546 Comments

It has been electrifying! And so very hopeful! And HCR, you have so much to do with helping this wave happen! Truly! Thank you.

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Thank you Dr. Richardson for your first hand account of the DNC events. I felt like I was there as I read tonight's letter.

It is so refreshing to read something with only a solitary reference to the candidate that should not be named.

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You really need to take it in on streaming, preferably with a big enough screen and good sound. This thing exudes sincerity and enthusiasm, and most of all, it keeps its messages open to all Americans, challenges notwithstanding. Whatever else the Democratic Party is, the past few nights have cemented the impression for me of just how much it is the centrepiece of a broad movement in American society. Just watching it creates such an upbeat feeling, and I'm not even an American citizen. Of course, it pays to cherry pick some of the more outstanding moments, but really, I haven't seen American joy like this in a well, very long time. Obama's nomination blew my proverbial socks off. USA is such a strange, multivariant place, i just know my own preferences.

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This is the place I say - this DNC rocks....there's a new day dawning in America.... and just for the record - Neil Young is Canadian.

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Yes! Democrats have a huge advantage in staging a show: the entire entertainment industry, with very few exceptions, is on their side. Finally, they’re putting it to good use.

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I liked the disc jockey during the roll call. Also the fact that Harris was essentially doing TWO rallies at once, both to packed audiences. One ups manship to the nth degree.

Wasn't trump in front of some police station giving his speech? I knew FOX would show the empty seats before the convention started. They did not disappoint.

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Love Neil Young's music and lyrics! Promptly after the closing speech last night I ran out of the room. My husband guessed that I was going to pump out Rockin' in a Free World on my guitar 🎸. Neil has dual citizenship.

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True - but he was born in Toronto and got dual citizenship in 2020. It's just that so many talented Canadians had to go south to make it big in the fifties and sixties and American media don't usually acknowledge Canadian origins of big stars.

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Neil Young was one of the first musician's to file legal action to stop the Fascist Diaper Rapist from using his music.....Hats of to Dems for playing the entire "Rockin in the Free World!!"...........Let Donable Lector play bullshit garbage Kid Rock all the way to prison.

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RUSH are from Toronto........Steppenwolf also from Toronto...Joni Mitchell also Canadian....By the way Kamala Harris's mother was a professor at McGill in Montreal.....

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The Guess Who and BTO........

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Elon Musk is South African, I believe. Not Canadian.

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yes born, then immigrated to Canada at 18 with his Canadian born mother acquired Can citizenship. Then US.

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Frank Loomer, yes! I have been streaming it live each day on YouTube, without the incessant commentary from newscasters, and I have to say the exuberance it has brought me has been palpable! I danced along with fellow Georgians and other states during the delegate roll call, laughed out loud and cried from the many speeches, It has been the best way for this 73 year old to take in this convention!

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Agreed, I went to direct feeds to avoid the truly "incessant commentary" almost more abt them than the convention itself. Msnbc was esp awful even tho i otherwise enjoy the hosts.

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I enjoyed and appreciated the brief intervals with the hosts on MSNBC. After others made comments like yours, I paid particular attention last night. Each time they appeared, it was during a brief hiatus in convention activity. As soon as a new speaker or entertainer appeared on screen, the hosts 'departed'. At no point did I feel there was "incessant commentary", and the commentary was informed by many years of experience in the politics.

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Thanks Judith, I may have to renege on my comment, i guess it seemed too often when i tuned in the hosts were talking, seems like a mistaken impression. Anyway, i did enjoy the straight-through of presentations on the floor, perhaps edited to remove the quiet moments.

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I am so worried for the fellow Georgians who will get bamboozled by the republicans questioning the voting process in Georgia - just listened to The Daily on this topic.....

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Tamar, I am also worried, because recently three unelected, election denying officials on the State Election Board have out-voted its other two members in passing more unreasonable and outrageous revisions to Georgia’s election rules. This late in the process, these revisions are obviously intended to delay and disrupt the reporting of final counts in all precincts. It serves to further undermine voter confidence and burdens precincts. Our only recourse is to not only have a blue wave in Georgia, but a deluge to counteract the suppression tactics!

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Kamala is already on it. She has a top-tier election lawyer on speed dial. The Rethuglicans aren't the only ones who can plan ahead and the Democrats have a secret weapon - they don't cook the books, stack the racks or bamboozle the ballots... they go by the book. It pays off in the long run.

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Frank, when I was nervous about the Democrats' messaging in 2020, I stayed up and watched the whole 2029 DNC. This year, their messaging is right on, feeling as comfortable to me like a well worm flannel shirt. I went to sleep early and am more than satisfied with HCR's recount.

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Jerry did you mean 2024? Hopefully, I haven't missed 5 years....I know time flies but.....help!!!!

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Oooooops. I'm reading your comment on the Substack app, which doesn't seem to allow me to edit my error. I take comfort in the hope that few folk will read my comment.

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I easily made the mental correction to 2024.

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Thank you, Frank for your opinion! I had no idea that you were not an American citizen, friend!

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a LOT of cross border voyeurs, Sharon :) Much more drama "down south" than here, though... lately FB has been pushing political ads, including a Conservative one pushing "woke" garbage. I suggested they emigrate, so to speak. Im sometimes almost amazed at how much "pickup" Canadian politics get, esp on the Conservative side of things.

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Interesting re FB and political ads. I'm not seeing any on my feeds. If they're in the right-hand frame, I just tune them out.

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Hum… a personal remembrance. About 1983, I was sitting in a hotel bar next to the civic center where Bruce Springsteen was playing. Who wound up sitting next to me was non other than Bruce. At one point we looked at each other and nodded and I offered to buy him a beer. He looked at the bar table where there was already a bunch of bottles others had bought and kindy refused. That was my one moment with The Boss.

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Very cool. My closest celebrity encounters were Hillary herself. I worked on her campaign and met her personally several times. Most brilliant politician ever, and tragically our country missed an epic opportunity. Her campaign was long and arduous; unlike Kamala’s and Tim’s. She’s a foreign policy wonk, and I never heard her mispronounce one foreign leader’s name. As Sec. of State perhaps our nation did benefit from her unfaltering hard work and dedication but what a prez she would have been. None of that dampens my joy for and support of Kamala and Tim. Onward Together!

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In Idaho there were so few Democrats (in our very RED county) that I, my husband and son, were invited to be in the greeting line when President Clinton, Hillary and Chelsea landed at our airport heading back to D.C. from Jackson Hole. My son was dressed in his best, including a Micky Mouse tie. The VERY TALL President got down to the 8 year old's height and told him he wished he could wear a tie like that. The thrill of meeting them in person has never worn off. Their relatability and kindness never forgotten. We received photos of our meeting a few weeks later. I cannot imagine TFG EVER kneeling down to meet a child.

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I saw Pete Buttigieg in a campaign in NH. I didn't get to speak with him, but my celebrity contact was with Michael J. Fox! What a great guy. I always thought I would never ask for an autograph or a picture with a celebrity, but there I was in line. He was very gracious even though he was ill.

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Gary, I read this letter this am with the feeling of joy and energy and I thank Dr. Richardson for conveying that joy and energy. It is refreshing to read something positive while feeling the incentive to do whatever is possible for each of us to do. And gosh, the Ds got permission to use Neil Young's song in contrast to Rs just using it without permission and making it other than what it is.

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HCR has truly been an inspiration, particularly in her Tuesday political chats on FB. She has encouraged us to "take back" the American flag from the right. As a result many of us in our postcard group now wear small American flag pins daily on our lapels or ball caps.

She has encourage us to "do what you are good at" in support of democracy. For the more outgoing, that means phone banking or canvassing. For others, it means writing letters to the editor, or ad-copy for newspapers/radio. Our artistic members design flyers to hand out at parades. Of course, we all write get-out-the-vote postcards into each election.

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Back in the early 1970's my mother urged me to display the flag on the Fourth so as to not let the right wing misappropriate the emblem. I don't worship the flag as some do, nor molest it like Trump, but understand it to be a reminder of my role in the republic for which it stands.

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Unfortunately I work on Tuesdays, so I don't get to watch her FB chats. It did work out once, and it was really good. Of course.

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We can view HCR's recorded video chats on her FB page or later on her YouTube.

https://fb.watch/u7v36aL7_-/

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I think you're referring to chats that are available on YouTube. That's how I get them.

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Nope. She does a live "chat" on Facebook on Tuesdays, talking about whatever is going on, and people can send her questions while she's talking. It's pretty cool.

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They do end up on YouTube also, I think.

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I often watch them on FB later. They're all right there chronologically as you scroll down her page.

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So! Have we reached a turning point in this election?

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We have definitely reached a turning point. Whether it will be enough to fight the forces of gerrymandering, election denialism, and a partisan Supreme Court is what we'll discover in 76 days. Work, Pray, Vote.

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SWBV,

What a beautiful "sea of diversity"....what a beautiful swath of America ...."Home of the free because of the Brave"!!!!

Beautiful music, poetry, testimonies, words of encouragement!!!!

WE SHALL ALL "RISE UP!!!"

Last night was America at its best....a sampling of each and all...together as ONE!!!!

I look forward to more....not just to "take in"...not just to "receive" but to invite my neighbors and friends TO JOIN IN!!!!

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I have loved the camera scans of the crowds with that wonderful “sea of diversity!” I did not watch any of the RNC… I wonder if their crowd was as diverse???

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I wonder if they had the viewership for the convention that Harris had. It was said her viewership was millions more than trump's on the first night.

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Work, Pray, Vote ought to be a bumper sticker! Love it!

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I bought a "Voting is My Black Job!" and a White friend here in Germany ordered one too to wear in solidarity. Voting is Everyone's Black Job! And President of the United States will be Harris' Black Job!

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Michelle Obama nailed that one. Well, i think it was Michelle that is! Some many great zingers which go right to be point

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Yes it was Michelle who then followed it with a look only she can give to cement the statement.

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Agreed...we cannot assume we have it in the bag. We have to be prepared to preempt what may be on the horizon.

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Complacency is our enemy.We need to get the "Yutes" to vote. College campuses need to be flooded with information on how to register and how to vote. The Democrats need their vote.

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The Obamas particularly stressed this, and not just them.

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if we lose in a close race, are the democrats going to pull a trump and protest and bring it to the courts and demand recounts?

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And write those postcards. TonyTheDemocrat will help us turn Florida blue!

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I pray you succeed in turning FL at least purple. But the dark forces behind DeSantis, Scott, Gaetz are not going to go down without a fight, supplemented by all the chicanery their captive state legislators and courts will support.

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Grandmothers for a Brighter Future sent me 50 names and addresses of women in Arizona so I can try to get votes for Ruben Gallego.

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Sending 300 to Georgia. They can make all the difference!

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We must not allow them to determine that, we can determine it too.

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Encourage your kids to vote too

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I am not just encouraging my nieces and nephews in the USA, but my daughter in Germany to Vote from Abroad. In fact, we have been spending the past two weeks writing and trying to figure out if she can get her ballot by email, even though we are in a backwards state that requires us to snail mail it back. Still, whatever it takes. I have done this by nagging them to be registered to vote where they live and go to college, or sign up for vote by mail. Then, I have asked what their voting plan is in either case. I will be giving them reminders, and I discuss the issues with them so they all stay engaged.

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Well done!

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She certainly can. My son in Brussels votes from there.

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If we get out the millions of unregistered folk who trend Democratic, and those that failed to vote in 2020, we win.

https://www.fieldteam6.org/

Need help phone banking today. https://www.mobilize.us/ft6/?q=phone%20banks&tag_ids=20038

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Yes I think we are heading for a titanic blue wave (sounds like a contradiction in terms) but and unless the Middle East erupts and Netanyahu extends his rule by avoiding prison and igniting the region and drawing in the US into a humongous new war which he is likely to do with Biden rushing more weapons to kill more Arabs and American war planes bombing Iran…Oh ya, count on the curve ball being tossed.

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In that Case of that Happening... I don't see the Benefit for the USA... How many of Us want to send our precious Sons & Daughters to fight Netanyahu's War?

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The Israelis are the case of the tail wagging the dog.

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More Like The Fleas on the Tail... We have given the Israelis over a $150,000,000,000, and what have they done for Us? Have they ever stood aside Us on the '5-Yard Line' in any of our Foreign Endeavors? They DO however manipulate our Domestic Politics VERY WELL to their Benefit...

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Not I!

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I hope so but I’m fighting till the end. I’m celebrating along with this convention so packed with joy by writing as many postcards as I can. Let’s win this by a landslide and not look back.

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Exactly - by over 10million votes…a crushing defeat that wakes people up…

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Susan, yes, doing the same in Georgia!

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Thank You, Susan!

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David, to use your last name, I think there has been a SEA change, with a massive blue wave building. If we turn up, this tide will turn out the evil fearmonger and his minions and reclaim the flag, the word 'patriot', and the chant 'USA!'

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I think the turning point will be election day and the days that follow. If it’s a landslide, I still expect the GOP to claim it was stolen. How the country as well as the Biden administration responds to that claim will determine the fate of The Nation as deeply as the voting itself does in my opinion.

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Well, they claimed the LAST landslide was stolen, so ...

Also, SCOTUS might have their corrupt, unaccountable grubby fingers in a coup attempt, so we need to be mindful of that as well.

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The Dems need to take back the House and like Schumer says expand the Senate.

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They have laid the ground work for election denial if they lose. Just like trump said that he might lose the debate on purpose.

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Yes, I am already preparing myself for the mess that will happen if Harris and Walz win. I pray that they do, as the alternative is truly dreadful, but I think that Election night will not be the end if we prevail then. So—we need to win in November at the ballot box, and in the courts and legislatures afterwards.

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And let's just show much "the ship will turn"... harder the better

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HCR - great history connections, thank you.

I was attending a morning webinar today (8/22) 9am PST with (EVP) Environmental Voter Project who had current & sophisticated software about the registered youth (18-30yr old) who do not participate in 5 states (AZ, PA, NC, NV and GA). It was astonishing how many polled said they would support Trump if they voted, they do not understand Project 2025, and only slightly understand voting rules (all states can vote early, by mail, vote absentee BUT they don't know this).

And many would support RFK or Progressives if they did vote. I thought I heard that RFK will ask his supporters to vote RED, cuz Trump may give RFK a job and Kamala said BLUE won't. We have our work cut out. I'm gonna sign up with ENVIRONMENTAL VOTER PROJECT to do Phone Banking.

The EVP have scripts and data research ready for volunteers.

https://www.environmentalvoter.org/about

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The contrast between the two parties can’t possibly be more glaring. TRUE hope….

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Yes, that's exactly right 💯💯💯

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I always look forward to the creative and enlightening ways that Dr. Richardson frames current events in a historical context, especially her final sentences, which are often humorous and/or ironic. My guess is that the Walz/Harris campaign went through proper channels to use the Neil Young song for their campaign, while Trump just claimed it without bothering to ask for permission. An apt metaphor for him personally and politically.

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And likewise the DNC received permission to use the songs chosen to be played by the DJ during the roll call of states and territories on Tuesday evening.

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Another example of which party has the real claim to being law abiders

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Robber Barons assert the right to take whatever they fancy. Sometimes, even other countries.

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That was the greatest roll call of the states at any convention ever. And I've seen a lot of them. Pure joy and enthusiasm from every state delegation. With a shout out to my NJ Governor Phil Murphy. You got a problem with that?

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agree!

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It's True. Young said "Yes" to the Harris Campaign. And he had said "No" to tfg's.

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I doubt Neil Young even had the chance to say no until after the fact. Trump just takes and takes, including using campaign contributions for legal fees.

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He'll be the gold standard of self-dealing and corruption against which other politicians are measured.

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Pride before (I hope) a fall. The plutocrats now feel bold enough to say the quiet part out loud:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/22/jd-vance-speech-extremist-far-right-book

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God help us. Just about everyone who is not a straight white Christian male should be running down to their town clerk's office or registrars and making sure they are all teed up to vote, in person or absentee. Here's an excerpt from your article:

In the book, Up from Conservatism, the authors advocate for the repeal of the Civil Rights Act, for politicians to conduct “deep investigations into what the gay lifestyle actually does to people”, that college and childcare be defunded and that rightwing governments “promote male-dominated industries” in order to discourage female participation in the workplace.

Vance’s endorsement of the book may raise further questions about his extremism, and that of his networks. The Guardian emailed Vance’s Senate staff and the Trump and Vance campaign with detailed questions about his appearance at the launch, but received no response.

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Or his Smaug cave.

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Well, how very true! Well said.

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Maureen, I’m waiting for Beyonce to sue the Trump campaign for using “Freedom” without permission.

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And Celine Dion, and Taylor swift.

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