  Or are we supposed to respect international opinion this time?  I get confused. UPDATE:  Ok, here are my initial thoughts.  I doubt Barack wanted this.  Right in the middle of his Afghanistan review, after which he will most likely [...]
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  Posted: October 09, 2009, 8:34am EDT
  by Tim Russo

• Olbermann uses “Dickensian” to describe health care in America – where have I heard that before?

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  In last night’s hour long special comment, Keith Olbermann used the word I find most descriptive of the America which 30 years of conservative Republicanism has left us, and which I’ve used repeatedly on my blog – Dickensian. In the 1840s, as Dickens wrote a “Christmas Carol” – in a time [...]
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  Posted: October 08, 2009, 9:57am EDT
  by Tim Russo

• So I couldn’t resist entering the Washington Post’s pundit competition

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  Number of comments: 1
  The Washington Post is holding a competition called “America’s Next Great Pundit”.  I guess this is kinda like Dancing With The Stars, or ….something.  Anyway, I couldn’t resist entering.  So I did.  Looks like it’s up to some collection of WaPo grand poobahs to decide who makes it to the [...]
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  Posted: October 08, 2009, 8:28am EDT
  by Tim Russo

• Keith Olbermann’s hour long special comment on health care

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  Number of comments: 1
  Just watched the Olbermann hour-long special comment on health care reform.  Whatever you think of Keith’s approach, which is often so melodramatic it veers into self parody, Olbermann’s done a fine thing tonight.  For once, someone in media grabs the mantle of Cronkite, Murrow, and their long lost moral authority, [...]
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  Posted: October 07, 2009, 9:18pm EDT
  by Tim Russo

• Sestak tests running against Palin in 2010, which may be an act of genius

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  Number of comments: 2
  Well, I just found the primary I’m gonna watch closest in the spring.  Not Fisher v. Brunner – Sestak vs. Specter in PA.  Largely because Sestak looks like he’s gonna tie Arlen Specter to Sarah Palin. This could be a gold mine for Democrats in 2010.  Much as Democrats ran against [...]
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  Posted: October 07, 2009, 8:52am EDT
  by Tim Russo

• Another 19 advertisers ditch Glenn Beck – um….Lebron? Shaq?

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  Number of comments: 1
  Next week’s Independent will include my piece on WTAM’s juxtaposition of Beck & Limbaugh with the Cavs.  Nice to see the momentum to flee Beck’s show on Fox continues. Here’s the full list of new companies ditching Beck: AmMed Direct, Citrix Online, Concord Music Group, Diageo, Eggland’s Best, Equifax, Eulactol USA [...]
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  Posted: October 06, 2009, 4:29pm EDT
  by Tim Russo

• Memo to Republicans – you’re not as good at scaring seniors as we are

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  Just watched this, and while Republicans may have scared a few seniors over the summer with their campaign of hate and lies, it’s becoming increasingly clear why it won’t work.  Democrats are better at it. Why?   Because seniors believe Democrats are looking out for seniors, Republicans aren’t, and have believed [...]
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  Posted: October 06, 2009, 1:10pm EDT
  by Tim Russo

• Social Media guru has an internet blog and everything

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  Number of comments: 2
  Hilarious video.  The social media guru in this video is kinda why I decided to start the consulting practice – 90% of my competition are precisely like him. [...]
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  Posted: October 06, 2009, 9:09am EDT
  by Tim Russo

• Gay Games celebration video

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  Sorry for the slow blogging.  Busy….particularly with this video at BLACKHEARTCleveland.  Features Lee Fisher, Matt Zone, Joe Cimperman, Frank Jackson, Mamie Mitchell……and the Mayor of Tremont. [...]
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  Posted: October 05, 2009, 1:54pm EDT
  by Tim Russo

• AT&T gives me a new phone, free – because they won’t let me upgrade to Iphone

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  Number of comments: 3
  My saga with AT&T continues.  After I emailed this post, about how my current phone craps out every 45 seconds, to AT&T folks, I was immediately offered a complimentary brand new phone.  Awesome!  A sparkling new Motorola Karma is on it’s way, complete with a free car charger!  Now I don’t [...]
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  Posted: October 03, 2009, 5:21pm EDT
  by Tim Russo

• Rachel Maddow shoots off fireworks to celebrate Republican idiocy

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  Number of comments: 1
  Over the Olympic bid.  This one’s gonna stick.  Keep celebrating, morons.  Please. [...]
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  Posted: October 03, 2009, 4:45pm EDT
  by Tim Russo

• Never underestimate the stupidity of Republican anti-Americanism

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  Number of comments: 7
  This Olympic thing?  Errr……I knew Republicans would revel in anything resembling a defeat for Barack Obama, but….um…….wow, are these people idiotic.  It appears there is no danger to their relevance Republicans will not risk in order to petulantly dance around sniffling “nyah nyah” at Barack Obama.  They really have become [...]
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  Posted: October 02, 2009, 8:02pm EDT
  by Tim Russo