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File photo John Birdsall/John Birdsall/Press Association Images

Older people risk isolation at Christmas, charity warns

Loneliness can have real health effects with Christmas a particularly bad time, support organisation Alone said.

OLDER PEOPLE ARE at increased risk of suffering isolation and loneliness over the Christmas holidays, a charity has warned.

Members of the public have been urged to spend some time providing company to elderly people who may be living on their own, by support organisation Alone.

The charity said that as many people focus on their own families and friends, some older people may feel increasingly isolated.

“At this time of year, we must remind the public about the hugely detrimental effects that isolation can have on some older people,” Alone CEO Seán Moynihan said. He continued:

It’s very easy for people to get caught up in their own lives at Christmas time, and we’re asking that people remember how important it is to visit and check in on older people who may desperately be in need of company, or some support.

The charity said loneliness can have serious consequences for health, with the World Health Organisation rating it as a bigger risk factor than a lifetime of smoking.

As many as one in 10 older people are at risk of poverty and isolation, according to Alone. The charity said it would distribute 500 food hampers over the Christmas period, as well as bringing hot Christmas dinners to older people living alone.

More: This is no country for old men and women – but it could be>

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7 Comments
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    Mute Armin Tamzarian
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    Jul 29th 2016, 11:01 PM

    that’s because the media report on every single thing he does. apparently if ye were to buy the TV time he’s gotten so far, it would cost him $4 billion. So thanks US “news” channels – for giving this bellend so much free publicity

    136
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    Mute Kathleen Henderson
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    Jul 30th 2016, 12:35 AM

    Shows us how utterly unreliable and fickle the media is…..shame

    41
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    Mute Michael O' Riordan
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    Jul 30th 2016, 6:37 AM

    Yeah but it’s not a war!
    Hold on maybe it is!
    Americans are so F***** up they’re likely to vote him in!!

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    Mute gus sheridan
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    Jul 30th 2016, 8:16 AM

    zzzzzz

    3
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    Mute Sandra Turner
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    Jul 29th 2016, 10:51 PM

    People were watching him to see who he would insult next

    122
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    Mute Super Ted
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    Jul 29th 2016, 11:15 PM

    Trump is going to be the next U.S president. Not because he’s the right person for the job but because Americans are wising up to the crooked establishment. Trump may be many things but he’s not in the pockets of the big corporations or federal reserve.

    The protest vote against Hillary Clinton will get Trump over the line. I don’t like either candidate but Hillary has too much baggage and can’t debate. Trump has plenty of ammunition and will be lobbing grenades in her direction constantly during the face-off debates while playing to the American electorates basic Instincts.

    The constant erosion of living standards in America over the past 40 years along with the deep mistrust of politicians and the mainstream media is playing into the hands of Trump. The odds suggest that Hillary will be the next U.S president but they are way off the mark in my opinion and should be reversed.

    117
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    Mute Jester VonDoom
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    Jul 29th 2016, 11:19 PM

    trump is one of the few people less popular than hillary

    42
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    Mute alphanautica
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    Jul 29th 2016, 11:25 PM

    Trump made his money being crooked and dishonourable.

    Yet he can merely deny this and the dumb masses believe it.

    72
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    Mute Peter keogh
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    Jul 29th 2016, 11:26 PM

    Hillary is no saint either

    64
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    Mute The Oracle of Delphi
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    Jul 29th 2016, 11:29 PM
    13
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    Mute Peter keogh
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    Jul 29th 2016, 11:30 PM

    In saying that they must be sitting in some dirt on Trump and they are holding back with it you don’t get 10bn quid without burning and f”ckin over a lot of people

    33
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    Mute Jester VonDoom
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    Jul 29th 2016, 11:48 PM

    id normally agree Peter, except in this case his dad just gave it to him

    24
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    Mute Super Ted
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    Jul 29th 2016, 11:52 PM

    Alpanautica, Americans don’t care about Trumps past. He’s not part of the clique and has funded his own campaign so doesn’t owe anybody favours if he gets elected.

    After the false dawn of Obama, swooping in to give Americans “Hope” for a better future, nothing has changed! America, has the widest divide between the rich and poor among westernised countries but Obama promised that the average American would thrive under his Leadership but he was just another snake oil salesman, groomed by the establishment to convince the electorate that he was the saviour when in reality he was just a very convincing puppet but most Americans can see through the BS nowadays and in my humble opinion, it’s going to result in Trump being the next U.S president.

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    Mute Peter keogh
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    Jul 29th 2016, 11:53 PM

    Hi Jester he didn’t give him $10bn,he’s had a lot of failures business wise but he has had a lot of success aswell

    16
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    Mute Peter keogh
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    Jul 29th 2016, 11:56 PM

    @superted I’m no fan of Obama but he did try and push some positive things like healthcare for the poor through but the republicans held the senate so they put the screws on him and wouldn’t let the reforms through

    56
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    Mute justanothertaxpayer
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    Jul 30th 2016, 12:42 AM

    He isn’t in the big pocket of corp America – he is one of the guys with the pocket.
    6 bankruptcies and a campaign of fear. He may win, and I’m no fan of Hillary, but to claim he is the common man fighting the establishment would be false. He is the guy the establishment serve in general.
    Perhaps you like him because he is wild and unpredictable? Good for a girlfriend – bad for a nuclear launch code carrying dude

    53
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    Mute justanothertaxpayer
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    Jul 30th 2016, 12:44 AM

    Oh – and he is spending the federal money. Not funding his own campaign at all. Did you actually check or just wish it so?

    25
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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 30th 2016, 1:33 AM

    A very interesting article on some of what Trump has been accused of http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/06/donald-trump-scandals/474726/

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    Mute The IMF are here
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    Jul 30th 2016, 1:39 AM

    Spot on.

    His campaign finances show its his companies which are financing the media spend side of campaign.

    Donor money is largely being used to fund airline transport, logistics, office space and hotel rooms – being rented from Donald Trump.

    17
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    Mute Jester VonDoom
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    Jul 30th 2016, 2:08 AM

    is there any chance he is hustling the US presidential election process for dollars?

    9
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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 30th 2016, 2:12 AM

    I’d say he won’t make a loss but then again he usually does

    9
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    Mute Chris McNamara
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    Jul 30th 2016, 3:12 AM

    Super Ted . Please Stop your ranting . We all no the disillusioned argument , that’s no reason to vote for a racist simpleton. Trump is beyond credulity . He has no grasp of the most basic foreign and domestic policy . He is a self serving clown with no ideology other than personal greed . Whatever about Clintons many faults …. Anybody who can chew gum and walk at the same time is better than this very dangerous Gastropod , I’d vote for trigger from only fool and .. Over this deluded megalomaniac . And it deeply worrying any rationale person could make any case for this Putin lover

    21
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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 30th 2016, 9:33 AM

    He answered a question about how he’d improve things fir those in poverty last week by babbling about stock markets and trade deals. He hasn’t a clue. I think thw poorest person he knows is someone whose share prices has gone way down

    6
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    Mute Les Behan
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    Jul 29th 2016, 11:00 PM

    On the upside, if Trump is elected there’s a good chance Jon Stewart will come out of retirement, so it’s not all bad.

    55
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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 30th 2016, 12:53 AM

    He nailed it on Colbert last week

    23
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    Mute Valthebear
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    Jul 30th 2016, 10:05 AM

    Potential Trump voters won’t be swayed by any wisecracks from media luvvies like Colbert and co. Hillary is quite deluded if she thinks her feminist glass ceiling bull is going to inspire middle America. Economics, not fake identity politics, will win this election. What is interesting in recent polls is the amount of Bernie Sanders supporters who flatly refuse to support Clinton, a large swathe saying they would even vote for Trump instead.

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    Mute Jester VonDoom
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    Jul 30th 2016, 10:54 AM

    i wonder if ‘potential trump voters’ should be referred to psychiatric services?

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    Mute Valthebear
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    Jul 30th 2016, 11:50 AM

    ‘Psychiatric services’ for potential Trump voters? Why? Again, the subtle sly belittling of working people that was the hallmark of many in the UK Remain Camp during the brexit campaign. This is the type of smug patronising arrogant nonsense that has become so typical of the liberal left. To many middle Americans, it is the unquestioning adoration of Hillary Clinton that should provoke a visit from the men in white coats

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 30th 2016, 11:56 AM

    Valthebear, who said anything about working people? Are you implying that only Trump supporters work?

    2
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    Mute Valthebear
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    Jul 30th 2016, 12:45 PM

    Look at the demographics Trump is attracting Dave. It’s the new working poor, utterly disillusioned with the failure of the Democratic Party and Obama’s failure to deliver on his promises of hope etc. Same phenomenon happened with the ‘Reagan Democrats’ Veteran Democrat Tipp O’Neill once remarked that Richard Nixon did more for workers than any Democrat President. The US Dems mirror the Labour Party here; still spouting the same old identity politics bluster while doing nothing to tackle problems of lower purchasing power, housing and healthcare.

    3
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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 30th 2016, 1:39 PM

    Don’t worry, there are plenty more opportunities for them to realise that Trump has made his money by creating more working poor

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    Mute rowan hill
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    Jul 29th 2016, 10:55 PM

    That would be because he is a total bell end!!!

    49
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    Mute Joey_Westland
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    Jul 29th 2016, 11:40 PM

    If Hilary was on The Apprentice Donald Trump would fire her stoopid ass.

    31
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    Mute John003
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    Jul 30th 2016, 12:01 AM

    It’s down to six swing states even if Trump loses NY and Florida the 4 rust belt states will put him over the line
    They are
    Illinois Ohio Pennsylvania and
    Wisconsin
    That is according to Michael Moore

    18
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    Mute Jester VonDoom
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    Jul 30th 2016, 2:08 AM

    i think Hillary might have a bit more dignity than to go on a reality TV show

    14
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    Mute Joey_Westland
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    Jul 30th 2016, 2:13 PM

    ‘Hilary’ ‘Dignity’
    Hahaha.
    Comedic genius.
    Guess that’s why they call you the Jester.

    1
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    Mute emeraldninja
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    Jul 29th 2016, 11:02 PM

    Yeah.. and if intelligence was fatal he’d live forever !

    29
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    Mute The Girl
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    Jul 29th 2016, 11:05 PM

    I’m just looking at how many woke up with a shock of Brexit…Hopefully we won’t wake up in a couple of weeks with the shock of Trumpit.

    50
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    Mute Talleyrand Frye
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    Jul 29th 2016, 11:23 PM

    I think if Trump became president in the next couple of weeks, it would be an enormous shock to everybody, given that the election won’t take place until November.

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    Mute Terry McClatchey
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    Jul 29th 2016, 11:56 PM

    Election in November. Inauguration in January 2017.

    28
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    Mute Drew TheChinaman :)
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    Jul 30th 2016, 12:20 AM

    If it was an out and out ratings contest… It would be between Kim Kardashian and a Pikachu…

    Luckily most people are tuning into to see a train wreck in action. I’m on the GOP and Dems mailing list. I got three emails begging me not to watch Hilary’s speech. It seems keeping people as ignorant and ill informed as possible is a key pillar in the Trump strategy.

    27
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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 30th 2016, 1:37 AM

    Wow, did that really happen? I’d love to see those emails. Also has the Trump campaign asked for donations less than 100 times?

    11
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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Jul 29th 2016, 11:19 PM

    They tuned in to see the raving lunatic I hope….

    25
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    Mute Joey_Westland
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    Jul 29th 2016, 11:41 PM

    No actually.
    They wanted to see the next president of the United States.

    23
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    Mute Dec Moyles
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    Jul 30th 2016, 12:34 AM

    Most people in America listen to Howard Stern and othe shock jocks. That doesn’t mean you want them running the country. Trump can thank Hillary been so unpopular for his chances more than anything

    24
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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 30th 2016, 1:38 AM

    It’s looking a bit more Alex Jones at the moment.

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    Mute Declan O'meara
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    Jul 30th 2016, 2:02 AM

    Dec Moyles , dec I don’t know where you are getting that from and I live in states and have for quiet some time now ever before satilete radio which stern has been in now for almost 10 years people listen to 1010 winds more than any disc jockey

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 30th 2016, 2:32 AM

    A bit disingenuous to compare the 24 hour day listenership to the listenership a disk jockey how has a much smaller window in that period of time

    5
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    Mute peter sheridan
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    Jul 29th 2016, 11:48 PM

    Has hillary been watching house of cards..seem to remember frank underwood had the same speech on jobs

    21
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    Mute Kathleen Henderson
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    Jul 30th 2016, 12:33 AM

    She is wearing an ivory coloured outfit just like Frank underwood wife…..sad

    12
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    Mute Fred
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    Jul 30th 2016, 12:37 AM

    Copying Donald Trump’s infantile writing style…sadder

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    Mute justanothertaxpayer
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    Jul 30th 2016, 12:38 AM

    What colour outfits are OK for her to wear?

    27
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    Mute Patrick J O'CONNOR
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    Jul 29th 2016, 11:53 PM

    Paddy Powers odds on Donald Trump are down from 7/4 to 13/8 to night. It looks like plain sailing from here on in to the White House. Still a great bet at this price. Bet on Donald Trump!

    17
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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 30th 2016, 1:36 AM

    Paddy, you know how odds in a bookies work right? Odds are affected by money not just information

    18
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    Mute Pauliebhoy
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    Jul 30th 2016, 1:54 AM

    Robin Van Persie to Rangers odds went to 4/6 (insert PMSL smilie here)

    7
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    Mute Jester VonDoom
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    Jul 30th 2016, 9:30 AM

    ‘a fool and his money are easily parted’

    3
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    Mute Valthebear
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    Jul 30th 2016, 10:07 AM

    And the money follows the info Dave..Trump defo worth a flutter now..

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 30th 2016, 11:46 AM

    Money follows the media. Which is not very reliable

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    Mute Valthebear
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    Jul 30th 2016, 11:52 AM

    Not mainstream media, no

    1
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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 30th 2016, 11:59 AM

    Then please do share with us where you get your unbiased, not for profit news from

    2
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    Mute Valthebear
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    Jul 30th 2016, 12:47 PM

    From many different sources, ranging from left to right. CNN poll (not Fox) had Trump ahead last week

    1
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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 30th 2016, 1:40 PM

    So no unbiased sources then

    1
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    Mute Gerry Fallon
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    Jul 30th 2016, 8:24 AM

    Face up to it OK trump is just a TV reality star and a mouthpiece.Americans would be insane to vote this knobend into the white house.Thats the only reason the ratings were higher.its like the channel 4 big brother.”It’s 4 am in the house and Donald has just woken up”.

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    Mute Castalla Villas
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    Jul 30th 2016, 1:03 AM

    the guy reminds me of the character Cam Brady from the movie campaign

    4
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    Mute alanna grogan
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    Jul 30th 2016, 4:03 AM

    The usa claim to be a democracy, yet it’s only a two party race. Absolutely ridiculous

    3
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    Mute Jason Culligan
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    Jul 30th 2016, 7:12 AM

    There are more parties in the US, the American people just choose not to vote for them. It’s the same in many democracies actually, two main parties with outliers sucking up the rest of the votes. Its the same to a less extreme degree in Ireland ans it’s certainly easy to see in the UK.

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    Mute Jester VonDoom
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    Jul 30th 2016, 9:34 AM

    and none of them have had coalition governments, or substantial parts of their state effectively self-governed by other parties

    2
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    Mute David D'Arcy
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    Aug 2nd 2016, 3:16 PM

    That headline’s just another way of saying his campaign is a car crash!

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    Mute Paddy Tbaysurfer
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    Jul 30th 2016, 1:32 AM

    Simple Trump has the comedy factor

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    Mute Michael Igoe
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    Jul 30th 2016, 3:43 AM

    And if my aunt were a man, she would be my uncle.

    1
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