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posted by takyon on Wednesday November 07 2018, @12:11AM   Printer-friendly
from the do-the-wave dept.

United States elections, 2018

Maine's ranked-choice voting will be used in a federal general election for the first time, after previously using it in the primary system.

Live coverage at FiveThirtyEight, CNN, NBC, WSJ, Fox, CBSN (video), and Ballotpedia.

2018 Ballot measures

Update: Democrats have taken the House of Representatives, while Republicans have retained control of the Senate.

Georgia's Brian Kemp Opens 'Cyber Crimes' Investigation Into State Democrats, 2 Days Before Election

Georgia Secretary of State and Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp opened an investigation into the state's Democratic Party Sunday, alleging a failed attempt to hack the Georgia voter registration system.

Previously: Exact Match Requirements Eased in Georgia Ahead of Midterms


Original Submission

Related Stories

Exact Match Requirements Eased in Georgia Ahead of Midterms 60 comments

In a law implemented last year, Georgia's 'Exact Match' requirement flags voters who have discrepancies in their official identifying documents and may be non-citizens.

As originally written, at the actual polling location, only Deputy Registrars could immediately clear individuals to vote (provisional ballots could still be cast). This was deemed burdensome in U.S. District Court and now Poll Managers can also clear individuals to vote who show proof of citizenship.

The announcement of this change is here: http://sos.ga.gov/index.php/general/judge_includes_poll_managers_in_georgias_existing_non-citizen_verification_process_

Voters were notified in advance of discrepancies and multiple avenues to resolve the issue are available, including:

- in advance by faxing or emailing documents to the county registrar
- when balloting, providing documentation to a Deputy Registrar (or Poll Manager now)
- If the above are an issue, an individual can cast a provisional ballot and provide the proof of citizenship (in person, via fax, email, or text message) before Friday.

Also at NPR and The Hill.


Original Submission

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  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by takyon on Wednesday November 07 2018, @12:14AM (11 children)

    by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Wednesday November 07 2018, @12:14AM (#758757) Journal

    Facebook was happy to take $25,000 in ads to get the followers, then wipes it all out including spitefully destroying the owner's personal account.

    https://www.westernjournal.com/ct/24-hours-election-fb-deletes-conservative-network-1-5-million-followers/ [westernjournal.com]

    Despite real money being paid, there is no specific reason and no point of contact.

    This follows right after Twitter deleting 10,000 accounts simply because the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee claimed that the accounts were spreading misinformation. One would hope that Republicans get a similar opportunity to wipe out opposing accounts, since misinformation is in the eye of the beholder, but this seems rather unlikely.

    Original Submission [soylentnews.org]

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    • (Score: 5, Informative) by NewNic on Wednesday November 07 2018, @01:25AM (5 children)

      by NewNic (6420) on Wednesday November 07 2018, @01:25AM (#758777) Journal
      --
      lib·er·tar·i·an·ism ˌlibərˈterēənizəm/ noun: Magical thinking that useful idiots mistake for serious political theory
      • (Score: 0, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @04:44AM (3 children)

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @04:44AM (#758835)

        People get coordinated. This is what humans do.

        Is this unacceptable when done by people who love America?

        • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @08:38AM (2 children)

          by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @08:38AM (#758879)

          Is this unacceptable when done by people who love America?

          That would be fine, but it's being done by Republicans, who only love America for what they can pocket from it.

          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @03:01PM (1 child)

            by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @03:01PM (#758972)

            Greed is an understandable human trait, which has been a constant since humanity became human. At least the R's are relatively honest about their greed. The other gang? Just as greedy, but far less honest.

            • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @10:25PM

              by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @10:25PM (#759179)

              At least the R's are relatively honest about their greed. The other gang? Just as greedy, but far less honest.

              At least the D's are willing to leave something for the peons to live on, the R's seem intent on taking it all, even from the rank and file voters that put them in office.

      • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @08:51AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @08:51AM (#758880)

        So, in summary: this particular issue is a hot-button topic for these ~200 people, we don't really have any conclusive evidence but buzzword salad AI big data yada yada, therefore reptilians.

        There is nothing in this article but wild speculation over highly circumstantial data. Most people who hold strongly to one political view or another experience "a surge of activity" when their personal pet peeve topic becomes a talking point in the circles they frequent. This "report" proves nothing more that a number of people happen to have somewhat overlapping social circle. Occam's razor applies in full force: the simplest explanation to any given evidence is the most likely one, and therefore the most sensible explanation to assume unless evidence indicates otherwise. If a lot of people talk a lot whenever a certain issue comes around... maybe they just really want to talk a lot about it.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @02:40AM (3 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @02:40AM (#758802)

      Just because you are White Nationalist, does not make your seething crud, a GOP value. GOP is the party of Lincoln, and your hate fuel bigotry has no place in the honoured party.

      All is see the "NEW" GOP red colour on maps relect that Soviet style hate, like BUILD THE WALL!! Just like BERLIN. Reagan helped get that wall knocked down.

      Claim back under rock with GOO (Great Orange One), so we all can scrap the GOO from our shoes.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @03:07AM (1 child)

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @03:07AM (#758808)

        Dude - WTF are you trying to say? You've been hitting the bottle, or what?

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @09:55AM

          by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @09:55AM (#758891)

          "enlightened" (smokes weed) cousin Clyde?

      • (Score: 2) by FatPhil on Thursday November 08 2018, @11:06AM

        by FatPhil (863) <pc-soylentNO@SPAMasdf.fi> on Thursday November 08 2018, @11:06AM (#759338) Homepage
        Lincoln was a racist. Read your history. He was a fucking white supremacist. He only set freed the slaves because he was persuaded that it would be politically expedient.

        "A separation of the races is the only perfect preventive of amalgamation, but as an immediate separation is impossible, the next best thing is to keep them apart where they are not already together. If white and black people never get together in Kansas, they will never mix blood in Kansas ..."

        "I have no purpose directly or indirectly to interfere with the institution of slavery [...] and I have no inclination to do so."

        "I have no purpose to introduce political and social equality between the white and black races. There is physical difference between the two which, in my judgment, will probably forever forbid their living together upon the footing of perfect equality, and inasmuch as it becomes a necessity that there must be a difference, I, as well as Judge Douglas, am in favor of the race to which I belong having the superior position."

        "Our republican system was meant for a homogeneous people. As long as blacks continue to live with the whites they constitute a threat to the national life. Family life may also collapse and the increase of mixed breed bastards may some day challenge the supremacy of the white man."
        --
        Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @04:06AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @04:06AM (#758826)

      Never should have relied on fb to begin with.

  • (Score: 2) by takyon on Wednesday November 07 2018, @12:17AM (6 children)

    by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Wednesday November 07 2018, @12:17AM (#758759) Journal
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    • (Score: 2) by takyon on Wednesday November 07 2018, @02:09AM

      by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Wednesday November 07 2018, @02:09AM (#758791) Journal

      Voting rights will be restored to most former felons in Florida:

      Amendment restores the voting rights to felons not convicted of murder or a sexual offense after completing their sentences, including parole or probation. A “YES” vote restores felon voting rights. A “NO” vote does not restore felon voting rights.

      A bunch of states have enacted "Marsy's law", which seems to be identical:

      Creates constitutional rights for crime victims and allows victims to assert those rights. It requires victims to be informed and have a voice in the judicial process. A “YES” vote creates constitutional rights for crime victims. A “NO” vote does not create constitutional rights for crime victims.

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    • (Score: 2) by takyon on Wednesday November 07 2018, @03:05AM (2 children)

      by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Wednesday November 07 2018, @03:05AM (#758806) Journal

      https://www.cnn.com/election/2018/ballot-measures [cnn.com]

      Voter ID measures passed in Arkansas and North Carolina.

      Michigan's ballot initiative to legalize recreational cannabis is polling well, not called yet. The losers at the Detroit NAACP oppose it [mlive.com].

      Alabama likely to pass a constitutional amendment against abortion. Not sure what practical effect it will have, other than possibly sparking a SCOTUS fight.

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      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @03:57PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @03:57PM (#759005)

        Alabama puts pretty much everything in their state constitution. It's extremely long. No other state puts anywhere near as much stuff in their respective consitutions.

        This is something that's rather problematic as a constitution is supposed to be relatively constant, only being changed when there's a serious issue. By using the constitution as just another code of laws, you might as well not have it at all as it doesn't provide much protection against abuses of power by the congress.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 08 2018, @01:10AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 08 2018, @01:10AM (#759250)

        The other MI ballot measures were far more interesting than weed IMO.

    • (Score: 2) by takyon on Wednesday November 07 2018, @03:34AM

      by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Wednesday November 07 2018, @03:34AM (#758815) Journal

      Alabama approves Ten Commandments amendment:

      An amendment to the Alabama Constitution authorizing the display of the Ten Commandments on state, public and school grounds, prohibiting the spending of public funds to defend the constitutionality of this amendment, and providing for certain religious rights and liberties. A “YES” vote approves displaying the Ten Commandments on state property. A “NO” vote rejects displaying the Ten Commandments on state property.

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    • (Score: 3, Informative) by digitalaudiorock on Wednesday November 07 2018, @07:41PM

      by digitalaudiorock (688) on Wednesday November 07 2018, @07:41PM (#759117) Journal

      The one that stunned me...that is the very fact that the law allowed this in the first place...is this:

      https://ballotpedia.org/Louisiana_Amendment_2,_Unanimous_Jury_Verdict_for_Felony_Trials_Amendment_%282018%29 [ballotpedia.org]

      So now they require unanimous jury verdicts for felony convictions which was NOT the case. Unimaginable. On the PBS coverage last night they talked about some details of all this. It originated from the Jim Crow days where the SCOTUS forced them to allow African Americans on juries. They admitted as much that this law was their way of saying in effect that "You can make us put them on the jury but you can't make us listen to them". The result was that many people went to prison for life without parole on a 10/2 jury decision. Worse yet...the juries were often not even polled at all, and sometimes were, but the judge would seal the result...so in many cases nobody even even knew when decisions weren't unanimous.

      Awesome that that's changed but scary as shit that it was ever like that.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @12:27AM (3 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @12:27AM (#758763)

    Styx beating NBC [youtube.com] - 25000 viewers for a guy in his bedroom.

  • (Score: 2) by takyon on Wednesday November 07 2018, @12:36AM (12 children)

    by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Wednesday November 07 2018, @12:36AM (#758768) Journal

    CBSN has this guy from The Intercept on:

    https://theintercept.com/2017/05/09/ryan-grim-to-head-the-intercepts-washington-bureau/ [theintercept.com]

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  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by legont on Wednesday November 07 2018, @12:44AM (9 children)

    by legont (4179) on Wednesday November 07 2018, @12:44AM (#758770)

    There should be an option "against all" and if this option gets more than 50%, all the participants should be banned from at least the next round.

    --
    "Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.
    • (Score: 2) by takyon on Wednesday November 07 2018, @12:52AM (8 children)

      by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Wednesday November 07 2018, @12:52AM (#758772) Journal

      Who do you vote for in the next round, then? Write-ins?

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      • (Score: 4, Insightful) by bob_super on Wednesday November 07 2018, @01:15AM (6 children)

        by bob_super (1357) on Wednesday November 07 2018, @01:15AM (#758775)

        If more than 50% of voters bothered to explicitly reject all the people on the ballot, you have grounds for organizing a new election with new candidates.
        That would be democratic.

        • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @05:39AM (5 children)

          by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @05:39AM (#758847)

          So the incumbent doesn't have to actually win re-election, just get enough people disgusted with the whole process.

          • (Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Wednesday November 07 2018, @04:16PM (4 children)

            by tangomargarine (667) on Wednesday November 07 2018, @04:16PM (#759019)

            Wouldn't the incumbent be one of the people on the ballot? In which case if >50% None of the Above, he's barred from running same as the rest.

            --
            "Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
            • (Score: 2) by urza9814 on Wednesday November 07 2018, @04:55PM (3 children)

              by urza9814 (3954) on Wednesday November 07 2018, @04:55PM (#759039) Journal

              Who holds the office while the new election is organized? You've gotta get all new candidates, they've gotta have time to run a campaign, then you have to have the actual election. Meanwhile, the incumbent probably stays in power even if everyone friggin' despises them.

              And what happens if people vote "none of the above" repeatedly? Do we start to ignore term limits and let the incumbent stick around indefinitely? Or do we create some process to install someone else without that person being elected?

              • (Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Wednesday November 07 2018, @06:13PM (2 children)

                by tangomargarine (667) on Wednesday November 07 2018, @06:13PM (#759073)

                Oh. Yeah, good points.

                I mean the entire idea is a bit infeasible because people are still going to be locked into the 2-party system enough that you're never going to get a 50% "fuck them all" vote. A plurality, maybe, but I can't imagine a majority until the system gets a lot worse.

                Other than that, I do like the idea.

                --
                "Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
                • (Score: 2) by urza9814 on Wednesday November 07 2018, @06:29PM (1 child)

                  by urza9814 (3954) on Wednesday November 07 2018, @06:29PM (#759079) Journal

                  Yeah actually I'm quite fond of the idea as well...it just needs a bit more work :)

                  Ranked choice is probably the best realistic proposal though -- but only if the counts are reported the right way. By which I mean that if 20% of people vote for [third party], then those votes won't count and their second or third choice will be used instead. But it should still be reported that 20% voted for that party. That encourages more people to do so the next time around, and it also encourages the rest of the politicians to try to adapt some of [third party]'s policies so they can win some of those votes next time. But if they eliminate all the minor choices and then just report the end percentages for the two major parties, then that's potentially worse than the existing system because it keeps dissent hidden.

                  • (Score: 2) by urza9814 on Wednesday November 07 2018, @06:41PM

                    by urza9814 (3954) on Wednesday November 07 2018, @06:41PM (#759088) Journal

                    Going back to the "none of the above" idea...actually in a lot of situations you probably *could* just leave the position vacant until a new election is held. We probably don't want to go six months without a national President, but plenty of towns have survived longer than that without a mayor. And plenty more have elected dogs and cats and other animals which is more or less the same thing. Maybe you just say the post is vacant and none of its responsibilities will be filled until the people successfully elect someone.

                    Basically, just make "Leave the office vacant" a legitimate choice. If the voters can't see why the position is necessary, then maybe it isn't. That plus ranked choice sounds pretty nice...your ballot could then essentially say: "My first choice is candidate A; if they don't win I'd be happy with candidate B; if neither of those win I'd prefer to just leave the damn position vacant; but if we really must burn it all down then candidate C might make that marginally less painful than candidate D."

      • (Score: 2) by Joe Desertrat on Wednesday November 07 2018, @10:28PM

        by Joe Desertrat (2454) on Wednesday November 07 2018, @10:28PM (#759181)

        Who do you vote for in the next round, then? Write-ins?

        The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering silmite, will hold aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water, signifying by divine providence who is to run for office.

  • (Score: 2) by Snotnose on Wednesday November 07 2018, @01:13AM (12 children)

    by Snotnose (1623) on Wednesday November 07 2018, @01:13AM (#758774)

    Where I live (California) the news can't even start reporting results until the polls close. Which is something like 8 PM for me. Hellifino, I mailed my ballot in 2 weeks ago.

    Anyway, why? You can't report results. You can show lines outside polling places, interview voters, and report on various polls.

    Wanna watch the 6 AM news while getting up? Election all, um, whatever long. Grab lunch, the noon news is nice. Lines, random voters getting 15 seconds of fame, looks like we overpaid for this poll.

    Get home, turn on the news while cooking dinner. Election. Gee, even in Maine polls don't close for 10 minutes, but they've been counting and Fred has a 2%

    Uhhh, we break this rant for a brand spankin new rant! (edit: This is San Diego Channel 10 News, internet version, they say 5:06, I'm guessing 5 or so).

    News is on in the background, cut the cord months ago so no DVR. Group of folks are upset to find out they aren't on the voter rolls. They went to vote, and found out they weren't registered. And let the world know, they are truly and loudly outraged.

    Cue outrage meter. You just now found out you had issues with voting? You did not notice you never got your sample ballot? You never noticed you didn't get that big-ass cheap paper thing that describes the initiatives?

    End rant. Umm, where was I? Oh yeah...

    Turn on a movie, eat dinner, enjoy wine, go to bed, in 10 minutes after waking up I'll know 99% of the results.

    / hot damn, was that what I thought it was?
    // Yes yes, it was. Damn, my dinner is ready!
    /// Catch y'all on the down low

    --
    Why shouldn't we judge a book by it's cover? It's got the author, title, and a summary of what the book's about.
    • (Score: 2) by NewNic on Wednesday November 07 2018, @01:31AM

      by NewNic (6420) on Wednesday November 07 2018, @01:31AM (#758778) Journal

      News is on in the background, cut the cord months ago so no DVR.

      You know that you can get DVRs that can get their source from an antenna, right?

      --
      lib·er·tar·i·an·ism ˌlibərˈterēənizəm/ noun: Magical thinking that useful idiots mistake for serious political theory
    • (Score: 2) by NewNic on Wednesday November 07 2018, @01:34AM

      by NewNic (6420) on Wednesday November 07 2018, @01:34AM (#758779) Journal

      News is on in the background, cut the cord months ago so no DVR. Group of folks are upset to find out they aren't on the voter rolls. They went to vote, and found out they weren't registered. And let the world know, they are truly and loudly outraged.

      I assume this wasn't California, because in California you can register to vote and vote on the same day.

      https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/conditional-voter-reg/ [ca.gov]

      --
      lib·er·tar·i·an·ism ˌlibərˈterēənizəm/ noun: Magical thinking that useful idiots mistake for serious political theory
    • (Score: 3, Informative) by takyon on Wednesday November 07 2018, @02:22AM (2 children)

      by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Wednesday November 07 2018, @02:22AM (#758795) Journal

      Better to have this post out early.

      There's plenty of stuff to discuss already, such as Florida approving a constituional amendment to restore voting rights to most former felons.

      https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/415021-florida-will-restore-voting-rights-to-felons [thehill.com]

      Under the newly passed law, Florida will return voting rights to an estimated 1.5 million felons who have completed the terms of their sentence, including parole and probation. It does not apply to felons convicted of murder or sex offenses.

      [...] The majority of U.S. states return voting rights to felons after the individual fulfills a range of requirements, but in Florida the process previously could take up to a decade.

      Under previous law, felons in Florida were required to appeal their voting status directly to the governor through a clemency board. The four-person board met four times a year to hear cases and felons were required to wait five years after completing their sentence to apply.

      Under Florida’s Gov. Rick Scott (R) the state has restored voting rights to about 3,000 people in the last seven years, according to NPR.

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      • (Score: 2) by vux984 on Wednesday November 07 2018, @05:03AM (1 child)

        by vux984 (5045) on Wednesday November 07 2018, @05:03AM (#758840)

        Overall a lot of common sense ballot results...
        I thought the several ballots to create independent redistricting was also a real positive development.
        The Florida ballot ... what the fuck was wrong with that state that it was even ever like that. Glad to see they fixed it.
        Expanding medicaid etc.

        Then...
        Marsy's law ... i don't know much about but 'constitutional victims rights' sounds ... silly. Not bad per se... but not necessary either.

        As for the ballots on Women's rights / abortion / fetus rights -- results seem to be a mixed bag. More overall negative than positive though.

        And...
        The Alabama 10 commandments law seems like whack-a-doodle territory.

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @05:43AM

          by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @05:43AM (#758849)

          I'll weep for this country if SCOTUS isn't 9-0 to tell Alabama where they can put their 10 commandments.

    • (Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Wednesday November 07 2018, @04:05AM (5 children)

      by MichaelDavidCrawford (2339) Subscriber Badge <mdcrawford@gmail.com> on Wednesday November 07 2018, @04:05AM (#758824) Homepage Journal

      We have vote-by-mail here in the Pacific North-Left. The elections commission said it had not been returned so I am reasonable to expect it was stolen from my mailbox.

      Happily the commission had no objection to giving me a replacement.

      It happens that this area has a Republican House Representative - Jaime Hererra - however I am quite openly a leftist. Was my ballot's theft politically motivated?

      --
      Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
      • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @04:56AM (3 children)

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @04:56AM (#758838)

        As I understand it, you have a need for some things. The interesting one is medication to keep you stable, plus right now I guess you need antibiotics and possibly some pain medication. You're voting to lose all that.

        Don't believe me? Nobody thought they would lose access to medication when they voted for leftists in Venezuela. For a time, everything was great. There was subsidized everything! Eventually though, you run out of other people's money, and then shit hits the fan. People start dying because they can't get antibiotics.

        Granted, it takes a while for this to happen. You aren't that old though. You could live to see a socialist dystopia if people like Ocasio Cortez get to run this country into the ground. Someday you could be sneaking into the zoo to hunt for food.

        • (Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Wednesday November 07 2018, @05:34AM (2 children)

          by MichaelDavidCrawford (2339) Subscriber Badge <mdcrawford@gmail.com> on Wednesday November 07 2018, @05:34AM (#758846) Homepage Journal

          While they have taxes, we have the increased prices of products and services sold by companies that provide insurance to their employees.

          Canada has a longer life expectance.

          I didn't have to pay a dime for my operation, yet received excellent care.

          --
          Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
          • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @06:02AM (1 child)

            by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @06:02AM (#758851)

            Canada is lucky to have the USA paying for things. When the USA overpays for drugs, that supports the companies. Canada barely covers production cost. When the USA overpays for NATO and FIVEEYES and more, Canada is protected. It must be nice being Canada. It won't be nice after the USA collapses and there are American refugees headed toward Canada.

            Canada itself hasn't gone full leftist. They are disturbingly close. Canada isn't yet doing the really stupid shit like setting price limits for random household things like diapers and toilet paper. Leftism eventually does that, which is why those things are only available on the blackmarket in Venezuela. Socialism gives you a smelly ass.

            BTW, it isn't just Venezuela. That is simply the most dramatic recent case. There's also Zimbabwe, the cultural revolution, Castro's little island prison, Best Korea, and every other foolish attempt to implement a leftist utopia.

            • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @09:42AM

              by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @09:42AM (#758887)

              How would you describe the taste of Putin's cock?

      • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @07:40PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @07:40PM (#759116)

        Strange I live in seattle and my ballot is rejected for not matching my DL signature every single year. I have handwriting problems that are related to adhd. I could write neater but it's slow and it looks generically like everyone's handwriting when they try hard. I have a few characteristics that I make sure are featured in every signature, it's not even my name it's an abbreviation for a popular piece of military profanity, even if it's shit anyone who looks at it knows my john hancock looks odd for a man named Dale Herbertson Smith-Whickey

    • (Score: 2) by urza9814 on Wednesday November 07 2018, @05:01PM

      by urza9814 (3954) on Wednesday November 07 2018, @05:01PM (#759046) Journal

      Cue outrage meter. You just now found out you had issues with voting? You did not notice you never got your sample ballot? You never noticed you didn't get that big-ass cheap paper thing that describes the initiatives?

      It's easy to notice when you do get something; harder to notice when you don't.

      Also, as far as I remember neither Pennsylvania nor Rhode Island ever sent me any sample ballots...so maybe these people have moved from other states and aren't aware of that practice. Or hell, maybe they just get lost in the mail sometimes. "It's your fault because you didn't notice that we didn't send you something that we don't always send everyone" -- what is this, a fucking Orwell novel?

  • (Score: 1, Flamebait) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday November 07 2018, @03:16AM (10 children)

    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday November 07 2018, @03:16AM (#758810) Journal

    The news feeds are a mess. Every talking head in the country has a comment, but it's too early to call much of anything. One of the races I'm interested in is O'Rourke vs Cruz. I've never much liked Cruz, but this fruitcake from El Paso with the silly nickname? I truly detest this piece of shit. His police record includes burglary. His voting record as a city councilman includes depriving his constituents of their homes, so that his Father in Law could make another few million dollars in "development". And - that nick. He wants someone to believe that he's Mexican? An Irishman with a Mexican nickname.

    Sumbitch is as phoney as a six dollar bill.

    And, virtually all of his campaign money has come from outside the state. Texans aren't paying for his campaign, Californians are.

    Just another sleazeball Democrat.

    • (Score: 2) by takyon on Wednesday November 07 2018, @03:19AM (5 children)

      by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Wednesday November 07 2018, @03:19AM (#758811) Journal

      They called it in favor of Cruz a few minutes ago. Another 6 years of the human snake.

      --
      [SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
      • (Score: 1, Flamebait) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday November 07 2018, @03:33AM (4 children)

        by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday November 07 2018, @03:33AM (#758814) Journal

        Ahhhh - that much is good. Some of the other races are equally important, but I have less interest in any of them. Does that make me a "bad citizen"?

        • (Score: 2) by takyon on Wednesday November 07 2018, @03:35AM (3 children)

          by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Wednesday November 07 2018, @03:35AM (#758817) Journal

          Just remember to swing by my ballot initiatives story tomorrow.

          --
          [SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
          • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Thursday November 08 2018, @03:22AM (2 children)

            by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Thursday November 08 2018, @03:22AM (#759285) Journal

            LOL I looked for it, but all I see right now is your sweaty fungus story waiting in the queue.

            The humor in this election as, both sides are trying to cast the results as a win for them. But, there was no blue wave, there was no red wave. The balance of power remains a pretty close thing, with the Dems making a little headway. Again, IMO, this isn't a good thing at the moment. The R's should have made that same headway. This time, at least - I don't want to see the R's holding too much power for very long either. Republicans know how to screw things up quite well, they just have different methods than the D's.

    • (Score: 4, Informative) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Wednesday November 07 2018, @04:13AM

      by MichaelDavidCrawford (2339) Subscriber Badge <mdcrawford@gmail.com> on Wednesday November 07 2018, @04:13AM (#758828) Homepage Journal

      He wasn't arrested for burglary he was arrested for criminal trespass.

      The crime of Burglary requires that one have criminal intent at the point in time one enters a _structure_ - I think anything with a roof would apply. He was arrested for unlawfully climbing a fence. The owner of the property he trespassed on declined to press charges.

      O'Rourke has always openly acknowledge that he drove drunk; his case was dismissed after he completed a DWI class.

      https://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2018/aug/22/silvestre-reyes/beto-orourke-arrested-1990s-burglary-and-dwi/ [politifact.com]

      --
      Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @05:08AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @05:08AM (#758841)

      Sadly, a really good republican was defeated.

      He came close. Oddly, there was nearly a media blackout on him. This is suspected to have something to do with the fact that his race breaks the leftist narrative of Republicans supposedly being just old white males. He made a pretty respectable attempt at taking down a multi-term incumbent in a state that Trump flipped. That would have receive major news coverage if not for the media bias.

    • (Score: 3, Informative) by jmorris on Wednesday November 07 2018, @07:17AM (1 child)

      by jmorris (4844) on Wednesday November 07 2018, @07:17AM (#758864)

      Even better, look closer at "Beta". While railing against "The Rich" like a good socialist Dim, he is married to a billionaire heiress. Guess where Daddy's fortune is from?

      REAL ESTATE

      That is why he was being groomed for great things, they expected to be able to run him against Trump as another self funder. Like most Democrats he is himself too incompetent to generate real wealth so, like certain other Democrats (John Kerry) we could mention, he married it. Btw I count McCain as a Democrat since he voted that way every time the chips were really down; and his personal wealth was the result of trading his sick first wife for a beer heiress.

      Notice how such an important biographical detail has been kept entirely out of the news, even on Fox. Every other attack on Beta was in bounds , but somehow The Narrative was set that a single topic was off limits and except for ONE article I found the wall of silence held. They would of course have sprung it as soon as Primary season begins.... about now.

      Hopefully we have see the last of the idiot.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @07:42AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @07:42AM (#758870)

        Marrying into money is a form of competency, or good looks if a woman does it.

  • (Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @03:44AM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @03:44AM (#758818)

    Would it be fair to expect a late run in favor of the R's as their voters have jobs to finish before they go vote, or in favor of the D's because their voters sleep in until after lunchtime?

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @04:43AM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @04:43AM (#758834)

    takyon's journal

  • (Score: -1, Troll) by jmorris on Wednesday November 07 2018, @07:38AM (15 children)

    by jmorris (4844) on Wednesday November 07 2018, @07:38AM (#758869)

    So the Blue Wave didn't happen. But the forces of sanity only beat back out and proud Communists by a point or two in GA and FL so the future looks dark. Especially since FL just put over a million new Democrats on the next set of voter rolls.

    Now we get to watch the raving loons shout "Impeach 45!" every day, leak every member of the Trump family's tax returns and generally carry on in the insane and lawless way Dims usually do, amped up by their hatred for Trump and the people who dared defy them by voting for him.

    The Republicans (establishment) got the exact result they wanted and carefully planned for. No longer must they endure meetings with voters who insist on asking why nothing happens even though Republicans controlled the House, Senate and White House. Paul Ryan ensured nothing happened and safely takes the blame with him into his new lobbying job. Because the Country Club Republicans like to talk a good game to the voters, but they mostly agree with their good friends on the other side of the isle on most issues. Losing the Senate too would leave them out of power, and they like that part, you get the most bux the closer to power one is after all.

    • (Score: 5, Informative) by takyon on Wednesday November 07 2018, @08:33AM (5 children)

      by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Wednesday November 07 2018, @08:33AM (#758876) Journal

      It was a blue wave.

      1. The House of Representatives is a better measure of the mood of the country, since all of them are up for reelection every 2 years. And the Democrats picked up around 26-30 seats. Even with Republican-led gerrymandering in effect [wikipedia.org].

      2. The Senate races were stacked against Democrats. 8 Republican incumbents vs. 24 Democrat incumbents. This is apparently the greatest mismatch ever for Democrats. Yet Dems managed to offer a legitimate challenge in Texas which is not supposed to happen.

      3. Democrats have picked up 6 Governor seats so far.

      4. The ex-felon voting rights amendment in Florida changes the voting demographics. We could see more Puerto Ricans arrive in Florida too (hundreds of thousands have relocated recently following hurricanes). If Trump is not performing well in 2020, he could lose Florida due to the new Democratic-leaning voters.

      It looks like about 21 Republicans are up in 2020. If the President's popularity doesn't increase before then, that becomes a really bad omen.

      --
      [SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
      • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Wednesday November 07 2018, @11:34AM (2 children)

        by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday November 07 2018, @11:34AM (#758909) Journal

        If the President's popularity doesn't increase before then, that becomes a really bad omen.

        Yeah, right. Incorrigible optimist as always.

        Trump can now play more divisive politics, he has the House as a scape goat for his failures; what do you reckon is more probable for his supporters:
        - they will suddenly gain some ability to think with their brain and see beyond the blame deflection; *or*
        - they will continue to believe whatever chaotic finger-pointing justification Trump tweets last, because so they want to?

        --
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
        • (Score: 2) by takyon on Wednesday November 07 2018, @11:54AM (1 child)

          by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Wednesday November 07 2018, @11:54AM (#758912) Journal

          Without a proper foil (you can only whine about Retired Obama and Heart(?)broken Hillary for so long in 2018), Trump made the election a referendum on his own performance. He explicitly encouraged this [time.com].

          Polling showed an increase in Republican enthusiasm following the Kavanaugh hearings. Midterm turnout was unusually high. And yet the Democrats still gained seats. We can mostly ignore the Senate results for the reasons stated above.

          Many of Trump's Republican supporters are reluctant supporters. His devoted base is a smaller portion of the electorate.

          All Democrats need to do to win in 2020 is run someone who can avoid completely alienating Republicans, and can siphon off the "mainstream" ones (the Jeb Bush supporters/swamp creatures). Or let Trump be his own worst enemy and scare them off in some other direction, no matter who the Democrat is.

          Note that I am not predicting a Democratic win in 2020. A lot can happen in 2 years. But I believe Trump can pull a Jimmy Carter.

          --
          [SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
          • (Score: 2) by VLM on Wednesday November 07 2018, @12:26PM

            by VLM (445) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday November 07 2018, @12:26PM (#758921)

            The -D center is gone, so ...

      • (Score: 2) by VLM on Wednesday November 07 2018, @12:09PM (1 child)

        by VLM (445) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday November 07 2018, @12:09PM (#758914)

        It was a blue wave.

        A bathtub ripple, perhaps. Nate Silver on 538 promised 40 to 60 new D seats, the hilarious actual results are being actively buried in the legacy media.

        • (Score: 4, Interesting) by takyon on Wednesday November 07 2018, @12:38PM

          by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Wednesday November 07 2018, @12:38PM (#758926) Journal

          I see, from the forecast on the morning of the 6th:

          80% chance Democrats gain 21 to 59 seats

          Which is exactly what happened, just closer to 30 than the 39-40 which was given the highest chance of occurring in 538's forecast (2.8% each).

          Democrats started at 193, and are at 222 now according to CNN. That's 29 seats gained. 14 seats are still in play. They could easily get to 35-36 seats gained, which is near the middle of the 538 estimate, and not far off your 40.

          --
          [SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
    • (Score: 3, Interesting) by VLM on Wednesday November 07 2018, @12:21PM (3 children)

      by VLM (445) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday November 07 2018, @12:21PM (#758918)

      Most of the -R losses seem to be neocons, which is good news. I see Walker lost a re-election in Wisconsin. Better to see the (bad) history of the party lose than the future.

      Lose a neocon Walker, gain a modern Greg Pence, etc. Cruz bent the knee at the last minute to barely win which is a lesson to every legacy -R still left in the party.

      As a generalization the more anti-trump the -R the more likely they lost, which is good news. The party is getting dragged kicking and screaming into the current century, which is good.

      • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday November 07 2018, @03:22PM

        by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday November 07 2018, @03:22PM (#758989) Journal

        Most of the -R losses seem to be neocons

        I hate to see Dems wining anything right now, but we can be grateful for every neocon chased out of Washington.

      • (Score: 2) by jmorris on Wednesday November 07 2018, @05:03PM (1 child)

        by jmorris (4844) on Wednesday November 07 2018, @05:03PM (#759047)

        Walker can only blame himself for his loss. They pulled the same election fraud when he ran eight years ago. Then they did it again in his recall. And yet again when he ran for reelection the first time. All three of those times he was clever enough to outwit them and win anyway but eventually cleverness fails. He should have conducted mass arrests after the recall of pretty much every election official in Milwaukee and Madison. Then he would have had no problems.

        Evil prospers when it isn't punished. Once they figure out that cheating is all upside, it either works or if it doesn't there isn't any price to pay it is rational to cheat. This is part of the general slide into lawlessness.

        • (Score: 2) by cmdrklarg on Wednesday November 07 2018, @06:48PM

          by cmdrklarg (5048) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday November 07 2018, @06:48PM (#759092)

          From what I understand the Foxconn boondoggle hurt him a lot. Good riddance to bad rubbish I say.

          You are correct that evil prospers when good people do nothing, but I'm going to disagree with you on who occupies either position. Voter turnout was high, which tells me that good people were out doing something.

          --
          The world is full of kings and queens who blind your eyes and steal your dreams.
    • (Score: 2) by VLM on Wednesday November 07 2018, @12:25PM (3 children)

      by VLM (445) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday November 07 2018, @12:25PM (#758920)

      Losing the Senate too would leave them out of power

      The replacement for Ruth Bader Ginsberg is coming up real soon, she's gone downhill very fast and looks like the emperor in the Star Wars films, so the senate was kinda important.

      • (Score: 3, Informative) by takyon on Wednesday November 07 2018, @12:57PM (2 children)

        by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Wednesday November 07 2018, @12:57PM (#758933) Journal

        She's 85 right now.

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Bader_Ginsburg#Future_plans [wikipedia.org]

        She stated she has a new "model" to emulate in former colleague Justice John Paul Stevens, who retired at age 90 after nearly 35 years on the bench.

        I'll just quote the whole health section:

        In 1999, Ginsburg was diagnosed with colon cancer; she underwent surgery that was followed by chemotherapy and radiation therapy. During the process, she did not miss a day on the bench. Ginsburg was physically weakened by the cancer treatment, and she began working with a personal trainer. Since 1999, Bryant Johnson, a former Army reservist attached to the Special Forces, has trained Ginsburg twice weekly in the justices-only gym at the Supreme Court. In spite of her small stature, Ginsburg saw her physical fitness improve since her first bout with cancer; she was able to complete 20 full push-ups in a session before her 80th birthday.

        On February 5, 2009, she again underwent surgery, this time for pancreatic cancer. Ginsburg had a tumor that was discovered at an early stage. She was released from a New York City hospital on February 13 and returned to the bench when the Supreme Court went back into session on February 23, 2009. On September 24, 2009, Ginsburg was hospitalized in Washington DC for lightheadedness following an outpatient treatment for iron deficiency and was released the following day.

        On November 26, 2014, she had a stent placed in her right coronary artery after experiencing discomfort while exercising in the Supreme Court gym with her personal trainer.

        She's not chowing down on Big Macs [thehill.com], she has a personal trainer, and she seems reasonably proactive about her health.

        In order to win this game, she has to last the next 26 months. That gets her through the 2020 election as well as the lame duck session, when the new Republican Senate could opt to fill her seat if it becomes available. Of course, Democrats have to win at least the Senate and preferably the Senate and Presidency to fill her seat.

        Put it this way: there are some people out there very interested in seeing her make it through the next 26 months. I'm sure she'll get the best health care on the planet.

        --
        [SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @11:16PM (1 child)

          by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @11:16PM (#759209)

          Where do you get the energy to write and cite so much stuff nobody actually gives a fuck about?

    • (Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @04:05PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @04:05PM (#759008)

      Georgia? You mean the same Georgia that has a pattern of elections fraud by Republicans looking to suppress the votes of anybody that isn't likely to vote for them? The same Georgia that just a couple weeks ago go slapped for illegally preventing tens of thousands of people from voting because the Secretary of State who was also a candidate for Governor didn't want them to vote?

      The same Georgia that had software patches by Diebold only installed on voting machines in Democrat leaning precincts during a previous election?

      That Georgia?

      Between the obvious strategic incompetence of the Democrats and the massive effort by Republicans to disenfranchise as many voters as possible, it's astonishing that the Democrats were still able to pick up enough seats to have a majority.

  • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @10:41AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @10:41AM (#758898)

    Since we didnt elect the right people, Trump will not be releasing the free energy and cancer cure patents he had promised as a reward. Good job everyone. Now instead, all new immigrants, legal or otherwise, will get a free 60 day subscription to netflix upon entering the US.

  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by Phoenix666 on Wednesday November 07 2018, @02:22PM (4 children)

    by Phoenix666 (552) on Wednesday November 07 2018, @02:22PM (#758957) Journal

    In other words, what usually happens in midterm elections happened again--the opposition party gains.

    The Republicans strengthened their firewall against Trump's removal via impeachment. They gained Senate seats and purged Never Trumpers from their ranks who might have joined with Democrats in a bipartisan push to convict him in the Senate.

    The Democrats will devote 100% of their efforts now to "getting Trump" with endless investigations. It's the mirror-image of what the Republicans did to Obama with the endless Benghazi hearings and birth certificate investigations. Nothing will happen.

    The big winners last night were neither the Democrats nor the Republicans nor Trump, but the Deep State/power elites/1%/masters of the universe/Uniparty/lizard people. Now they can continue to enjoy the distracting charade of the partisan mud fight while stealing from the American people in the shadows.

    I would have preferred the Republicans sweep last night because the compromised Democratic Party needs to die, and a real populist progressive (in the 1912 Progressive Party sense of that term) party take its place; that will never happen as long as the Democratic Party can continue to win enough elections to remain credible. The Uniparty is the real enemy of humanity, and taking out the Democratic wing of its puppets would have dealt it a real blow. Thereafter the Republican wing of its puppets could have been dealt with.

    Also--and this is because of the vindictive flaw in my character--I would have enjoyed a repeat of the delicious schadenfreude that obtained after the upset in 2016. Watching the people with "I'm with Her!!!" bumper stickers mope lightened my mood for months.

    --
    Washington DC delenda est.
    • (Score: 0, Flamebait) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday November 07 2018, @03:26PM (2 children)

      by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday November 07 2018, @03:26PM (#758991) Journal

      Who told you that vindictiveness was a flaw? Unless it was a Sunday School teacher, then it had to be a liberal.

      • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @04:05PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @04:05PM (#759010)

        Yes, nothing is a flaw anymore. Greed, vindictiveness. Also racism, bigotry, misoginy. Not flaws, just "differences in opinion".

        Soon, thiefs, pedophiles, rapists and murderers will no longer be considered criminals, just people with a "different" way of interacting with society. And those who will still be condemning them will be labeled "Social Justice Warriors".

        If you have only a little knowledge of history, you'll see that that's how all past civilizations started their decline before their final collapse.

      • (Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Wednesday November 07 2018, @11:09PM

        by Phoenix666 (552) on Wednesday November 07 2018, @11:09PM (#759203) Journal

        Sunday school it was. There's a Christian teaching about forgiveness.

        The vindictiveness is the Scots-Irish in me. Sometimes useful when fighting revolutions against the British crown, but most often a drawback.

        --
        Washington DC delenda est.
    • (Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @04:10PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @04:10PM (#759014)

      There's a huge difference. Obama didn't have the Democratic members of congress refusing to investigate things up until that point. We know that Trump is crooked and there's been numerous instances where the House or Senate would normally issue subpoenas of him and close associates to try and determine the truth.

      That hasn't happened due to record breaking obstruction by the GOP politicians that were in control of those various committees.

      They may have kept the Senate this election year, but now that the Democrats have subpoena power, I wouldn't assume that the corruption is going to remain buried. There's numerous people who should be under investigation in both chambers for questionable behavior. And with the House going to the Democrats, you better believe that Kavanaugh may finally get a chance to "clear his name" when the Democrats get to decide whether to impeach him. Who knows, but the process does involve subpoenas and investigation and will almost certainly find whatever it is that the GOP Senators were afraid would come to light.

      Even without abusing their power, there's almost certainly enough stuff that can come to light to make it impossible for the GOP to matain control of the Senate, just probalby not enough to get the 60 votes needed to remove Trump or Kavanaugh from office.

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