
Though an internal Justice Department inquiry concluded that the Bush administration lawyers who authored the torture memos “committed serious lapses of judgment,” a draft of the report says “that they should not be prosecuted.” Instead, the report, which has yet to be approved by Attorney General Eric Holder, is likely to “ask state bar associations to consider possible disciplinary action,” such as disbarment.
For the “first time in memory,” “rebel members” of the RNC’s national governing body have successfully taken on the party’s powerful chairman. RNC Chairman Michael Steele “has signed a secret pact agreeing to controls and restraints on how he spends” party funds and contracts. Last week, Steele accused the resolution’s proponents of a power grab “scheme.”
At least one U.S. diplomat and a number of international relations experts believe that should Israel decide to attack Iran, the country would “seek forgiveness, not permission” by only notifying the U.S. after any such mission got underway. Israel would likely notify the U.S to ensure that “its jets would not be shot down by accident if overflying U.S.-occupied Iraq.”
Asked in a recent New York Times magazine interview whether he cared about a shortage of Jewish Republicans in the Senate, Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) replied: “I sure do. There’s still time for the Minnesota courts to do justice and declare Norm Coleman the winner.” Yesterday, however, he clarified his remarks. “In the swirl of moving from one caucus to another, I have to get used to my new teammates,” he said. “I conclusively misspoke.”
The British government yesterday banned 22 people from entering Britain for “fostering extreme hatred.” American hate radio host Michael Savage (real name Michael Alan Weiner), who has called the Quran “a book of hate” and questioned autism cases, is one of them. Now Savage is suing the British government for defamation.
President Obama urged House Democrats to reach consensus on global warming and energy legislation during a closed-door White House meeting. “We’re talking to each other. And we’re working out these issues because we want to be together and we want to succeed in getting this legislation through,” said Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA).
Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) will chair a hearing today on the future of newspapers. Among those testifying: Steve Coll, former managing editor of the Washington Post; Arianna Huffington, founder of the Huffington Post; and James Moroney, CEO of the Dallas Morning News
Yesterday, President Obama called Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), who said that there would have to be “extraordinary circumstances” for Republicans to mount a filibuster of Obama’s Supreme Court nominee. “He’s so nice,” Sessions said of Obama.
The government told Bank of America that “it needs $33.9 billion in capital to withstand any worsening of the economic downturn.” Should the bank be unable to raise the capital “by selling assets or stock, it would have to rely on the government, which has provided $45 billion in capital through the Troubled Asset Relief Program.”
And finally: On Tuesday, Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), George Voinovich (R-OH), and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) were traveling in the Senate subway when their car broke down. What were they to do? Luckily, McCaskill began tweeting, “Stuck in a tram from Capitol to Hart. Broken. Not moving. Lieberman and Alexander in next car. And Voiniitch.[sic] Wonder how long we’ll be here?” It seems that they were rescued; an hour later, McCaskill wrote, “Rescued from stuck tram awhile ago…in case you wondered. Now going back to Capitol for a vote, takes longer, but think I’ll walk.”
Though an internal Justice Department inquiry concluded that the Bush administration lawyers who authored the torture memos “committed serious lapses of judgment,” a draft of the report says “that they should not be prosecuted.”
This is our tipping point, progressives.
Former Bush officials have been ‘quietly’ pressuring the DOJ behind the scenes to ‘not make a scene’.
American citizens are sick & tired of this little game. People died. People were tortured, knowing it was illegal.
Why on Earth would anyone support no formal investigation or no charges be filed?
Call your Congresscritter, talk to people or shout it from the rooftops…
America DOES NOT Torture!
May 6th, 2009 at 9:08 amTwittering is again proven to be nothing but a recap of people’s tedious and boring daily goings about. Who gives a rat’s ass what you’re doing second to second. Twitter me when you reform our broken health care system, not when you stop at starbucks for a latte.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:08 amI have long called for State Bar Associations to look into the conduct of every attorney with a hand in the torture memos. That should be done irrespective of any possible criminal proceedings. And why haven’t these State Bar Associations been proactive in this regard. Their very reputation is on the line and, sadly, they have not been up to the challenge. The other thing that should be looked at are the law schools and what they are currently teaching. Graduates of Liberty University have been deeply involved so it calls into question whether that school is properly training its graduates.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:09 amInstead, the report, which has yet to be approved by Attorney General Eric Holder, is likely to “ask state bar associations to consider possible disciplinary action,” such as disbarment.
Why don’t we just send them to bed without dinner?
Seriously, I don’t get this. They are obligated to investigate, Bush is even less popular than ever, and the only people this would upset are the people who will never eve vote for Obama anyway. Why is this being treated like such a hot potato?
May 6th, 2009 at 9:12 amWhen Federal Government officials decide torture isn’t ‘worth’ investigating, it’s time to oust said officials, regardless of party affiliation.
Actions have consequences. Knowing full well your actions are most likely illegal require significant consequences.
AG Holder, we’re looking at you…
May 6th, 2009 at 9:15 amYesterday, however, he clarified his remarks. “In the swirl of moving from one caucus to another, I have to get used to my new teammates,” he said. “I conclusively misspoke.”
The outrage among Democrats who are willing to oust him in the primaries is what he actually is getting used to… Republicans, even those in Democratic clothes aren’t used to us Liberals taking a stand like this. Let’s keep it up!
May 6th, 2009 at 9:16 amIf professional sanctions are the only accountability, American justice is a joke. A powder puff “Just Us” plan keeps in place the unitary executive.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:18 amIf I bought BOA stock based on Q1 earnings, I’d be pissed at Tim Geithner for postponing stress test results.
“You say you want bank stock dilution, well you know…”
May 6th, 2009 at 9:20 amSuing for defamation? I thought conservatives hated frivolous lawsuits.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:22 amHow can we look at obama and his crew and see anything but a continuation of bush’s last term? Not looking at the torture memos and letting the various state bar associations decide whether to discipline the people who wrote the memos is an insult to the netroots that worked to elect obama and allow him to bring in his appointees.
What do we have now? We have the torture people that will get off with no real punishment (the Nuremburg Trials never happened, this would only be “criminalizing political differences”). We have the banksters running our fiscal and financial policy (the banks needed, some may still need, public funds to stay afloat, but any individuals that need help should have run their financial affairs better says the senate). We have big pharma and insurance companies running our health care policy (pharma writes the bill for what it costs to buy medicine; insurance companies will not allow people to get medical insurance so that everyone can be covered unless the companies can make a huge profit by rejecting claims).
obama’s “Change we can believe in” was the change from courting the netroots to dancing for the big boys once he was in.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:24 ambuzzbomb Says:
Twittering is again proven to be nothing but a recap of people’s tedious and boring daily goings about. Who gives a rat’s ass what you’re doing second to second. Twitter me when you reform our broken health care system, not when you stop at starbucks for a latte.
I’m seriously considering a website to counter Twitter for those people out there that want to speak their mind about Twittering without limiting themselves to 140 characters. Or some sort of blog that looks at a stream of Twitterage and mauls it with a wrecking ball.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:25 amShortage of Jewish Republicans in the Senate? Not in spirit. Over half of Congress attended AIPAC’s Monday Night Gala.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:26 amThe internal Justice report was the culmination of a four year investigation. That’s right, the Bush Justice Dept investigated itself and guess what they concluded? That Justice Dept lawyers should not face criminal charges. No surprise here. Also the branch of the Justice Dept that did this investigation was the Ethics branch which does not deal with criminality so advising that these lawyers be disbarred is about as toothful as this particular investigation could have been. And yet the Bush plants in Justice still persisted in attempting to have this report watered down. There will be more inquiries into the Bush torture program and by branches of Government that have the power to investigate criminal charges. This one however, should come as no surprise due to the sheer conflict of interest in having a branch of Government investigate itself. Going forward AG Holder needs to recuse his Department from further investigations as it is specifically the Dept that is being blamed and there are still literally hundreds of “loyal” Bushies working at Justice. An independent prosecutor must be named but for now, the evidence is still pouring out. More to come on this for sure…
May 6th, 2009 at 9:26 amstateofthedivision Says:
Suing for defamation? I thought conservatives hated frivolous lawsuits.
____________
Well… they don’t call him The Savage Weiner™ for nuttin’, ya know…
Hope that works out for ya, Michael!!!!
(He’s also suing the DHS over that right wing extremist report too!!!)
May 6th, 2009 at 9:34 amBearCountry, #12….Good post, Thank you…Many of us knew that and voted the lesser of two evils again..Not like we have choices any more….In light of it all the public must realize we were sold a brand, much like pramoting a coke or pepsi..It’s still pop just a little taste diference…At least this administration is pleasent to listen to and smarter than the last..In the end though the bad guy’s will be able to walk with all the toy’s and the new administration will find loop hole’s to jump through…Nothing will really change for We the people or abiding by the law…It was blatently evident how things were going to be with appointing new fox’s in our new hen house…Blessings
May 6th, 2009 at 9:36 amLet’s keep in mind that this is the ethics division of the Justice Department, not their criminal division. I’ll be interested in actually seeing the report when it’s released; it’s very possible the interpretation of not recommending prosecution has been inferred, rather than being actual. It’s not their area. Secondly, this draft report has been in the works since 2004, and was completed last September…before the election. Mukasey tried to keep it under wraps, and if McCain had won, we still wouldn’t know about it. It’s also not surprising that the inquiry did NOT recommend disbarment for Bradbury. He happened to be in charge of the OLC until January of 2009. This report does one thing: points in the direction of an independent counsel outside of the Justice Department, as well as a special prosecutor. A fox cannot be trusted to report honestly or accurately on the chicken coop!
May 6th, 2009 at 9:38 amobama has to tell the likudniks not to attack Iran. Attacking will lead to upset in the ME. Will Israel attack Iran to take the world’s attention away from the Palestinian problem? Can rahm be loyal first to the US? Is he primarily an foreign agent planted openly in the WH? Is the MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE really the Manchurian chief of staff?
May 6th, 2009 at 9:39 amBearCountry Says: obama’s “Change we can believe in” was the change from courting the netroots to dancing for the big boys once he was in.
While I knew I would disagree with the President on rare occasions (his FISA vote and stand on faith-based iniatives showed me that), I still think we need to remember how much change we have gotten in just 3.5 short months. America is a center-left country now.
I do hope he changes his mind on this, and think that it’s up to us to persuade him, but I’m not will to throw the whole baby out with the bathwater just yet…
May 6th, 2009 at 9:39 amThe DOJ Ethics Division is recommending professional sanctions, up to and including disbarment, after an investigation started, completed, and stalled in being reported during the Bush Administration. This is a big deal. Just because this division does not call for prosecution, does not mean that the Criminal Division, after an investigation initiated by the Obama Administration, will not do so. The grassroots ground swell makes it more likely. We, the people, need to keep up the support for prosecution.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:39 amSo, in the week or so that he’s been a non-loyal Democrat, has Arlen Specter said or done anything that would lead one to believe he is a Democrat?
I swear, it’s almost like he quit the Democratic Party to join the Republicans. I think it’s because he’s so darn concerned about appearing “independent”.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:42 amralph the wonder locust Says:
I think it’s because he’s so darn concerned about appearing “independent”.
______________
And I think it’s because he’s so darned concerned about appearing “re-electable”.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:44 amInteresting first-hand report on the “abortion pill.”
May 6th, 2009 at 9:46 amPro-lifers have no clue, no compassion – only their ideology.
Pro-choice people are the ones who are truly pro-life.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389×5600422
I agree with post # 21 this ain’t over yet not by a long shot.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:46 amArlen Specter has been assigned “junior” positions on his committees. He expected to carry his seniority with him to the Dem side. Maybe his comment in support of Coleman was the last straw.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:47 amNow Savage is suing the British government for defamation.
_____________________________________________________________
This is a hoot! A guy who defames others for a living (particularly gays, Muslims, women, liberals, and even autistic children) is now claiming he’s been defamed and wants satisfaction.
Now THAT’S chutzpah! (I wonder if we can find another country to take him?)
May 6th, 2009 at 9:47 amArlen Specter should go ahead and retire he’s ruining himself without anyone’s doing.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:50 amThe Obama administration wrote off $7 billion in taxpayer loans to Chrysler. So much for TARP living up to its billing as “loans that would be paid back with interest.”
The company understood, “the Treasury would forgive a $4 billion bridge loan given to Chrysler in the closing days of the Bush administration, a $300 million fee on that loan, and the $3.2 billion in financing approved last week by the Obama administration to fund Chrysler’s operations during bankruptcy.”
“While we do not expect a recovery of these funds, we are comfortable that in the totality of the arrangement, the Treasury and the American taxpayer are being fairly compensated,” an Obama administration official told CNN Money.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:52 amGood Morning Unbelievable and PLC, I agree as well….Instead of attempting to throw out the baby or the bath water I’m ,instead, working off the blog site’s and pushing for peace and enviromental issues…It do’s me no good to spend time posting here or else where when I can work with other group’s getting message’s sent to the white house about Peace and ton’s of other issues….If putting his feet to the fire do’s not work then ton’s of patition’s and large group’s joining togethter for actual change will…Blessing and happy posting.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:52 amteabaggers are holding a meeting to decide whether or not to call dems socialist? What name-calling tard-tards. The club of NO is now a club of panties and sch00l girl giggles.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:56 amMichael Savage is suing the DHS and the Brits. The man is a mean-spirited, bigoted, racist, misanthrope. Now that he has suffered a slap on the wrist, what is his first reaction? Sue them! IOKIYAR!
May 6th, 2009 at 9:58 amOnly repugs have the right to sue – Dems are not allowed – they should be glad they’re allowed to live.
Maybe someday America will uphold it’s own laws. Doubtful, but maybe.
So remember kids, if you are planning on committing a crime, even a war crime, and you want to stay above the law, you had better be a wealthy politician.
The rule of law and the idea of justice is officially dead in America. The Great Experiment is over. The criminal wealthy elite win yet another chapter in world history.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:58 amKeep your shirts on people. Obama can not be the cheerleader for prosecution. This will drag out slowly.
The indictments will come some time in 2010. With the trials starting in 2012.
This can’t look like politics from Obama’s end.
But there is no reason not to play the straight flush you were dealt to end the GOP.
They are in the position of defending torture.
Good luck with that.
You may have missed this but this report is meaningless.
A Patriotic Anopheles Acting Says:
The internal Justice report was the culmination of a four year investigation. That’s right, the Bush Justice Dept investigated itself and guess what they concluded? That Justice Dept lawyers should not face criminal charges. No surprise here. Also the branch of the Justice Dept that did this investigation was the Ethics branch which does not deal with criminality so advising that these lawyers be disbarred is about as toothful as this particular investigation could have been. And yet the Bush plants in Justice still persisted in attempting to have this report watered down. There will be more inquiries into the Bush torture program and by branches of Government that have the power to investigate criminal charges. This one however, should come as no surprise due to the sheer conflict of interest in having a branch of Government investigate itself.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:59 amHolder should realize that if the shoe was on the other foot, teabaggers would hang his butt on GWB (Governance While Black.)
What does it take for the government to enforce the law?
I guess it takes us bloggers to defend the Constitution.
May 6th, 2009 at 10:00 am“The British government yesterday banned 22 people from entering Britain for “fostering extreme hatred.””
I guess Mann Coulter, Rushbo, Billdo, Insannity, Bachmann, Palin, Joe the Bigotted non-Plumber and the rest of the GOP should also think twice before purchasing airline tickets and booking hotels across the pond. Good on you Britain! The Republican Party’s founding members chose the name “Republican Party” in the mid-1850s in part as an homage to Thomas Jefferson (it was the name initially used by his party). The name echoed the 1776 republican values of civic virtue and opposition to aristocracy and corruption. It is the second-oldest continuing political party in the United States, now solely in the business of fostering extreme hatred. You’ve come a long way GOP!!
May 6th, 2009 at 10:00 amMichael Savage should remember why we’ve all been told not to run with scissors – because we can fall and hurt ourselves.
Michael Savage has been running his mouth with hate – at some point he’s likely to fall and hurt himself. Maybe the fall is starting, in slow motion.
May 6th, 2009 at 10:03 amsteeley damn restricted and preapprove expenditures is just proof that the teabaggers are enslaving him. Next they will take steeley damn out for a whippin.
May 6th, 2009 at 10:04 amarlene is a goofy, self-interest, tool.
He has no convictions or reasoning. he is a bit like mcchimpy.
Another airhead repug.
HAHAHAHAHA Look at what happened when he ditched the repugs on hopes of winning as a dem.
May 6th, 2009 at 10:11 amLuckily, McCaskill began tweeting, “Stuck in a tram from Capitol to Hart. Broken. Not moving. Lieberman and Alexander in next car. And Voiniitch.[sic] Wonder how long we’ll be here?”
Is this like a desperate cry for help? Get me out of here and away from these (R) losers?
May 6th, 2009 at 10:12 amArlen thinks that Coleman should be seated — even though he lost the election — so that there will be a Jewish Senator.
That’s a damned poor reason to seat someone in office. He doesn’t deserve it. He lost.
May 6th, 2009 at 10:12 amIs disbarment a life-time prohibition from practicing law?
If not, it’s not enough.
Add a flogging, perhaps, or a couple of days in a pillory, and i’d be okay with it…
May 6th, 2009 at 10:13 amArlen thinks that Coleman should be seated — even though he lost the election — so that there will be a Jewish Senator.
What, he thinks Franken’s a Lutheran?
May 6th, 2009 at 10:15 amHelen Rainier Says:
Arlen thinks that Coleman should be seated — even though he lost the election — so that there will be a Jewish Senator.
Al Franken is Jewish also.
May 6th, 2009 at 10:15 am“Savage” Weiner is an example of what happened when the little, snot-nosed, booger-eating momma’s boy you usta beat shit outta on the playground cuz you could and he–self-loathing little git–loved the attention, grows up..
May 6th, 2009 at 10:18 amWant to send a message to the DoJ on prosecution of war crimes?
May 6th, 2009 at 10:21 amAskDOJ@usdoj.gov.
BearCountry Says:
We have big pharma and insurance companies running our health care policy (pharma writes the bill for what it costs to buy medicine;
Yes, when is Obama going to fulfill that campaign promise and require Medicare Part D to negotiate drug prices? And what about dropping the fees paid for Medicare Advantage back to 100% instead of 115%?
That would save billions immediately, even if it means Big Pharma and the insurance cabal get squeezed.
PEACE
May 6th, 2009 at 10:25 amThough an internal Justice Department inquiry concluded that the Bush administration lawyers who authored the torture memos “committed serious lapses of judgment,” a draft of the report says “that they should not be prosecuted.”
And two wrongs make a right, how?
May 6th, 2009 at 10:26 amArlen Specter’s comment is striking. His opinion about something as important as the election of a Senator should depend on which side of the aisle he is sitting. He reveals that far from being an independent actor he is a water carrier for his party. And now is finding it difficult to toe the line in his new party. Really a sad spectacle. Senators are meant to independently represent their state, not the desires of Rush Limbaugh.
May 6th, 2009 at 10:28 amProsecute the Bush Crime Family!
Looks like Specter had a moment of clarity! LMAO! Think twice and remember who is buttering your bread old man!
OMG! Savage’s last name is Weiner! That’s the wrong name to have if you’re a rascist focker. I wish we could put him out of the U.S. ROTFL!
May 6th, 2009 at 10:29 amArlen Specter’s opinion should NOT depend on which side of the aisle he is sitting. Oh, to have an editor on these comments.
May 6th, 2009 at 10:30 am“While we do not expect a recovery of these funds, we are comfortable that in the totality of the arrangement, the Treasury and the American taxpayer are being fairly compensated,” an Obama administration official told CNN Money.
Would someone PLEASE explain to me how NOT being compensated for $7 BILLION dollars is “fair compensation?”
May 6th, 2009 at 10:43 amIsrael would “seek forgiveness, not permission” by only notifying the U.S. after any such mission got underway.
Given this is the current thinking then the US position should be ‘NO MO MONEY – PERIOD – FOR ANYTHING”… And, have a nice day.
May 6th, 2009 at 10:48 amRegarding Savage being banned by the U.K. All one has to do is listen to this guy one time on the radio, and it’s obvious why. There are evidently 6 other people banned, but the government has declined to name them, saying that it wouldn’t be in the public interest to do so. How bad can those folks be, considering the ilk of those who WERE named?
May 6th, 2009 at 10:50 amHere’s an idea. Don’t shoot down the Israeli jets by accident– do it on purpose!
May 6th, 2009 at 11:00 amAt least one U.S. diplomat and a number of international relations experts believe that should Israel decide to attack Iran, the country would “seek forgiveness, not permission”…
The Obama Administration needs to make it crystal clear that if Israel launches a preemptive strike (Bush Doctrine) against Iran, that if Iran retaliates (which they will) that Israel will be on their own. The US should not enter into the conflict and do anything to help Israel if they attack first.
May 6th, 2009 at 11:25 amSen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) replied: “I sure do. There’s still time for the Minnesota courts to do justice and declare Norm Coleman the winner.
I think this was the straw that broke the camel’s back and caused Harry Reid to stiffen his spine and tell Specter that he would not retain his seniority on the committees he is on. Specter will now be at the bottom of the pile on all committees except the Committee on Aging where he will be second from the bottom. That’s rather ironic, don’t you think?
May 6th, 2009 at 11:27 amAs usual I am a lot slow in getting all my notices and articles read..If interested I found a couple I missed and will pass on to you the readers here.Information clearing house, news letter May4, 2009..”.Buying Brand Obama by Chris Hedges” and “No long ruled by Law” by Paul Roberts”…http://www.informationclearinghouse.info….Worth the read and listen..Agree or not we need to pay attentio to all things being thrown at us these day’s…Hope I posted the link correctly…P.B. & J all…Now I will return to the tree hugging…
May 6th, 2009 at 11:32 amThe less said about the desires of Rush Limbaugh, the better.
May 6th, 2009 at 11:50 amHow interesting that a hatemonger like “Savage” who uses speech to savage those he’s paid to savage would take exception to a label just because it’s accurate!
May 6th, 2009 at 11:59 amThe DOJ says that the DOJ folk should not be prosecuted.
Kind of an inherrent conflict of interest ?
Not to mention that the DOJ was stacked by loyal Bushies attending Regents University. They haven’t had the time needed to purge themselves yet.
Looks like an independent investigation from Spain is moving up the list of preferred remedies.
May 6th, 2009 at 1:29 pmShortage of Jewish Republicans in the Senate ?
I thought repubs were against quotas.
Not to mention, the relevant question, if any, would be how the percentage of people in American who are Jewish compare to the percentage of Jewish-Americans in the Senate. Is there a discrimination factor keeping them out ?
The Senate has 100 members (well 99 until Franken arrives). So percentages are easy to figure out. And for that matter, I don’t know, but is Franken of Jewish heritage and if so, why are folks trying to hold him out ?
May 6th, 2009 at 1:34 pmYesterday, President Obama called Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), who said that there would have to be “extraordinary circumstances” for Republicans to mount a filibuster of Obama’s Supreme Court nominee.
Wanna bet?
May 6th, 2009 at 2:15 pmVote for Sestak (US Sen. Penn.) in a straw poll:
http://sestakvote.boldprogressives.org/
May 6th, 2009 at 3:38 pmJoe Biden spoke at AIPAC, encouraging Israel to stop the settlements and increase Palestinian freedom of movement. It’s a familiar refrain:
http://arisfreedomswitch.blogspot.com/2009/05/israel-should-stop-building-settlements.html
If Israel ignored it since 1998, why will they pay attention now?
May 6th, 2009 at 5:25 pmTim Geithner said regulatory reform could take 3 years and the government will backstop banks raising private capital. He provided no details. More corporafornication is likely:
http://peureport.blogspot.com/2009/05/three-years-to-regulatory-reform.html
May 6th, 2009 at 11:45 pmseslichat
May 11th, 2009 at 12:24 amsesli chat
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