Tulsi's campaign is still alive

I am of two minds concerning posting this essay on the tail of my previous effort about the Economy. Some of you are of the belief, perhaps correctly that I have less than a half-mind, for publishing my earlier blasphemy against Saint Bernie a few hours ago.

Be that as it may, there is still hope.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4ZPzF5ntRc]

Bernie didn't win in '16. Rigging certainly but he had no nationwide general electoral opportunity to enter the WH. Instead, the Berniecrat progressive fire has continued burning slowly and steadily. Progressivism, in its various flavors, is now THE ascendant movement of the Left. It grew slowly, steadily. This is the comparison which is relevant to Tulsi's candidacy. Barring a miracle, Tulsi will not be the Dem nominee in November facing off El Trumpo. But she has lit a fire under hundreds of thousands which will continue to spread due to the gentle breezes of her campaign speeches. Perhaps 2024 is her year. If not, 2028 could realistically be the date she becomes POTUS.

My previous essay, It's the economy, was negative. Negative if one believes there is even a remote chance Saint Bernie gets to run against Trump. Yes, he, like the rest of the D's is running against Trump but what are the plans? Open Borders? Medicare for Illegal aliens? Bernie's got other proposals, meritorious ones deserving of support. But too much baggage. He is collecting baggage as adroitly as Liz Warren. Look what that's done to her campaign.

Kind-hearted Bernie is taking up survivors from the Warren life rafts, many of whom are armed with rubber penetrating pins.

Tulsi does not genuflect.

The same type of integrity-diminishing stances Liawatha has adopted, are now afflicting Saint Bernie. Pandering on open borders. Retreating before Culinary Union attacks without personally facing it down NOW--NOW when it counts.

The last man standing will be a woman. The rest are craven characatures of sincere humans, so phony that even a blind monkey could detect.

Who did Warren Harding defeat for President? Don't look it up--people don't remember losers. In 20 years, H. Rodent Clinton will be merely a bad dream, to be recalled in memory only by those interested in calamity. Bernie started a movement. But, like Moses, he will never enter the Promised Land. His name will be remembered by even his opponents as someone who began steering the ship of state into better waters. But his portrait will not hang in the WH.

Tulsi is the future.

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snoopydawg's picture

Seriously? I thought we left this shit at daily kos? The essay Title says it's about Tulsi, but it's mostly about what you don't like about Bernie. Might be better if you highlight what you like about her.

Just my $.02

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

Alligator Ed's picture

@snoopydawg Your 2¢ will be refunded or donated to the Swamp bird sanctuary, as you see fit.

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I stand before you. Now is not the time. There is no doubt that Tulsi is the future. Now is Bernie's time.

The time?

Yes, this is the edifice that Tulsi will build upon. Tulsi's time will come. Built upon Bernie's model.

I am old, I know you are old too. The future is upon the youth, much as it was when we were but pups. Remember?

Disclaimer: This comment was not meant as official site policy. It is only my opinion.

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Alligator Ed's picture

@JtC Sorry. My dismay overcomes propriety at times.

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@JtC

Now is Bernie's time.

Is this the official position of the site?
Is it considered wrong to criticize Bernie here?

Please say it ain't so.

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@irishking
and that's why I refrain from posting most of the time, I don't want my opinions to become site gospel. It's a hell of a position to be in having to bite my tongue most of the time.

BTW, my first preference is for Tulsi and if a centrist ends up winning I hope she starts a 3rd party. IMHO, the future is hers. I just think that Bernie has the better shot this time around and if he wins it will make it that much easier for Tulsi in the future.

PS: If I didn't have a head full of 10 year brandy when I replied to Ed above I would have included a disclaimer. Guess I'll have to make sure I do that going forward. Or go silent.

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snoopydawg's picture

@JtC

and that's why I refrain from posting most of the time, I don't want my opinions to become site gospel. It's a hell of a position to be in having to bite my tongue most of the time.

I feel that you are a member of this site and that you should be able to post your opinion on things. Maybe as you say a disclaimer is needed, I don't think it's necessary.

I'd blame you enabler for your brandy head. Kidding. It's great stuff.

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6 users have voted.

Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

@JtC @JtC

didn't think Sanders was above criticism here.
but it's good to have it straight.

your opinions are more than welcome,imo.

edit- fwiw I agree with your read on Bernie/Tulsi prospects. My dream outcome would be Bernie/Tulsi ticket.

Truth is I find it hard to believe the dems won't derail Sanders somehow. Then we would have to watch Bernie stump for their pick.

I would like to understand better his apparent eagerness to "take the pledge". It gives me a bad feeling. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

By the way did Tulsi ever promise to support nominee no matter who?
I don't know.

Thanks again, you do a great job here.

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just ask Julius Caesar among others.

@irishking

Truth is I find it hard to believe the dems won't derail Sanders somehow. Then we would have to watch Bernie stump for their pick.

I would like to understand better his apparent eagerness to "take the pledge". It gives me a bad feeling. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

Yeah, let's hope that doesn't happen.

By the way did Tulsi ever promise to support nominee no matter who?
I don't know.

I'm not sure. I did a cursory search and didn't find a definitive answer.

The "Iceman" is here, my brother.

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@JtC

great performance.
"from way down in Texas".
everybody having a good time.

thanks for posting.

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She is not running for re-election. At the time of the next presidential election, she will be a private citizen.
She will have less leverage for endorsement of her colleagues than she does now.
For all we know, in 2 or 3 years, she may be out of the political realm completely.
I concede she is the type of person, or the sort of person that would take us forward, but she has little in the way of base right now, and will have an unknown base in a few years.
Bernie, no matter how I despise his foreign policy, is the poll leader, is a half-assed socialist, might actually improve/save lives of the working class and poor, and he is the start of a left swing we need now. Tulsi or some young leftie can knock it out of the park if we can just show people that social programs work, and work extremely well.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

edg's picture

@on the cusp

"The 2022 Hawaii gubernatorial election will take place on November 8, 2022, to elect the Governor of Hawaii. Incumbent Democratic Governor David Ige is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term."

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snoopydawg's picture

@edg

But why would she give up her seat in congress for being governor? She sees things in Hawaii she wants to fix or being governor is a better shot at being president? I admit that I don't know much about her congressional record. I just don't understand why people feel so strongly against her. Once upon a time they wanted the wars to stop. Now they are hung ho for warring with Russia through Ukraine.

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

edg's picture

@snoopydawg

She already announced she's not running for re-election to Congress. Being governor would be a good launching pad to president and would give her some executive experience prior to her run in 2024 after Trump's 2nd term ends. As far as prior offices held before becoming president:

18 presidents previously served as U.S. representatives.
17 presidents previously served as governors.
16 presidents previously served as U.S. senators.

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Alligator Ed's picture

@edg Governorship is a fine stepping stone to higher office. Tulsi needs to remain politically visible until t least 2024, although even that may be a bit too early for victory. Besides, if she becomes governor, then a second term would keep her place in the spotlight until at least the end of a second governorship.

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dystopian's picture

@on the cusp If Bernie won... I could see Tulsi as Secretary of State, or heading the Pentagon. She is better than Bernie on foreign policy. She would be a great asset I think. We need a lot more peace speak and she means it, with the stripes/cred to back it up. Anyone that took out Kamala with a single shot is a hero to me. Wink

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We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

@dystopian @dystopian no quarrel with that at all. Not clear why she endorsed him last race, is running against him this race.
Has she ever clarified this?
I am not anti-Tulsi. I hope she makes it to the top. I just do not understand her political strategy at all.
I have never understood the penchant for presidential candidates to select VP's that ran against themclaiming they had better policies.
Vote for me! Oh, wait! Vote for him! My bad!
That is more about the damn party than about us.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

@on the cusp

does the name Mazie Hirono ring a bell?

Understandable if you don't - she's somewhat low-profile.
I respect her toughness, even if I disagree with a lot of her positions.

Don't wish her ill, personally, but politically I would just as soon she went away. And, given that she was diagnosed with Stage Four kidney cancer in 2017 that has to be considered a distinct possibility (she was re-elected in 2018).

I would think running for that seat is a likely Plan B for Gabbard - don't know what her prospects of winning would be - I hear conflicting things about how popular she actually is in Hawaii.

She's plenty popular with me, though - and I'm in for her as long as she's in the race this time around.

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@Blue Republic Great guess.
I have this travel pal I go all over the world with, and she is from Honolulu. She is so center, she votes both parties. She is the only info I have from that state. She says NEVER TULSI. I didn't discuss it further.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

@on the cusp

Hawaiians out there that don't like her. Sen. Hirono appears to be one of them. Gabbard took over her House seat when Hirono moved up to the Senate.

Hirono was really not pleased with Gabbard's "Present" vote on impeachment - don't know what other history they have.

It would be good to know *why* those Hawaiians who dislike her do - but I have no idea and no Hawaiians conveniently around to ask at the moment...

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mimi's picture

@Blue Republic
than the rest of the bunch. That would be too bad, no?

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RantingRooster's picture

Are you having a senior moment? Unknw

Don't get me wrong, there is much I like about Tulsi, but establishment democrats hate her, more than they hate Bernie. She openly defied them and quit the DNC on Bernie's behalf, and help bring down Debbie what-her-name as chairperson for the DNC.

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C99, my refuge from an insane world. #ForceTheVote

mimi's picture

@RantingRooster

there is much I like about Tulsi, but establishment democrats hate her, more than they hate Bernie. She openly defied them and quit the DNC on Bernie's behalf, and help bring down Debbie what-her-name as chairperson for the DNC.

That's what I like about her. She was not afraid to do that. Thank God.

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Raggedy Ann's picture

Bernie winning the presidency and appointing her to a cabinet position where she might actually do some good.

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

Hawkfish's picture

@Raggedy Ann

Warren for HUD?

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We can’t save the world by playing by the rules, because the rules have to be changed.
- Greta Thunberg

Raggedy Ann's picture

@Hawkfish
Pleasantry

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

edg's picture

@Hawkfish

It's hard to see Sanders appointing Warren to anything of importance after she lied about him.

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Deja's picture

@edg
He'll be a prime assassination target unless he runs with someone even more "radical" than what the neo cons and neo libs consider him to be. Assassination insurance, if you will.

He'd hit the butthurt left, Her Heinous and her minions, especially, with Tulsi. She could actually draw some from the right/libertarian leaning too because she's a vet who at least claims to be anti regime change.

That would sooo piss off Hills and her bots too.

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earthling1's picture

@Deja
Makes much more sense. Just like no one wants to see Pence assuming the office from Trump, no one would want Tulsi to take over should ((something)) happen to President Bernie.
Cheap insurance.

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Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

janis b's picture

@Hawkfish

in the housing market?

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@Hawkfish that the Sanders campaign was making inquiries as to whether Warren could legally double fist the Vice Presidency and Treasury.

He could do worse.

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They say that there's a broken light for every heart on Broadway
They say that life's a game and then they take the board away
They give you masks and costumes and an outline of the story
And leave you all to improvise their vicious cabaret-- A. Moore

@Hawkfish She could give up to date news on the Slave markets and give her little 'we came we saw he died' jingle (trademark cackle included) before signing off!

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Pluto's Republic's picture

@aliasalias

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____________________

The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
wendy davis's picture

about Warrior Tulsi, as with Pluto's Republic's 'Tulsi: the next evolution of humanity' (or close to that). oh, both contained exquisite prose! hers on Yang (perhaps his UBI?)...maybe not so much, but i may mis-remember.

but miz gabbard might have used either in her campaign, they were that splendid.

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mimi's picture

happens to the best of alligators, especially if their desired lady has such a great smile as Tulsi has.

My predictions for both Tulsi and Bernie are very different. You may say I should shut up, but in order to not be shot at, it may help to donate some bullet-proof vests to both of them. My only hope for them is that Tulsi is a sharp-shooter and Bernie is a master-ducker. Together they could survive in their foxhole.

I hate wars. Please don't kill Bernie and Tulsi. I mean that. EOM

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Alligator Ed's picture

@mimi [video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egTBRHplus8&frags=pl%2Cwn]

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mimi's picture

@Alligator Ed
[video:https://youtu.be/jzsi7UECeR0]

I had for a second a notification of what Tulsi said in Portland, ME, but it was crashed immediately.

I think the live stream is now completed. She talks so much sense, it makes no sense to try to excerpt. Just listen in.

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Alligator Ed's picture

@mimi Thanks for this link.

Go Tulsi

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earthling1's picture

@mimi
town hall. Great questions too.
Why she is polling in the single digits is bizarre.
The only reason I can surmise is.....I live in a country of either warmongers or complete cowards.

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Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

Situational Lefty's picture

and she has more legitimate political experience than he does and she hasn't been corrupted by corporate money like he has.

She's a person of color. She's a progressive. She's anti-war.

She's pretty much everything the Democratic Party needs, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez isn't old enough to run yet.

I support Tulsi!

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"The enemy is anybody who is going to get you killed, no matter which side he's on." Yossarian

mimi's picture

@Situational Lefty
that she is a woman of color has no place in all of it. That she is anti-war, is. Don't try to put ID politics close to her. That she is a progressive, is also not of importance, because being a progressive has no meaning anymore among the progressive-gangsters.

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mimi's picture

@mimi @mimi
that she tries to give us some hope.
[video:https://youtu.be/ZN9p-5PsZBs]
I need that.

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of signatures to get her on the ballot
in this little state.
Next is delegate selection rallies.
Then on to Milwaukee...

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Situational Lefty's picture

Tulsi is awesome. She's anti-war and i didn't mean to offend you when I said she is a person of color.

I didn't mean to trigger you in any way. I just like Tulsi Gabbard.

I will reassert that she is a woman and is anti-war. We can both agree on those two points, I hope.

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"The enemy is anybody who is going to get you killed, no matter which side he's on." Yossarian

Situational Lefty's picture

Just for the record?

And hurrah for you and your state!

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"The enemy is anybody who is going to get you killed, no matter which side he's on." Yossarian

@Situational Lefty

the ocean state

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wendy davis's picture

someone had brought a post from jack pines radicals quite dismayed by how either bernie or tulsi was being portrayed (likely the latter). someone had said she'd bailed on medicare 4 all, although when i'd asked the room here it was apparently too late on the thread to get an answer.

yesterday i'd read 'Tulsi Gabbard: A Political Postmortem', by William Kaufman / February 15th, 2020

"Yes, she suffered the slings and arrows of the neoliberal political/media establishment on the few occasions it deigned to take note of her. But it seems to me that her vexing waffling on key issues is what did her in. A former all-out supporter of Medicare for all, she began, last fall, to echo neoliberals like Buttigieg, Klobuchar, and Biden with a plan for a misguided public/private hybrid, variously dubbed “Medicare Plus” or “Medicare Choice,” reserving people’s right to retain their private insurance. (“I support a single-payer system that will allow individuals to access private insurance if they choose,” she states on her campaign Web site; but that is not a single-payer system at all.)

But what kind of private insurance? For basic services, which would compete with the main public plan and thus render it fiscally unsustainable? Or for just elective and boutique services, as in Canada? She has never spelled this out. Moreover, she demurred on sponsoring the Green New Deal bill. These equivocations have placed her closer to the establishment than to the independent left on the two most critical issues facing the electorate.

Then came two other odd overt tilts to the right: favoring charter schools and “school choice” and opposing the cancelation of student debt (she told a college student, “I think there’s a responsibility there that students need to bear,” and then emitted a four-minute rhetorical fog designed to obscure her real position). It’s as though she thought she could attract wavering votes from the middle lane while trying to appear to bear left. But exactly how does this calculation differ from Warren’s duplicitous feints to the left while winking right? To add egregious insult to these political injuries, ten days ago Gabbard Tweeted out her “love” to the scurrilous bigot and neo-fascist radio pit bull Rush Limbaugh upon hearing the news of his lung cancer. That is beyond comprehension or excuse."

there are 5 hyperlinks, but i guess part of what i'm wondering is given so much designation as to left, centrist, right, and all, which ones she's apparently supporting now, factor in.

thi the link to 'demurred on sponsoring the green new deal' (at the hill)

now i've weighed in plenty on that evolving/devolving 'Deal', but is that allegedly a 'Leftist' GND to appeal to identity politics and so on? i laugh every time i read 'net zero carbon', a rather meaningless phrase. as is Clean Energy', imo/

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@wendy davis @wendy davis ... Your post (or at least the block quote) suggests that Tulsi's reluctance to embrace the GND makes her less of a progressive and more of a moderate. I disagree. First, because of the rather meaningless labels (like "progressive," "moderate" and also "socialist" and "capitalist") but, more importantly, you need to peel back the curtain and understand the reasons for her misgivings about the GND: (1) It's not an actionable plan, rather it's more like a resolution that would require much more in the way of additional legislation and executive actions to implement; (2) it doesn't address the issue of nuclear power; and (3) it doesn't address fracking. In other words, it's the kind of "feel good legislation" that faux progressives can say they support without taking a risky stand. What was taking a risky stand was the OFF (Off Fossil Fuels Act) that Tulsi sponsored in the prior session of Congress, which at the time was called the most foreward-looking climate change legislation ever introduced, and in the House races, even Dem candidates like AOC signed on to support the concept but, after getting elected, then decided to jump ship and sign on the more popular great-sounding "GND" concept which I submit is mostly BS -- feel free to disagree and argue if so inclined.

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wendy davis's picture

@JCWeb

that whatsoever, but you may be referring to the hill's link. i think it IS a craptastic plan of empty phrases with appeal to identity politics, as well as being absurd, for instance just one item: 'refit all buildings in the US with green technology!' imagine the cost, impossibility, and the immense carbon footprint involved; it boggles the mind.

but as i'd said, i'd written about it many times in III parts, (almost as satire) and had gathered many pithy analyses from around the web). perhaps the best was whitney webb's, come to think of it; sadly, naomi wolf's hour long video was too long for me to finish, no transcript. but i will say that it had nothing to do with anything like 'socialism', and the socialists/tankies on twitter had had a field day with it. ; )

edited to add: when electric cars are advised in Green Plans and Deals, it stops me in my tracks.

on night edit: i should have bolded the five hyperlinks; sorry i hadn't thought to.

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Alligator Ed's picture

@JCWeb I would jump the Tulsi ship if she backed that steaming pile of far left (if such a label is appropriate anymore) balderdash. But, hey, what's wrong with feel good legislation? Scratch the underside of my throat, would ya please. That makes me feel good.

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wendy davis's picture

@Alligator Ed

link and look at the 4 or so other hyperlinks on medicare for all, charter schools, limbaugh, and so on?

i just haven't the wherewithal to do it.

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