Hungry? Tom Perez's all-you-can-eat word-salad bar is open.

Great little video from The Humanist Report about Tom Perez having no clue what he's doing.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lc1A7RoY7J8 width:550]

Mike Figueredo starts out by saying if there was ever a time to take the Democratic party in a radical new direction, now is the time. But what does the DNC do? They elect Tom Perez - the pro-TPP, soft-on-Wall-Street corporatist who is the poster child for the establishment. AND they vote to not overturn the ban that allows corporate lobbyists to donate to the DNC. Meanwhile, Keith Ellison sends out an email to the voters begging them for money of behalf of the Democratic Party. To top it all off, many people from the progressive wing of the party (Bernie's side) run for positions all throughout the DNC. How many are elected? Zero.

But now Tom says it is time for the Democratic party to reach out to all voters in every state so we can have this pretend unity. And this is after the Democrats shut out half the base during the election.

Next Mike shows a clip of Perez on CNN with Jake Tapper. Tapper says that Trump is now saying that the GOP is the true party of the middle-class working people and points out that Trump won the white working-class voter by a 37% margin. Tapper asks Perez "What is your plan for winning back these voters and bringing them back into the Democratic fold?"

Tom Perez:

"We lead with our values and we lead with our actions. We need to talk to them about how literally hours into the Trump administration, he was a fraud. He made it harder for first time home-buyers to buy a home hours into his administration. Days later he made it harder to save for retirement. He nominates a judge for the Supreme Court who wants to eviscerate collective bargaining.

When we lead with our value as Democrats, and talk about what we've done to make sure we're protecting social security, protecting Medicare, growing good jobs in this economy. If you want good jobs elect a Democrat. That is the message we have to communicate. A message that is true that resonates in every zip code and that's what we're going to be doing all across this nation, leading with our values, leading with the facts and that facts are that Democrats grow the middle-class, Democrats protect economic security, and we need to be communicating that message everywhere.

Talk about a word salad!

So he basically offers up two pithy slogans - Leading with our values and Leading with our actions. and then - right on cue points out how bad Trump is, what a fraud he is, what he did "hours into his administration," etc.

Where do I even begin?

Other than Big Oil, Big Pharma, Wall Street and Wars for profit, the Democratic Party doesn't have any values. Who came up with this crap? Was this slogan poll-tested?

Leading with our values, my ass!

Same thing goes for leading with our actions. Uh - your actions were to vote against reinstating the ban on corporate lobbyist donations to the DNC at a time when the electorate is sick and tired of the establishment. And this "action" is something you're proud of? For real?

And you say Democrats are growing good jobs in this economy. How? Obama supported the TPP.

And when you say " If you want good jobs elect a Democrat," I think what you really mean is "If you want a good job, move overseas, because that's where all the "good jobs' went, only to replaced by shitty jobs in the service industry - many of which aren't even full time and offer little or no benefits. And you call this "protecting economic security?" Whose economic security? Wall Street's?

And you say that the DNC needs to be more transparent? How? By having an election for DNC chair that had ballots cast in secret? And even now, if someone wants to know how the DNC members voted, they have to make an appointment to go to the DNC in Washington, only get an hour to look through everything, and can't take any cameras.

Gee that sounds like what members of Congress had to go through just to read what was in the TPP. None of what was in it was made public for the longest time. Why is everything so "secret?"

Transparent my ass!

Next, Mike Figueedo plays a little more of of the Tapper/Perez CNN interview.

Jake Tapper asks Tom Perez "I know you're probably reluctant to criticize Hillary Clinton, but are you of the opinion her campaign did not talk about those economic values sufficiently, instead - focusing on the perceived character flaws of the current president?"

Tom Perez:

"Well certainly we have to do a better job as the Democratic party of messaging what we stand for. We have to make sure that we're out there everywhere talking about how we're the party of good job creation, the party of middle class security. We're the party of inclusion. We believe diversity is our party's greatest strength. And when we lead with these values I believe we succeed.

Oh there you go with the leading with the values crap again. I'm gonna have to make that a drinking game.

Please. The Democrats have lost 63 House seats, 10 Senate seats, 12 governorships and 1,000 state legislative seats over the past eight years. This is your idea of success? Or have you just not been leading with your "values" over the past eight years?

And this? We're the party of inclusion. We believe diversity is our party's greatest strength.

What choo talkin' 'bout Willis? You just shut out half the base and no one from the Bernie wing holds any significant positions within the DC. "Diversity" my ass!

And now you and Keith Ellison are going on a "Democratic Turnaround tour?" Did Nancy Pelosi approve this? Because she says Democrats don't want to go in a new direction. You only turn around if you're planning on changing directions.

Quite frankly, we do need to change directions.

Starting with Nancy Pelosi:

And Chuck Schumer:

How'd that work out for ya, Chuckles?

Elizabeth Warren:

And you, too, Corporate Cory (Booker)

Joe Manchin:

And dear sweet Claire McCaskill:

Your time is coming, dear.

And Debbie Wasserman-Schultz. What can I say? You really embody everything that the Democrats value.

And it's not just Congress that needs to change. Some of these alleged "progressive" websites could use a makeover - and a thorough house-cleaning. And yes, I'm talking about you, Markos "look what I got" Moulitsas.

You don't tell the Progressives to GTFO and then later try to pretend like Democrats are just one big happy unified family. When you squashed any dissension and brought down your little ban hammer, we all got the message loud and clear.

So please forgive us if we start the revolution without you.

I think this graphic pretty much sums up how things are in the party. We are divided.

Sadly, I don't think this Democratic Turnaround tour is going to work. Actions speak louder than words, and the Democratic party isn't offering any actions - or even goals. Just a bunch of flowery empty words.

It was just like Hillary's campaign. A whole lot of nothing.

  • Stronger together.
  • Shared values.
  • A robust plan to (fill in the blank)
  • I look forward to working with Congress to (fill in the blank)
  • Offering solutions.
  • Raising awareness
  • Empowering people
  • Building a coalition
  • Fighting for the middle class, Fighting for Us!
  • Standing up for women

But nothing of substance, really. No actions or even a specific policy goal that people could get behind. The Democrats are all about symbolism.

It's no different than that statue of the girl staring down the Wall Street Bull at the Women's March. It was about as meaningful as when Hillary went to Wall Street and told them to "cut it out."

A symbol - that without actions means absolutely nothing.

Here's a final thought. Maybe the Democrats should stop trying to tell us what Donald Trump and the Republicans might do to us and focus instead by telling the American people what the Democrats can do for us.

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Comments

And in addition to all that, the Democrats can't even really tell you what they stand for.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9KyR86CZ1E width:500]

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@LoneStarMike

And in addition to all that, the Democrats can't even really tell you what they stand for.

Isn't what they stand for traitorous and illegal? I don't see them making that admission publicly in so many words... Wait, maybe the Clintons or Pelosi might yet.

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

@Ellen North @LoneStarMike @Ellen North

They just won't come out and say it.

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@LoneStarMike

Lol, isn't that message in what they demonstrably value, as well as very clearly embodied in the results of their actions? Besides, their forked tongues couldn't handle such a lengthy list without hissing and giving the rest of the puppet-show away...

But many thanks for doing it so beautifully that now they don't have to.

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

Bollox Ref's picture

Sophists 'R' Us.

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Gëzuar!!
from a reasonably stable genius.

thanatokephaloides's picture

@Bollox Ref

Democrats...Sophists 'R' Us.

But those sophists have no sophia.

(And today, there really is izvestia in Pravda!)

Wink

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"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

detroitmechworks's picture

It's like they don't even register the questions they're asked anymore.

Of course, since the Reporters never bother following up on evaded questions... (Unless they're talking to Trump about Russia...)

The closest Translation of this Democrat speak I can make is... (Keep in mind Democrat is a language that uses lots and lots of words to obscure the point being made.)

"We're gonna pander to every special interest we can, because they eat that values shit up. As long as we make the right sounds, we'll totally make up that corporate cash deficit."

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I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Alligator Ed's picture

@detroitmechworks Anagram of Word Salad = A Sad World

And Tom & Co. will be certain they do their share to make this a reality...
Oh, it already is.

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thanatokephaloides's picture

@Alligator Ed

The hamster is stinking and needs a decent burial.

[video:https://youtu.be/4vuW6tQ0218 width:500 height:306]

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"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

Not Henry Kissinger's picture

@thanatokephaloides
Mr. Progressive: 'Ello, I wish to register a complaint.

Mr. Progressive: 'Ello, Miss?

Owner: What do you mean "miss"?

Mr. Progressive: I'm sorry, I have a cold. I wish to make a complaint!

Owner: We're closin' for Women's Day.

Mr. Progressive: Never mind that, my lad. I wish to complain about this party what I donated to not half a year ago during the last election.

Owner: Oh yes, the, uh, the Democratic Blue... What's,uh...What's wrong with it?

Mr. Progressive: I'll tell you what's wrong with it, my lad. It's dead, that's what's wrong with it!

Owner: No, no, It's uh,...It's resisting.

Mr. Progressive: Look, matey, I know a dead party when I see one, and I'm looking at one right now.

Owner: No no it's not dead, it's, it's resisting! Remarkable party, the Democratic Blue, idn'it, ay? Beautiful diversity!

Mr. Progressive: The diversity don't enter into it. It's stone dead.

Owner: Nononono, no, no! It's resisting!

Mr. Progressive: All right then, if it's resisting, I'll wake it up! 'Ello, Mister Poli Party! I've got a lovely fresh $27 donation for you if you show...

Owner: There, it moved!

Mr. Progressive: No, it didn't, that was you blogging on Daily Kos!

Owner: I never!!

Mr. Progressive: Yes, you did!

Owner: I never, never did anything...

Mr. Progressive: 'ELLO POLI!!!! Testing! Testing! Testing! Testing! This is your Whig o'clock alarm call!

Now that's what I call a dead party.

Owner: No, no.....No, It's stunned!

Mr. Progressive: STUNNED?!?

Owner: Yeah! You stunned him, just as it was wakin' up! Democratic Blues stun easily, major.

Mr. Progressive: Um...now look...now look, mate, I've definitely 'ad enough of this. That party is definitely deceased, and when I voted for it it not 'alf a year ago, you assured me that its total lack of policies was due to it bein' tired and shagged out following a prolonged primary.

Owner: Well, he's... It's, ah... probably pining for the Obamas.

Mr. Progressive: PININ' for the Obamas?!?!?!? What kind of talk is that?, look, why did it fall flat on his back the moment it got voted in?

Owner: The Democratic Blue prefers governing on its back! Remarkable party, id'nit, squire? Lovely diversity!

Mr. Progressive: Look, I took the liberty of examining that party when I got home, and I discovered the only reason its Presidential candidate was even in the election was because it had rigged its own primary.

Owner: Well, o'course it rigged the primary! If it hadn't nailed that other guy down, his supporters would have overrun the caucuses, upset the corporate donors, and VOOM! Feeweeweewee!

Mr. Progressive: "VOOM"?!? Mate, this party wouldn't "voom" if you put forty million votes through it! It's bleedin' demised!

Owner: No no! It's pining!

Mr. Progressive: It's not pinin'! It's passed on! This party is no more! It has ceased to be! It's expired and gone to meet its maker! It's a stiff! Bereft of life, it rests in peace! If you didn't own the corporate media it'd be pushing up the daisies! Its metabolic processes are now 'istory! It's off the twig! It's kicked the bucket. It's shuffled off its mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisible!! THIS IS AN EX-Party!!

Owner: Well, I'd better replace it, then. Sorry squire, I've had a look 'round the back of the country, and uh, we're right out of parties.

Mr. Progressive: I see. I see, I get the picture.

Owner: I got a lobbyist.

Mr. Progressive: Pray, does it support single payer?

Owner: Nnnnot really.

Mr. Progressive: WELL IT'S HARDLY A BLOODY REPLACEMENT, IS IT?!!???!!?

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The current working assumption appears to be that our Shroedinger's Cat system is still alive. But what if we all suspect it's not, and the real problem is we just can't bring ourselves to open the box?

thanatokephaloides's picture

@Not Henry Kissinger

Mr. Progressive: It's not pinin'! It's passed on! This party is no more! It has ceased to be! It's expired and gone to meet its maker! It's a stiff! Bereft of life, it rests in peace! If you didn't own the corporate media it'd be pushing up the daisies! Its metabolic processes are now 'istory! It's off the twig! It's kicked the bucket. It's shuffled off its mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisible!! THIS IS AN EX-Party!!

LOVE THAT!!

Give rose Smile

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"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

@Not Henry Kissinger

*thunderous applause*

I doff me 'at to ya, Sir! This is a forever classic, even if forever runs out a lot sooner than anticipated.

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal's picture

@Not Henry Kissinger Brilliant. Smile

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"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver

Surprise them with a stacked town hall, hundreds of people screaming for policy answers. YouTube it. Make it a public humiliation.

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Big Al's picture

What could they say to make in particular the Bernie supporters who've sworn the party off, come back? If they said they'd fight tooth and nail for Single Payer, would that do it? If they said they'd fight to end U.S. imperialism or the War OF Terror, would that do it? They're not going to do that, not as a party, so what can they say or do?

It reminds me of the Bernie run for prez. I had challenged many here about the dem party, that it was an appendage of the ruling class, the oligarchy, part of a corrupt and undemocratic duopoly, etc., and that Bernie would not change that. But if Bernie had won the nomination, and even the presidency, you can bet there would be a whole lot more democrats than there are now.

So is it a matter of replacing old blood in the party, like Pelosi, Schumer, etc., with new blood, more progressive, etc.? Or is the democratic party part of a system that cannot be reformed but must be replaced?

I think the latter which is why it doesn't matter what they're saying.

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Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal's picture

@Big Al No, it doesn't matter what they say.

If they said they'd fight tooth and nail for Single Payer, would that do it? If they said they'd fight to end U.S. imperialism or the War OF Terror, would that do it?

Well, no, because I wouldn't believe them.

And as far as Bernie goes, if his ridiculous support of Hillary wasn't enough to convince people he cannot be our leader, his parroting of this disgusting "Fear the Russian Bear" bullshit should have been.

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"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver

Centaurea's picture

When we lead with our value as Democrats, and talk about what we've done to make sure we're protecting social security, protecting Medicare, growing good jobs in this economy.

That's not even a complete thought. "When we lead with our values ..." He just leaves the thought hanging, and doesn't say what happens when they lead with their values.

Probably because they don't actually do it. So of course nothing happens.

What, exactly, have the Democrats done to protect Social Security and Medicare and to grow good jobs in this economy? Other than saying they've done it.

A message that is true that resonates in every zip code and that's what we're going to be doing all across this nation, leading with our values, leading with the facts and that facts are that Democrats grow the middle-class, Democrats protect economic security, and we need to be communicating that message everywhere.

Well, Tom, perhaps part of the message ought to be providing the public in all zip codes with evidence that proves these are actually the facts. I hate to be the bearer of sad news, but your saying it does not make it so. Especially when our own eyes and ears tell us to the contrary.

Prove it.

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"Don't go back to sleep ... Don't go back to sleep ... Don't go back to sleep."
~Rumi

"If you want revolution, be it."
~Caitlin Johnstone

@Centaurea

They do lead with their values and will do literally anything for money.

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

Shahryar's picture

and they think it's enough because they're soulless.

And Keith Clegg....now that's sad.

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Lol, please, don't give them advice - do we really want them to start using plausible lies and maybe actually sucker some people into voting for them? Why not start putting together a party Americans can vote for and against both of the corporate evils while working on getting TPTB the heck out of politics and, with any luck, into prison for subverting the government instead?

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

I'm gonna lead with my (glass) chin.

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I thought Sarah Palin created the phrase, she just exemplified it best. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word_salad

Word salad is a "confused or unintelligible mixture of seemingly random words and phrases", most often used to describe a symptom of a neurological or mental disorder. ...
The term is often used in psychiatry as well as in theoretical linguistics to describe a type of grammatical acceptability judgment by native speakers, and in computer programming to describe textual randomization.

Made me look at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markov_chain, which I think Clinton and the Ds used to create their 2016 speaking matrix:

Trust me once they've work-shopped from this speaking matrix, there's no
telling what she'll be incredibly prepared to have regret saying.

Thanks for the great graphics LSM, I see you on WayOfTheBern too but don't usually log in there, or anywhere much lately. Thanks!

Peace & Love

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it won't.

The Democratic Party doesn't even want to pretend to be turning around. Since Bubba was elected President, Democrats have done nothing but insult the "left of the left" in the face. During Obama's first term, it was practically open hostility from Obama, Rahm and Gibbs. Remember the "fucking retards" remark--and the only one who got an apology for it was Sarah Palin. Since Sanders started running, it's been one slap in the face after another.

What more to people need before they get it? People need to deal with reality and move on to figuring out what's next, if anything. And, if we can't impact the system, maybe we need to take up tatting or something.

Maybe this will help someone.

The seven emotional stages of grief are usually understood to be shock or disbelief, denial, bargaining, guilt, anger, depression, and acceptance/hope.

http://www.medicinenet.com/loss_grief_and_bereavement/article.htm

BTW, being stuck in the anger stage is very damaging, physically and emotionally. Too much bile. Too much cortisol. Feeling powerless all the time. Nothing good can come of it.

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Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal's picture

@HenryAWallace What more do people need before they get it? People need to deal with reality and move on to figuring out what's next, if anything. And, if we can't impact the system, maybe we need to take up tatting or something.

I agree.

I'm in the depression stage myself--well, going back and forth between that and anger, I guess.

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"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver

of messaging what we stand for". As opposed to say, actually standing for something.

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native

Whhhhhyyyyy do people keep urging the Dems to bring out a false message to con people into voting for them?

Whhhhhyyyyy do people not get the message that both parties consist of destructively pathological crazy-people acting for those eagerly poisoning people and the planet for more and faster profits and in the process of establishing a literally deadly economic/military hostile corporate takeover of the globe which will, one way or another, polish off the remaining life on the planet within, at most, a few decades and possibly do so this freaking year or the next?

Whhhhyyyyy do people not get the message that the already-comprehensive electoral rigging was apparently recognized as leaving a loophole through which they've been Trumped and have now unconstitutionally taken elections into Top Secret territory under a corrupt and unconstitutional spy agency - Homeland Security - like others, spying on and otherwise rudely invading the rights, privacy and dignity of the people - not terrorists - all of The People of America and of the rest of the world, so that now they really, truly do not need voters/votes to assure that The Right Corporate Candidate Always Wins?

That is the message they've been sending, loud and clear, and that message and the threat of imminent extinction of life itself which it conveys needs to be acted upon, not merely altered to some acceptable lie, but the perps at the least removed from the public positions of trust they have so clearly betrayed, in many cases for so very long.

Leave this appalling parody of an selectoral disaster to stand as yet another 'done deal to be fixed next time' and the last chance of human and global natural life support survival will be gone...

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

@Ellen North someone had to say it. Thanks.

three dog night - easy to be hard

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@eyo

Doesn't that depend on your partner? If you're dancing with fascism, a global hostile corporate/military takeover making you lots of pots of money might make you feel hardened toward the whole world of victims you screw over...

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

Love Markos in his new Tesla.... This picture is really the message Democrats have for outsiders, like all of us old Bernie supporters. If I was running against this witch, I'd plaster this picture everywhere. .

 photo BoxerFinger_zpsfpnb1y3i.jpg

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon