383 Comments

If I could ask DeSantis one question: When has a Democratic president or Congress balked at providing swift and extensive aid in a natural disaster in a Republican-dominated state?

I'll answer in case he doesn't know: Never.

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Or Ted Cruz, or Chris Christie, or Gregg Abbot, or Mitch McConnell when their states needed help.

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"They vote NO but take the dough."

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Yes “they vote no but take the dough” And that takes the cake!

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And they take credit for the money they receive after they voted against it!

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All hypocrites!

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Ted just goes to Cancun, to hell with everyone else.

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Truth!

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Especially Abbot's not dealing with the post freeze electrical grid failure- he continued to he failed to implement the repairs a second time.

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Those motherfuckers DON'T ASK. They just leave.

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Both Florida Senators are climate change deniers. I went to view videos of Ft. Meyers where I have family hunkered down in the storm but could not watch until Rubio's campaign ad played. I hope voters in Florida hold these clowns accountable.

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Rubio should be tarred and feathered

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Watching Rubio deny climate change, my thinking for some years has been that if he wanted to continue as a senator from Florida, he would be losing territory every year! Will Ian make a believer of him?

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I do believe he is a poor little rich boy that wants us to support him the rest of his days!

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Probably not.

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Sadly a practice that went out of fashion...

It would look great on the Majority of Elected 'republiecons'.

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I think Val Demings would make an excellent Senator, don't you? I can't wait to see her trounce Marco.

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Amen. We can all contribute to that end!

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I agree!

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Ted Cruz did not change his tone after Harvey. I know I was there. He just put on his “I am helping my friends and neighbors mask.” But the thing is this-this ilk, all of them, are so disingenuous that they can do that. They can morph whichever way the wind blows. I now live in NM and our gov (Michelle Lujan Grisham) is in an election fight against a TV weatherman, Mark Ronchetti. He is a Trumper. She has a great ad on right now. The hook line at the end of the ad is “Mark Ronchetti doesn’t know what New Mexicans need, he only knows which way the wind blows.”

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Great ad! I hope she trounces the Trumper!

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That is a great ad and I recently learned that higher education in New Mexico is now free. That is wonderful, if true. BRAVO.

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Yes, it’s true for NM residents who do not already have other financial aid in place.

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Me too. My brother lives in Orlando and he and his wife headed north on a road trip before the storm hit. He thought there would be heavy traffic getting out of town, but instead, he reported heavy traffic coming southward to help. Thank god for Joe Biden and to hell with the Republicans. They are definitely the losers on this one.

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Today ( Friday) men from Michigan and Tennessee power companies restored the power in our neighborhood in Orlando. So many good people.

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So glad to hear it! Stay safe.

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I hope all is well with your family. Nobody wants to lose their home but if you are alive and un-injured there is much gratitude to celebrate.

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Many of the people running in the election suspended their campaign ads. Not Rubio.

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Most of them are brain dead from watching Fox Entertainment! (News)!

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Very good and informative letter tonight...thank you, Heather!

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EXCELLENT LETTER!!!

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Well, there’s one Judge Amy we can be thankful for.

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Lucy Cannon is an Aileen. :-)

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I think she meant Barrett.

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Ah, right. How could I forget the howling banshee?

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She did mean Barrett

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WELL, THAT'S DISGUSTING. The Handmaid herself. Willingly

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'Trump is offering to 'head up' a group to negotiate peace between Russia and Ukraine'

TC this is not from Borowitiz - not from anyone's head but DJT's. How do you like this as a snapshot of America? Okay, it's a snapshot of that man. Mark Twain have you seen this?

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I think perhaps not his head, but the other end.

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Maybe he’s thinking he’d better get out of Dodge before they take his passport for real.

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No, Grace, he is going to negotiate a peace between Ukraine and Russia. Isn't that great?

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Oh!! Of course! That’s why he needed all the classified docs! It’s all about country for him.

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Anal-cranial switcheroo.

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You've got something there, Grace. Don't hold on. There could be an eruption.

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Fern, you're on a roll today!

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Oh, to have such great playmates, Nancy. We are so happy to have each other.

F.

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Oh yes, where all of death star's pronouncements originate.

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Ha! Well, we already knew his neurons for recognizing irony and self-satire were zapped in the gold-plating wars.

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Oh, such brilliant glitz you put on the screen! I can hardly see before me, Elizabeth!

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Hahahaha, thanks Fern!

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Henry Ford was an anti-Semite Nazi sympathizer who unilaterally took it upon himself to sail across the Atlantic to broker peace with Hitler. Hilter wanted nothing to do with him or peace. I don’t believe they ever actually met. I sense the same situation applies here. Neither side has asked him.

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Well, in Dump’s case, the offer is certainly an apt demonstration of his absurdly exaggerated and out of touch opinion of his own capabilities.

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He wants so much to be the legend that exists only in his mind.

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That was actually WW1 - the Kaiser didn't want to talk to him either.

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Yeah - I saw this & posted it yesterday, I believe.

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Judge Amy Berman Jackson?

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There has to be an exception to every Amy rule. :-)

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YES!

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THANKFUL FOR AMY CONEY BARRETT????? You are kidding, RIGHT???

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Just to clarify: this is the judge we can be thankful for:

Yesterday, U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who presided over Roger Stone’s trial for lying to lawmakers about his ties to Russia during the 2016 election, called out “high-ranking members of Congress and state officials” for being “so afraid of losing their power” that they won’t contradict Trump when he lies that he won the 2020 election. She warned that the courts must hold the line against the lies and the violence Republican lawmakers are encouraging.

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Of course not. Read what HCR said again.

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I am horrified that Putin is holding fake referendums with soldiers forcing Ukrainian citizens at gunpoint to vote to join Russia, and forcing Russian citizens to fight in the war with Ukraine. Will he then conscript Ukrainians to fight for Russia against Ukraine? The man is evil incarnate.

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“Today the New York Times published a series of telephone calls from Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine. The men were poorly equipped, badly commanded, completely disillusioned, and utterly disgusted with Russian president Vladimir Putin, while their people back home complained that the economy was collapsing and the gains of the past 30 years were being swept away.”

Things appear to be crumbling around Putin. He can’t keep up with his destructive and illegal war without losing a grip on his power.

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Which is why nukes seem like a terrifying prospect now. The man is crazy and hate-filled enough to do it.

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On NPR yesterday Russian KGB expert and publisher Yevgenia Albats, who had to flee Russia said "...Albats thinks President Vladimir Putin will be toppled in some kind of palace coup"...

...lets hope that is what it comes to, and not nukes.

https://www.npr.org/2022/09/28/1125525833/putin-critic-yevgeniya-albats-leaves-russia-after-a-crackdown-on-independent-med

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It appears that he is so distrustful of those around him that he has limited his direct contacts to a few people- one including the general "running" the war on Ukraine. He listens only to them, so is quite isolated, both phyically and intellectually. The moral part went a long time ago, if it ever existed. I have read that a large number of Kremlin officials signed a letter asking Putin to step down. Also that a large number of heads of municipalities have together pretty much said the same thing (municipality has a different meaning in Russia than it would here, and I'm not sure just how it is being used now). Putin's paranoia about those around him easily outstrips Trump's. A "Palace Coup" would be the best way to remove Putin from power, but he seems to sense that and has isolated himself. it's going to be an interesting ride.

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After the amoral trump realized that he owned nearly all gop elected to either branch of Congress, he brought in yes men to his inner circle just like his master Putin,is now doing!

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It sounds like Hitler's last days in the bunker in Berlin.

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Perhaps superficially. But Putin is not in a bunker. He still has power, and he has people still willing to carry out his orders. Russians are suffering the impacts of both the war and the economic sanctions, but they are not experiencing the military actions directly. Yet. So the circumstances are quite different. A closer analogy might be the failed attempt on Hitler's life by some of his officers earlier in WW2. Even that is not an exact analogy to Putin's situation right now (unless there is something going on in the Kremlin that nobody can see). A likeness that Putin might share with Hitler is that he is also so focused on certain short-term outcomes that he cannot see the longer term consequences to his nation, until they are beyond the point of backing away.

Makes one hope that there are indeed people close enough to Putin to head him off, without triggering more violence. When I was in Russia at the time of glasnost, one thing that I heard over and over again from Russians was their shock at realizing that they had been systematically lied to about their economic and social status. Under glasnost, they finally had access to outside news sources. At some point, in some way, this will happen again.

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Sounds like a repeat of Stalin.

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As in a Greek tragedy, Putin's own character flaw will be his end. Hubris is fatal.

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From Yevgenia Albats’ lips to God’s ear. 🙏🙏

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For real!

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I hope and pray not. Someone in the Kremlin must have their wits about them.

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That's why the Russians, Political and Non, have to Something about THIS first!!!!

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👍🏼

It sounds like Russia is on its knees.

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Yes, he plans to start conscripting Ukrainians in those oblasts as of next Monday, after the Duma formally "acccepts" the vote to be part of Russia on Friday.

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So he will arm those who hate his guts with Russian weapons? How does that work out?

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TC, is it even possible Putin could be eliminated by his own? Is he reachable? And if that happened, who would take over?

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Nobody knows who would do that or who would take over. Their system has no power-change function. In the USSR, the Politburo could do it (and did with Krushchev and Andropov), but that doesn't exist there now,.

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abominable!

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If he gives Ukrainians guns, they will point them at Russians.

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As I understand it, that's exactly what he plans to do, at least in the Russian-occupied area.

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That’s what I suspect.

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Putin is horrifying period.

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Desantis only wants to be president. I am in the hard-hit area of sw Florida-in North Port-just north of Fort Myers and port Charlotte. We have been hit like never-before, so I ask your prayers as we wake today to assess where we are.

Desantis is a terrible governor whose education policy is designed, as assessed by educators, to raise a next generation of ignorant racists by denying history, limiting teachers in what they are allowed to teach, banning books, persecuting trans-gender and lgbtq children, and more. His ridiculous mask-shaming of children at a news conference (without knowing the chijsrens’ own health status or that of their families’) and lack of adequate and truthful Covid information caused the needless deaths of countless of our citizens. His limitation of voting access and calls for a private police force to monitor voting sites is a fascist move designed to intimidate. His treatment of immigrants, as we have all recently witnessed, is that they are less-than -all while he touts a “pro-life” moniker. He is simply pro-self.

He will claim all moves forward in the days ahead as his own. He will claim all electricity restored as his own. He will claim all clean ups generated as his own. He has no conscience and no thought other than self-promotion and self-aggrandizement. If you were horrified by Trump, you ain’t seen nothing yet-he’s trump 2.0-smarter, more calculating, and INTENTIONALLY cruel. He will use this hurricane disaster to further his own political aspirations. It will be the Ron show -please see this and name it.

Please hear me-Desantis cannot be elected President. He cannot. He will destroy our democracy for his own fascist agenda with himself as complete authoritarian. Please help me spread the truth about Governor Ron Desantis among folks in other states so that he might be seen for who and what he actually is. And please, pray for the people of my state as we seek to figure out next steps.

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Thank you for this appeal in the midst of what you are experiencing. Be safe.

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Thank you, and we will be-hopefully people can come together to rebuild our communities. 🙏💙🙏

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I wish Desantis were our only problem.....so many have allowed themselves to become brainwashed which means they think they have a hold on the real truth and everyone else is the enemy.

I am still in shock that Donald Trump was even offered the opportunity to serve our country - in ANY capacity! He has always been known for his immorality and extravagance....he is an empty human being....other than being filled with himself. How are people so captivated!!!!

We must continue showing off what President Biden and the Democratic party (and 2 brave Republicans) have done and are doing to build up America and to provide opportunities for everyone.

As President Biden offen says, There is nothing we cannot do for the good of our nation when we work together...we are the United States of America!

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Thank you for checking in following the hurricane, and for your first-hand report of the evil that is your state's current governor.

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As bad as things were with the hurricane, the damage Desantis does to the people of our state, and the damage he WILL do if elected President are beyond catastrophic to our Constitution, our rule of law, our freedom for voting and democratic rule, and the America we are meant to be.

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Jen Schaefer

Sorry for all you and your fellow Lee county neighbors are going through. My town (in NE Ohio) has dispatched several crews from the electric company to help restore power. I suspect much of the help Florida receives will be from communities like mine from all over the country. Americans take care of Americans because that's who we are.

The opposite of that is DeSantis. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and DeSantis has set out to out Trump Trump. His Martha's Vineyard stunt put him at the head of the class. Ironically, it backfired as the MV residents again proved how kind and compassionate Americans are. At least, most Americans.

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"As a newly elected congress member in 2013, now-governor of Florida Ron DeSantis was one of the 67 House Republicans who voted against a $9.7 billion federal flood insurance assistance package for the victims of Hurricane Sandy in New York and New Jersey. Now, with Florida on the ropes, DeSantis asked President Joe Biden for an emergency declaration to free up federal money and federal help even before the storm hit, and said Tuesday, “We all need to work together, regardless of party lines.”"

Today, on live coverage of Hurricane Ian from Agenda Free on YouTube, There was a clip of DeSantis saying federal support could help, but still would not be as good as a private insurance policy ... pitching for the Home Team ....

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DeSantis' comment is particularly galling because 1-most private insurance has left Florida 2-the only flood insurance is provided by the federal government 3-when it came time for rates on federal flood insurance to rise to reflect reality instead of government subsidy Scott and Rubio cried 'foul' 4-the majority of windstorm insurance in Florida is provided by the state via 'Citizens Insurance' which is essentially bankrupt but for the state and is still haggling over paying for loses in Irma, it is a litigation disaster with huge caseloads pending. So DeSantis talking about private insurance is a joke.

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My roof, windows and siding were badly damaged by a wind/hail storm in 2020. I started the insurance claim in April 2021. Between the time I filed the claim and when the insurance agent came to inspect the damage, the house was hit by an EF0 tornado - ie 60-70 mph winds. More damage occured, of course. But my insurance company, trying to deal with hurricane damage all over the South, delayed, then denied my claim. I had to threaten a “call for appraisal” which requires insurance companies to abide by an independent consultant’s assessment of the damage. Within 24 hours, the assessment changed from $1200 to $93,000+ in terms damage to my house. Grrrrrr.

Can you imagine how often this will be repeated throughout Florida in the next few months? How many Floridians will receive 1-5% of the actual cost to repair or replace damaged homes, boats, and equipment? And how many of them will not be aware of the process to protest incorrect or downright predatory assessments? The transfer of wealth continues apace with climate deniers at the top of the food chain in places like Florida!

And sadly, I’m still waiting for my new windows and door - supply chain issues with aluminum for the windows and deck door in this case. And more damage has occurred because of yet another tornado in my little corner of heaven. God help Floridians. Biden might need to invoke the war powers manufacturing act to somehow support the manufacture of housing materials.

Vote for Democrats. Help get out the vote. Give to credible candidates. Support relief organizations. Rinse. Repeat.

We the people. All of us this time!

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Yes! Writing GOTV postcards to GA. The vote in FL, if it takes place, will likely be contaminated. I hope Dems will bring suits if it is.

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YES! That is EXACTLY the game played here in Florida not just by insurance companies who insure other things home related besides windstorm, but also by state run Citizens. My favorite insurance defense was back in Hurricane Wilma by State (SHIT) Farm. They claimed 'we insure against wind not water. It was the wind driven rain in the hurricane that ripped off your roof, so it is not covered. Plus, your roof was 10 years old, average life of roof is 13 years so we would only be liable for 3 years of roofing which is about the same as your deductible. Claim denied!' Ahhhh, ever seen a dry hurricane?! In the industry they call these language tricks 'having your lawyers write you out of coverage'. Of course, many of us have roofs that last for several decades. Insurance companies make their money by denying claims. It makes more sense to set aside your 'annual premium' in a separate account (say $4-5,000). After 10 years you saved enough to replace the roof.

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Thanks for your report, Sheila.

Wishing you all the best.

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