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Hillary Clinton has picked this guy as her running mate for the presidency

Virginia senator Tim Kaine is seen as a popular centrist choice for a brutal electoral campaign.

Campaign 2016 Clinton Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine together at a rally in north Virginia last week Andrew Harnik Andrew Harnik

HILLARY CLINTON HAS picked Tim Kaine, a popular Spanish-speaking senator from the swing state of Virginia, to be her running mate in the White House showdown against Donald Trump.

The pick comes three days before the start of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, where Clinton – and now Kaine – will be elevated as the nominees to the party’s presidential ticket.

Widely seen as a safe choice in a brutal election race – Kaine himself jokes that he is “boring” – the senator emerged as frontrunner in the vice presidential stakes because he ticks so many boxes.

An experienced foreign policy hand who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees, he could help Clinton lock in two key voting blocs: Hispanics and the battleground state of Virginia.

Politically a centre-left Democrat, with working-class roots and a spotless record both as governor and senator, he is also seen as helping Clinton win over votes from reluctant independent male voters – although at the risk of alienating the party’s progressive left wing.

The pair will hit the campaign trail together in Florida later today.

The 58-year-old Kaine swiftly tweeted: “Just got off the phone with Hillary. I’m honored to be her running mate. Can’t wait to hit the trail tomorrow in Miami!”

Clinton, 68, had said she wanted a running mate with enough experience to “literally get up one day and be the president of the United States”.

Also on the short list were Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who has been friends with the Clintons for decades and is from another key battleground state, Pennsylvania; and Employment Secretary Thomas Perez, a Latino seen as a true liberal.

Clinton put out a series of tweets heaping praise on the senator.

She described him as “a relentless optimist who believes no problem is unsolvable if you put in the work to solve it” saying his guiding principle was “the belief that you can make a difference through public service”.

One of Clinton’s tweets included a five-point graphic highlighting the senator’s youthful spell on a Jesuit mission in Honduras as well as his track record in fighting homelessness, discrimination and gun violence, in expanding early childhood education and in fostering a pro-business environment in Virginia.

‘Congrats to a good man’

Clinton’s VP announcement comes two days after Trump’s number two – Indiana Governor Mike Pence – accepted the nomination at a tumultuous party convention in Cleveland.

The New York billionaire painted a dystopian dark picture of an America mired in poverty and violence as he accepted his party’s nomination last Thursday night, promising to restore security, clamp down on immigration and put America first.

Trump’s choice of running mate, a conservative evangelical Christian and former congressman, could serve to reassure voters alarmed by his rhetoric.

Nationwide polls suggest the New York mogul is almost neck and neck with Clinton, the former secretary of state who is mired in an ongoing email scandal.

While Republicans are split over support for Trump, their collective hatred of Clinton proved a potent unifier this week in Cleveland, where delegates clamored to demand her imprisonment, painting her as above the law.

In his acceptance speech, Trump characterized Clinton as corrupt, incompetent and hopelessly out of touch, saying she left a legacy of “death, destruction, terrorism and weakness”.

Republican Party chief Reince Priebus dismissed Clinton’s choice of running mate in a scornful tweet, saying “Hillary Clinton’s choice of Tim Kaine does nothing to unify a fractured Democrat base repelled by her dishonesty & cronyism”.

But he stopped short of attacking Kaine himself – a sign, perhaps, of his strength as a consensus candidate, as reflected in the response of another Republican, Arizona Senator Jeff Flake.

© – AFP, 2016

Read: Gary Johnson: The US presidential candidate you’ve probably never heard of

Read: Former Klan leader that endorsed Trump to run for US Senate

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    Mute tommy macdonagh
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:37 AM

    american politics is good for a laugh if nothing else

    103
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    Mute The Girl
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 8:44 AM

    Yep. Wait for it….

    16
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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 8:58 AM

    Let’s see what Americans are really made of. *eats popcorn*

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 11:12 AM

    Well she definitely has the better VP

    23
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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 2:47 PM

    Nothing like mad comedians with their finger on the nuclear button?

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 2:48 PM

    GM popcorn?

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    Mute Anonymous Man
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 9:01 AM

    I’m sold at the fact he plays the harmonica.

    98
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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 2:46 PM

    Dance Hillary, dance…. And squeel like a pig…

    6
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    Mute Declan O'meara
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 4:08 PM

    She is pig

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    Mute Fluffer TheCanary
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:47 PM

    didn’t your mother teach you not to call women pigs?

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 24th 2016, 12:17 AM

    Stay classy there Declan

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    Mute John Ward
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 9:14 AM

    Kaine and unable!

    55
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    Mute Chlorines72
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 9:20 AM

    Take a bow John :)

    25
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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 2:48 PM

    You need an arrow then?

    4
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    Mute The IMF are here
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 8:03 AM

    He ticks so many boxes – and has been vetted for years so no surprises coming out of his camp.

    Interesting to see how her pick wasn’t leaked, was smoothly and professionally done and hadn’t had a significant Republican voice criticise him.

    Plus he’s conservative and religious Democrat.

    That’ll give her a few points bump.

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    Mute Owen Slattery
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 9:45 AM

    Nothing on The Journal about emails leaked by WikiLeaks showing that Hillary had the Democratic primary rigged, meaning Sanders never had a legitimate chance. The levels of support for her are bizarre when she is clearly crooked.
    http://observer.com/2016/07/wikileaks-proves-primary-was-rigged-dnc-undermined-democracy/

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    Mute dublinlad
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 11:07 AM

    Owen, did you read these emails yourself?

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    Mute Val
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 12:38 PM

    Did you?

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    Mute Fluffer TheCanary
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:49 PM

    did you?

    1
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    Mute Boris Defender
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 8:40 AM

    Will there be an article on the leaked DNC emails?

    36
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    Mute Val
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 12:14 PM

    Twitter have removed it from the top trends list in the US!

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    Mute Fluffer TheCanary
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:48 PM

    illuminati!

    2
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    Mute Carlin Ite
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:50 AM

    A guy who thinks there should be less regulation on banks. Peas in a pod.

    32
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    Mute PaulJ
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 8:00 AM

    Does he not think that comment banks and credit unions shouldn’t be treated the same as corporate banks, of which he supports more regulation for the latter?

    29
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    Mute PaulJ
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 8:00 AM

    *community banks

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    Mute tommy macdonagh
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:42 AM

    Yesterday anonymous… today will be portrayed as the devil

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    Mute tommy macdonagh
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 8:12 AM

    there is only one way to sort this election out… all presidential candidates lumped into the big brother house for a month. you would need do no more. Could you imagine it … Trump: ‘What the hell is this thing?’… Big Brother: ‘That’s a kettle…’

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    Mute Brendan McGill
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 3:32 PM

    In fairness to ya Tommy that was funny!

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    Mute C_O'S
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 9:22 AM

    She has chosen an Irish American. 7 of his great grandparents were born in Ireland. We should all be proud of her choice as she knows her connection with Husband Bill, Northern Ireland and the peace process, We can never forget the input from them and of peace that we have now in Ireland thanks to the Clintons in the USA. Go Hillary Go.

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    Mute Joseph Siddall
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 10:14 AM

    C, as mankind apparently originated out of Africa he is African…with the rest of us. The eternal effort to prove everyone of note is really Irish, really is amusing. Mostly.

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    Mute Carlin Ite
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 12:20 PM

    I kind of agree with you C_O’S The Clintons hand in helping the war in the north end was about the best thing the Clintons did. Other than that himself and Albright starved Iraqi children, removed the glass steagall act, created big economic bubbles, took the wind out of the Palestinian peaceful protests with the lies he told at camp David. I can’t stomach the Clintons but they did great work to end the war here.

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    Mute Declan O'meara
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 4:13 PM

    Yes and we will always remember Bill have fun with Monica in the ORAL office

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 24th 2016, 10:28 AM

    You really are the lowest common denominator aren’t you Declan

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    Mute Martin Sinnott
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:47 AM

    Spanish speaking, Americans first language!

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    Mute garb yakob
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 8:16 AM

    Americans first European language?

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 11:13 AM

    What?

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 2:50 PM

    The American Indians won’t like that?

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 5:30 PM

    Spanish is the most commonly spoken language in America, I believe that is what the original commenter was referring to

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    Mute John Campbell
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 8:39 AM

    Using an apparently clean cloth to dry the dirty dishes doesn’t change anything.

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    Mute C_O'S
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 9:45 AM

    What about Trumps dirty linen that he has signed. sealed and not delivered to the public ?

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    Mute Fluffer TheCanary
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:51 PM

    john it would probably rub off most of the dirt, and in cases of dry dirt like breadcrumbs etc it would do a passable job

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    Mute Luke McDermott
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 9:04 AM

    Donald Trump is going to win. It’s absolutely tragic, but this pick and the Clinton ‘machine’ together will not energise a base which she needs to turn out for her. Trump only needs 64 electoral college votes, and he’s after the rust belt hard. Tim Kaine isn’t going to counter that.

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    Mute Fluffer TheCanary
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:52 PM

    ‘energise the base’ is a hoary cliche

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    Mute LITTLEONE
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 10:12 AM

    The new Quinnipiac University poll had showed that Clinton was three points behind Trump in Florida, two points behind in Pennsylvania, and tied in Ohio. According to Quinnipiac, every president since 1960 has won only by securing victories in two of those three states. The Florida poll was particularly alarming to Democratic leaders, as Clinton was eight points ahead of Trump in a June poll of Florida voters.

    12
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    Mute NO 2 FF/FG/LAB
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 8:41 AM

    He got an F on drug policy from Norml in America. What a joke

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    Mute Joe Harbison
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 9:30 AM

    He also got an F from the National Rifle Association, who hate him for laws introduced after the Virginia Tech shootings and is greatly disliked by Conservative republican groups. However he has the highest rating for environmental issues and when he was Virginia governor it was ranked the best place in the US to raise a child. He arguably a much better choice for President than either Clinton or Trump.

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    Mute NO 2 FF/FG/LAB
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 9:46 AM

    I recall many who get an A in drug policy and a A in gun control. This VP pick fails on the drug policy

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    Mute Kim Prylowski
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 12:13 PM

    Why is it important to know he plays the harmonica?

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 2:51 PM

    To know both can play the same tune, the Wall Street poka?

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 2:52 PM

    Wall Street polka? Sorry, poka might be true as well ;)

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    Mute Declan O'meara
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 4:16 PM

    Because Bill was able to play with hismonica , very opened minded and honest family

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    Mute West Cork Lad
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 10:25 PM

    Speaking of honesty ..

    Donald Trump steals the gratuities for hard working wait staff, which is, sick:

    http://wonkette.com/599420/trump-sued-for-stealing-servers-tips-has-achieved-peak-trump

    In the United States, wait staff are paid $2.00 an hour and depend on tips to earn a living.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 24th 2016, 12:30 AM

    Or you know, how he has actually only done moderately well from his father’s initial investment https://youtu.be/3dmV4sFe4Fo

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    Mute Ricky Grimes
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 12:32 PM

    Very unusual choice in many respects.
    He learned Spanish while volunteering with the Jesuits missionaries in Honduras.
    Tim is a Catholic. An Irish American.
    As such he is opposed to abortion.
    So even if Hilary does manage to fluke it will be great to see an Irish Catholic back in the White House once again.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 2:10 PM

    Ricky, you didn’t do your research. He himself is anti-abortion but has voted pro-choice many times as he feels government have better thins to do than make family decisions for people

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    Mute Ricky Grimes
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 3:46 PM

    Dave.
    He’s Catholic.
    Start panicking.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 5:31 PM

    Why would I? I’ve done my research, he seems like a true Christian

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    Mute Guybrush Threepwood
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 10:46 PM

    From that picture he reminds me of Gob from Arrested Development.

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    Mute Jamie Brogan
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    Jul 24th 2016, 5:22 AM

    Who’d you rather, Enda Kenny, or Hilary Clinton?

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 24th 2016, 10:29 AM

    Depends, here or in America? Imagine Enda as commander in chief

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