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High-court fears drive conservatives to rally around McCain, overlook flaws
The Washington Times ^ | 5-21-08 | Ralph Z. Hallow

Posted on 05/21/2008 12:17:04 PM PDT by JZelle

Prominent conservatives and activists are indicating they will put aside their differences with presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain and rally their supporters to his side because of one issue: federal judgeships.

In big gatherings and small, in e-mails and one-on-one conversations, conservative opinion leaders fear a Democratic president, especially Sen. Barack Obama, will use the presidential power to appoint federal judges who will remove references to God and religious symbols from public places.

They predict the incoming president likely will fill more vacancies on the federal bench over the next four years than at any time in recent memory, giving a Democratic administration the power to shape the courts to reflect a liberal worldview.

The American Civil Liberties Union "has been on a national rampage to remove God from every public place: the Pledge of Allegiance, the Ten Commandments, plaques in courthouses, the Boys Scouts when they meet on public property," said Phyllis Schlafly, head of the Eagle Forum, a pro-family group that held a private meeting for conservatives yesterday in a Washington hotel.

"These subjects should get out on the table so people understand what's going on in the courts," she said.

Peter J. Ferrara, general counsel to the conservative legal rights group American Civil Rights Union, said, "McCain said he'd appoint people like [Supreme Court Chief Justice John] Roberts and [Justice Samuel] Alito. Obama is saying he'd name people like [Justices Ruth Bader] Ginsberg and [David] Souter."

Conservatives consider the latter pair to be the two most consistently liberal Supreme Court justices.

"Obama is swimming in a sea of left-wing extremism with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright [Mr. Obama's former pastor] and [violent radical activist and Obama acquaintance] Bill Ayers and the rest of them," said Mr. Ferrara, a former Reagan White House aide.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bs; judicialactivism; mccain; nowaymccain; obama; rino; scotus
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This is all I'm focusing on.
1 posted on 05/21/2008 12:17:05 PM PDT by JZelle
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To: JZelle

I comforted myself with that rationale when I voted for GHW Bush, Ford, Dole, GW Bush - and I ain’t buying it for McCain. I’m sick of the GOP’s love affair with government and disdain for the Constitution.


2 posted on 05/21/2008 12:19:20 PM PDT by Manfred the Wonder Dawg (Test ALL things, hold to that which is True.)
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To: JZelle

and what if all you get is more Souters?


3 posted on 05/21/2008 12:19:34 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE toll-free tip hotline 1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRget!!!)
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To: JZelle
I would love to know who is ‘overlooking flaws’. Even McCain supporters can list a litany of his flaws. Choosing to support (or pull the lever) someone doesn't mean you ignore that person's flaws, it only means they weighed those on balance of the alternative.
4 posted on 05/21/2008 12:20:45 PM PDT by mnehrling
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To: NormsRevenge

With the majorities that the Dems are looking at in the Senate, a Souter might be the best we can hope for... sad.

There’s no difference between a Souter and a Ginsberg. They each get one vote, and it’s either up or down on any case.

And Souter would vote the same way as Ginsberg probably 80% of the time.


5 posted on 05/21/2008 12:21:55 PM PDT by MrB (You can't reason people out of a position that they didn't use reason to get into in the first place)
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To: JZelle

“federal judgeships.”......

In a nutshell, this is a lot more important than POTUS.

This is the real goal of the whack left! More looney tunes on the supreme court a.k.a. Ginsburg!


6 posted on 05/21/2008 12:23:05 PM PDT by AngelesCrestHighway
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To: NormsRevenge

This is a tough situation.

With McCain, he recently said he’s against activist judges, and wants to appoint judges such as Roberts and Alito.

With Obama or Hillary, we know that Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the template they will follow. At least with McCain, there’s hope of conservative judges being appointed.

John Paul Stevens and Ruth Bader Ginsburg will probably retire in the next four years. I’ve heard too that Souter may retire, though he’s not as old as the other two. Imagine the difference on the Supreme Court if we see three ultra-liberals appointed to replace these 3 liberals, vs. 3 more conservative judges, even if not as conservative as we might like.


7 posted on 05/21/2008 12:23:42 PM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: JZelle
Prominent conservatives and activists are indicating they will put aside their differences with presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain and rally their supporters to his side because of one issue: federal judgeships.

Sounds like a bunch of fred barns made up crap. LOL and that is about it.

8 posted on 05/21/2008 12:23:44 PM PDT by org.whodat (What's the difference between a Democrat and a republican????)
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To: Manfred the Wonder Dawg
when I voted for GHW Bush, Ford, Dole, GW Bush

You voted for Ford?

9 posted on 05/21/2008 12:23:48 PM PDT by Anitius Severinus Boethius
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To: Manfred the Wonder Dawg
when I voted for GHW Bush, Ford, Dole, GW Bush

You voted for Ford?

10 posted on 05/21/2008 12:23:48 PM PDT by Anitius Severinus Boethius
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To: JZelle

I was in the “I’ll never vote for McCain” camp. Then I saw Rev. Wright. If Obama is the candidate, I will be voting for McCain. I may be ill afterward, but I will not accept Obama.


11 posted on 05/21/2008 12:24:03 PM PDT by Robbin
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To: Manfred the Wonder Dawg
"I comforted myself with that rationale when I voted for...... GW Bush - and I ain’t buying it for McCain."

Ya, that Alito and Roberts sure are losers...

12 posted on 05/21/2008 12:24:57 PM PDT by Bob J
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To: AngelesCrestHighway

With Dems controlling the Senate it makes it harder to get conservatives confirmed too.

I wonder if Roberts and Alito could be confirmed by today’s Democrat Senate. Projections are that Dems. will get more Senators in this years election. Our best hope might be that Obama goes down to a McGovern style landslide, and that he affects down ballot races, including some Senate races.


13 posted on 05/21/2008 12:25:38 PM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: JZelle
For me it is

"THE MILITARY"

I will not force my brave men and women of the military to be subjected to the command of one BHO or HRC, though it is looking more and more like it will be BHO as the DIMWITS choice.

14 posted on 05/21/2008 12:26:32 PM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: JZelle

The title is a self contradiction. Anyone who supports a socialist like McCain is not a conservative.


15 posted on 05/21/2008 12:27:41 PM PDT by Man50D (Fair Tax, you earn it, you keep it!)
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To: JZelle

The GOP is so weak and clueless. After a pummeling in the next election, the Dems will end up with their majority, veto proof majority.

Until we get back to fighting for our country and what we believe in, as in “sticking it up and to it”, we are going to be unable to stop a liberal court.

McCain cannot stop the Dem rollover, and won’t try too hard as it would be a waste of his time.

Conservatives are very nice people, sad to say we are nicing it into the land of forgotten dreams.


16 posted on 05/21/2008 12:27:46 PM PDT by indylindy (I had almost forgotten that McCain is the nominee. Too bad I was reminded.)
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To: JZelle

I have kept from giving to the RNC, BUT the more I learn about OSama the more I’m inclined to fork over some bucks to McPAIN. I have grandkids and I ain’t gonna risk their future just because DON McJUAN has some flaws. OSama and fear of the RATS controlling both house is enough to hold my nose and vote for Don McJuan! Sorry but that’s the whole stinking truth!


17 posted on 05/21/2008 12:28:16 PM PDT by RoseofTexas
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To: JZelle

I just heard on FNS that Hillary is aiming for a SC nomination. No f’in way, Jose!


18 posted on 05/21/2008 12:28:50 PM PDT by dbacks (Taglines for sale or rent.)
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To: Bob J

Your attempt at sarcasm is futile. I do not deny that some of the men I named have “done good”, but look at GW’s track record on lower level judges in the past 12 months. Look at O’Conner’s court record. Don’t pretend that we could ONLY expect sound judges from McCain (or any other moderate - or conservative).


19 posted on 05/21/2008 12:29:01 PM PDT by Manfred the Wonder Dawg (Test ALL things, hold to that which is True.)
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To: JZelle
High-court fears drive conservatives to rally around McCain, overlook flaws

Which, because MacCain will be true to form and defect to the democrats, will all be for naught.

20 posted on 05/21/2008 12:29:04 PM PDT by E. Cartman (Screw MacCain and the elephant he rode in on.)
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To: JZelle

Ain’t that the truth! And this excrement sandwich will be the toughest to choke down.


21 posted on 05/21/2008 12:29:09 PM PDT by NonValueAdded ("Just because you're running for President doesn't mean that you are the center of the universe")
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To: JZelle
Did ya notice that 28% of Kentucky Republicans thought it was worthwhile to get to the polls in order to vote against McCain?

Some "rally".

22 posted on 05/21/2008 12:29:35 PM PDT by Notary Sojac
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To: JZelle

McCains’ judges pick will come from a list provided by the then Senate Majority Leader.

The list will include Ginsburg II and Ginsburg III.

With his history of crossing the aisle and, once there, turning and giving us Conservatives the finger, I don’t think he’s going to ask for a longer list.


23 posted on 05/21/2008 12:29:48 PM PDT by Balding_Eagle (OVERPRODUCTION......... one of the top five worries for American farmers.)
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To: JZelle

High-court fears drive *Republicans to rally around McCain, overlook flaws.

* - how it should have read.


24 posted on 05/21/2008 12:32:18 PM PDT by Grunthor (Juan agrees with Ted Kennedy on Amnesty, Gore on GW & says Hillary'd be a good POTUS)
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To: Manfred the Wonder Dawg

Well then enjoy President Obama for 4 long years.


25 posted on 05/21/2008 12:32:18 PM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: Dilbert San Diego
With McCain, he recently said he’s against activist judges, and wants to appoint judges such as Roberts and Alito.

And if one could safely go on what MacCain says (vs. what he's actually done in the past), we'd be safe. But if you want to know how a person will behave in the future study his past. So, once he's elected, he'll "grow" in office and nominate judges that'll make Kennedy proud.

26 posted on 05/21/2008 12:32:40 PM PDT by E. Cartman (Screw MacCain and the elephant he rode in on.)
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To: JZelle
What conservative judges would you expect to leave the bench over the next 4 years. The older and more decrepit ones are already liberal. Replacing a liberal with another liberal isn't great. But it isn't really the end of the Republic. Just maintaining a status quo.
27 posted on 05/21/2008 12:32:53 PM PDT by isrul (Help make every day, "Disrespect a muzzie day.")
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To: NormsRevenge

“and what if all you get is more Souters?”

You really think they’ll be THAT good?


28 posted on 05/21/2008 12:32:56 PM PDT by Grunthor (Juan agrees with Ted Kennedy on Amnesty, Gore on GW & says Hillary'd be a good POTUS)
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To: Grunthor

Nope it was correct the way it was written, at least in my case. I am a conservative the reluctantly rallies around McCain.


29 posted on 05/21/2008 12:33:43 PM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: Man50D
"The title is a self contradiction. Anyone who supports a socialist like McCain is not a conservative."

Anyone who allows Obama into the Whitehouse is not only not a Conservative but that person is a liberal.

30 posted on 05/21/2008 12:34:38 PM PDT by avacado
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To: Dilbert San Diego

I hear ya, it is the proverbial sticky wicket.. and we get stuck in the end for years with justices.

I wish I could believe McCain, I really do, but he comes from a breed of politicians I wouldn’t trust any further than I could toss ‘em.

Would the judges nominated be left of Alito and well left of Roberts, I would suspect so.. allowing hope to determine one’s vote is a precarious choice tho.. one needs to look at past performance and results.

We could end up with even more “campaign finance reform”, sanctioned by the judges and signed off by the President (again) than we have at present, regardless how many Ultralibs are in the picture either way.

I wish it was a slamdunk as some would hope.. X41 comes to mind however..


31 posted on 05/21/2008 12:34:47 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE toll-free tip hotline 1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRget!!!)
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To: Robert DeLong

“I am a conservative the reluctantly rallies around McCain.”

So long as you never forget the tale of the frog and the scorpion.


32 posted on 05/21/2008 12:35:32 PM PDT by Grunthor (Juan agrees with Ted Kennedy on Amnesty, Gore on GW & says Hillary'd be a good POTUS)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

Obama goes down to a McGovern style landslide, and that he affects down ballot races, including some Senate races.....

I agree, this situation is going to have to work around McCain for conservatives. He’s not looking our way for anything, at least currently. (pathetic)


33 posted on 05/21/2008 12:36:04 PM PDT by AngelesCrestHighway
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To: Grunthor

I’m ever an optimist as long as I’m breathing on my own., ;-)


34 posted on 05/21/2008 12:36:21 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE toll-free tip hotline 1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRget!!!)
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To: Grunthor

I’m ever an optimist as long as I’m breathing on my own., ;-)


35 posted on 05/21/2008 12:36:21 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE toll-free tip hotline 1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRget!!!)
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To: JZelle

What? Sell out what principles this party once stood for because of fear?

Not this Conservative.


36 posted on 05/21/2008 12:39:01 PM PDT by PSYCHO-FREEP (Juan McCain....The lesser of Three Liberals.")
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To: Robert DeLong

Oooh - how insightful! I would rather see RINOs fight a democRAT President than fawn all over a RINO President.


37 posted on 05/21/2008 12:40:59 PM PDT by Manfred the Wonder Dawg (Test ALL things, hold to that which is True.)
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To: NormsRevenge

Let’s see, McNuts voted for Ginsberg, Souter and several other Liberal Supreme slimes. So, how does this convince many Conservatives that he will somehow reverse his past behavior?

The ignorance on both sides is sickening.


38 posted on 05/21/2008 12:44:45 PM PDT by PSYCHO-FREEP (Juan McCain....The lesser of Three Liberals.")
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To: JZelle
I'm not yet convinced that 'maverick' McCain can be trusted to nominate conservative candidates for future Supreme Court Justice seats. His VP pick will be a very important consideration, as I expect McCain will only serve one term due to his age and health issues that I expect will arise.

With a likely Democrat majority in the senate next year, I can easily envision McCain dumping any actual conservative for some 'compromise' Supreme Court nominee, like David Souter, who will be sold as a 'conservative' because he (or she) once voted in favor of one or two 'conservative' issues while on some lower court. Once sworn in, the pretend 'conservative' will promptly rule on the liberal side and declare they are 'progressive' and 'open-minded' regarding the constitution.

Too late then for recriminations and finger-pointing. Even 'I told you so' won't mean much as our freedoms are slowly contracted, by law. Although Obama scares me in his hard-core leftism, European-centered worldview and obvious naiveté, I don't necessary see McCain as a reasonable alternative.

I intend to wait awhile and see how the inevitable Obama candidacy plays out. I believe Barack Obama is a very flawed candidate in the mold of Mike Dukakis. Worse, actually. I also believe that McCain will win the election handily. If that looks like a reality in October, I'll go ahead and vote for anybody but McCain (or a Democrat). If it looks tight and McCain is trailing, I'll vote for him, with an industrial-sized clothes-pin on my nose.

However, I won't be 'overlooking' his flaws, just accepting them as slightly preferable to the Marxist alternative.

39 posted on 05/21/2008 12:46:11 PM PDT by Jim Scott (Time Heals)
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To: JZelle
Wishfull thinking on several counts. I don't see many people rallying behind McCrazy. They may be holding their noses but they aren't rallying.

Anyone that listens to what he says now instead of what he has done/said in the past is going to be very disappointed. Look at his past comments and actions in regards to judges and you won't find support for conservative judges. Wake up people!

40 posted on 05/21/2008 12:48:13 PM PDT by BubbaBasher (No matter who wins, we lose.)
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To: Manfred the Wonder Dawg
" - and I ain’t buying it for McCain."

Amen bro.

I am originally a Reagan democRAT. Neither Ford, Dole or any of the Bush's betrayed their own party as much as McCain has. That is a fact that cannot be candied over.

41 posted on 05/21/2008 12:48:58 PM PDT by lormand (GOP - the new Populist Party)
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To: avacado
Anyone who allows Obama into the Whitehouse is not only not a Conservative but that person is a liberal.

I couldn't agree more and therefore will never vote for any of three socialists in either party.
42 posted on 05/21/2008 12:50:06 PM PDT by Man50D (Fair Tax, you earn it, you keep it!)
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To: JZelle
I agree this is extremely important. One of the few areas where Bush came through for conservatives was appointing Roberts and Alito. One switch from a liberal to a conservative justice would finally give us a conservative majority.

OTOH, a liberal Dim in the White House and a Dim Senate majority would make appointments to solidify the status quo for another generation. It would get even worse if one of the four conservatives resigned.

Sure, McCain might flub this, but my chances are a heck of a lot better with him that the 100% chance Hillary or Barry would nominate pro-abortion zealots.

43 posted on 05/21/2008 12:51:13 PM PDT by colorado tanker (Number nine, number nine, number nine . . .)
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To: Man50D

I am happy that you understand your liberal position in life.


44 posted on 05/21/2008 12:51:26 PM PDT by avacado
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To: JZelle

It truly won’t matter who the next POTUS is if the next Congress in both the House and the Senate are truly dominated by socialists! McCain would just be a puppet without any political clout of his own if the next Congress truly is just a socialistic super-majority. McCain truly won’t be able to get ANY truly conservative judges passed by the socialistic U.S. Senate. THE ENTIRE POLITICAL MAKEUP OF THE NEXT CONGRESS IS TRULY MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHO THE NEXT POTUS IS, AND IT SHOULD BE THE MOST CONSERVATIVE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PRESENTLY RUNNING FOR CONGRESS WHO FREE REPUBLIC AND ALL OTHER CONSERVATIVE SITES REALLY NEED TO FULLY CONCENTRATE THEIR EFFORTS ON FROM NOW ON!


45 posted on 05/21/2008 12:53:02 PM PDT by johnthebaptistmoore (Vote for conservatives AT ALL POLITICAL LEVELS! Encourage all others to do the same on November 4!)
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To: Manfred the Wonder Dawg

McCAIN- BECAUSE THE ALTERNATIVE IS UNTHINKABLE


46 posted on 05/21/2008 12:53:37 PM PDT by MEG33 (God Bless Our Military)
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To: NormsRevenge
and what if all you get is more Souters?

Then it won't be any worse -- and probably not nearly as bad -- as what we're certain to get from Hussein Obama.

47 posted on 05/21/2008 12:53:37 PM PDT by Bernard Marx
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To: JZelle
I'm leaning that way, but I'll need all the clothespins I can manage.


48 posted on 05/21/2008 12:54:40 PM PDT by pogo101
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To: Balding_Eagle
McCains’ judges pick will come from a list provided by the then Senate Majority Leader.

The list will include Ginsburg II and Ginsburg III.

With his history of crossing the aisle and, once there, turning and giving us Conservatives the finger, I don’t think he’s going to ask for a longer list.

If I took as many leaps of logic as you just did, I could jump over the Grand Canyon. He's actually been decent on court nominees.

49 posted on 05/21/2008 12:55:45 PM PDT by muleskinner
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To: avacado
I am happy that you understand your liberal position in life.

Spoken like a true Republican thinking that supporting conservatism to stop socialism instead of ceding one's conservative principles will some how further the socialist cause.
50 posted on 05/21/2008 12:56:14 PM PDT by Man50D (Fair Tax, you earn it, you keep it!)
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