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More... On The Gay Agenda Or Was That The Velvet Mafia

2008 - A Year to Win

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Fla., Mich. Construction Workers First Picket, Then Meet With D

Campaign Training

You can choose to attend a Camp Equality^TM training in Orlando on May 2-4 or in Fort Lauderdale on May 9-11.

Whether you are just getting involved in the electoral process or are a campaign professional, Camp Equality^TM can help you learn how to become more effective at advocating your causes and your candidates. We will offer two training tracks:

Fundamentals Track: Designed to give you the step by step fundamentals necessary to be successful at the grassroots level. Topics will include: planning, recruitment, volunteer coordinating, event fundraising, earned media, and creating a local activist plan. You will learn the basic skills that are essential to putting your issue campaign or local committee in the best position to win.
Advanced Track: For our more seasoned activist or campaign professionals. This track offers the fundamentals of political campaign management. During your sessions you will learn advanced techniques of fundraising, field organizing, media relations, volunteer coordination, targeting, candidate relations, and the latest campaign technology.

As goes Florida, so goes the nation. If you have ever thought about volunteering for a campaign or already have experience in campaigns, we hope that you will take advantage of this excellent opportunity to gain valuable knowledge that you can apply to all aspects of campaign operations. Registration for Camp Equality^TM is $50 and includes a one-year HRC membership.

Help make this the Year to Win by registering for Camp Equality^TM today.

If you have questions, please contact Toby at Toby.Quaranta@hrc.org, or at (202) 459-3307.

Paid Political Advertisement sponsored and paid for in-kind by Human Rights Campaign, 1640 Rhode Island Ave. NW, Washington DC 20036.

Approved by Florida Red and Blue, Inc. and Fairness for All Families.

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Unions Picket DNC Headquarters

The Donna Brazile attempted coup of the Democratic party is meeting unexpected stiff resistance from union members in two states that the DNC doesn't care about. Politico is reporting that union members from Florida and Michigan are picketing outside of DNC headquarters today. This is the first of what may become a routine daily activity from disenfranchised voters.

A DNC picket line

They're complaining that the DNC's refusal to seat Florida delegates will prevent dozens of union members who are delegates from attending the convention, and they want DNC Chairman Howard Dean to resolve the dispute.

And being realistic, the unions are comparing the DNC 48 state strategy to something union members everywhere fully understand: A Lock Out.

"We're getting locked out," said Williams as he and the other union members picketed the DNC. Williams estimated that as many as a dozen building trade union members, and 30 union members overall, would be part of the Florida contingent to the Democratic convention.

The only trouble I see with this analogy is that it is the DNC that has gone on strike. They are no longer working for all Americans. The DNC message is clear: When it comes to expanding Democratic prosperity nationwide, Florida and Michigan need not apply.

UPDATE: .

After the meeting with DNC Executive Director Tom McMahon and Political Director David Boundy, several of the picketers said they appreciated the time and attention, but remained unsatisfied with what they were being told.

Mike Williams, president of the Florida Building & Construction Trades Council, was similarly disappointed.

"Their response was basically that they are still in the mode of trying to get something done," said Williams." "Frankly they did not have any more to tell us than the feel-good press releases of (DNC Chairman Howard) Dean and the congressional delegation."

Update

Attend a All Expense Paid Rally on April 30th 2008

A private individual is funding a protest to be held April 30 in Washington, DC.

All expenses will be paid for including hotel, transportation, and meals.

We need 50 people per bus - the busses will leave from any location in which we can get 50 people

The buses will leave April 28th and the protest will be in front of the DNC on April 30th - the busses will leave from Washington April 30th - you will be back in town May 1 -

I know many of you work but this is very important and again ALL EXPENSES ARE BEING PAID FOR!

If you can attend, please send Jim Hanrahan an email.

Please pass this on to others and ask them to respond to Jim Hanrahan via email at fdrjim@gmail.com or call him at 888.599.1586

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Florida Remembers

Rasmussen Reports:

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in Florida shows McCain attracting 53% of the vote while Obama earns 38%. Last month, amidst talk of a possible Florida revote, Obama had closed to within single digits of McCain. In February, however, Obama trailed McCain by sixteen points.

Will The Republican State House and Senate now, be safe for Republicans, with Obama as the nominee?

Florida Survey of 500 Likely Voters
April 10, 2008

John McCain (R) vs. Hillary Clinton (D)
John McCain (R)	44%
Hillary Clinton (D)	45%

John McCain (R) vs. Barack Obama (D)
John McCain (R)	53%
Barack Obama (D)	38%

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Is Obama Out Of Touch?

Are You Infected: With A Obamabot

via No Quarter

Obama To Clinton: Iron My Shirt

Why Hillary Will Win

“Is Obama’s Campaign Over?”

"Is Obama's Campaign Over?," asks Powerline's John H. Hinderaker.

Do you believe that Senator Barack Obama's comments reveal his elitist attitude toward every hardworking American?"

THIS IS WHY you can’t let a bunch of young kids and latte elites be the ones who get to select the Democratic nominee! You have to be able to appeal to the bedrock Americans who comprise the majority of the reliable voters in this counry.
Hillary can get those “bedrock” votes. Barack cannot.

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Obama on small-town PA: Clinging to religion, guns, xenophobia

Obama Steps In IT

You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton administration, and the Bush administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not.

And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

That stink you smell, is the cow pile, on the bottom of Obama's shoe.

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LAFONTAINE ONCE AGAIN OUTRAISES ALL OPPONENTS

Oakland Park – Mark LaFontaine, candidate for the State Legislature from District 92, once again outraised his opponents in the first quarter of 2008, and has continued to outpace them for funds raised to-date in the race.

LaFontaine raised $16,735 in contributions this quarter, compared to Scott Newton's $11,700 and Gwendolyn Clark-Reed's $9,085.

For the race thus far, LaFontaine has raised $65,959 in cash, loans and in-kind contributions, compared to Newton's $41,304 and Clark-Reed's $33,040.

LaFontaine's total was boosted by campaign appearances with

Rep. Barney Frank, chair of the House Financial Services Committee, who spent a day in January at several events with LaFontaine.

"The outpouring of support for my campaign has been amazing," LaFontaine said. "We're on track to win this seat during the August primary!"

A resident of Broward County since he was six years old, Mark LaFontaine has been active in the local community for years. He is national treasurer of American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) and president of the local Gold Coast chapter, the largest in the organization. LaFontaine is also a member of the Broward County Veterans Council, and is the only veteran in the race, having served in the US Coast Guard.

Owner of a successful accounting practice based in Oakland Park, LaFontaine is a board member of Oakland Park Main Street, which is guiding that city's development, and also has been a member of the Fort Lauderdale Audit Advisory Board, which oversees the city's finances.

Florida House District 92 includes parts of Deerfield Beach, North Lauderdale, Oakland Park, Lazy Lake, Poinsettia Heights, Pompano Beach, Tamarac, Victoria Park and Wilton Manors.

# # #

MAJORITY LEADER LAUNCHES MISLEADING ATTACKS ON THE FLOOR

SENATE DEMOCRATS THROW FLORIDIANS A FINANCIAL LIFELINE

With hundreds of prison and community safety jobs on the chopping block, along with cuts aimed at thousands of catastrophically ill Floridians including transplant patients, tens of thousands of elderly and disabled dependent on the state for health care and prescription drug help, and scores of child abuse investigators, Senate Democrats on Wednesday offered a number of amendments designed to throw the state a financial lifeline.

Senate Republicans threw it back.

"I am appalled at the indifference we saw here today," said Senate Democratic Leader Steven Geller ( D-Cooper City ). "These amendments didn't raise taxes, they didn't burden property owners, and they didn't expand bureaucracy. All they did was wean some very wealthy corporations from the legislative coddling they've enjoyed for years. It's time they joined the rest of us and paid their fair share."

The Democratic lawmakers conceded that the offered measures would not have been able to avert all of the cuts Republicans are backing, but they would have blunted much of the pain, they said.

Their defeated amendments included the following:

· The first installment of $70 million earmarked for CSX – a controversial plan to underwrite with public tax dollars the railroad's new distribution hub in Central Florida – would have been diverted back to the public. In particular, under the amendment sponsored by Senators Al Lawson (D-Tallahassee) , Arthenia Joyner (D-Tampa) and Nan Rich (D-Weston), the money would have been earmarked as follows:

o Excellent Teaching Program -- $9 million

o Early Learning Coalitions -- $9.6 million

o Children's Medical Services -- $7.5 million

o Protective Investigators -- $6.3 million

o Community Care for the Elderly -- $1.6 million

o County Health Departments -- $13.4 million

o Public Defenders -- $6.8 million

o State Attorneys -- $15.8 million

· An amendment by Senators Geller, Rich, Joyner and Tony Hill (D-Jacksonville) that would have closed the loophole allowing certain corporations to escape paying the real estate taxes the majority of Floridians pay when buying or selling real estate. The expected $50 million in recurring revenue would have restored to duty 664 correction officers – the equivalent of approximately two fully staffed prisons – and 294 probation officers currently targeted for layoff.

· An amendment sponsored by Senators Geller, Ted Deutch (D-Boca Raton), Rich, Joyner and Larcenia Bullard (D-Miami) closing a corporate income tax escape hatch known as "combined reporting" benefiting mostly out-of-state corporations and disadvantaging Florida-based ones. Similar measures have passed other large states such as Texas . The amendment would have raised approximately $364 million annually and been committed to:

o Medically Needy --$152 million

o MEDS AD -- $148 million

o Nursing Home Rate Reimbursement -- $64 million

"A transplant patient's struggle to survive shouldn't be doomed in order to protect special interests' profiteering," said Geller. " Florida 's ability to probe child abuse cases, or assist impoverished senior citizens obtain life-saving drugs, or keep dangerous criminals behind bars or in check within our communities shouldn't be sacrificed while giant corporations continue to get a free ride.

"We offered a way to protect the people's welfare. They chose to protect corporate welfare."

###

Michelle DeMarco

Press Secretary

Florida Senate Democratic Office

850-487-5833

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House Democrats: “The budget takes us down a disastrous path,”

House Democrats offered a prebuttal to today's budget debate, arguing the House's Republican leaders favor "corporate bigwigs" and special interests over middle- and low-income Floridians in their $65 billion spending plan.

"The budget advocated by the ruling majority further takes us down what we believe is a disastrous path," said House Democrat Leader Dan Gelber, of Miami Beach.

Gelber said the House should close sales tax exemptions to avoid cuts to areas like education and health care. He cited an exemption for newspaper and magazine inserts that costs the state more than $40 million in lost revenues.

The House budget also will mean 6,000 layoffs for Florida government workers at the time the state is in a "troubling and deep recession," Gelber said.

"This will worsen our state's recession and have widespread impacts," he said.

Gelber said Republicans will argue today that they're just doing the same belt-tightening as struggling Florida families. But that's no reason to cut hospice and community health clinics, the Democrats said.

"Sound bites should not be confused with sound economic principles," argued Gelber.

Rep. Franklin Sands, D-Weston, argued that cutting thousands of government jobs is a bad decision with Florida a leading state in home foreclosures.

"During times of economic crisis, we should not be putting thousands out of work," Sands said. "House Republicans, though, believe differently."

While hammering away at House Republicans, the Democrats were careful to single out another GOPer for praise: Gov. Charlie Crist.

"I actually think the governor has been pretty sensible about our challenges. I've not seen from him this fidelity to orthodoxy at the expense of reality," said Gelber, noting the governor wants to dip into budget reserves to offset some cuts.

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Human Rights Campaign to Host Florida “ Camp Equality ,” Train Activists for Election 2008

Participants to be equipped with key campaign skills for races across the state

· WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, announced today that it is launching a national program to help elect fair-minded candidates and defeat discriminatory ballot measures. The program – called Camp Equality – will train nearly 1,500 people in 14 cities to work on political campaigns. The first Camp Equality will take place in Orlando , Florida on May 2-4. Ft. Lauderdale training is 5/9-11 Those interested in participating in Camp Equality are encouraged to apply online before the April 25 deadline: www.hrc.org/campequality

"We are searching for talented and committed supporters of equality who are engaged in the political process and eager to build the skills necessary to win," said National Field Director Marty Rouse . "By maintaining a visible presence on campaigns, we're ensuring that the fight for equality remains a priority in this election cycle and beyond."

Camp Equality builds on the Human Rights Campaign's successful Campaign College , which brings 40 college students to Washington , D.C. every summer for intensive campaign training. Camp Equality takes that model out to the country, training individuals in their own communities and providing them with information about opportunities to engage in competitive political campaigns. By recruiting and training supporters of equality, HRC is bringing more people into the political process, training them to help fair-minded candidates achieve victory, and building support for equality across the country.

· From mobilizing the GLBT community, recruiting and training a cadre of grassroots political advocates to staff and assist political campaigns on the ground, and strategically targeting "high-impact" races, the Human Rights Campaign is gearing up to make sure that issues of equality for the GLBT community are discussed in '08 on our terms – not used as a divisive, wedge by anti-gay forces on the right.

· In 2006, the Human Rights Campaign flexed its political muscle in unprecedented and strategic ways that helped alter the political dynamic in key races across the country. HRC's influence was felt in key victories for strong pro-equality candidates like Florida's Ron Klein, Arizona's Gabrielle Giffords and Pennsylvania's Bob Casey and, in addition, voters in Arizona also made history by defeating that state's discriminatory domestic partnership ballot initiative, marking the first time an anti-gay marriage ballot initiative has been defeated anywhere in the country.

· Through an expanded field team and an unprecedented focus on state-level activity, the Human Rights Campaign helped ensure victory for 211 endorsed candidates, offering up a stinging defeat for some of the most anti-gay politicians in the country, including Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa. Because of these efforts, HRC was ranked the second most successful political organization in the country by National Journal ("Reversal of Fortune", National Journal, 11/11/06).

· "As in the 2006 general election, HRC will be on the cutting edge of strategic and organizational efforts to harness the political power of the organization's 700,000 plus members and supporters nationwide – in addition to the larger GLBT community as a whole," said Rouse.

The Human Rights Campaign is America 's largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

-30

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Deutch Anti-Discrimination Bill passes Senate Commerce Committee

With broad bi-partisan support, the Florida Senate Commerce Committee on Tuesday approved a bill sponsored by Senator Ted Deutch (D-Boca Raton) that prohibits discrimination against gay men and lesbians in employment, housing, and public accommodations.

"Human rights should extend to all of us," said the Senator. "This measure would codify in law the expectations of a level playing field all of us expect in the job market, the housing market and elsewhere. It extends dignity where previously there was none."

"Today's vote is truly historic," said Rand Hoch, president of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council. "This demonstrates that Florida lawmakers are finally beginning to understand the need for a statewide law prohibiting discrimination faced by the GLBT community.

"Thanks in great part to Senator Deutch who helped enlist the Republican support, for the first time in Florida history we are beginning to truly build momentum for an antidiscrimination bill," said Hoch

The legislation, first introduced in 2007 by Senator Deutch, the measure passed the Senate Commerce Committee by a vote of 7 to 1. Senators Alex Diaz de la Portilla (R-Miami), Charlie Justice (D-St Petersburg), Victor D. Crist (R-Tampa), Rudy Garcia (R-Hialeah), Jeremy Ring (D-Margate), Burt Saunders (R-Fort Myers) and Gary Siplin (D-Orlando) all voted in favor of the bill.

###

Michelle DeMarco

Press Secretary

Florida Senate Democratic Office

850-487-5833

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Action Alert

Whether you're a supporter of Sen. Clinton or Sen. Obama - you know or should know that both candidates are rightfully supporters and co-sponsors of the New GI Bill of Rights. As Democrats, we have a tradition of caring for our veterans. And despite good intentions - at times we have have fallen woefully short in our promises to those that have served. And if we need to point out another glaring difference between our two candidates (Besides both of our candidates 'getting' what needs to be done in Iraq) and Sen. John McCain - is that McCain is opposed to the New GI Bill of Rights. We're nine votes short in the senate and McCain needs to be seriously called out on this.

Sponsored by Sen. Jim Webb, (And Sen. Chuck Hagel) with 51 co sponsors.

This is something that we as Americans, regardless of whom we support should agree upon. Keeping our promises to our veterans.

From Thomas
Title: A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a program of educational assistance for members of the Armed Forces who serve in the Armed Forces after September 11, 2001, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Webb, Jim [VA] (introduced 1/4/2007) Cosponsors (51)
Related Bills: H.R.2702
Latest Major Action: 7/31/2007 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.

There is a petition to demand McCain support the New GI Bill of Rights - and to rightfully call him on this. Right now there's over 20k signatures - please consider adding yours. (Check out the collaboration between Wes Clark, Robert Greenwald and VoteVets on the video.)

This is from Wes Clark

Robert Lopez served 8 years in our military, fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan as a tank commander. He was told he'd get his whole education bill paid for when he got out of the service. Mr. Lopez has fought and sacrificed for our country but like so many others, Mr. Lopez has faced the bleak reality of a government that has turned its back on its veterans.

That is why Senators Jim Webb and Chuck Hagel proposed the new GI Bill, which would bring back WWII-style standards of providing vets with full tuition, room and board. And that is why 51 senators have signed on, including 9 Republicans like John Warner, giving this GI Bill tremendous bi-partisan support.

But it isn't enough. Faced with unprecedented filibusters, the only way to ensure Senate passage of the GI Bill is to get 60 co-sponsors. So far, John McCain has refused. The same McCain who insists he supports our troops. The same McCain who is voting lockstep with the Bush administration (who have also resisted this bill). We need to get John McCain to do the right thing — to sign now and signal to other Republican leaders that we should be strongly behind our vets.

Wes Clark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Post from NOQUARTER.COM

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Florida's Votes Counting

Party Elects 27 Leadership Delegates

On Track for Most Diverse Convention Delegation in History

The Florida Democratic Party State Executive Committee Satuday elected a diverse slate of 27 party leaders and elected officials for the Democratic National Convention.
Of the 27, three will go to the Convention not pledged to a candidate: Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, Senate Democratic Leader Steve Geller and House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber. The other 24 were allocated based on the statewide results from the January 29th Presidential Primary: 14 pledged to U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton and 10 pledged to U.S. Sen. Barack Obama.
In May, the delegation will be completed with 40 at-large delegates. In March, 121 delegates were elected at the Congressional District-Level. Florida has 23 unpledged delegates ("superdelegates") - 13 Members of the Democratic National Committee and 10 Democratic members of Congress.
"We're on track to send Florida's most diverse Democratic National Convention delegation in history," Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen L. Thurman. "Though some of us support Barack Obama and some of us support Hillary Clinton, the unity today among Democratic leaders from every corner of the state was palpable."
"From my own Hamilton County all the way down to Miami-Dade, we're building our infrastructure and expanding the Democratic Party," said Hamilton County Democratic Party Chair Rhett Bullard, who was elected with the highest vote total of any candidate. "Regardless of where you live in Florida, there's a place for you in the Florida Democratic Party."
Following is the full list of the 27 delegates elected today:
Unpledged "Add-on" Delegates
Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink (Hillsborough)
Senate Democratic Leader Steve Geller (Broward)
House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber (Miami-Dade)
Pledged Clinton Delegates
County Commissioner Burt Aaronson (Palm Beach)
County Party Chairman Bret Berlin (Miami-Dade)
County Party Chairman Rhett Bullard (Hamilton)
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer (Orange)
State Party Vice-Chair & State Rep. Luis Garcia (Miami-Dade)
County Party Leader Lori Ann Glasser (Broward)
County School Board Member Kathleen "Kat" Gordon (Orange)
County Commissioner Sally Heyman (Miami-Dade)
Parkland Vice-Mayor Jared Moskowitz (Broward)
County GLBTA Democratic Caucus President Sally Phillips (Hillsborough)
State Sen. Nan Rich (Broward)
County Commissioner Katy Sorenson (Miami-Dade)
County Commissioner Diana Wasserman-Rubin (Broward)
Precinct Captain Frank Williams (Leon)
Pledged Obama Delegates
County GLBT Democratic Caucus President Chip Arndt (Miami-Dade)
County Party Chairman Travis Bridges (Duval)
Tampa City Councilman John Dingfelder (Hillsborough)
County Caribbean Democratic Caucus President Evelyn Garcia (Palm Beach)
State Sen. Anthony "Tony" Hill (Duval)
County Vice-Chair Wes McCarville (Brevard)
County Young Democrats President Florence "Flomo" Moss (Miami-Dade)
County Party Chairwoman Judy Mount (Jackson)
State Rep. Geraldine Thompson (Orange)
Senate Democratic Leader Pro Tempore Frederica Wilson (Miami-Dade)

UPDATE:

from taylormarsh.com

Michigan and Florida count and so do the voters in both of these states.
Does anyone think Clinton can win the nomination without counting the voters of Michigan and Florida? Think again. Obama knows this all too well.
"Some say their votes should be ignored and the popular vote in Michigan and Florida should be discounted. Well, I have a different view," Clinton said at a rally here. "The popular vote in Florida and Michigan has already been counted. It was determined by election results, it was certified by election officials in each state, it's been officially tallied by the secretary of state in each state, and the question is whether those 2.3 million Democrats will be honored and their delegates seated by the Democratic party."
Clinton Ramps Up Call to Count Fla, Mich
The Obama campaign wants a 50/50 split in Michigan, which isn't going to cut it.

###

Randi Rhodes Calls Clinton & Ferraro Whores

Randi Rhodes, an afternoon host for the progressive Air America radio network, was suspended Thursday after repeatedly insulting Hillary Rodham Clinton at an event last month.

Ms. Rhodes used vulgar language that likened Ms. Clinton to a prostitute at an event sponsored by KKGN, the Air America affiliate in the San Francisco area, on March 22. A video of Ms. Rhodes' remarks was published to the video-sharing Web site YouTube on Tuesday, prompting condemnations by some bloggers.

In a statement, Charlie Kireker, the chair of Air America, said the radio network "encourages strong opinions about public affairs but does not condone such abusive, ad hominem language by our hosts."

The network called Ms. Rhodes' suspension "indefinite" and did not elaborate on the fate of her daily three-hour radio show. "The Randi Rhodes Show" is normally broadcast from 3 to 6 p.m. weekdays. Sam Seder, another Air America host, was scheduled to fill in for Ms. Rhodes on Thursday...

Read more: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/03/air-america-host-suspended-for-clinton-remarks/

Watch The Video

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