• Iraq,  Iraq War,  Michael Ramirez

    Michael Ramirez on Congress and the Iraq War

    Readers: Please Vote in Flap’s January 2008 GOP Presidential Poll

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    AP: Sparring senators threaten Iraq fund cut, filibuster

    Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold on Thursday urged Congress to cut funding for the Iraq war, while the Senate Republican leader threatened to filibuster any Democratic resolution opposing increased troop levels.
    “Now Congress must use its main power — the power of the purse — to put an end to our involvement in this disastrous war and I am not talking here only about the surge or escalation,” said Feingold of Wisconsin at a Senate hearing. “It is time to use the power of the purse to bring our troops out of Iraq.”
    Earlier, Sen. John McCain, a strong proponent of sending more troops to win the war in Iraq, said it would be within Congress’ rights to outline how the conflict is funded.

    But he also said he’d like to “give this new strategy a chance to succeed.” (Watch how corruption is making war pricier Video)

    “I believe that, under the Constitution, Congress has the right to cut off funding — they did that during the Vietnam War,” said McCain, who was held as a prisoner of war during that conflict. “I also believe that if that vote is successful, then those who were the proponents of it then assume the consequences of failure.”

    A non-binding resolution opposing the 20,000 troop increase announced by Bush is expected to be introduced in the Senate next week, but Democratic leadership aides say they are unsure when a final vote will take place.

    Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, said Thursday that Republicans might filibuster the Democratic-sponsored resolution opposing the strategy.

    But, what do these MORONS (both GOP and Democrat) in Congress propose to do after an American troop redeployment?

    Isn’t that what they are REALLY advocating?

    When the violence overtakes Iraq and the country is overrun by radical Jihaists, then what?


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  • Art

    Picasso Watch: Steve Wynn Accidentally Damages “Le Reve” And Now SUES Lloyds of London

    Readers: Please Vote in Flap’s January 2008 GOP Presidential Poll

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    PICASSO, Pablo (Espagne, 1881-1973)

    TSG: Steve Wynn’s Bad Dream

    Months after he accidentally poked a hole in a Picasso painting, casino magnate Steve Wynn today sued Lloyd’s of London for failing to pay off a $54 million insurance claim. Wynn, who purchased the painting “Le Reve” for $48.4 million in 1997, contends that the painting was worth $139 million when, on September 30, he “accidentally placed a tear” in it while showing the work (pictured above) to friends visiting his Las Vegas office. According to Wynn’s U.S. District Court complaint, a copy of which you’ll find below, the businessman contends that, as a result of the tear, the painting’s value has plummeted to $85 million. He has demanded that Llloyd’s pay him the difference in the appreciated value of the painting and its post-damage worth. The day before he punctured the painting, Wynn had entered into an agreement with hedge fund titan Steven Cohen to sell “Le Reve” for $139 million. That deal died after the damage was disclosed to Cohen. Included as an exhibit to Wynn’s lawsuit is a “sworn statement in proof of loss” that likely made knees buckle at Lloyd’s.

    Remember the Flap?

    Ooops looks like an accident?

    Perhaps……..

    But, Lloyds of London will NOT pay.

    Stay tuned……….

    Previous:

    Picasso Watch: Steve Wynn Accidentally Damages “Le Reve”


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  • GOP,  Mitt Romney,  President 2008

    Mitt Romney Watch: Romney on Abortion 1994 vs 2006 – Romney A Social Conservative?

    Former Massachusetts Gov., Mitt Romney, R-Mass., left, sitting beside his wife, Ann Romney, in a convention center in Boston, Monday, Jan. 8, 2007, hangs up after asking his sister, Lynn Romney, of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., for a donation. The call was the first from the call-center set up to begin fundraising for a possible presidential campaign.

    AP: Romney says he was wrong on 1994 issues

    A 1994 videotape mysteriously posted on YouTube.com prompted Republican Mitt Romney to declare Wednesday, “I was wrong on some issues back then,” while also insisting to social conservatives key to his presidential campaign that he is one of them.

    The tape of a Senate debate between Romney and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy showed Romney defending a woman’s right to abortion, saying he supported allowing gays in the Boy Scouts and distancing himself from former President Reagan by noting he was a registered independent during the period the conservative icon was leading the nation.

    All of the material has been previously published, but its presentation in video form — and on the easily shared YouTube medium — prompted an immediate response from Romney, who formed a presidential exploratory committee last week.

    Ok, here is the video:

    And the Governor’s response:

    “If you want to know where I stand by the way, you don’t just have to listen to my words, you can go to look at my record as governor,” Romney said during a late-day appearance on the “Glenn and Helen Show,” a radio program featuring Tennessee psychologist Helen Smith and her husband, Glenn Reynolds.

    “Frankly, in the bluest of states, facing the most liberal media in the country, I’ve led the fight to preserve traditional marriage. I’ve taken every legal step I could conceive of, to prevent same-sex marriage.”

    A tape of Romney’s call was immediately posted on YouTube. Asked whom the campaign suspected of posting the tape, Romney spokesman Kevin Madden said: “It doesn’t matter. We used the very same mediums made available to those seeking to attack Governor Romney to set the record straight in his own words with the facts.”

    The video:

    So, is Mitt Romney a social conservative?

    Doubtful…..

    Is Mitt Romney a Reagan Republican?

    No, he admits he was a registered independent

    Flap never has had a problem supporting and voting for a Republican who has moderate or even liberal positions on social issues like abortion and gay rights. There is no litmus test in the GOP.

    However, I have a problem with someone who is an opportunist and is not sincere in his/her beliefs.

    Flap won’t be voting for Mitt Romney

    Stay tuned…….

    Others Blogging:

    Stop The ACLU

    Hugh Hewitt

    romneydecember1aweb

    Previous:

    Mitt Romney Watch: Gay Marriage FLAP – Redux

    Mitt Romney Watch: Another HYPOCRITICAL Moment? This Time Gay Marriage

    Mitt Romney Watch: Romney’s Response to LAWNGATE FLAP as Investigations Continue

    Mitt Romney Watch: Presidential Campaign Implodes on Illegal Alien FLAP


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  • Rudy Giuliani

    Rudy Giuliani Watch: Giuliani Dismisses LEAKED Political Strategy Memo

    Readers: Please Vote in Flap’s January 2008 GOP Presidential Poll

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    Former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, right, with Patrick Oxford, managing partner of Bracewell & Patterson, during the announcement March 31, 2005, in New York that Giuliani has joined the firm as a name partner and that the firm will now be known as Bracewell & Giuliani LLP

    AP: Giuliani dismisses issues in leaked memo

    Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani on Thursday dismissed his liberal social views, his divorces and his former aide’s imbroglio as irrelevant to a presidential bid.

    Asked about a leaked political strategy memo that cited such issues as potentially insurmountable obstacles to a campaign for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, Giuliani said: “That is not going to be the issue.”

    “I sure have strengths and weaknesses,” Giuliani said on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” “I think that sort of puts me in the same category as just about everybody else that’s running. Are my strengths greater or my weaknesses worse? I don’t know. You have to sort of examine that. That won’t be the issue.”

    America’s Mayor is correct. Personal issues and the politics of personal destruction will NOT drive the 2008 Presidential race – either in the primary or general election.

    The appraisal of Giuliani’s candidacy found in his political strategy book is an honest and prudent one. Every serious candidate has completed one. It is part of a campaign.

    Now, will there be a debate on the issues and social ones at that?

    You bet…….

    Rudy Giuliani is a mainstream principled Republican who will be an excellent chief executive and commander in chief.

    Let the debate begin……

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    Previous:

    Rudy Giuliani Watch: Giuliani Supports Iraq Troop SURGE

    Rudy Giuliani Watch: Giuliani’s Business Links May Hurt Bid?

    Rudy Giuliani Watch: Giuliani Leads GOP Polls in Nevada

    Rudy Giuliani Watch: Giuliani Recruits Two Veteran GOP Communicators

    Rudy Giuliani Watch: The Purloined Presidential Campaign Strategy Book

    Rudy Giuliani Watch: Bill Simon Building a Network of California Conservative Support

    Rudy Giuliani Watch: Michael Barone – Giuliani is a Front-Runner

    Rudy Giuliani Watch: Giuliani Continues to Lead Clinton, Gore

    The Rudy Giuliani Files


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  • GOP,  John McCain,  Mitt Romney,  President 2008,  Rudy Giuliani

    President 2008 Watch: GOP Bloggers and Flap’s Poll January 2007

    Readers: Please Vote in Flap’s January 2008 GOP Presidential Poll – POLL LINK here.

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    GOP Bloggers have their monthly Presidential poll up.

    Flap has decided to run his own poll and host it over at my discussion forum: My Dental Forum.

    The Presidential 2008 question is simple and will only include the three front-runners for the GOP Presidential nomination:

    Rudy Giuliani

    John McCain

    Mitt Romney

    The Question:

    If a GOP Presidential Primary election were held today for who would you vote?

    Rudy Giuliani

    John McCain

  • Barack Obama,  General,  Hillary Clinton,  Rudy Giuliani

    Rudy Giuliani Watch: Giuliani Supports Iraq Troop SURGE

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    Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani makes a point as he speaks with reporters in New London, Conn., Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2007. Giuliani was speaking about safety considerations in regard to the proposed construction of a liquid natural gas facility in the middle of Long Island Sound between Connecticut and New York state. Giuliani’s security firm has been hired to study the situation. From left are: Tom von Essen, Richard Sheirer and Giuliani. Von Essen and Sheirer are associates of Giuliani’s.

    The Hotline (Via The Corner): Rudy Supports The Troop Increase

    Ex-NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani released this paper statement tonight on the president’s Iraq speech:

    “Success or failure in Iraq is not a matter of partisan politics but a matter of national security. All Americans should be hoping, praying and offering constructive advice for the success of our troops in Iraq and for those Iraqis seeking to create a stable and decent government. In that spirit, I support the President’s increase in troops. Even more importantly – I support the change in strategy – the focus on security and the emphasis on a political and economic solution as being even more important than a military solution.I would add to it a heavy emphasis on measuring results and having the flexibility of adapting our strategy to make certain we restore security as quickly as possible.

    We must not wait for a year or more to measure the success of our strategy but must develop a system to do so monthly weekly even daily so we give our troops the necessary support to succeed.”

    But, guess what?

    Hillary Clinton opposes the increase in troops. And so does Barack.

    What a surprise…….

    Flap caught the Mayor on Fox News after President Bush’s speech last night and he looked very presidential. Rudy made his points clearly and distinctly without any hesitation.

    A LEADER speaking?

    You betcha…….

    Giuliani will EAT Hillary alive in any debate…..

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    Previous:

    Rudy Giuliani Watch: Giuliani’s Business Links May Hurt Bid?

    Rudy Giuliani Watch: Giuliani Leads GOP Polls in Nevada

    Rudy Giuliani Watch: Giuliani Recruits Two Veteran GOP Communicators

    Rudy Giuliani Watch: The Purloined Presidential Campaign Strategy Book

    Rudy Giuliani Watch: Bill Simon Building a Network of California Conservative Support

    Rudy Giuliani Watch: Michael Barone – Giuliani is a Front-Runner

    Rudy Giuliani Watch: Giuliani Continues to Lead Clinton, Gore

    The Rudy Giuliani Files


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  • Iran,  Iraq,  Iraq War

    Iran Watch: United States Led Forces Detain 6 Iranians in Iraq

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    Iraqi Shiite cleric Abdel Aziz al-Hakim speaks during a conference in the holy city of Najaf. Iran has condemned as “provocative” a raid by US troops on the Iranian consulate in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil during which five employees were arrested.

    AP: U.S.-led forces detain 6 Iranian workers

    U.S.-led multinational forces detained six Iranians Thursday at Tehran’s diplomatic mission in the northern city of Irbil, Iraqi officials said, as President Bush accused Iran and Syria of aiding militants and promised to “interrupt” the flow of support as part of his new war strategy.

    The U.S. military said it had taken six people into custody in the Irbil region but made no mention of a raid on the Iranian consulate.

    The forces entered the building about 3 a.m., detaining the Iranians and confiscating computers and documents, two senior local Kurdish officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information. Irbil is a city in the Kurdish-controlled north, 220 miles from Baghdad.

    Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said the government was seeking clarification from the Americans and the Iranians “about these people and what they were doing there and whether they were employees.”

    In Tehran, Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Iraqi and Swiss ambassadors and “demanded an explanation” about the incident. Switzerland represents American interests in Iran, where there is no U.S. Embassy.

    Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini told state-run radio that the raid was “against a diplomatic mission” since the “presence of Iranian staffers in Irbil was legal.” Hosseini claimed the action by coalition forces reflected a “continuation of pressure” on Iran, aiming to “create tension” between
    Iraq and its neighbors.

    Oh Please – the Iranians Protest too much. Iran has been complicit in killing American troops in Iraq.

    This is a war. And……

    President Bush put Iran and Syria on notice last night.

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    US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, seen here in Tokyo in 2006, warned Iran that the United States won’t “stand idly by” if Tehran tries to disrupt Washington’s renewed effort to stabilize Iraq.

    Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini told state-run radio that the raid was “against a diplomatic mission” since the “presence of Iranian staffers in Irbil was legal.” Hosseini claimed the action by coalition forces reflected a “continuation of pressure” on Iran, aiming to “create tension” between
    Iraq and its neighbors.

    At the Pentagon, a senior U.S. military official said the building was not a consulate and did not have any diplomatic status. The six Iranians were taken in a “cordon-and-knock” operation, said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the information.

    The raid came as tensions are high between Iran and the United States. The Bush administration has accused Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons and of helping fuel violence in Iraq. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, meanwhile, is trying to expand Tehran’s role in Iraq as a counter to U.S. influence in the Gulf region.

    If Iran wants good relations with the United States, then they must immediately halt uranium enrichment and stop fomenting violence in Iraq.

    If not, then Iran will suffer the consequences……

    Stay tuned…….


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  • Al Qaeda,  Ethiopia,  Somalia

    Somalia Watch: Somalia Strike Missed Al Qaeda Terrorists

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    Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles Zenawi speaks at a news conference in Addis Ababa January 10, 2007. Meles said on Wednesday the United States had struck only once in Somali and denied reports that civilians had been killed in the air attack.

    CNN: Official: Somalia strike missed al Qaeda suspects

    None of the top three suspected terrorists in Somalia were killed in a U.S. airstrike this week, but Somalis with close ties to al Qaeda were killed, a senior U.S. official in the region said Thursday.

    A day earlier, a Somali official had said a U.S. intelligence report had referred to the death of Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, one of the three senior al Qaeda members believed responsible for bombing U.S. embassies in East Africa. But U.S. and Ethiopian troops in southern Somalia were still pursuing the three, the U.S. official said Thursday on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the record.

    Earlier this week, police at the Kenyan coastal border town of Kiunga arrested the wives and several children of two of the embassy bombing suspects, according to an internal police report seen by The Associated Press Wednesday. The suspects’ relatives had slipped across the border, according to the report.

    Residents on Thursday reported new fighting between Islamic militiamen and Somali and Ethiopian forces.

    The fighting early Thursday in southern Somalia set off a brush fire, residents said by two-way radio. There were reports of as many as 35 deaths.

    The fighting comes after Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said his forces were carrying out mop-up operations against Islamic militants in the extreme southern corner of Somalia and that he expected to withdraw his troops within a few weeks.

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    It is a shame they have not killed these Al Qaeda thugs but they have their families and are hunting them down like dogs.

    In the meantime, the United States is deploying more ships off the coast for more operations.

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    USS Dwight David Eisenhower

    U.S. and Somali officials said Wednesday a small American team has been providing military advice to Ethiopian and Somali forces on the ground. The officials provided little detail and spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information.

    Somali officials have said the U.S. had a right to strike, and one even called on America to send in ground troops to help root out al Qaeda extremists and the Islamic militia believed to be sheltering them.

    The U.S. Navy has moved additional forces into waters off the Somali coast, where they have conducted security missions, monitoring maritime traffic and intercepting and interrogating crew on suspicious ships.

    There were five ships Wednesday: the guided missile destroyer USS Ramage, the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier, the guided missile cruisers USS Bunker Hill and USS Anzio, and the amphibious landing ship USS Ashland. Officials said they could use the Ashland as a brig for any captured suspects.

    The Islamic Courts have been routed and NO longer pose a threat to Somalia. Again Flap directs the reader to Bill Roggio’s excellent piece on the history of the attempted Islamification of Somalia by the Jihadists and Al Qaeda.

    Stay tuned…..

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    Previous:

    Somalia Watch: United States Denies Additional Air Strikes in Somalia

    Somalia Watch: Al Qaeda Fazul Abdullah Mohammed Killed in Somalia

    Somalia Watch: United States Helicopter Gunships Attack Al-Qaeda Fighters in South Somalia

    Somalia Watch: United States Launching New Attacks Against Al Qaeda in Somalia

    Somalia Watch: United States Attacking Al Qaeda Positions in Somalia

    Somalia Watch: Diplomats Call for Urgent Deployment of Peacekeeping Troops in Somalia

    Cox & Forkum: Somalian Front

    Somalia Watch: Somalia Offers Islamists Amnesty

    Somalia Watch: Mogadishu Retaken by Somali Government Troops

    Somalia Watch: A Guide to the Latest Front of the War on Terror

    somalia_pol02web


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  • ACLU

    Stop the ACLU Blogburst Watch: Indefensible: 10 Ways The ACLU Is Destroying America

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    I just finished reading Indefensible: 10 Ways The ACLU Is Destroying America by Sam Kastensmidt. I highly recommend it for everyone.The book covers most of our own top ten reasons to stop the ACLU, however much more extensively. It covers everything the ACLU stands for. From the agenda of silencing the churches and abortion to the sexualization of children…the book covers it in excellent detail.There have been many great books written on the ACLU. Most focus on the social and religious issues that are under attack. Alan Sears’ book, ACLU Vs. America, focused on mainly on these issues, however it did touch upon how the ACLU attacks our sovereignty. This book, Indefensible, also focuses on the social issues, but I was happy to see that it devoted an entire chapter on how the ACLU is Impeding America’s War On Terror. I’m going to share a few excerpts from sections within that particular chapter.

    ACLU Fights Measure To Halt Terrorists’ Funding

    Only weeks after the tragedy (911), Congress acted to dismantle the financial infrastructure supporting known terrorist organizations. On October 3, 2001, U.S. Rep. Michael Oxley (OH) introduced the “Financial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001,” seeking to freeze all accounts directly linked to the “financing of terrorism.”

    The need for such legislation was deemed so vital to national security that it passed the U.S. House on a vote of 421-1. Almost the entire Congress recognized that this legislation’s passage was imperative. Still, on the day before the vote was scheduled, the ACLU delivered letters of opposition to all members of Congress.

    “We urge you to oppose the ‘Financial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001,’” the letter began. Why? One portion of the bill made it a federal crime to conceal large amounts of “illegally obtained” cash (over $10,000) while traveling. In a desperate and shameful attempt to justify its stance, the ACLU played the race card. The letter argued, “This provision may impact, disproportionately, people of color and immigrants….[because] these groups of people often have a more difficult time getting access to sources of credit and bank accounts and so use cash transactions more frequently than others do.”

    Under the ACLU’s reasoning, impoverished people would be discriminated against by this bill. The likelihood of impoverished minorities carrying around more than $10,000 in cash and concealing it was supposedly a grave concern for the ACLU. Thankfully the ACLU’s efforts to stop this were unsuccessful.

    A little more from the book:

    Later in the war, the ACLU actually volunteered its legal services to represent suspected terrorists!

    In 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments from several alleged “illegal combatants,” including two cases involving U.S. citizens and one case involving 14 foreign “illegal enemy combatants.” The ACLU filed amicus briefs on behalf of the suspected terrorists in each case, arguing that ll “enemy combatants” captured during a time of war should have access to American courtrooms-regardless of their citizenship.

    The Pentagon contended that “enemy combatants” should face military tribunals-the standard procedure in all previous international wars. U.S. Solicitor General Theodore Olson, whose wife, Barbara Olson, was killed on September 11, when Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, reminded the Supreme Court Justices that the plaintiffs were requesting a “jurisdiction that is not authorized by Congress, does not arise from the Constitution, and has never been exercised by this Court.”

    Though the U.S. Constitution does not extend rights to non-citizen enemy combatants, judicial restraint did not prevent the moder Court from creating this new right out of thin air.

    Thankfully this decision was made moot by the passing of the Military Commission Act. However, the ACLU’s war on National Security continues, and giving habeas corpus to non-American citizens is on their New Year Resolution list. It is actually number one on the list, followed by destroying the NSA terrorist surveillance program, and destroying our ability to keep secrets.

    Overall the book was well put together and very informative. I highly suggest checking it out.

    This was a production of Stop The ACLU Blogburst. If you would like to join us, please email Jay at Jay@stoptheaclu.com or Gribbit at GribbitR@gmail.com. You will be added to our mailing list and blogroll. Over 200 blogs already on-board.

    Others Blogging:

    Conservative Culture linked with The ACLU’s directed agenda and attack! – Blogburst
    Pirate’s Cove linked with Stop The ACLU Blogburst 1/11/07: 10 Ways The ACLU is Destroying America
    TMH’s Bacon Bits linked with Indefensible: 10 Ways The ACLU Is Destroying America
    Jo’s Cafe linked with Stop the ACLU Blogburst
    Stuck On Stupid linked with Stop The ACLU Blogburst
    Conservative Thinking linked with STACLU Blogburst
    The Uncooperative Blogger linked with Ten Ways ACLU Is Destroying America
    Church and State linked with 10 Ways The ACLU is Destroying America
    XtremeRightWing linked with Recommended Reading On ACLU
    The Wide Awakes linked with Stop The ACLU Book Review

    Previous:

    Stop the ACLU Blogburst Watch: Stop The ACLU New Year Resolution


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