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‘Do I get the brown envelope?’: Minister meets mixed reaction on Dublin canvass

Richard Bruton took a stroll in the Dublin sun earlier to meet potential voters in the Seanad referendum. He even bumped into a fellow Cabinet colleague…

Updated at 10.34pm

MINISTER FOR JOBS Richard Bruton did a short canvass around Dublin city centre this afternoon meeting mixed reaction from potential voters.

The Fine Gael director of elections was distributing the party’s latest booklets outlining the reasons for and the benefits of abolishing the upper house.

He was accompanied by a number of councillors and potential local election candidates.

Among them were former Dublin Lord Mayor Gerry Breen – a two-time Seanad candidate himself – and councillor Neale Richmond, also a Seanad hopeful in 2011 who campaigned on getting rid of the upper house.

Things got off to a good start on Hibernian Way just off Dawson Street as Bruton found at least one supporter, though he did want something in return:

Down Grafton Street, the Minister was accosted by a man who appeared to be looking for some money.

“Catch you later,” Bruton told the man, who was less than pleased:

A woman selling flowers just off Grafton Street admitted she did not know much about the forthcoming referendum but promised to read the shiny new booklet:

Then Bruton bumped into his Cabinet colleague Leo Varadkar for a bit of awkward banter:

This article was originally posted at 4.14pm

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60 Comments
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    Mute John Coleman
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    Sep 9th 2013, 4:37 PM

    Unbelievable from this Gerry Breen lad. Runs for it twice, loses twice, now wants it abolished?

    320
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    Mute Mikey
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    Sep 9th 2013, 4:53 PM

    If he can’t play, he’s talking his ball home

    298
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    Mute Malachy Quinn
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    Sep 9th 2013, 9:09 PM

    Gerry Breen also runs a First Aid Business in Balbriggan, he is a very generous employer, paying the minimum of pay an hour!
    It’s a miracle he is paying them at all!

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    Mute Graham Quinn
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    Sep 9th 2013, 9:33 PM

    BOOM, NUTSHELL .

    28
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    Mute mohamad oconnor
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    Sep 9th 2013, 10:58 PM

    Any chance you could reform the dail and the election process first!!

    65
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    Mute Ian Aston
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    Sep 9th 2013, 4:20 PM

    cringe

    237
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    Mute James Moran
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    Sep 9th 2013, 6:19 PM

    I think a more relevant referendum would be, should we abolish the dail bar, it grinds my gears that politicians can make important decisions about our future, while bladdered is beyond surreal, stupid the lot of them!!.

    230
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    Mute Fergal Reid
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    Sep 10th 2013, 10:37 AM

    The Dail bar is the highlight of a visit to Leinster House, let me assure you.

    2
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    Mute Lorraine Clair Costelloe
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    Sep 10th 2013, 11:26 AM

    Sure Fergal, ‘cos everybody knows that all of lifes best decisions are made when you’re half cut!!!

    4
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    Mute Adam Power
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    Sep 9th 2013, 4:41 PM

    God laughed so hard at the junky, “hooow’m I meant ta catch you later like, don’t be so stubid”

    196
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    Mute Seamus Ryan
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    Sep 9th 2013, 5:12 PM

    Bruton off home to burn that suit after engaging with the public. No change bud only 50′s in my pocket.

    219
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    Mute Reddy
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    Sep 9th 2013, 7:20 PM

    Worst part is in relation the brown envelope when he says “those days are over…”

    Is he openly admitting that those days happened?!

    145
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    Mute Gavin Nugent
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    Sep 11th 2013, 5:37 PM

    We all know those days happened. Look at any of the tribunal evidence over the last 15 years.

    1
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    Mute guardian
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    Sep 9th 2013, 4:29 PM

    Hows ya goona catch me later. Dont be so stupid all your life.

    Ahhh looove a nice strool in dublins fair city where there gear heads are garenteed to call YOU stupid :)

    143
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    Mute Little Jim
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    Sep 9th 2013, 4:47 PM

    Why was there only one?

    49
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    Mute brendan harlowe
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    Sep 9th 2013, 5:31 PM

    Reform the Seanad yes, but not abolish it! The abuse of power that can be achieved by removing the second house is enough of a reason to keep it!

    138
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    Mute the lost lenore
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    Sep 9th 2013, 5:55 PM

    It’s never going to be reformed. If its not abolished, it’s business as usual and no one is really credibly suggesting otherwise.

    57
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    Mute censored
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    Sep 9th 2013, 7:35 PM

    Too late brendan, how have you not noticed all the abuses of power over the last 70 years?

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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    Sep 9th 2013, 8:38 PM

    Brendan when has it ever stopped the abuse of power? Not durning Charlie’s time? Or what about Bertie’s? Cowen time it stood up and said no? Maybe it stopped enda dictatorship? The answer is it does nothing if any use whatsoever. That these people get paid and a massive pension for this joke of a so called democratic house makes me sick

    28
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    Mute Joe OShea
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    Sep 9th 2013, 11:01 PM

    It’s never going to be reformed. Abolish it. Even Sinn Fein has done a u-turn and is now calling for it’s abolition.

    6
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    Mute John Dinneen
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    Sep 9th 2013, 4:26 PM

    Could do without the whole lot of them no need for them Germany running this country

    92
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    Mute Richie Rodgers
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    Sep 9th 2013, 5:19 PM

    John
    The 5 reasons advanced in Democracy Matters campaign for the retention of the Seanad are totally and irrefutably dishonest and untrue. I was so incensed by what I read that I have redoubled my efforts to ensure this pox on our Democracy is removed as soon as possible. It is a home for the greatest windbags who couldn’t get elected as dog catchers But they lord it over us as if they know better than everyone else. They represent just three per cent of the electorate and thus expose your lie that they reflect anything associated with the word democracy.
    A No vote in the Referendum will reduce the number of wasters that call themselves public representatives while lining their pockets.

    39
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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Sep 9th 2013, 5:25 PM

    Richie has the government brought forward any concrete proposals on how the Dail is to be reformed in the event they might win this referendum?

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    Mute Stephen Murphy
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    Sep 9th 2013, 5:32 PM

    Reform the Dail first, not propose reforms but actually do it and then lets talk about the Seanad!

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    Mute Larry T Bird
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    Sep 9th 2013, 6:28 PM

    @john dineen

    Yeah those effin Germans expecting a say in what happens the *their* money – seeing as they had to bail us out after Fianna Fail managed to bankrupt us with their greed and lust for continued corrupted power !

    Give me the Germans any day over bumkin clowns like Fianna Fáil.

    34
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    Mute Amelia McKenzie
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    Sep 9th 2013, 11:34 PM

    It’s vote yes to get rid of them, not ‘no’. Ah Christ, if people are confused over the words of which vote is which this thing will be a disaster.

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    Mute Frank Semple
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    Sep 9th 2013, 5:02 PM

    Reduce representitives in both houses by thirty percent. The comment from the begger is spot on and a reality for many people.

    89
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    Mute Sexy Taoiseach
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    Sep 9th 2013, 5:14 PM

    Leo and Richard have some balls to walk the streets of Dublin considering the misery they have inflicted on its people

    81
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    Mute Boo Forever
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    Sep 9th 2013, 11:12 PM

    The misery was inflicted by FF. Yes….be angry with the current bunch if you want…but never, ever forget what that shower did to us and our independence.

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    Mute Ciaran Mc
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    Sep 9th 2013, 10:04 PM

    Literally 4 of the cringy-est videos I have ever seen. The look on Bruton when the junkie approached. What a pussy

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    Mute tuba hg
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    Sep 9th 2013, 4:21 PM

    Richard couldn’t try to get rid of Enda again That’s one politician we can all do without.

    58
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    Mute SeanieRyan
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    Sep 9th 2013, 4:19 PM

    People should visit and get involved in Democracy Matters. It is a campaign that we can all help and believe in.

    58
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    Mute the lost lenore
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    Sep 9th 2013, 5:57 PM

    Who pays for it, who runs it and what’s it’s wider agenda?

    59
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    Mute Jim Hartnett
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    Sep 9th 2013, 7:54 PM

    Given the FF shite you were spouting last week, I’ll give it a miss. I will be voting to keep it.

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    Mute Malachy Quinn
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    Sep 9th 2013, 9:04 PM

    Seanie is that FF creation or is it independent of Party Politics

    3
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    Mute Dermot Ryan
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    Sep 10th 2013, 12:53 AM
    5
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    Mute Anna Marie Dowdican
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    Sep 10th 2013, 10:50 AM

    Interesting read Dermot, Sean Faughnan former investment banker who worked for JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs in London before returning to work for Fine Gael as adviser tells Enda that the people want the senad gone and that it would be popular with the voters as a move. Jeez, people want honesty from their government, cash in their buckets and justice. Doubt if it was in any ones mind to get rid of the senad way back in 2010, people are struggling to live dimwit..where do they come up with this?And worse Enda thinks that’s a good move before any of the countless other moves that could genuinely help people.Some Chieftain..Bah

    6
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    Mute Dermot Ryan
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    Sep 10th 2013, 12:56 PM

    Ireland needs a King/Queen right now with the power to sack top Civil servants and bankers is my opinion ; our Dail are blocking the people from the truth and the truth is the one thing that would see alot of people who have only themselves and their selfish interests at heart and to hell with the Country !
    The people are equally to blame in a way though we accept far too low a standard of due diligence and a loyalty to duty of care that all public service carries inherently with the pay packet they receive ; be it civil service pay or dole Anna , that’s the way I see it !

    2
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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Sep 9th 2013, 5:06 PM

    Hopefully the people will reject Enda’s idea.

    56
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    Mute Ronan C Gantly
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    Sep 9th 2013, 8:16 PM

    How arkward was all that ehh ? …why do they always walk amoung the mulititudes ….on grafton street….how about down O’CONNELL street or up around Phibsboro and the like where they would be sure to get a great welcome…or just about anywhere in Ireland really….bunch of clowns.

    53
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    Mute Fergal Reid
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    Sep 10th 2013, 10:39 AM

    Because Grafton St is near Leinster House and their party offices, is pedestrianised, has a fairly dependable amount of people on it and is a quick commute for RTE and their cameras.

    6
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    Mute Martin Critten
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    Sep 9th 2013, 5:12 PM

    Still waiting for a reply to my email to his challenge for a debate on Seanád Abolition . . Richard !

    Dear Richard, A challenge was made that you would have no problem in debating the abolition of the Seanád with anyone. Naturally we consider ourselves anyone and accept. Name time and place.
    http://www.thejournal.ie/bruton-seanad-1019671-Aug2013/

    53
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    Mute Stephen Murphy
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    Sep 9th 2013, 5:36 PM

    Go on Martin, take off those gloves and floor him. He won’t take up an ordinary guy/girls challenge, will only do it with the nod and wink club(Dail TD’s)! Good luck though, wish you well!

    36
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    Mute Valentine Kane
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    Sep 9th 2013, 6:50 PM

    Those 2 on a campain trail together, how vile?

    52
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    Mute John Kavanagh
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    Sep 9th 2013, 5:39 PM

    “catch ya later”….. a phrase more suited to Shatter!!

    40
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    Mute Dave O'Shea
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    Sep 9th 2013, 4:53 PM

    Same ol shite….

    36
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    Mute aaron mohan
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    Sep 9th 2013, 4:26 PM

    He could have gave the lad begging he’s lose change

    35
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    Mute Richie Rodgers
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    Sep 9th 2013, 5:10 PM

    Aaron
    Sometimes it pays to read your text before you hit the old send button!

    41
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    Mute Úna O Connor Barrett
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    Sep 9th 2013, 7:20 PM

    I see our Lucan TD is back in the limelight after his newspaper experience.

    25
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    Mute Eugene Walsh
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    Sep 9th 2013, 10:59 PM

    These effing walk abouts tick me off to the point where such politicians think because of their very presence We’ll be star struck and over awed into voting for what they want! Get back to your office richie and run the effin country! Catch ya later me arse!!

    24
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    Mute Eileen Rushe
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    Sep 9th 2013, 6:51 PM

    Feel sick they are as bad at acting like a government as Zumbo in fair city is at being a real thug!!

    23
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    Mute Angela Coll
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    Sep 9th 2013, 9:16 PM

    Is Leo very tall or is burton a person of small stature? Genuine question

    16
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    Mute Dylan Prendergast
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    Sep 9th 2013, 9:08 PM

    Silly.. Sure corruption happens but they all don’t take brown envelopes.. sometimes they are white or blue.. just depends what’s in Easons..

    15
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    Mute Lisa McMahon Keenan
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    Sep 9th 2013, 10:16 PM

    WISH I HAD OF BEEN THERE

    10
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    Mute Daniel Wolverson
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    Sep 9th 2013, 11:38 PM

    Busy day for Leo there just strolling around Dublin 2……

    7
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    Mute David Higgins
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    Sep 9th 2013, 11:41 PM

    Ive a fetish for ol Bruton ;)

    5
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    Mute Dermot Ryan
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    Sep 10th 2013, 12:56 AM

    The return of the Higgs !
    Let the games recommence ; nice holiday David , hope you are well !

    2
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    Mute Marian Jennings Reilly
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    Sep 10th 2013, 2:32 PM

    Una o Connor Barrett yes back in the lime light and also tommy morrissey who was caught on CCTV taking the gazettes is running on the local elections as far as I know the cheek of him

    2
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    Mute Gus Whearity
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    Sep 10th 2013, 1:39 AM

    Pants up…..

    1
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    Mute David McHale
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    Sep 10th 2013, 2:59 AM

    Chronic scenes.

    1
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