Posted on 07/10/2011 3:47:00 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
If Rick Perry does mount a successful bid for the U.S. presidency, it will be interesting to see whether he can translate his past and present criticisms of the federal government into concrete changes to the sprawling bureaucracy.
Perry has yet to say he will or won’t toss his hat into the Republican race for the right to square off against President Barack Obama in 2012. He is, however, making all the moves of a potential candidate testing the waters. Insiders are mixed on the odds. Some say he’s definitely in; others put the odds at 50-50.
But the mere possibility the longest-serving Texas governor will join a party battle featuring hopefuls who conservatives and the tea party are not particularly excited about has pundits of all stripes from coast to coast offering their views of how a Perry candidacy would play out.
Perry, who’s never lost an election, has a good chance of rising quickly to the frontrunner position against Mitt Romney, Michelle Bachman, Herman Cain, Tim Pawlenty, Newt Gingrich and Jon Huntsman. His unabashed conservative message puts him at or beyond Bachman’s position on the far right end of the political spectrum. His executive experience compares well to Romney, Pawlenty and Huntsman.
And, like him or not, there’s little denying Perry knows how to campaign, raise money and deliver rousing speeches.
While polls show Obama in danger of losing to a generic Republican candidate — and the prevailing wisdom in the punditry sphere is the 2012 race is the GOP’s to lose, there is a real question whether a candidate who energizes the conservative base can do so without having his or her far-right stances turn off center-right independents, pushing them into Obama’s column.
But should Perry manage to keep his perfect election record intact and find himself in the White House, we’ll find out whether his Washington walk matches his Texas talk.
Assuming the GOP holds its House majority and gains control of the Senate, we can imagine Perry’s to-do list starting with the repeal of Obamacare and ending with a full makeover of the Environmental Protection Agency. In between, he’d likely put a host of agencies to work shredding scores of regulations he’s railed against. He’d also likely push Congress to end or redesign a variety of federal programs he views as overreaches in violation of state rights laid out in the Tenth Amendment.
Perry’s real test would be border security. He’s decried the federal government’s failure to secure the border, but the problem has stymied presidents from both parties for decades. Perry might be able the change that, but the odds are he’d merely find himself transformed from the critic to the criticized.
While some pundits question whether voters will back another Texas governor so soon after George W. Bush’s divisive two terms at the helm, others see Perry as a different sort of conservative. Unlike “compassionate conservative” Bush, some see Perry as more like Ronald Reagan.
But unlike the easy-going, grandfatherly Gipper, Perry is more like the Texas A&M yell leader he once was.
“Our loudest opponents on the left are never going to like us, so let’s stop trying to curry favor with them,” he said in a recent speech.
We’ve agreed with Perry, and we’ve disagreed with him. He’s certainly not perfect, but no candidate is. But if sending Perry to Washington would balance the budget, address the debt and rein in over-regulation, it would be a welcome change from the current state of affairs.
“During the last legislative session Gov. Perry called them back into special session to address “sanctuary cities” and the secure cities bill...”
Cinci, baby,
You’re entitled to your opinions, but not your facts, and you know better. Perry ADDED the above (or at least the Sanctuary City part, not sure of the other) only AFTER the special session was forced on him because that babe from Dallas holding up school funding. There was ZERO talk of a special session on SC prior - Perry seemed content to just let it die in the regular session, just as it somehow ‘magically’ died in the special session that he was forced into.
But now that school funding is taken care of, if Perry REALLY wants Sanctuary Cities he can call another session, just for that - and he’ll probably get it (and if not, he will have really tried). It means a lot to us who live in cities where cops have been killed. But I doubt very much that happens.
As far as candidates my choice in descending order is (1) DeMint (2) Palin (3) Perry. Is that a problem?
I still think you are not being upfront, and your sudden push for Perry out of the blue doesn't seem normal or legit as someone doing it out the kindness of their heart. Level with us, how are you connected?
We need to learn the practice of removing from office those who don't perform.
[Texas] Rule requiring drivers to prove citizenship now law
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7637818.html
I can't help what you think. All I can tell you I don't work for any political campaign or candidate or political party.
Turn out will be larger than in 2008...Americans have gotten more than just a taste of the radical lefts criminal policies...HA...the left really shot themselves in the foot by allowing an illegal alien to be their president instead of PIAPS.
I did but I didn’t mean too. Inattention in the early morning.
“That leaves two of Gov. Rick Perry’s special session priorities — TSA and sanctuary cities — incomplete, but the governor doesn’t seem compelled to call lawmakers back again. “
Thanks Lucy,
However, you’re doing a better job of supporting my position than I’m even doing. If TSA and Sanctuary were REALLY a priority, he WOULD call them back (and certainly would have threatened to call him back)...but he just can’t seem to do that.
If he did, however, the bills would likely pass, since the legislators really can’t stand being called back into session (the pay is crappy). But if they passed, then Perry would have to act on them...
Nice how it all worked out for him, ehhh.
“[Texas] Rule requiring drivers to prove citizenship now law”
“Across the nation, only New Mexico and Washington don’t have similar policies.”
Glad it’s law, now. But one has to wonder just how effective Perry has been during his 10 years in power, if we were the 48th state to pass the law. This is where the lack of ideology hurts. If the next president doesn’t have a conservative foundation, he really won’t understand the need to do the dirty work, like securing our borders, undoing these crazy regulations, and undoing Obama-care.
Most of us don’t have a huge problem with Perry, but we him a lot like Huckabee, a Republican governor in a Southern state, who may not be totally with us, and has some really odd quirks.
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We need somebody who can WIN this thing. That means somebody with cross-over appeal, which our Palen, Bachmann and Cain (no matter how much we love them) simply do not have.
Until 1989, Rick Perry was a conservative Democrat. He switched parties as, like many Democrats including Ronald Reagan and Phil Gramm, he saw that party moving farther and farther to the left. Under Perry’s decade as governor, hundreds of Texas Democrats have followed his lead and become Republicans. As a former Democrat, Perry can speak to that swath of his former party that has become disenchanted with their party as President Obama has taken it even farther to the left, in a way that few Republicans can. He can also speak well and credibly to all wings of the national GOP, from the fiscal cons to the social cons to the libertarian set.
He would appeal to all segments of the Republican electorate and would come armed with a record of economic success and a commitment to liberty that no other contender can match.
Texas has been voted #1 business climate for the last seven years.
Texas has been getting all of California’s jobs.
Perry must be doing something right.
We need a good business guy right now.
Perry has proved it.
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CONSERVATIVE ICONS SUPPORT PERRY:
>Sarah Palin threw her endorsement to Rick Perry for governor.
Recently restated that she likes Perry
“He walks the walk of a true conservative” “And he sticks by his guns — and you know how I feel about guns.”
Sarah Palin
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/02/palin-perry-201.html
>Rush said that Perry is his dream candidate.
http://gretawire.blogs.foxnews.com/rush-limbaugh-on-the-record-3/
>Michael Reagan praises Perry:
“If you don’t believe Reaganomics can still work in this day and age, for whatever reason, I say you should look no further than the state of Texas.
Under the leadership of Gov. Rick Perry, Texas has championed and built upon the concepts my father used to rebuild America in the 1980s..
In short, Reagan Revolution is alive and well - deep in the heart of Texas.”
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jun/24/reagans-vision-lives-on-in-texas/?page=1
>Ted nugent is a close friend and supporter.
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>Since Perry has been Governor of Texas, Texas has added more than 850,000 jobs, more than all other states combined. Texas has added over 180,000 jobs since August of 2009.
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>According to this web site Texas is #1 this year and last year for business friendly.
http://chiefexecutive.net/best-worst-states-for-business
Obama would not want not run against a governor that has the BEST business climate in the U.S. when everything else is in a depression.
>He refused to raise taxes when Texas faced a record $10 billion budget shortfall in 2003. Instead, he was the first Texas governor since World War II to sign a budget that lowered state spending (and has now done it twice). As governor, Perry has used his line item veto to cut over $3 billion in proposed spending.
>For seven years running, CEOs polled by Chief Executive magazine have rated Texas first in business development and job growth. Texas boasts 58 Fortune 500 companies — more than any other state.
>As America’s No. 1 exporting state, Texas shipped $206.6 billion in goods abroad last year, composing 16 percent of America’s $1.28 trillion in exports. California’s $14.4 billion in exports ranked it second, with 11.2 percent of U.S. outflow.
>Texas’ achievements so stunned Gavin Newsom, California’s Democratic lieutenant governor, that he flew a delegation to Austin last May to ask Perry how he lures defectors from the Golden State.
>Of the 70 companies that fled California in 2011, the Wall Street Journal’s John Fund reported last April, 14 relocated to Texas — these exiles’ primary destination.
http://www.news-herald.com/articles/2011/06/21/opinion/nh4142489.txt
>In 2005, Perry signed a historic $15.7 billion property tax cut for homeowners and businesses that also included new taxpayer protections against appraisal increases. In 2009, Gov. Perry secured a tax cut for approximately 40,000 small businesses in Texas and protected the Rainy Day Fund for future challenges.
>He led the battle to pass the country’s most sweeping lawsuit reforms, closing the door on junk lawsuits that had been making trial lawyers rich while driving countless doctors either out of the state or the profession all together. Since Texas voters approved these reforms, malpractice claims and premiums have fallen and access to healthcare is increasing across the state as doctors have applied in droves to practice in Texas.
>Perry is also known for his socially conservative views on homosexuality, and he opposes same sex marriage. He condemned the United States Supreme Court decision in Lawrence vs. Texas, which struck down a Texas sodomy law. He called the law “appropriate”
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ABORTION:
>Perry is pro-life and opposes government funding for elective abortions. In 2005, Perry, a social conservative, signed a bill that limited late-term abortions and required girls under the age of 18 who procure abortions to notify their parents. Perry signed the bill in the gymnasium of Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Worth, an evangelical Christian school.
>Perry signed into law a bill requiring a sonogram and doctor’s explanation before granting an abortion
>In 2005, Perry signed a new law that requires minor girls to receive parental consent before getting an abortion. This law strengthens a parental notification law Perry supported as Lt. Gov. in 1999, which
helped reduce teen abortions by 26 percent.
Perry has also signed a ban on third trimester abortions, a ban on tax dollars being used to support abortion facilities, a prenatal protection act that protects
unborn children from assault, and an informed consent law that helps expectant mothers better understand the risks and consequences of abortion. Perry supports a ban on human cloning and will veto any
legislation that provides state dollars for embryonic stem cell research, a process that ends a human life.
Perry urges to keep up pressure to roll back the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion until “Roe v. Wade is nothing but a shameful footnote in our nation’s history books.
>Perry, a frequent critic of the federal government, also bashed President Barack Obama for his administration’s policy allowing federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, saying he was deeply disturbed by studies that turn “the remains of unborn children into nothing more than raw material.”
>Perry has faulted Obama for reversing the so-called “Mexico City policy” that banned giving federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide information about abortions. Obama struck down the policy during his first week in office, saying it was too broad and undermined family planning in developing countries.
Under Obama “our federal tax dollars can now be used to fund abortion all over the world. With the stroke of a pen, abortion essentially became a U.S. foreign export,” Perry said.
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IMMIGRATION:
>Perry adds immigration issues to lawmaker session
Perry wants passage of a measure requiring every person arrested to be run through the federal immigration databases as part of the Secure Communities program. He also wants to provide the state Department of Public Safety with the authority to make sure someone is in the U.S. legally before issuing a driver’s license.
>These measures, along with a ban on sanctuary cities, would “provide a clear message that Texas will not turn a blind eye to those breaking our laws,” Perry said in a statement.
“Texas owes it to the brave law enforcement officials, who put their lives on the line every day to protect our families and communities, to give them the discretion they need to adequately do their jobs,” Perry said.
http://www.rickperry.org/media-articles/perry-adds-immigration-issues-lawmakers-agenda-0?amp
>Gov. Perry has made numerous requests of the federal govt. to enforce the border in Texas including handing President Obama a letter in person when he landed in Dallas last year.
(Obama insulted governor Perry when he turned away and Perry had to hand the letter on the illegals issue to presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett. Obama declined to personally accept it.)
>Gov. Perry refuses to meet/greet Obama in May 2011 at El Paso during his Texas tour.
Perry later declared, “If he wanted to meet, I was in Austin.
>Perry signed into law photo ID required before voting.
WHAT have other states done?? (with the exception of AZ Ok and Ga)
What have other candidates stated that they would do?
What has Sarah stated she would do?
What is Backmann’s plan?
What did Reagan do?
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2008/jan/06/rudy-giuliani/yep-reagan-did-the-a-word/
President Ronald Reagan was the first president in history to grant amnesty to illegal aliens. On November 6, 1986, he signed into law the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986, [PUB L 99-603]. In so doing, he set a precedent whereby the United States would not seek to deport illegal aliens, but to reward their lawbreaking by granting them full citizenship.
NEWSFLASH! None of them are going to do much.
We have to take the best of the lot.
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CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS BELIEFS:
In what was described as a “God and country” sermon at the Cornerstone church in San Antonio, attended by Perry and other mostly Republican candidates, the Rev. John Hagee stated, “If you live your life and don’t confess your sins to God Almighty through the authority of Christ and His blood, I’m going to say this very plainly, you’re going straight to hell with a nonstop ticket.”
Perry was asked if he agreed with those comments and said, “It is my faith, and I’m a believer of that.”[39] Perry went on to say that there was nothing in the sermon that he took exception with.
Humorist and entertainer Kinky Friedman, the Jewish independent candidate for governor in the 2006 election, said, “He doesn’t think very differently from the Taliban, does he?” Carole Keeton Strayhorn disagreed with Perry’s comments, and Democrat Chris Bell said that one who is in public office should “respect people of all faiths and denominations”.
Conservatives then responded, arguing that Perry had a right to his religious beliefs, and that he was not disrespecting Americans of other religious convictions. While visiting Israel in August 2009, Perry gave an interview to the Jerusalem Post in which he affirmed his support for Israel from his religious background, “I’m a big believer that this country was given to the people of Israel a long time ago, by God, and that’s ordained.”
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ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES:
>Perry does not believe there is valid scientific proof of anthropogenic global warming. He has said several times that there is no scientific consensus on the issue.[69] In a September 7, 2007, speech to California Republicans, Perry said, “Virtually every day another scientist leaves the global warming bandwagon. ... But you won’t read about that in the press because they have already invested in one side of the story.”
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>Pro-life, Pro-guns, pro-spending cuts, pro-business
>He’s an outside-the-Beltway candidate
>He is not a Ivy League grad
>He was an Air Force captain who flew a C-130
>Speaks Spainish.
(Odumbo says everybody should speak a foreign language, but he CAN’T)
>Fighting with Obama on many fronts
Google Perry/Obama and you will see he’s been fighting him and his government for the past two years.
>PERRY ISSUES OBAMA A COUPLE OF BIG FUBOs:
1. “Texas to Allow Regular Incandescent Bulbs”
Reports are the governor will sign Bill HB2510 by June 19th.
Bill HB2510 allows for the manufacture and sale of incandescent light bulbs otherwise banned in federal legislation of 2007, applicable from 1 January 2012 onwards.
The legality, at least in the way the proposed law is framed, has apparently been cleared with the US Attorney General’s office.
The Bill has already passed in both House and Senate with overwhelming support.
While Texas has no current manufacture, relevant parties are being invited to restart it.
Texas has been a leading US state in providing new local jobs, and this is seen as a further contributive measure.
http://freedomlightbulb.blogspot.com/2011/06/texas-to-allow-incandescent-light-bulbs.html
2.Perry Adds TSA Anti-Groping Bill to Call
http://www.texastribune.org/texas-politics/tea-party/updated-perry-adds-tsa-anti-groping-bill-to-call/ ^
Gov. Rick Perry this evening announced the addition of TSA anti-groping legislation to the agenda for the special legislative session. In a statement, he said lawmakers could consider legislation “relating to the prosecution and punishment for the offense of official oppression on those seeking access to public buildings and transportation.”
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>There is no such thing as ‘Perrycare’
>Signed into law sonogram and explanation by physician before abortion
>Signed into law, photo ID ident to vote
>Perry did not apply for federal “Race to the Top” education funds because he said it would force national standards upon Texas.
>He has vetoed a record 248 bills, including dozens after the 2001 session, angering many lawmakers.
>He said last year that President Barack Obama was “hell-bent” on turning America into a socialist country.
>Won governorship of state with lots of latinos
>He used to be a Democrat. So? So did Reagan.
>The Bush’s don’t like him
>He has NEVER lost an election, including an elementary school contest for “king” of the Paint Creek School Carnival. He secured that win by handing out pennies for votes.
>Perry has degree in animal science from Texas A&M University
>He is an Eagle Scout and wrote a book about the Boy Scouts, ‘On My Honor’.
Rick Perry uses the Boy Scouts to draw a battle line in what he considers a “culture war,” defending them against the American Civil Liberties Union and what he sees as a moral struggle for the country’s future.
The book also traces a 30-year history of litigation involving the Scouts — most of which they won — which Perry considers an attack on traditional values and faith in God.
Perry targets the ACLU as the primary force behind a leftist push to accept homosexuality and challenge Scouting’s duty to God.
http://www.rickperry.org/media/perrys-new-book-supports-boy-scouts-attacks-aclu
>Perry has a reputation for not sweating
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MISC:
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>He played quarterback on the six-man football team for the Paint Creek Pirates. He also played basketball and ran track.
>He’s a runner and triathlete.
>He is an outdoorsman who enjoys hunting and fishing.
>He plays the drums. At a January 2005 inaugural party in Washington, he played with ZZ Top in front of 2,000 people
>Perry has Romney’s looks without the other baggage.
Raised on a ranch.
Has hair.
6’ tall- presidential (especially after Obama)
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PERRY TRASHING:
Anytime governor Rick Perry is mentioned, Free Repubic seems to turn into something resembling Democratic Underground.
Posts regarding Perry are peppered with profanity, vulgarity and downright fabrications- the likes of which is seldom seen on Free Republic.
This is hardly in the best interests of our Conservative agenda. The Loony Left does not need any help from us in the character assassination of our Conservatives.
This Perry trashing comes from the Ron ‘truther’ Paul nuts, Debra Medina sour grapers, lurking Libs- and I suspect, over zealous Sarah Palin supporters and a few Bachmann supporters.
(I love Sarah and Michelle Bachmann as much as anyone else, but we MUST face reality when it comes to our beautiful Conservative ladies’ chances of winning this thing!)
Don’t you think it more sensible to trust what the Conservative icons have to say about Perry?
>Sarah Palin threw her endorsement to Rick Perry for governor-. She recently restated that she likes Perry.
>Rush said that Perry is his dream candidate. http://gretawire.blogs.foxnews.com/rush-limbaugh-on-the-record-3/
>Michael Reagan praises Perry:
“If you don’t believe Reaganomics can still work in this day and age, for whatever reason, I say you should look no further than the state of Texas.
Under the leadership of Gov. Rick Perry, Texas has championed and built upon the concepts my father used to rebuild America in the 1980s..
In short, Reagan Revolution is alive and well - deep in the heart of Texas.”
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jun/24/reagans-vision-lives-on-in-texas/?page=1
>Ted Nugent is a close friend and supporter.
Don’t you think it more sensible to trust what numerous politicians and scholars have said about Rick Perry than various haters?
VISIT THIS SITE
Read the official statements of dozens of Perry’s fellow politicians and scholars (both Democrats and Republicans) have had to say about Rick Perry: http://www.politico.com/arena/archive/rick-perry-for-president-in-2012.html
All (including Democrat opponents) have called him a staunch Conservative, and not one of the dozens issuing opinions has mentioned the vaccine or TTC.
Apparently they don’t consider these things an issue. They DID mention Perry threatening to secede from the union as a strike against him.
What Perry actually said; “You know, my hope is that America and Washington in particular pays attention,” Perry continued. “We’ve got a great union. There is absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what may come out of that? So. But Texas is a very unique place and we’re a pretty independent lot to boot.”
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The Gadasil vaccine Perry tried to “force” on Texas girls?
Dead issue.
He never tried to force it.
There was an opt out. It was up to parents to choose
Always.
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Trans Texas Hiway?
Dead issue.
If that’s the worst he’s done, I can live with it.
I just want someone who can kick the Marxist/Muslim usurper’s sorry a$$ out of our White House!!
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Bilderberg member?
Dead issue.
Governor Perry attended one meeting in 2007.
Many prominent Americans have attended these meeting.
That does NOT mean they are members or agree with their ‘agenda’- whatever that is.
Some who attended in the past: Ford, Eisenhower, Gates
Why NOT attend if invited? I would want to know what in the heck they are all about and what they are up to.
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>Americans WILL get it:
>Better looking
>Better record
>Rick Perry for President
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Former corporation chieftain Herman Cain edged out former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in The Washington Times/Conservative Leadership Conference straw poll in Henderson, Nev., on Saturday.
But, the surprise was Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Mr. Cain and Mr. Romney are declared 2012 nomination candidates, but Mr. Perry — who has not said whether he will enter the fray — nonetheless placed third in the poll.
Cain 24% Romney 21 Perry 17 Bachmann 16 Paul 8
Coyotes waking up early. Yep...Yep...yep... PDS.
Hey Bob & CW, hope "y'all" had a great 4th!
Isn't it true that Perry added TSA and SC to the call in the first special session? He could have refused to do so, avoiding it entirely. The fact that he added them had the effect of heightening awareness to the issues not just in Texas, but nationwide. I would argue that Rick Perry, more than any other single individual, has brought these two issues to the public's attention. Is that the best way for him to bury issues he'd rather not deal with?
By the way, do you know what's going on with this...
Tea Party groups urge Perry to call new special session to toughen immigration laws
This effort involves something called THE GRASSROOTS TEXANS NETWORK and a JoAnn Fleming and the Texas TEA Party Caucus.
You and CW are the Texans, what do you know about this?
“You and CW are the Texans, what do you know about this? “
Not much. I think that I heard about it, but it will likely go nowhere (but I hope that I’m wrong).
As to raising awareness...doesn’t matter. Obama talks A LOT about our deficit and debt - that doesn’t mean he gives a crap about reducing them.
LOL! Yep, we might as well shut Free Republic down, who needs all that awareness crap anyway.
Sorry Bob, I just couldn't resist that.
Have a great day! :)
Here's more.
Texas (one of only 6 states) now has a strict PHOTO VOTER ID requirement to vote.
It took Perry 6 years and the 2010 votes of Texans to get a solid GOP legislature.
Interactive – State by state Voter ID Requirements
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