Changes at BRM
Basic Rights Montgomery is the organization charged with pulling together the campaign to get people to vote Yes on C -- to support the Montgomery County nondiscrimination law that was passed unanimously by the County Council last November, but will be on the ballot as a referendum this November unless an appeals court says otherwise. The campaign has been led by campaign manager Opel Simmons and assistant campaign manager Eric Anthony. Today Opel Simmons left the organization.
Dan Furmansky, Executive Director of Equality Maryland and a member of the BRM steering committee, had this to say in an email this afternoon:
I had a congenial meeting with Opel and Eric last week, productive and positive, and I wish Opel the very best. The organization is in capable hands with Eric Anthony, who has successfully managed a number of campaigns.
Dan Furmansky, Executive Director of Equality Maryland and a member of the BRM steering committee, had this to say in an email this afternoon:
Basic Rights Montgomery's campaign manager, Opel Simmons, has left the campaign for personal reasons. Our deputy manager, Eric Anthony, who has been involved in the campaign from the beginning, will step up as campaign manager, and we will be fleshing out an additional campaign support structure in the next week.
I had a congenial meeting with Opel and Eric last week, productive and positive, and I wish Opel the very best. The organization is in capable hands with Eric Anthony, who has successfully managed a number of campaigns.
posted by JimK at 8:03 PM
45 Comments:
teflon, baby, teflon
ladies and gentlemen,
we have ourselves a
freakin' female Ronald Reagan
go team USA
Now let's contrast Palin's behavior with that of Barack Obama. Here is Obama, from his speech at the Democratic National Convention. "It's not because John McCain doesn't care. It's because John McCain doesn't get it." Obama faulted McCain for his cruel and insensitive philosophy, which he defined this way: "Out of work? Tough luck. No health care. The market will fix it. Born into poverty? Pull yourself up by your boot straps, even if you don't have boots. You're on your own."
Obama rejected the bootstraps philosophy in favor of a Christian alternative. In his interview with pastor Rick Warren, Obama said his favorite passage in the Bible is the one where Jesus says: whatever you do to the least of my brethren, that you do unto me. Obama has actually used biblical language to make the point that we are our brothers' keeper. Obama insisted that these are the ideals that have guided his life and the ones that he would bring to the Oval Office.
Now how can Obama's self-description be reconciled with news reports that Obama's younger half-brother lives in a hut in a shanty town on the outskirts of Nairobi? Vanity Fair caught up with twenty six year old George Hussein Onyango Obama, and what he had to say is as shocking as it is pathetic. "No one knows who I am. I live here on less than a dollar a month." George's shack measures 6 feet by 10 feet, and yet he says that Barack Obama has done nothing to reach out to him or to help him. "I live like a recluse. If anyone says something about my surname, I say we are not related. I am ashamed." The two Obamas only met twice, once when George was five and then again in 2006 when Senator Obama visited Nairobi. "It was very brief," George says. "We spoke for just a few minutes. It was like meeting a complete stranger."
So far what has Obama said about his half-brother? Absolutely nothing. Yet the Obama campaign has not denied the story. And Obama's supporters, attempting to cover up for their man, have basically said that young George Obama is trying to benefit from Barack Obama's success. Their argument is that Obama owes his sibling nothing. So the Obama camp has a message for George: "Pull yourself up by your bootstraps, even if you don't have boots. You're on your own." Obama's accusation against McCain turns out to be an accurate description of his own practical philosophy.
Could there be a more striking contrast between Palin's loving approach to her family and Obama's stern rejection of his own half-brother? The media seems to be implying that Palin is hypocritical because she stands for "family values" while her daughter is pregnant out of wedlock. But parents don't have full control over their teenagers' actions. Moreover, isn't Obama an even bigger hypocrite for championing aid to the down-and-out while his own sibling lives in an African hut on pennies a day? By the way the Obamas made several million dollars last year! They are certainly in a position to relieve George's condition if they cared enough.
The major newspapers and networks know about George, and they seem to recognize how damaging this story is for their favorite presidential candidate. So they are not reporting it, even though it is one of the most revealing stories about the candidate's character. And thus, with the GOP convention under way, we have the ridiculous spectacle of Obama getting credit for talking about compassion while Palin gets criticized for practicing it.
The red meat the GOP served last night was caribou - raw. And it's soon to join the endangered species due to loss of habitat if Palin gets her wish to open up the tundra to oil exploration, because we all know the oil companies record making profits are not enough.
Don't expect any disappointed Hillary voters are going to flock to the moose-bagging barracuda. Lastest polls show Obama moving ahead, widening his margins.
Latest (Sept 3) polls show Obama surging ahead:
Iowa (CNN): Obama (D) 55%, McCain (R) 40%
Minnesota (CNN): Obama (D) 53%, McCain (R) 41%
Ohio (CNN): Obama (D) 47%, McCain (R 45%
Nationwide (Gallup): Obama (D) 49%, McCain (R) 43%
Nationwide (Rasmussen): Obama (D) 50%, McCain (R) 45%
Congress (Rasmussen): Democrats 46%, Republicans 36%
After a party has a convention, there's usually an uptick.
Obama's in small by historical standards.
Iowa and Minnesota were already assumed blue states in this election. Good cherry-picking.
Remember this week has been a greater than usual display of bias for the media, zeroing in on the inexperience of Palin after months of ignoring a less impressive resume from pundit favorite, B Obama. The media pundit class was called out by Palin last night. I don't think we need to tell you how the American people sided as they watched it.
Let's see what the polls show after the Romney-Huckabee-Guliani punches followed by the knockout blow delivered by Palin last night and the culmination speech of the only American war hero running for President tonight.
The south, including Texas and Florida, are a lock for the war hero. So are Ohio, Pennsylavania, Michigan and Missouri.
The community organizer may take California and New York but he'll have to spend all his money doing it.
Look at the map and add these numbers up.
You'll find the next P will be a war hero and the net VP will be a hockey mom.
It'll be a mandate.
"In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers.
And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change."
Get ready, America.
"Anonymous" Pay attention...stay focused on the topic of Jim's blog. You are obsessed with Palin, the failed beauty queen, and McCain, the "war hero". Your views about these losers have nothing to do with the subject at hand. Get a grip...get a life.
RT
"Palin, the failed beauty queen"
I hardly call runner-up for Miss Alaska a failure.
I call it va-va-va-boom.
Palin's selection has re-energized pro-family forces in America. They will be much more likely to show up at the polls in overwhelming numbers.
If you don't think that's appropos to TTF's cause, I don't know how I can reason with such irrationality.
"The campaign has been led by campaign manager Opel Simmons and assistant campaign manager Eric Anthony. Today Opel Simmons left the organization."
Oh, OK, subject at hand:
The effort to rescue 23-07 is clearly flopping like a fish thrown on the riverbank.
Changing the head guy two months before showtime is a desperation move.
Luckily, a lot of money is being wasted on an appeal so the new guy is going to be strapped for resources.
Things are looking good for freedom of association in MC.
Go team CRG!
Media bias?
Today there's a quarter-page ad in the A section about how allowing immigration (any immigration) will despoil America, paid for by a conglomeration of nativist, xenophobic organizations.
I see ads from the Radical Right in the Post, but I haven't seen any from Radical Left organizations.
Media Bias?
The whole bit about the mainstream media being biased in favor of liberalism is sleight of hand. If you say it often enough, people begin to believe you.
Media bias? The Post has bought and pushed our current foreign adventures hook, line and sinker, despite all the evidence.
Media bias? Yeah right. "Fair and Balanced?" Maybe if you hang with trolls.
rrjr
Really, Robert.
Compare the number of stories in the less than a week implying that Palin is unqualified for VP as a first term governor with the total number of stories over the last year and a half about Obama being unqualified as a first term Senator.
How do you explain this discrepancy?
Here's what the "fair and balanced" Fox News analysis said about Palin:
...The pick earned McCain praise Friday from evangelicals and other social conservatives who have been skeptical of him. "Conservatives will be thrilled with this pick," said Greg Mueller, a conservative GOP strategist.
The price for that support could be high. Palin's lack of experience undercuts GOP charges that Obama is not ready to be commander in chief. McCain said in April that he was determined to avoid a pick like Dan Quayle, the little-known Indiana senator whom George H.W. Bush put on his ticket in 1988. The choice proved embarrassing.
Quayle "had not been briefed and prepared for some of the questions," McCain said while discussing his vice presidential search. He was clearly aware that, as a septuagenarian, the decision he made about a running mate would be "of enhanced importance."
Four months and one birthday later, McCain's announcement of Palin made clear the paucity of her experience.
Palin = Quayle
Obama = JFK
The latest gallup poll shows Mccain's selection of Palin has backfired on him. Obama leads Mccain by 49-43.
http://voices.kansascity.com/node/1989
The end of Bush/Mccain tyranny is in sight!
Priya,
You've basically repeated what another TTF lunatic already reported at 7:47 this morning.
Not one new idea to your post.
It was discussed and dismissed.
Read my brilliant response.
CTBS,
Dan Quayle was a fine and bright guy. I knew him when he lived in Washington. He did make a mistake in his enthusiastic first appearance but basically the liberal press victimized him.
None of this has happened to Sarah Palin. She hasn't rolled over but fired back. Polls currently are showing her with high positive ratings.
Someone accused me earlier of obsession with her.
OK, fair enough. Let's talk about the very hot Cindy McCain. She's looked great this week. Watching her up in the box with the Palin family last night, I was thinking, "Madame Onassis had nothing on you."
Republicans have an embarassment of riches this year.
Republicans have an embarassment of riches this year.
Good, then they'll be fine, fat and well-fed in their retirements to be handed out in November.
Sybil says…
“Really, Robert.
Compare the number of stories in the less than a week implying that Palin is unqualified for VP as a first term governor with the total number of stories over the last year and a half about Obama being unqualified as a first term Senator.
How do you explain this discrepancy?”
I’d like to know too, how is it possible to come across as less qualified in a week than it does in a year and a half?
Compare the number of stories in the less than a week...
You think Palin's only been around for a week? Get your head out of wherever you keep it and open your eyes.
Palin's been running for public office since 1992, Obama since 1997. Yet as of today there are 8 times as many google hits for "Obama, inexperienced" as there are for "Palin, inexperienced." These facts prove what? That the media tilts right, not left!
Republicans have an embarassment of riches this year.
After eight years of Bush/Cheney turning the Clinton surplus into giveaways to their GOP cronies and deficits for our children to pay off, of course Repugnicans are wallowing in riches nowadays! You may not want to talk about that too loudly though, it rubs most Americans the wrong way.
That's why the Democrats, on the other hand, are flush with American voters eager to make a change, Americans who want to turn away from the politics of fear and smear and greed. Voters all over this great land are turning toward the change we need.
"I’d like to know too, how is it possible to come across as less qualified in a week than it does in a year and a half?"
It's possible because of the bias of the press, Improbable.
Any objective examination of the facts would show Palin has more relevant experience than Obama.
You can tell this is true by the response of the Obama campaign. The first day they talked about the experience factor but as the Republicans have answered with the obvious, the have become silent.
Red Baron, we've seen the laughable results of your over-confident predictions for the future before. Remember "president Huckabee's going to do this and president Huckabee's going to do that" and then "Huckabee's going to be Mccain's running mate", and then "Condoleeza rice is going to be Mccain's running mate" and then "Colin Powel's going to be Mccain's running mate" and then it was "there's a conspiracy to make Huckabee president and Mccain's in on it."
You're brilliant all right, brilliant like mud. Obama's lead in the vast majority of polls and its clear he's going to win. Based on your history of failed predictions we can safely assume when you say Mccain will be president it'll actually be Obama.
“Any objective examination of the facts would show Palin has more relevant experience than Obama.”
Exactly! She clearly knows how to come across as less qualified than Obama in MUCH less time.
Well, if you like looking at history, it's hard to see Obama winning.
War hero v. non-military
war hero wins
When Dems don't have a Southerner on ticket
Repubs win
When the economy is expanding, as it has for the last six months
incumbent wins
where's your historical precedent?
"Exactly! She clearly knows how to come across as less qualified than Obama in MUCH less time."
So, you're saying Obama's like that guy who pretended to be a surgeon and a pilot but had no education or experience. They made a movie about him with Leo C.
Thanks for being honest.
Anonymous:
War hero, John Kerry
Non war hero, George bush.
Non-war hero won
Strike one.
The U.S. economy is in recession and Bush has run up a monstrous deficit after Democrats left him with a surplus, you're lying about the facts won't change them.
Strike two.
Obama consistently ahead in the polls,
Stike three, hell strikes one two and three, its clear which way this is going.
Obama's going to win and your grand delusions are going to be wrong yet again.
"War hero, John Kerry"
Serving is not the same as being a hero. Pictures were uncovered of him cavorting with anti-American Jane Fonda and other treasonous types.
"The U.S. economy is in recession"
That is not true. The U.S. economy has expanded for the last two quarters, and the second was better than the first.
"Obama consistently ahead in the polls,"
History has shown no correlation between leading in late summer and victory in the fall.
Obama will probably be able to get some nice speaking fees though.
And it could find out what its like to actually work in the Senate instead of running around the country ignoring what his constituents in Illinois elected him to do.
McCain was not a war hero! Being captured after your airplane has been shot down does not make you a hero; incarcerating him for a period of time does not make him a hero (if this were so, I would guess all of the captives at Guantanamo are heros!!). Supporting Bush in 90% of his votes does not make him a hero. And...selecting an incompetent to run as his "soul mate" does not make him a hero.
John kerry was more of a war hero than John Mccain. Mccain miserably failed his first mission and sat out the war in camp. Kerry was there for his whole tour of duty fighting as he was expected to do, he won three purple hearts and a bronze star. Your insane suggestion that he is "not a war hero" is demented andf unamerican.
I pointed out to red baron "The U.S. economy is in recession"
He laughably replied "That is not true."
Bzzzt wrong answer:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7597692.stm
"The US economy is facing slow growth and higher prices, according to the most recent survey by the US central bank, the Federal Reserve.
Economic activity was "weak, soft or subdued" across the country, said the Fed's latest Beige Book report. "
Red baron said "History has shown no correlation between leading in late summer and victory in the fall.".
Bzzzt wrong answer.
History has consistently shown a correlation with being ahead in the polls and winning. Obama is clearly and consistently ahead, he's going to win.
Your constant denial of reality won't change it.
"That is not true. The U.S. economy has expanded for the last two quarters, and the second was better than the first."
Minus the $trillion we spent on an unnecessary "war," why yes, everything's just hunky dorey peachy keen.
Let's all poke our heads back in the sand now.
Here's something, Anonymous Troll, that ought to tickle your fancy and make you mighty proud.
Of the 2,380 delegates to the Republican Fantasy Fest in St. Paul, only 26 were black Americans. 5% were Latino/a. The Republican Party is a party of exclusion: elitist, white, anti-intellectual, Christo-fascist, and filled with hate. You don't even have the guts to admit that the reason you oppose Sen. Obama is that you are also racist.
Not a Republican...an American
“So, you're saying Obama's like that guy who pretended to be a surgeon and a pilot but had no education or experience. They made a movie about him with Leo C.”
So you‘re saying she‘s skilled at coming across as a ditz, when in actuality she‘s not?
Why bother put that much effort into it when the only qualification necessary for responding to a terrorist attack is to read a children’s book?
Thirteen Keys to Keeping the White House
Obama wins!
While I do believe in the freedom to express your opinion, I think it comes with responsibilities. This is Jim's blog so it's his call. But I really don't think its right for someone to come here and divert the conversation like anonymous has done.
It's very disrespectful.
Like I said, it's Jim's call but I think something should be said about this.
While I've contributed to anonymous's bad behavior I agree with Black tsunami and I'd like to see Jim rein anonymous in by deleting these off topic posts
I have deleted some comments recently because they were irrelevant, but I'm letting this thread run because really there's not much to say that's on-topic. A campaign manager stepped down, that's all we know. If you all want to get sucked into a debate with Anon about politics, well, it is the season for it. You could just let her make obnoxious statements and have the last word.
Every comment comes to my email, I don't read them all but I look them over and if I see something objectionable I don't mind deleting it. I have blocked a few IP numbers over the years, too, but generally I try to let the discussion go on. I sympathize with your frustration, but prefer not to interfere unless it's really bad.
JimK
"You don't even have the guts to admit that the reason you oppose Sen. Obama is that you are also racist. "
So by that brilliant rationale, if you oppose Gov. Palin you are a sexist ?
Brilliant, anon, just brilliant.
Red Baron, we oppose palin because she's unqualified and dangerously bigoted. You oppose Obama because you're a racist and a bigot.
Loved your response to the factual statement about under-representation of minority populations at the Republican Fantasy Fest, Anonymous Troll. But then, you always attempt to obfuscate whenever someone brings up a point that is embarrassing to you! Good arguing tactic...change the subject whenever an argument doesn't go your way. You are soooo clever!! NOT
btw...Jim identified you as "she"("...let HER make obnoxious statements") - is that true?
American
"You oppose Obama because you're a racist and a bigot."
This comes from a Canadian.
Here in America, we, both jackasses and pachyderms, rejoice that the racial barrier has been broken.
We would negate that triumph if we were to treat Obama any differently from any other liberal with next to no experience.
How many blacks have been nominated to lead Canada?
Neat little side-step, Anonymous Troll: "Here in America, we, both jackasses and pachyderms, rejoice that the racial barrier has been broken."
Apparently the barrier wasn't broken at the Republican Fantasy Fest and you have said absolutely nothing about how abhorrent that was! Absent any criticism from you about your party's inherent racism, we must conclude that you support it.
What happens in Canada is irrelevent to our problem in this country. People like you are still denying whatever advances our minority populations have made, despite your party's policies, and you work assiduously to maintain what you see as our "lily-white, Judeo-Christian (sic.) anti-immigrant, anti-minority" nation.
Be honest for once in your life!
American (not Canadian)
Anonymous, no black person has chosen to run for a party leadership in Canada, if they did I assure you they'd encounter far less racism than blacks do in the Republican party. When it comes to Racism the U.S. has always been king. The U.S. enslaved black people, Canada never did. U.S. slaves initially had to escape to Canada to be free - doesn't the "underground railroad" ring a bell?
Anonymous said "We would negate that triumph if we were to treat Obama any differently from any other liberal with next to no experience.".
What hypocrisy. Obama's got far more experience then Palin and you're kissing her butt left right and centre. You're clearly a racist or this wouldn't be the case.
"Absent any criticism from you about your party's inherent racism, we must conclude that you support it."
Hey, let's be fair now, they showed 4 shots of African Americans during the McCain speech. Three of them were of the same person, but still...
"Obama's got far more experience then Palin"
I haven't heard anyone else try to argue that. Let's hear what you're talking about, Prya.
The world is waiting for this new information you've apparently discovered!
C'mon, Prya.
Help us out.
We want to know how "Obama's got far more experience then Palin".
Don't keep to yourself.
We need to know this.
Palin has less than two years as governor of one of the least populous states in the union. In contrast Obama spent 8 years in the Illinois senate, is a graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law school. He taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago for 13 years, and he's been a senator for 4 years. Palin's "experience" pales in comparison to obama.
Again, your hypocrisy and racism is apparent, you claim experience is important to you yet you blow the horn of the wet behind the years Palin and claim her superior is inexperienced.
Palin has been in politics since 1992. Obama has since 1997.
Moreover, her experience has been more like that of a President. She has been an executive.
Teaching at law school, sitting on the Senate floor listening to your Ipod and visiting Starbucks across the country, don't qualify you for the Presidency.
I know you're thinking that her city and state were small but Americans reject the idea that our leaders can only come from big states. And remember that Obama has had no accomplishments in the Senate, even on those few days when he's shown up at work.
Palin has been in the governor's office rather than on the campaign trail.
She also accomplished a feat last Wednesday night that has eluded more experienced politicians: she cut Obama, the American Idol, down to size.
Big difference.
Sarah Palin on International Relations
Good voting record, Senator McCain!
Making McCain's (lack of) Voting Record An Issue
by: Daniel De Groot
Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 10:00
http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=7979
"For quite some time we have been noting that the Republicans ran a hugely obstructionist strategy in the Senate, running up a record total of cloture motions. McCain, in his effort to cast himself as some kind of trans-partisan agent of change was of course fully on board with this agenda.
Further, McCain by far, leads the pack of senators for votes skipped during the 110th Congress. McCain skipped 63.8% of votes. He beats out stroke sufferer Tim Johnson, and both Obama and Clinton in the midst of their epic struggle who all still managed to attend a majority of votes.
Let's take a peek at that record, after all McCain says:
"The constant partisan rancor that stops us from solving these problems isn't a cause, it's a symptom. It's what happens when people go to Washington to work for themselves and not you.
Again and again, I've worked with members of both parties to fix problems that need to be fixed. That's how I will govern as President. I will reach out my hand to anyone to help me get this country moving again. I have that record and the scars to prove it. Senator Obama does not."
Daniel De Groot :: Making McCain's (lack of) Voting Record An Issue
I've looked through all the rejected cloture votes of the 110th Senate where the cloture motion got a majority. So this is where a bill would have passed, if not for the Republican minority blocking it. Here's a representative chunk of them:
McCain skips a vote on a bill to create energy independence. Which he just promised to achieve in his Nomination Acceptance speech. McCain's vote would have been decisive as the measure failed cloture 59-40. But McCain hates partisanship. Obama voted yea.
McCain skipped the vote on cloture for the economic stimulus package. Cloture failed 58-41. If McCain had voted yea, Reid would also have and cloture would be invoked. Obama voted yea.
McCain skipped the vote on cloture for the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Cloture failed 56-42. Obama voted yea.
McCain skipped the vote on the Medicare Improvements Act. Cloture failed again 58-40, with McCain's potential "yea" being decisive. Obama voted yea.
McCain skipped the vote on the bill to increase the minimum wage. It failed cloture 54-43. Obama voted yea.
McCain skips a vote on cloture for a sense of the Senate on Iraq. It fails 49-47. I thought McCain had strong opinions on Iraq? Obama voted yea.
McCain skips another vote on cloture for a sense of the Senate on Iraq. Cloture fails 56-34. Obama voted yea.
McCain skips a vote on cloture for a bill to fund the Iraq war and compel redeployment. It fails 53-45. Obama voted yea.
McCain skips a vote on an energy conservation bill. No opinion on the energy crisis I guess. Cloture fails 50-44. Obama missed this one.
McCain skips a vote on cloture for an energy bill. Fortunately energy is not an issue the American people care about. It fails 57-36. Obama voted yea.
McCain skips a vote on another Energy cloture vote. It fails 53-42. Obama voted yea.
McCain skips a vote on cloture for the Intelligence Authorization spending bill. Fails 50-45. Obama missed this one.
McCain skips a vote on cloture for a bill to allow the government to negotiate over drug prices. Cloture fails 55-42. Obama voted yea.
McCain skips a vote on cloture for the motion of non-confidence in AG Gonzales. It fails 53-38. Obama missed this one.
McCain skips a vote on the Farm bill. Cloture fails 55-42. McCain, looking out for farmers. Obama voted yea.
McCain skips a vote on cloture for an Immigration reform bill. I'm sure the nativist base is glad to know McCain didn't have their back. Luckily 44 of his colleagues were able to block the Hispanic Horde. Obama voted yea.
Don't worry, John McCain didn't skip every key cloture vote. He votes "nay" on lots of them, to help his Republican colleagues obstruct the will of the Senate numerical and often bi-partisan majority.
"McCain voted no on cloture to block the Employee Free Choice act. Cloture failed 51-48.
McCain voted no on cloture for a bill to guarantee soldiers a minimum amount of time between deployments. Him and 40 other Republicans succeeded in thwarting the will of 56 senators who voted aye.
McCain voted no on cloture for a bill to redploy forces from Iraq. Cloture failed 52-47.
McCain voted no on cloture for a bill to give the District of Columbia a vote in Congress. Only 57 Senators in a bi-partisan majority supported this one, so luckily the 42 who voted no were able to block this, or more citizens might have a voice in government. Whew.
McCain voted no on cloture to a bill to restore Habeas Corpus to detainees. Cloture failed 56-43.
Republicans used John Kerry's voting record against him effectively in 2004. They've gone after Obama for his "present" votes in Illinois. Now their candidate has a record a mile long full of obstruction of the small-d democratic majority and just plain skipping town.
...It's pretty clear McCain has purposely not voted so as to avoid having a record, and in doing so, has set a record of cowardice from taking stands he should be forced to address. Why did he miss so many votes this congress? Who is representing the people of Arizona in the United States Senate?
RT
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