This is a Manufactured Crisis: Union Boss Richard Trumka Says There’s No ‘Fiscal Cliff’
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka (AP)
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka in a speech on Thursday will rail against cuts that have been proposed to social insurance programs, including Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, as part of a “grand bargain” between the president and Congress, arguing that the whole “fiscal cliff” thing is a “manufactured crisis.”
“There is no fiscal cliff,” Trumka will tell the National Mediation Board Conference in Washington on Thursday, according to prepared remarks. “What we’re facing is an obstacle course within a manufactured crisis that was hastily thrown together in response to inflated rhetoric about our federal deficit.”
Well, technically speaking, he’s right and he’s wrong.
He’s wrong when he says that there is no “fiscal cliff.” We do, in fact, face a combination of spending cuts and tax increases that will go into effect in January unless Congress comes up with a budget deal.
But he’s right when he refers to it as a “manufactured crisis.” Indeed, it’s not like this thing crept up on us. Washington made it.
As explained earlier on TheBlaze, the spending cuts included in the “fiscal cliff” are actually the result of an attempt to get the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (i.e. the “super committee”) to come up with a deficit-reduction plan. The committee failed and now we’re faced with across-the-board spending cuts to defense and domestic programs (i.e “sequestrations”) and the expiration of the Bush-era tax cuts.
So remember: Whenever you hear someone talk about Congress reaching a “grand bargain” with the president on the “fiscal cliff,” keep in mind the “fiscal cliff” was a “grand bargain.”
In an interview with the Huffington Post, Trumka said that the workers he supposedly represents absolutely refuse to support any plan that calls for cuts to government social programs.
“The voters yesterday rejected that notion soundly,” he said last Wednesday. “The answer is, if it includes benefit cuts to Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid, we’ll oppose it.”
Trumka in his speech to the National Mediation Board Conference on Thursday will also say that it’s “time to protect” government social insurance programs while raising taxes for the “richest 2 percent.”
Quick question: When did it go from being the “one percent” to the “two percent”?
“What should working people, jobless people and retirees pay to lower those tax rates for the rich? Should we give up the promise of health care and retirement security that Medicare and Medicaid represent?” Trumka will ask.
“How about Social Security’s promise? Should that be sacrificed so ‘fair taxation’ can remain unspeakable? Not on your life,” he’ll add.
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All photos courtesy the AP.
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Comments (211)
Margyt
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 2:00pmTwinkies are at risk thanks to the likes of Trumka. Real or manufactured, this is serious now.
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doomytram
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 2:11pmTrumka is the more obese, evil, and bloated bizzaro twin of Alex Karras of TV’s Webster. Evil Obozo can’t fathom the idea of uttering the words cuts to entitlements. Obese Union Thug Trumka is the first to meet with Obozo this week. The fiscal cliff is manufactured, because Obozo won’t cut spending, EVER! Obozo will never cut entitlements. He will only craft more of them for the people he calls poor. The Jessie Jackson Jr. types just need to go ahead an apply for big disability doo doo dollars, just go into the welfare office and say your crazy. You will never have to work again…..The Crisis is that Obozo will deflect and blame and do nothing. The fiscal cliff really means that we are already going into recession no matter what. There will be no spending cuts and there will be taxes on Obozo’s rich. It’s about fairness that he destroys the working and lift’s up the non working. Buy em all an Escalade is something that has been brought up to prop up the car industry some more.
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DadRocked
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 2:24pmToday’s news – “Texas Instruments Cuts 1,700 Jobs, Winds Down Tablet Chips”
Since the election (and that’s just what is reported)
Total Released = 15,319 (Hate the word laid off)
Company Closings = 41
Banks Closed = 53
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Cavallo
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 3:01pm@Dadrocked, and soon Northrup, Lockheed and other defense contractors will be laying off their workforces.
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IndyGuy
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 3:04pmIt certainly wasn’t manufactured in America…The Unions drove out all the manufacturing…
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Gold Coin & Economic News
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 3:04pmRichard Trumpka = Commie union thug, can you believe anything that man says? Yes, Richard there is a fiscal cliff and economic collapse is coming and you tools that helped get Obama where he is will be history once his agenda is implemented.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkqV85-XUvE
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Jake Dog2
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 3:26pmMargyt. Twinkies are at risk thanks to the likes of Trumka.
you are right looks and acts like he is eating them all. Twinkie overload.
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DadRocked
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 3:27pmCavallo – I’ve been keeping a spreadsheet since the election. Sorry that I’ll be adding a lot more rows to it shortly. If you just leave off small business, the majors are getting nailed bad too. Government contractors are next as you’ve pointed out.
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Obama Snake Oil Co
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 3:35pmI am pretty sure this fatazz communist voted for Obimbo even though he, Obama said he was going to shut down coal and power plants in America. Hypocrit (See Trumpka).
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midwesthippie
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 3:49pm…”triple-chins” trumka is right…it is a crisis manufactured by the two party system with both (R) and (D) equally responsible. ‘they built that’! …manufactured, yes. a reality, yes…a real crisis, yes… typical “union” denial, yes…
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HumbleMan
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 4:15pmLayoff implies you might come back to work … I don’t see that happening.
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atldch
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 4:43pmJust a quick question. When will everyone else pay their “fair share”?
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carpenter741
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 4:46pmTrumpka is a moron. I wonder if he was earning 100k per year and spending 400k per year if he would have a personal financial collapse (Fiscal Cliff) when the credit card companies called his debt cause he couldn’t pay it. Samuel Clemens said “It is far better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you are stupid, than to open it and remove all doubt” His comment just removed all doubt.
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ProbIemSoIver
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 4:55pmTrumpka is a Communist.
Unions are a Communistic Ideology and have no place in America.
Soon the will be cast from our shores.
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ProbIemSoIver
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 4:57pm“In my book, Entitlements and Benefits are a four letter word”
- ProbIemSoIver
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4XGrace
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 5:04pmHe’s such Fat Headed Bully. Too bad his mouth isn’t bigger … he’d probably be sucked into the vacuum in his skull.
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NHwinter
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 5:04pmIs he REALLY as stupid as he looks???
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ProbIemSoIver
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 5:16pmNo Fiscal Cliff ???
This is a Classic 30 minute Cartoon that explains the truth.
Trumpa and his Masters do not want you to see this.
This entertaining expose’ explains our Real history and monetary policy succinctly.
Enjoy !!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPWH5TlbloU
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Detroit paperboy
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 5:24pmYeah…..there’s no fiscal Cliff…….it’s all bull, we can keep paying for worthless government bloodsuckers for ever………..don’t worry…
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Detroit paperboy
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 5:27pmHe really does look like STALIN…… and they didn’t call it the Soviet UNION for nothin….
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Hanner
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 6:00pmWhen this Liberal trainwreck blows up, Trumka will be some of the first parasites to dry up and fall off the host.
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pavepaws
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 6:11pmTrumka, the new face of organized crime.
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turkey13
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 6:16pmWhen I got out of the AFLCIO back in the 70′s it was like getting a raise – $22.00 a month. People must pay over $100.00 a month now. No matter what Trumpka says, the folks aren’t as dumb as he thinks they are and they will figure it out. I bet they are losing members now. As food prices go up the folks will dump the Union to offset the increases.
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TH30PH1LUS
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 6:55pmRumor is that Richard Trumka, Chris Christie, and Michael Moore are going to unite into one super-twinkie-vortex with enough combined carbohydrate suction power to render refined sugar extinct for a thousand years.
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DonaldH
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 7:08pmsimply put– Trumka deseves to be NOT Alive– If only his parents had been under the direction of Dr. Tiller and planned Parenthood
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rickc34
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 7:16pmBernake came up with the term fiscal cliff and he is one of Obama’s women so go talk to your lover Barry.
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db321
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 7:25pmDon’t worry, Twinkies is setting up shop in Texas. Don’t tell Trumpka we don’t want him or his thugs in Texas – just Twinkies. We like them here!
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wordsofwisdom
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 7:40pmEver wonder what the devil looked & sounds like? I think that this artical should clear that up for you!
“The Devils Song” http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_10789987
He sings it well
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ObamaForward_OverTheCliff
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 8:41pm“This is a Manufactured Crisis: Union Boss Richard Trumka Says There’s No ‘Fiscal Cliff’”
Comrade Trumka — READ … MY … AVATAR !!!
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Rita_Pita
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 6:16amIgnorant union thugs woul never le. Read fresh political commentary at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com
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richard the lion-hearted
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:24amAwwww…isn’t he so cute with his little Hitler haircut?! Evil, anti-American commie that he is…
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LakeHartwellSailor
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:59pmWhy is it that I cannot look at this guy’s picture without envisioning a set of cross hairs between his eyes? Must be because its deer season.
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RightUnite
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 2:14pmThat’s really funny!! That’s the same thing I see!!
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variable51
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 2:20pmI’d like to issue this assho an epic beatdown. He and his cronies are doing more to hurt this country than the USSR ever did.
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ginger100
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 2:24pmcut, paste, print
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MrSunshine
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 2:59pmMore like pig season!
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Lady_of_the_Lake
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 3:29pmi was thinking that to but in the line of finding him some religon Special Forces style…. +
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HumbleMan
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 4:13pmWhen I see his face, I think “Hog”.
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DadRocked
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:59pmBut it was Benanke’s term that has stuck… What’s happening Trumka? Too many of your soldiers are losing their jobs too? Welcome to the club…
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TurboCat
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 3:55amHe looks like a pig. He IS the so-called 1%.
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MrButcher
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:59pmTo Trumka, the problem with this “manufactured” crisis is that those who “manufactured” it are not unionized!
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Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:59pmHe’s one of those overpaid fat cat millionaire or billionaires obama talks about. I want to see HIS taxes. I won’t buy anything Union anymore. It just means communism!
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BlackCrow
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:59pmWe’ll see what happens when Illinois can’t borrow any more money and his retirees pension checks stop coming.
Fiscal Cliff? Fiscal Cliff? We don’t need no fiscal CCCCCLLLLLIIIIIIIIIIFFFFFFFFFFF!
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justangry
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:53pmWhat a douche bag commie! Wish he’d tell Obama to use the money he’s spending on spying on us and drones and use that to pay “the workers”.
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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:53pmTranslation: American Republic is dead and the era of communism begins…may Trumka fall on his head and be sent to jail for his treason along with Obama.
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revelation2012
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 2:00pmheh ;D
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burnteye86
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 5:26pmI think I see piano wire in this lunatics future.
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LaBelle
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:48pmI ask myself WHO in their right mind would follow a guy who looks like a Chicago mobster?
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Marci
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:57pmI ask….when exactly did they suddenly get to “vote” on measures after elections have ended? Hmmm. Well, we all know the answer to that. They meet with Barry and tell them what he will do. They own him. (at least they think so….he doesn’t really need them anymore….)
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Metallicat
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:48pmHe is as stupid as he looks
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bikerdogred1
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 2:40pmHe is a fool,I wonder if he cooks his meat before he eats it.
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Luzmaria1
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:46pmDo whatever it takes to get public employee unions off the backs of taxpayers.
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welovetheUSA
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:46pmAnd so it begins……..what 50% of us have known for 5 years…..the distruction of American is well on the way.
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barber2
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 5:39pmI agree. Had a brief hope that the election could drain the Lefty wacko swamp.
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banjarmon
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:45pmTrumka’s face looks like a talking Roid!!!
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Metallicat
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:52pmLOL!! I was just thinking of the episode of South Park with the arsefaced people when I looked at him
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MrSunshine
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 3:00pmHis face is made for the toilet.
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perry1980
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:44pmOf course there is not a fiscal cliff. All we have to do is print up another Trillion dollars
This is the man partly responsible for getting Obama elected TWICE
So i say we blame the fiscal cliff on HIM
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Silversmith
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:44pmOh yeah, cuz HE wouldn’t lie. Salt of the earth. Warrior for Truth. Uh Nyet Comrade.
Silversmith
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LOJ
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:42pmThe Unions have destroyed America with their Greed…We are about ready to fall off the fiscal cliff and they don’t care as long as they get their pay and benefits…To heck with the rest of us who work too!
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Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:42pmYes– it IS a manufactured — And the correct term is “The Obama Abyss”!
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Madmilo
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:41pmJust hide and watch Trumpka. How can some idiots still be so blind?
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richard the lion-hearted
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:35amNot blind, not mislead, purposeful lying, as is the practice of ALL of the current administration. It’s not ignorance nor ineptness, it’s what evil, lying, wicked men do to gain power over IGNORANT, mislead citizens.
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toiletclogga
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:36pmI call their bluff. Do nothing, let the tax cuts expire, and let the spending cuts kick in. It’s got to get worse before it gets better. Unless there is an automatic trigger for spending cuts, don’t bank on Obama, or anybody in Congress making any. The debt is real, and it’s going to take a real solution to get it under control; if it isn’t already out of control.
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Cavallo
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:47pmExactly.. lets go over it then.. see how well GM and other high labor cost (Union) industries operate afterwards.
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Bloody Sam
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:52pm“I call their bluff. Do nothing, let the tax cuts expire, and let the spending cuts kick in. It’s got to get worse before it gets better.”
Yeah….that’ll teach them a lesson we’ll never forget.
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GhostOfJefferson
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:53pmThey’ll just blame capitalism in that case. These people never, ever admit error on even the slightest fact that is contrary to their dogma. They are a cult.
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toiletclogga
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 2:12pmIn not dealing with the debt for a number of years, the debt will be dealing with us in the next 2 years. Better prepare people.
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Gonzo
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 2:33pmI’m with you Clogga, give Obama whatever he asks for. Let the country have the Marxist utopia they voted for.
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Dan_o
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:35pmSure, there are no consequences for anything, right Dick? This is especially true when you make your living by taking from blue collared workers across the country who are stupid enough to believe you have their interests in mind. Pretty sweet gig if you can sleep at night knowing you contribute nothing and take from the real working people of the country.
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CWPrequired
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:35pmI can’t wait for these thugs to line up in the streets like they are doing in Greece. Easy pickins from the roof tops! Bring on the cliff and lets go down together.
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Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:44pmNo kidding.. I’m going to infiltrate and spread rumors like “free crack for all 9 blocks over”. “Stale day old pizza and coffee” other side of assembly. I’ll be seen carrying a sign that says “I’m with stupid”
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HKS
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:34pmWow, I don’t know about you, but I feel much better with thee words of wisdom coming from a PHD Union thug.
“Remember Benghazi”
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drphil69
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:34pmRACIST!!!
Trumpka is calling Obama a liar, THEREFORE TRUMPKA IS A RACIST!!!
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Popp40
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:34pmBaghdad Bob….is that you?
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WarMunger_Al
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 1:33pmSomebody needs to introduce this a___crack to Jimmy Hoffa (the original one).
http://www.ammoland.com/2012/11/09/southwest-shooting-authority-of-arizona-tells-obama-voters-to-get-lost/#axzz2CIQPSXnO
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sandy21957
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 9:43pmPinetop, AZ rocks!!!!!!! Lived there for a while……ya’ll should visit it sometime.
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