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Following recording, May or May not include instances of words being said that the FCC would find me for if their long arm could ever reach.

So when's the end of November 13th, 2019 from slate It's the Gist I'm Mike Pesca.

Today is the launch of a project called The Purple Project for Democracy.

It emphasizes civic engagement, education, participation. Perhaps you've all seen the hashtag on social media We The Purple.

And perhaps that hashtag reminds you of the source material. It was a Simpsons episode where Lisa wins an essay contest and a losing essayist is admonished by a stern father figure.

We The Purple? What the hell was that?

Indeed. I suppose this day could have been called You Choo Choo choose me or Wacking Day or even the day named after what I call hamburgers which is steamed hams.

Indeed I do. Civic engagement is certainly a social good at AIDS with the cohesion and potency of a functional democracy and yet on this day this particular day with these impeachment hearings.

I find it hard to just be I don't know, blandly patriotic, broadly supportive of our tripartite government confident and unconcerned that our country is on the right course.

In fact, I feel like I should channel Lisa Simpson from that very same episode as I throw away my script and a ledge.

Lisa Simpson will now read her essay. I would like to read a different essay if I may.

Okay.

The city of Washington was built on a stagnant swamp some 200 years ago and very little has changed. It's staked then and it stinks now.

Okay, the pointy haired cartoon who never ages is right. But I kind of look I'd like to look I'm gonna look at impeachment as the system working.

It's not great that impeachment hearings have to convene at all but that there is a system to combat high crimes and misdemeanors. That's good that it can be confronted. That's good.

Also, I do think it's good that there is a price to pay among those who both pursue impeachment and removal but also no small cost for those who oppose it.

There is something right and balanced about that something. I don't know little purple.

Now today the two witnesses who are called before the House Intelligence Committee Ambassador William Taylor and State Department official George Kent were sterling. They were wonderful.

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