Mr. Kucinich

I wish you well sir. I just wish more of your fellow party members had the principles you stand for.

All the best...

LL

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Love him, hate him, find him annoying, it doesn't matter.
What matters is that the MSM isn't even trying to hide the fact that they are Neo-Machines who will stop at nothing to silence us.
STAND UP and SPEAK OUT. Protest, write letters to local (possibly still independent-owned) papers. Tell your friends.
Because this time it's Kucinich. Who will it be next time?

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I applaud your continued attention to Mr. Kucinch's campaign. As you are an often-featured writer for Alternet, I can only express my deep desire that you keep highlighting his struggle to be heard. As a whole, Alternet is seriously dropping the ball on this issue (with the exception of the recent CS Monitor article reprint, & video editor Adam Howard's occasional featured clip). Many, many regular Alternet readers are deeply invested in, at the very least, fair coverage for Kucinich's platform. Please, please continue to do your part in keeping us informed.

The fact that Kucinich is coming in fourth in at least one major nationwide poll, even after being (for all intents & purposes) blacklisted by the MSM is very heartening news to those of us supporting him for President; hell, it should be for anyone serious about the concept of representative government. That NBC has rescinded his legitimate invitation is (while not exactly surprising) deeply disturbing. I have my fair share of paranoid moments, but this sort of thing really makes one wonder about how much is really being self-censored by our media conglomerates on a typical day.

&, of course, increases our gratitude for such heavily flawed but nevertheless important alternative news sources such as Alternet, Buzzflash, & GNN.

Thanks for giving the bravest candidate out there an invaluable few more words.

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This is not a post for any one candidate, but for anyone that has the ways, means and stamina to run for President. Unless we the people stand up and be heard by our representatives in government, this election will boil down to candidates that are handpicked by MSM (MainStream Media), not the people. MSM is jockeying their chosen candidates into the view of the American public and the American public doesn’t seem to care, much like the brainwashed Christian Fundamentalists. I’m afraid that this is also setting a nasty precedent for the future of all local, state and national elections.

I would hope that all of you have figured out that it doesn’t matter which candidate from the ‘frontrunners’ list gets elected, whether it is HC, BO, JE, RG, MH, JM, or MR, MSM will be very happy because despite their party affiliation, the status quo will proceed as usual.

In other words: nothing substantial will change during their administration. And this goes for John Edwards (Alternet's favorite shill) We’ll still be in Iraq until, at least 2013. Healthcare will be out of the reach of many people. Illegal immigration will still be a ‘problem’ for many years to come. The gap between the ‘haves” and the “have nots” will widen. And our economy will sink lower and lower into the pit of depression.

How come it seems that RP supporters are ‘kooks’ for demanding their chosen candidates’ right to speak alongside his opponents?

I have a feeling that if DK had ‘kooks’ for supporters, some of folks that frequent Alternet would be foaming at the mouth to support him by spamming Craigslist just as much as the RP’ers.

BTW, am I the only one that remembers something about a law that guarantees or requires equal time in the media for all candidates? And if I’m not mistaken, there’s a law on the books for this because MSM doesn’t own the airwaves, the people own the airwaves.

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nbc is asking for debate questions at

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22574335

i entered the following:

Mr. Todd,
Why have you changed the rules at the last second to keep Dennis Kucinich from the debate just a few hours after inviting him? Why have you disconnected/hidden your email address? What are you so afraid of?

i tried to send but ran into a "runtime error"
thought that since mr. todd is hiding maybe those who think the way nbc is treating kucinich should also ask the same questions to the debate question forum...

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Didn't see the example letter until I'd already scripted mine. I wanted to throw something in there about how they were being "unamerican", but couldn't make it fit:

I am extremely disappointed to learn that NBC has chosen to prevent candidates from participating in the upcoming Nevada debate. I have always held NBC in high regard as a reliable and honest media entity, but I must seriously second guess myself now. The media's job from a news standpoint, as I see it, is to get the public the most complete information and insight possible. By eliminating Dennis Kucinich (seemingly arbitrarily), you are not only filtering the news, but actually becoming a part of the story. All voices in this race deserve to be heard. Your credibility is at stake. If this situation is not rectified, I will have no choice but to find my information elsewhere going forward as your company is clearly not concerned with impartiality or the public's best interest.

Thank you,
my name
hometown

...everyone needs to speak up about this. Regardless of how you feel about Kucinich, our democracy is at stake.

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There should be an impeachment and there would be if more people were aware of the crimes and the press hounded this administration like they did Clinton's.

Face it, another revolution is needed. Letter writing and silent fuming will never cut it.

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It's still too early to exclude.....Both parties have those candidates that don't represent the majority, but speak to the traditions of the party and remind us all that the respective party lines can change quicker than the populous. Excluding Mr. Kucinich serves to exclude those who believe in actually carrying out a progressive platform. Sure, Kucinich followers will ultimately hold their noses and vote for the best available candidate.

They should keep Kucinich in the debates based on his contribution to the range of ideas he keeps alive by being there. It really is more about the ideas than the man because Kucinich has no chance to win. They should keep Kucinich because he reminds the candidates of their base, and forces them to answer to that base in a very public way. Having the mainstream candidates respond to those areas of groundswell support is important to the debate and ABC is missing that.

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The Kucinich campaign has passed out the following number to reach the NBC/MSNBC comment line:

212 664 4444

When the operator (I know, whhaaat?!?) picks up, just ask for the comment line.

Regardless of your chosen candidate, please let NBC & (by extension) GE know that we'll choose our President, thank you very much!

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I watched or listened to the first debate that Mike Gravel was excluded. I listened just to see if any of the demopublicans would mention Gravel being censored. I thought if any would mention it, Dennis would. Nobody, not even Dennis would stand up for Mike or decry the censorship being practiced.

I heard a clittin' speech the other day mentioning she would listen to everybody even the "invisible" people of this country. Then she went on to thank all the other candidates for their service, each by name. But that disgusting skank of a politico left Gravel off the list of all "the democratic candidates." So much for her listening to or acknowledging the "invisible" people she had mentioned only seconds earlier.

I hope this whole lot of scum choke to death on the blood money which with they line their pockets.

I ain't got any faith in kucinich either after he failed to publicly mention Gravel's exclusion.

Damn! The republicrats exhibit more decency and equity by tolerating Ron Paul than the democrats do with the contempt they show for a decent man like Mike Gravel.

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...if people can't get themselves to vote for DK is a good "none of the Above" write in vote!

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Here's what I sent, not that it will help change anything:

Who gives you, or any other media outlet, the right to "select" who we as citizens may consider for president?
It's clear from your actions and your colleagues' that you've already decided who we "may consider." Outrageous.
How dare you, with your comfy jobs and big salaries, sizable retirements and excellent healthcare packages. You don't give a HOOT about the average American, do you? Rubbing your filthy, greedy paws together while the Corporate Shill and the Great Pontificator promise you the world, right?
You people ran off Richardson, Biden and Dodd, worthy public representatives.
Obviously Kucinich, who takes no corporate funds, is next on your hit list, to be followed shortly by John Edwards.
STOP IT.
Kucinich has met your initial criteria for participating in the upcoming debate. He represents the most humanitarian platform of all.
LET HIM BACK IN.

Alexandra Bonifield


"Art is the means of keeping alive the sense of purposes that outrun evidence and of meanings that transcend indurate habit." John Dewey

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I received an email the other day with a quiz asking for my beliefs in a series of multiple choice pieces. Then, my answers were compared to the beliefs of all the candidates, blindly. I was surprised to find that Dennis Kucinich was the candidate who shared more of my views than any of the others. Of course, in diminishing order, the Republicans were last. If for no other reason, Kucinich should be included as long as he is still running just for what he adds to the debate, and for making folks think.

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You all know Senators Dodd, Biden, and Richardson have all bailed now.

I guess expecting them to redirect their campaign fund to Kucinich would be to much to expect.

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Here's what I sent:

Dennis Kucinich’s being banned from the Vegas debate is a travesty and a dirty, dirty trick played—not just on Mr. K.—but on all of us who want to see and hear learn more—not less—as 2008 wears on…. Lordy, please don’t tell me that Keith O had anything to do with such a dastardly deed!... Wish I could sign with “Sincerely, Roger”—but I can’t and I won’t.

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I'm waiting for my email to bounce back. An important part of this response has to be to refuse to watch anything on a network, not just the news, until they show a willingness to act in the best interests of all people in this country...and to let them know that. I phrase my refusal in terms of waiting to hear that a network is broadcasting real news and making ethical choices that favor true democracy.And then follow through.

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mr. holland,
nicely done. can't imagine how you kept your cool toward nbc. i am in the process of sending an email to the edwards, clinton and obama campaigns asking them to consider boycotting the debate. i know that it is a long shot. but if they purport to represent democratic values and the american people, what better way to gain points from the electorate than by boycotting the debate. i really believe, if done correctly, 'change' as they say, would most definitely occur. thanks much for the blog and continue to give space to those just outside the 'status quo' box. peace.

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The best part is when the kid gives him a ticket to attend the debate. It becomes a CD situation with the cops. Ralph, running for president in 2000, cannot even get into the debate with a ticket! Even after Fox offers him a seat in their booth --- and a chance for a rebuttal to Gore/Bush.

Every since the League of Women Voters stopped being the host, these Chicago-school "debates" have been the norm. I would also like to have Gravel in these debates, too. After all, when I took the candidate test, he was my top pick, above Kucinich and Obama. After seeing what Gail Collins reported about his stand on alcohol & pot, the debates could be more fun than the reality shows they're airing. They could call it "Who Wants to be the President".

Good work with General Electric. The media wing is starting to see some leftward movement; MSNBC is better than Fox/CNN, if that's saying something. Keith has ratings, and that is money to the bean counters. They are also looking to pick up Rosie in a trade with Disney. Read John Hockenberry for the insider track on the company, if you haven't already.

You're doing great election reporting here, as well as advocating to keep the debates open. I've worked with NBC in the past. It is a very large company (and part of an even HUGH company). Find the weak points and exploit them. If all fails, make sure the "minor candidates" get on Keith's show. But that is the "fallback" position. Let's have a REAL Democratic debate, with all the candidates.

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This is what I sent:

"Enough corruption. Let's keep the illusion that this is a free society and
let Dennis Kucinich debate.

It is obvious who the New World Order elite will elect. I do not expect a
legal election, but do not rub this sham in our faces.

Let Kucinich debate."


This has not been a democracy for a long time.

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I am thoroughly sick of the corporate media trying to decide this election before the people get a chance to speak. Dennis is the only actual Democrat running, and I for one was looking forward to seeing him in the debate. Without him, it's nothing but an infomercial!

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Dear Joshua Holland . . .

Oh, how I love you. I too am distressed. I think the only reason Dennis Kucinich does not have a chance is the public's willingness to believe the media mantra; "Kucinich is not electable." Then, we the people repeat this silly statement.

For close to a year I have heard, "I love Kucinich . . he speaks for me, but . . . " Imagine, if each of the people that express this notion voted for Dennis Kucinich. The Presidential hopeful would be . . .
Elected and Electable; Dennis Kucinich

Just as you have, I expressed my concern for our lack of choice. I penned many a missive and sent numerous letters. I received defensive dogmatic replies. Retorts stated, "We are not biased"; regardless of the evidence.

I invite you to peruse the treatises. Please share your thoughts. Trust that I too will not tune into a televised display of democracy-lost.
Kucinich Excluded From ABC Debate. Free Speech Expelled From Elections

National Public Radio Lowers the Volume [Boom] On Dennis Kucinich

Democratic National Committee Dictates Law; Denies Kucinich Constitutional Rights

Bill Moyers Asks; Is Mainstream Media Counting Kucinich Out

Americans Ask to Hear From Dream Candidate, Dennis Kucinich

The Yellow Brick Road, The Campaign Trail, And Us

Betsy L. Angert
BeThink.org

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I received an appeal from Dennis Kucinich's campaign about this situation. I responded with the following reply:

Dennis Kucinich,

Believe me, I appreciate your singular attempt to influence the choice of
candidates for president. You represent the ultimate of the balance of power to
influence by representing a minority issue that can win with a balance of power
by embracing a majority candidate's cause. That is the epitome of American
politics that results in mainly a two party system. Single issue candidates do
not cut it or even get their single issue before the public in a meaningful way.
The most famous single interest issue of our time is the rights of African
Americans who descended from slaves. They did not move their issue by fielding
single issue candidates in general elections. They grew the grass roots issues
by being a part of one of the major political parties. They did that even when a
significant part of that party was conservative racist Southern Democrats. I
always considered the term an oxymoron. Southern Democrats stayed in power by
suppressing a significant part of the southern population
at the polling places. Now it is the conservative Southern Republicans who do that.
Even when the Republican Party boasts about Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, they
suppress the black vote. But with a coalition of other issues, Democrats have
spearheaded the civil rights fight in America, not as a single issue party, but
as a multi-issue party. It did not always represent my own political view. I am
a registered Republican in Florida. I consider myself actually independent as
every American worth his Morton Salt should be.

Dennis, I urge you to support Barack Obama and get behind his anti-war, pro
human rights, Universal Declaration of Human Rights issue with the real issue of
xxxxxxxx. Get behind the other issues weakly represented by Barack Obama and
Hillary Clinton..Withdraw from the race for the presidency, you can't do it. Not
that you are not qualified, but like Bill Richardson, you cannot get to the
general election, much less have a chance to win the office. Ron Paul has as
much chance.

Your constituency exists among the supporters of other candidates. Your issues can be better
addressed by more popular candidates with you aboard than as a distant also ran.
It is time to drop out of the race and focus on the real issues that you
represent, that someone like me cannot get stage time for. You represent me in
Barack Obama's try for the nomination and if Hillary Clinton winds up the
candidate of choice, work with her to move these issues forward with the agenda
of the winner. You can't lick 'em, JOIN 'EM!

To fight for a place on the debate stage is doomed. The other candidates who
wound up on the bottom of the vote count have dropped out. There are three now.
Soon it will be two and then only one. Don't hang on 'til the major candidates
don't need you any more and you wind up in the blind spot of history. Go for the
fight within one of the candidates agenda, and then move on to work with the winner
in November.

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FYI
Here is a copy of the email I sent to NBC regarding the exclusion of Dennis Kucinich from the debate next week.

I understand that Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich has been uninvited to the Democratic debate next week on NBC. I am outraged that the candidate who I believe represents the political views of a large segment of our population has been excluded from contributing his views in preparation for a national election. We, the people, deserve to see all of our candidates and hear their views. Otherwise the media is precensoring the debate and predetermining our choices. You make use of public airwaves. Kucinich supporters are members of the public. You have a responsibility to ensure that we have the opportunity to see our candidate's plans compared with those of the other viable candidates.

Did Kucinich not meet the original criteria for participation in the debate? Was he not originally invited to attend and then uninvited? Unless I receive a reasonable and honest explanation from you, I will not view the debate and will inform everyone I know about what has occurred and encourage them to boycott the debate. If we are only presented with the views that your network approves, then it is not a real debate and not worth watching.

Thank you for your consideration.
(My Name)
Voting Citizen

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When corporate media decides to censor, expunge and ignore viable Presidential candidates, then I know our Republic is in genuine peril. When Bush ran against Gore, Ralph Nader was ARRESTED just for sitting in the audience at one of the Presidential debates. Keeping Kucinich off some state ballots although he is #4 ranking Democrat candidate is more evidence we are living in a crypto-facist state.

First, corporate media decided for the American public that Hillary Clinton and Rudy Guiliani were going to be a done deal and wind up as their parties nominees for President. Heck, why even bother with primaries and elections, why not just let the media decide for us who should be elected?

Now that Guiliani's campaign has imploded and there is no real clear front runner for Republicans - and the media utterly made a fool of themselves with worthless polls and predictions - the media continues to manipulate the election.

Refusing to allow Kucinich to debate skews the election, since voters are unable to hear a viable candidates views on critical issues. This form of media censorship makes me fear we really do not have honest, democratic elections. I expect this kind of hijinks to go on in a nation like Pakistan or North Korea, but not in an industrialized, Western "Democracy". But do we even HAVE a democracy if your network wants to shut out Dennis Kucinich from the debate?

I quit watching corporate media when the war in Iraq began in 2003. The war coverage is so skewed, sanitized and homogenized it makes me sick to watch it. Instead I watch "Democracy Now" with Amy Goodman and get 98% of my news from online alternative indie media sources.

I took about 10 minutes to contact ALL the four different MSNBC/NBC agencies. The ONLY thing they care about is ratings - so I wrote them that I quit watching their channel because of their Orewellian Byzantine tactics. If we carpet bomb MSNBC/NBC with tons of irate letters, it will have an impact and perhaps get Kucinich on the debate.

I am undecided and don't really know who to vote for. It is so confusing. I wanted initially to vote for Kucinich because I think he is the best candidate insofar as his stand on providing health care, ending the war in Iraq, fixing the economy and education. Then when I saw Kucinich was polling at 2% I thought I'd vote for Edwards. Then when Obama won in Iowa, I thought the "practical" thing o do would be to vote for him. All I know is I can't stand Hillary Clinton, despite I'd love to see a woman elected President.

I don't know if I'd vote for Kucinich, but I am passionate about his voice not being silenced in national televised debates. Evidentially, whatever he is saying is rattlign the cage of the power structure which is why he's being denied the opportunity to participate in TV debates and denied the right to be on the ballot in some states. Heck, that's enough for this Independent Voter to cast a ballot for Kucinich!

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I called the operator answered call in Comment # line : After she cordially informed me it was a voicemail line, "That is perfectly acceptable!", I replied.
Obtuse I might be yet it is very confusing as to why this is not taking Dennis' First away. I know H R 1955/1959, predated by H R 1965, is in Committees and everyone is on vacation until the 14th or 15th, ergo it has not been made law yet, if Congress is not legally permitted to abridge the freedom of speech, why the hell is the MSM and all the corporations, all, I mean 2, that own these channels are permitted to be placed above the law of the House? That was my question, sent my email 15 minutes ago, so far no auto-generated response from the Mediocracy of our Mockerocracy, yet, hmmmmmm, s'pose it's now full???? Keith Olbermann, start answering those darn phones and answering our emails, YOU CAN DO IT, KEITH? KEITH?

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Dear Friends at MSNBC:

I enjoyed some of your fine primetime programming tonight. But is it true that you invited a presidential candidate to the upcoming debate, and then backed out?
On the one hand, perhaps you thought that your scramble to change criteria for the debate would appear legitimate, since it's based on the reality of a candidate's chances for victory. Fair enough. But this ignores another reality. There is a long tradition in this country that presidential candidates are not just about the next president. They are about a national discussion. And some candidates serve an important function in democracy as they inject that discussion with issues important to Americans that might not otherwise receive attention. That is good for democracy. Stifling those voices is not.
That is one point. Another is that there may be a reason for a candidate's low polling numbers. That reason may be limited media coverage. And so, perhaps this is just an implicit acknowledgment that it's not about character or issues, it's about money and status. But should we expect more from a corporation that seeks first to court viewers through entertainment, and fits news somewhere into the circus tent.
If NBC ever has a bad quarter, and falls into fourth place behind CBS, ABC, and Fox, I'll look for you to drop out of the sweeps race, since you have no realistic chance to win over the public. Or maybe you'll stay on and continue to compete, and your press release will be that people in America should have many choices, that you bring many fresh, creative ideas to the airwaves, and that all of this is good for democracy.

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Thank you Joshua!!! Although Kucinich is not my candidate of choice, and no, it is neither of the other two the media have annointed as the king and queen of this election cycle, I do like Dennis because he thinks outside of the box.

NBC and all of the mainstream media have been trying to dictate to us, the voters, who we need to vote for and I'm sick and tired of it!! Thank you for showing NBC as the cowards they really are. Go Edwards!!!!

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Dear Mr. Todd,

I am writing to express my dismay at NBC’s decision to renege on its invitation to Representative Kucinich. Doing so involves a summary judgment to re-write your own previously announced rules to exclude Mr. Kucinich. This is clearly unethical. It is probably also illegal. Though I am not a supporter of Mr. Kucinich, I will be sending money to his campaign to defray the cost of filing suit against NBC. I am, after all, a big fan of both due process and democracy. And I both deplore and resent NBC’s attempt to manipulate this electoral process even more than it has already been manipulated by the press.

The issue is not whether Mr. Kucinich is a front-runner, or even whether he has a robust chance of securing the nomination. NBC is obliged to follow your own stated rules, and it is the holder of the sacred trust of reporting in a way that fosters and preserves democracy, rather than one which thumbs its nose at democracy. Speaking personally, I profoundly resent NBC’s disenfranchisement of me and of almost the entire electorate of the U.S. Allowing Iowa and New Hampshire pride of place in the primaries is one thing. But using the results from those small and highly unrepresentative states to eliminate candidates before the rest of us have even been given the opportunity to cast ballots is both irrational and unjust.

It is disrespectful to the voters in this country, and appallingly disrespectful to Mr. Kucinich, who has been re-elected by his constituents five times for NBC to extend an invitation to him (in accord with its stated rules of qualification) and then rewrite those rules in order to withdraw that invitation.

I will not be watching your debate, though I have watched all the other candidate debates, and though, as a citizen and a professor, I regard it as my obligation to ensure that I am fully informed about our candidates and their positions. NBC, by its peremptory and rule-flouting decision, is communicating the message to its viewers that it is the media that decides the outcome of our elections; the voters are a mere afterthought (if, indeed, we figure in NBC’s thoughts as VOTERS rather than simply as captive viewers).

I will also undertake to make sure that my colleagues, students, friends, neighbors and fellow congregants are apprised of NBC’s behavior, and urge them to join me in boycotting the debate, and in choosing other sources for news, and other manufacturers for the products your controlling corporation and your sponsors manufacture.

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I tried to make a polite but firm objection early this morning (Thailand time) to NBC/MSNBC and let them know that I will never consider any GE purchases in the future, will not watch MSNBC again (which we do receive by cable over here), will email a separate objection to the GE brass, will file a citizen's complaint with the FCC, and would "shed a tear" for the loss of any objective & fair mass media outlets in the late, great U.S. of A.---a real tear, unlike Hillary's little ploy up in New Hampshire! The email was received about eight hours ago but there has been no response.

I sure feel sorry for most of my fellow Americans now. I watched a piece on BBC where that Nazi-looking Director of Homeland Security was announcing the creation of "voter ID cards". Next thing you know Blackwater will be "jack-stepping" down Pennsylvania Ave. I'm 70 now, and retired, but will return to help when the necessary revolution begins!!!

I despair for my country...
Paul Hammond in Chiang Mai

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I am disappointed with NBC's decision to change the rules and limit participation in next week's Democratic debate to only three candidates, at the exclusion of Dennis Kucinich.

Congressman Kucinich is the only candidate with the whose values and positions are the same as the majority of Americans: ending the war today, providing equal access to healthcare for all Americans, and impeaching the Vice President, for example. His dissenting voice must be pretty threatening to the corporate interests of GE/NBC - what other reason would you have to exclude Congressman Kucinich from the debate?

I am outraged that the GE-owned NBC television network feels it has the power to decide who our choices should be for President. When ‘big media’ exert unbridled control over what Americans can see, hear, and read, the Constitutional power and right of the citizens to vote is vetoed by multi-billion corporations that want the votes to go their way.

Let Dennis in!

Sincerely -
(my name)
Springfield, IL

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It has just come to my attention that you have withdrawn your invitation to Democrat candidate Dennis Kucinich to participate in your next televised debate. Immediately, like most people probably, I suspected collusion, between your GE bosses and the three mainstream candidates, deciding that it was either that or just plain fear on the part of the corporation about what Kucinich might say. In any case, your dis-invitation cannot, despite your likely protests, be for entertainment reasons because Kucinich is a clear, concise and engaging speaker. In addition he would prevent any of the others who was tempted to vagueness or compromise of principle from getting away with it. The US - forget NBC - needs Kucinich's voice and you are wrong to stifle it. Shame on you. Scott Griffith.

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I'm glad this was highlighted. NBC, has been such a staunch Obama supporter at the exclusion of the other candidates. Like him or not, we are, or should, get impartial reporting and coverage!

Too bad alternet couldn't stream the debates!

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Dennis Kucinich is fighting so hard for all of us to have a better government. So far I haven't watched ANY debates...they are not true debates & the news clips I've seen verify it. Dennis has also filed to have a recount in the New Hampshire primary...is DIEBOLD up to its old manipulatory tricks?? My solution so far: vote for Obama in the primary and when "they" declare Hillary the winner vote for Kucinch in the general election. Won't change things, but at least this one small voice will register a tiny complaint. Seren

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In 2004 he told his delegates to vote their conscience and then he himself backed the pro-war candidate, Kerry. I heard, or was it simply a rumor or even a dream, that he was excluded from one debate already because he failed to sign the loyalty oath, saying if he loses he'll back the nominee. Did he grow a backbone? I sure hope so.

Someone above suggested that K back Obama, being the anti-war candidate. Are you freakin' insane, man? Obama is as much pro war as HRC and the others. Supports the occupation until after his 1st term, has voted for funding all along, supports war with Pakistan and Iran, support the Israeli position 100%, etc. Anti-war? Yeah, and Bush is a uniter, not a divider.

Get real folks. If I were a D I would support K and probably make this call to NBC but not in his defense but in their offense of being the Big Media annointer of the selection process.

If you really want a Party that's truly anti-war then vote Green. Or, just throw away your principles and vote by selected another pro-war D like most of you all did in 2004.

Respectfully,
Myles H.

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Not the other way around as one poster suggested. Clinton is just a shill for the bankers, oilmen, big pharm, insurance rip off industry and nothing more. So was her husband of infamy - not for the bj in the oval office but for his utter betrayal of every single working class person in this country by greasing the skids for NAFTA and backing the WTO, the IMF and GATT.

These are all nothing more than slugs in the pay of the wealthy and their corporations. A pox on all their houses. Kucinich is the only one with a genuine working class voting record. Check it out. NOt even Edwards, who talks a good game, can come close to Kucinich's record.

Nearly every Democrat candidate would have been a centrist Republican 40 years ago. Wake up.

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If we can get enough progressives in the house next year "WE THE PEOPLE" need to loby for a new version of the 1950's committe that rocked the USA into awareness. NOT with a man of bigotry and hate like a Eugene McCarthy at its helm. We need a fair unbiased investigatory body to bring before the American public a true picture of what is wrong with today's political, economic, and social enviornment. If this were to happen we might get some true, POSITIVE CHANGE in America.

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TO HELL WITH THE MEDIA THAT WANTS TO CONTROL OUR MINDS AND NOW WANT TO CONTROL WHO WE VOTE FOR. BOY COTT ALL THE SPONSERS OF THE NETWORKS THAT GO TOO FAR. ITS THE ONLY TO GET RESULTS. ......OH, THATS RIGHT, THE GREAT AMERICA CAN`T DO ANY THING FOR THEMSELVES ANY MORE....THEY HAVE ALREADY CHANGED INTO MINDLESS CONSUMERS.

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Already cancelled Fox and NBC on my cable subscription last month. As soon as my contract expires I will cancel all cable.

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Sir,
I'm most disturbed to hear that you have unilaterally amended your requirements for participation in the candidates debate of January 15th.
Dennis Kucinich has thereby been unfairly denied participation in favour of the perceived front runners Clinton, Obama and Edwards.
Since he came a convincing fourth in the recent primary which was acceptable under your existing rules it seems grossly unfair to bar him in this instance.
I hope you will reconsider.

Regards

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This of NBC, along with Manila Ryce's report the other day on MSM and Kucinich, reveals a new level of corporate-state control over the political process. In recent months the news coverage of CNN has become much more overtly manipulated. It now comes out with blatantly false statements as to what happens in Iraq, the economy, Venezuela, Pakistan, etc. as well as in the US.
A further step towards "corporate democracy" or whatever they want to call it.

JohnE

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I think people should write to the other candidates on their websites and tell them how ridiculous and biased that debate will be. NBC should be ashamed. Also , write to Brian Williams, the moderator of the debate. If anyone watched how NBC handled the New Hampshire primary, it was one of the most embarrassing shows I've ever seen. Who is that big fat ass Matthews, and why doesnt he just shut up? He is such an irritating ass. I wish reporters would just go back to reporting the news and leave their stupid worthless opinions out of it!!!

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MSNBC has no right to act as a filter, nor as a form of primary election, nor to exercise any form of discrimination or "elimination rounds" among Presidential candidates in producing the debate. What MSNBC is doing is not only corrupt, it ought to be as illegal as stuffing a ballot box or caging voters.

I will boycott the debates, and I will find out who its sponsors are and express my disgust with them for sponsoring it, and will boycott them as much as I am able.

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I am a Mayflower family member and a descendent of a signatory of the U.S. Constitution who is becoming so very disappointed in the media's form of influence on the Presidential elections in this country.

Specifically, I worry about the constant distillation of candidates who are 'permitted' to address the concerns of the Nation. The way it is being done is transparent. Initially, almost all declared candidates are allowed to be on stage but the actual time permitted for presenting is manipulated so that the appearance of equality is all that they get. Then, as they continue to be less available to the public, the numbers that might vote for them are reduced, resulting in a poorer showing which allows for continued restrictions for participating.

Americans have clearly announced their desire for serious change, beginning with the last congressional election and through the present series of primaries and caucuses. At the same time, the candidates being presented undergo a ongoing distillation to ever-more like-minded candidates until even the illusion of choice is vaporized.

The politicos and pundits have bemoaned the lack of interest and participation of new voters and the younger generations. These segments of the population have risen to the call with people like Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich. Immediately, these men are marginalized. Maybe that's the plan. As it is, many of my generation - a cross of boomers and WW II have already given up on voting as an effective activity other than locally. Now, if the kids can be shoved back down to anomie, the country can just pick a couple of 'show' candidates early and save all the hassle & expense of actual campaigning. The elections can just become another 'reality' show and even get an advertising revenue.

There are reasons that newspaper readership is in significant decline and that the "Big 3 (or 4 or 5) There is a pattern here, for those who can see what is happening. The founding fathers would be very sad, indeed. I am simply infuriated.

Christopher Wright

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Think of the effect it would have on NBC and the media in general. the other debaters And the voters if Senator Obama refused to join this rigged and reneged debate. Onward!

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I read.
I wrote.
I dugg.
You rock!

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I commend you for writing this article and shining a spotlight on evil corporate media, and for boycotting NBC, and for acting out against their decision, etc. etc. I do admire your columns, and I do love AlterNet.

HOWEVER, you are WRONG that DK does not have a chance! He very much WOULD if you and others if your ilk (progressives who agree with him but won't vote for him) energetically supported him through activism, articles, etc., AND if MSM gave him a voice, which they don't, because he's so vociferously against corporate media, and the war, and so pro-people, etc.. If people gave him a chance instead of pounding the tired mantra,"he's not electable," he WOULD be electable. He's very popular, actually, and he's gained popularity through unorthodox means: not a lot of mainstream coverage, no corporate funds, etc.

DK is the salvation of this country, and I do think you and AlterNet have done him a grave disservice by denouncing him as "unelectable." That really couldn't be further from the truth. You, The Progressive and the Nation shape opinion and very easily could have swayed more votes his way through denser coverage of him.

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As I've said before candidates poll at the numbers they do overwhelmingly because of their media coverage:

The quantity of coverage,
the quality of coverage,
and the tone (positive or negative) of the coverage all combine together to give us the polling numbers we have today.


Dennis Kucinich not being in these later debates will keep his polling numbers low since he will no longer be getting official debate coverage which of course has the effect of giving the viewing public the impression that he is not a real candidate that any of us should consider.

Fox News did the same thing to Ron Paul when they excluded him from their round table interview before the New Hampshire debate even though he polled better in New Hampshire and Iowa than some candidates who were included in that interview. The effect of course is to give the viewing public the impression that he is not a real candidate that any of us should consider.


What do we do about this?

On the one hand I think any media company should be able to cover or not cover any candidate they wish as long as it isn't an Over The Air TV station since they are supposed to have the public good in mind.

Many of these debates were on CNN and Fox News which are cable stations and should not be subject to the same requirements since they don't use the shared natural resource of the RF spectrum.

Again though this leaves me with the question, what do we do about this?

How do we the people start controlling our candidate selection process instead of letting the media companies do it for us?

These are issues we need to resolve if we are ever going to get candidates whose views are not inline with the big media companies elected into the Presidency.

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This is why non- Kucinich supporters need to respond to this.... this blatent slap in the face to Liberals/Progressives everywhere:

THEY ARE SO BOLD NOW THAT THEY DON"T GIVE A HOOT about anything we can say or do. That is clear by their actons. They think they can get away with deliberate news black-outs, with shutting off candidates, with any DAMN thing they want to... They run the show, not us... Thats their message to us. And if we dont like it....

"Go put on yer aluminum foil hats and have a gay pride parade for all we care."

It is so blatent, so obvious that it cannot be other than calculated to stomp-in this message.

"...Your own party obviously won't lift a finger to help you, so why should we fear you at all? Go to hell, you peace-nik freaks. WE run the show, not you."

This is what's going on here. Even if you do not support Kucinich, this is slapping you in the face as well. Because as soon as this is left unchalleneged... When they see proof that they are right, that no one else cares or will help... Then what's next??

They are laughing at you, too.

This is how it started in Germany.

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I've decided to go one step further than Josh Holland. I not only wrote NBC to tell them I wasn't watching their three-way debate, but I also told them I would be boycotting the advertisers of NBC and MSNBC throughout the election season, and that I would instead buy rival products. I urge all those who agree with Mr. Holland and me to do the same.

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nbcuni.com, his current e-mail.

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NBC parent company money trail http://global.gemoney.com/home.html

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http://global.gemoney.com/whereweoperate/usa.html

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(1.) The Democrat Party is also responsible for this. Obama, Clinton and Edwards can refuse to debate on NBC (as they earlier did with respect to FOX) in protest of this blatant attempt to truncate the discussion. Just as they have been complicit and accomodating to Bush on the occupations, they are now being complicit and accomodating to the corporate media.

(2.) This is the same kind of shit that was constantly pulled on Nader and was disregarded by the same people who now see it as an important civil rights issue (which it is). The hypocrisy is overwhelming. When Nader was recently asked why he doesn't run as a Democrat, he responded that the questioner should notice what's happened to Kucinich.

The fact is that we are confronted by a corrupt, two-winged corporatist party that cannot be reformed, especially not by those who are committed to supporting whatever hegemonist is eventually nominated.

I really hope third party candidates are brought into this. Ron Paul (who is also the victim of these manipulations) should leave the Republican Party and run as a libertarian, and any one of about a million real progressives should run on the left.

Of course, we would still need a mass movement that would demand that more than two tiny slivers of the international political spectrum be represented in televised debates, and I would hope that those who are making demands on behalf of Kucinich would remember then what their arguments are now.

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I respect your journalism, Mr. Holland, I really do. But those are all just excuses and reeks of a truly defeatist attitude. I'm sorry, but it does. I'm just being frank.

AlterNet, the Progressive, and the Nation have all let us down. You go with your conscience, always, and this is something that AlterNet et al have admirably reinforced. DK could be a lot more successful if you three (plus Tom Paine and other alternative sites I don't read regularly) gave him more of a push. We NEED DK, not these corporate robot Democrats.


PS I really do appreciate the majority of your articles, and I also really do appreciate that you respond to your readers. I'm not kissing ass - it's how I feel, and wanted to make sure that gets across despite my misgivings about AlterNet's negligent coverage of DK. And the latter really does piss me off!

Cheers.

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with two first names

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NBC's host partners for this coming Tuesday's debate on Black-Brown Issues are:

Nevada Democratic Party www.nvdems.com

100 Black Men of America www.100blackmen.org

African American Democratic Leadership Council www.dlc.org

US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce www.ushcc.com

IMPACTO (of the Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce) www.lvlcc.com

College of Southern Nevada www.csn.edu

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Don't forget the MS in MSNBC stands for Microsoft.

Looks like I will only be buying Apple computers from now on or building computers with Linux.

I'll be closing my hotmail accounts shortly.

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I wrote a letter too, however, I feel the only thing that would really be effective here is for Obama and Clinton to speak of and say this is wrong. I wrote both of their campaigns too. If they truly are the front-runners then it would not hurt them to stand up for the rights of others, as a matter of fact I think it would make a huge impression on the voting public is not currently backing them. Send MSNBC and NBC letters, but send them to Obama and Clinton too! Let them know they have a responsibility here and that as a potential future president we expect them not to stand for this kind of thing.

FYI, I also tried to send in a question, though i stayed away from the Kucinich thing. I asked the candidates to give specific reasons for not supporting single payer not for profit healthcare and I got a run time error as well. SO glad I am getting to participate!

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I just submitted this article to their site.

If concerned people go there & "add buzz", then more Progressive types will get a chance to hear about this absurdity.

http://www.buzzflash.net/shakeit.php

Each click (one per customer, of course) will bump the story closer to the front page.

Seriously, there is no other mention of this story (that I could find) on Buzzflash at this time, so let's get it seen!

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Speak up Keith!
Actually, I'm confident that any response Mr. Olberman might have on this election manipulation, would be mightily and swiftly squashed by his producers and the network...most certainly by GE.
And now, yet ANOTHER reason to avoid GARBAGE network television.

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I posted this story earlier to our blog earlier. I think its important to point out that GE owns NBC, and they are one of the world’s top three producers of jet engines, supplying Boeing, Lockheed Martin and other military aircraft makers for the powering of airplanes and helicopters. GE has benefited greatly from this "War on Terror".
I am also curious what the connection is with the timing of NBC 'un-inviting' Kucinich and his asking for a recount of the NH Primary, and questioning the integrity of the results from the Diebold scanning machines.. Does NBC just not want any discussion of possible election fraud? Or of Diebold in general?
There were valid reasons for his asking for the recount. I for one am very glad that he did. The integrity of our elections and the counting of all our votes should matter greatly to all Americans, regardless of party. If we can't trust our elections, then we have no more democracy.

I wrote to the Kucinich campaign and encouraged him to hold a simultaneous town hall meeting (if he remains excluded) in Nevada where he would have a heck of a lot more speaking time than the debates give him on the stage. I asked him to field questions from the audience, have the entire thing videotaped and put it up on YouTube. He would have a lot more time to answer the questions to voters’ satisfaction on a broader range of issues and subjects. It would probably get a heck of a lot more coverage. He can still get his message out and draw distinction between himself and the other candidates.
I think he should do it. I really hope he does it.

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Now you know why I never watch network TV.
They've been excluding news/candidates the corporate owned networks don't like for years. Everybody has forgotten that we the people own the airwaves. Fuck the corporate media!

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I sent the following to NBC. Maybe they still have some latent conscience left. I know the last sentence is a stretch, but I still remember the old, glory days of TV news.

-----------
I have just learned that NBC has disinvited Kucinich from the Las Vegas debates, after first stating that he had met the criteria for being included. Even children know that it's unfair to change the rules in the middle of the game. This offends almost everyone's sense of fair play. Broadcast stations use the public airways to operate, and cable channels make use of public right-of-ways to deliver their signals. All the media has a responsibility to operate in the public interest.

Please restore my faith in the integrity of NBC news by including everyone who met the original criteria in the debate.

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Only Alternet readers seem to care. This reminds me of a conversation i had with my father. I told him about my furstations with the frontrunners and how they get all the attention, and he responded that "America isn't progressive enough." After seeing Americans not protest these obvious ploys by corporations to control the elction, i'm thinking my dad is right

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it was so wonderful to hear someone who believes in the possibility of America and is willing to stand up.

I've taken the pledge, everyone should take the pledge... SILENT NO MORE

We need to speak up for our principles while we still can.

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Here is where we liberal and democratic people are idiots. We have to recognize this is ALL ABOUT MONEY... and it is only through MONEY... not through appeals to INTEGRITY and ETHICS, that will get the attention of the corporate interests.

Here is how you get the this done... through the SPONSORS.

We need to start a VIRAL EMAIL campaign and copy the SALES DEPARTMENTS of any media, such as NBC that pulls this "selective amnesia" when it comes to who the candidates are.

We need to ESPECIALLY target the sponsors that have commercials running DURING THE DEBATES.... and COPY them on the same emails.

We need to let the corporations know that we will NOT BUY THE PRODUCTS of any company that advertises on a network, or media outlet, that pulls these shenigans.

Let us all WATCH the debates... make NOTES of who the sponsors are during the commercial breaks... and start sending out thousands of emails... copying those sponsors.

This will make the NEXT media/debate hosts think twice.

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The news that Dennis Kucinich was dismissed by NBC regarding his participation in the Las Vegas debate carries a more blatant message than usual that our democracy is in trouble, even as we listen to messages from the current Administration to the rest of the world about the value of democracy. While NBC believes it will simply carry on and while it believes that its viewing numbers have to do with the diversity of its portfolio, this is not the greatest truth. What is true is that the uneasy feeling in my gut translates to a further slide into distrust. Does this translate into numbers that will hurt NBC over time? You bet. I’ll do my part to make it so given media choices at hand. Fundamentally, NBC’s decision in this instance has forced a position – NBC or democracy.

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see video: Boycott the MSNBC Democratic Debate On Tuesday because Dennis Kucinich was excluded (send video to everyone you can)

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democratic party. I have not yet voted, yet they were deciding for me who would be available for me to see. I asked the DNC if they really cared if I even voted. Over the years I have vacationed in Nevada repeatedly. I explained to them that there were 49 other states. I explained to MSNBC that if they make their viewers mad, they don't come back. I never watch anything but Keith Olberman anyway.

General Motors got arrogant with me in 1962. They had 59 percent of the market. They now float between 18 and 22. When businessmen get arrogant they drive their customers off. NBC should know that their viewership is dropping like a rock. Good-bye NBC.

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Don't let big media decide for you! Censoring the candidates and excluding them from the debates is overtly undemocratic. We must all take a stand against this erosion of our freedoms by both boycotting and calling and letter writing NBC, MSNBC and the DNC. Express your displeasure, tell them why it is wrong, and don't gforget to tell them that you will be boycotting their stations and not buying their corporate sponsors (and owners) products any longer. The Power of the People is still a viable force to be contended with, when we act together.

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Democracy is dead, long live democracy.
Well, time to close doors and windows, go underground, resume the good old fight for freedom, prepare to be imprisoned, tortured or die for it.
Prepare to a new form of imprisonement that goes with character destruction, because your lives will be screened to the limit like in orwell's 1984.
Prepare to be two persons and to completely preserve the inner one from the outside world.
Prepare to live in darkness and survive in the limits and, above all, prepare our children and grandchildren to do it and survive too.
Prepare our minds to the new rules, accept that legal or political argumentation is a thing of the past, and the old law of force is back again.
Prepare to destroy or be destroyed, by all possible means.
Prepare to be third world again, like the vast majority of humanity has always been.
Prepare to see the crumbling of the world you believed without letting your own beliefs crumble with it.
But, above all, show no mercy towards the ennemies, like the one in the photograf above.
Like an old italian mason from the nineteenth century said before the guillotine, "good night, world".

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