45 Comments
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Chris's avatar

Thanks for everything Ken proud to support your work, I think this is just getting started, merry Christmas happy holidays everybody

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Ken Klippenstein's avatar

Thank you! And I also feel that this is only the beginning!

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Share Cropper's avatar

Thanks, Ken, for sharing your stories. One of the best decisions I've made was canceling subscriptions to The New York Times, The Washington Post, Hartford Current, and other corporate media outlets and subscribing to independent media like yours. We appreciate your work and look forward to your stories every week.

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Ken Klippenstein's avatar

:)

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Bonnie Blodgett's avatar

Well, you've convinced me to buy a tree this year, Ken, a real tree just as I always have. I was actually considering a fake one as a way of expressing my own indignation. For me, a longtime journalist specializing in the environment, the economy and foreign affairs who got fired by major newspapers for writing truth to power not once but twice, the real tree symbolized hope. The fake tree was me throwing in the towel. So thank you for this. Not only will I NOT throw in the towel this year (nor buy a fake tree), but I will also redouble my efforts to convince as many people as I can to think, well, what you think. We seem to agree on everything. If you need a VERY skilled hand at sorting through all those FOIA responses and just generally pitching in at no cost, I can share my resume with you because I would love nothing more than to join Team Klipperstein.

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Ken Klippenstein's avatar

:)

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Richard Hyppa's avatar

Join me in buying several at the grocery store lot which has the best prices, then leaving most for all of them for people who will certainly appreciate the gifts.

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Lee Petersen's avatar

Having an independent, non-partisan and objective news source is a breath of fresh air that I despaired of ever really having until you came along Ken. Happy to support you for my second year, and going forward. Well worth the nominal price; looking forward to your continuing great work.

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Ken Klippenstein's avatar

that's so gratifying to hear. thanks lee!

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Sean Jones's avatar

Ken I am not a terribly patriotic person by any means but Thanksgiving has always seemed like one of the best things about America. It's ok to be sincere when sincerity matters. And I appreciate your work, and you self-reporting as happy one year into this experiment.

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Ken Klippenstein's avatar

I was nervous about getting roasted for being so sincere here but people have ben nice!

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JIM FLAHERTY's avatar

Ken,

That is because your fan base must already know that you have a heart of gold to back up that sincerity.

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Ken Klippenstein's avatar

:)

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JIM FLAHERTY's avatar

Ken,

What I should have added was, don't lose either one. Together, they could add up to a ticket to ride.

- Jim

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Patrick Morley's avatar

I’ve been of the opposite mind my entire life and have yet to purchase a fake tree. Yet, I agree, the path to a loud enough voice is rife with pitfalls and illusion. Keep the flame lit! Just not in your real tree.

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Richard Hyppa's avatar

One of the best New Year's celebrations we had recently was driving around the neighborhood and grabbing the trees that people had put out for pickup and then piling them up for a roaring, 10 minute bonfire. Yes, real is better than fake every time.

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Marian Gillis's avatar

The Smell of the tree is the best. Merry 🎄 Christmas.

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Matt Mc's avatar

Real trees are the best. And once it’s had a couple months to dry out, it’s makes an incredible addition to the spring bonfire. Peace.

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Ken Klippenstein's avatar

it's weird to me you have to water them lol

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Susan Becraft's avatar

Think of your tree as a pet.

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Ken Klippenstein's avatar

lol i begged my parents for a pet rock as a kid

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hierochloe's avatar

don't slack on the watering, these things are dangerous af if they dry out in your house

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Jean Santa Maria's avatar

Thank you for this lovely introspective. I’ll be renewing my annual subscription soon. I admire your pioneering spirit and sincerely appreciate your reporting.

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Ken Klippenstein's avatar

Thank you Jean!

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Richard Hyppa's avatar

Well it's about damn time, I hope you threw the 6 ft or 8 ft green toilet brush into the rubbish.

In regard to current events, please help to reframe the issue of people dying on boats off the coast of Venezuela. The major mass media and too many others seem to believe that they should focus on the second strike on a boat on September 2nd, when two survivors were mercilessly gunned down. Unless the United States has sovereignty or jurisdiction over that geographical area and can show that the individuals who perished were about to harm or kill any people, not just Americans, or were in the process of doing so, then I failed to see how any of these murders can possibly withstand legal scrutiny. What's next, will the Venezuelans put a plane into the sky to strafe boats off the coast of New England or Long Island? Whether these people are drug runners, fisherman or otherwise, it is my understanding that United States law and international law, if there is any on the subject sees these criminal acts as they are, cold-blooded murders of individuals who may or may not be engaged in smuggling activities but in no way deserve to be put to death. What's next? Trump and his minions use deadly force against anyone on our streets whom they believe to be selling drugs or committing other such heinous crimes? Their small minds cannot grasp the concept of due process and as senator Kelly said, they are not serious people. This should be their end.

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Susan Becraft's avatar

Ken, I’m thankful every day that you took a leap of faith and struck out on your own. You and other independent journalists, including DropSiteNews and Sarah Kendzior, do the job that the MSM media once did…long ago. I’m thankful that I am able to financially support your work, and I hope others will replace their subscriptions to certain newspapers with a subscription to you.

As for the tree, I love Christmas trees! I confess to having left my fake tree up all year because the fairy lights make me happy, but I’ve augmented that tree with a handsome balsam fir and four tabletop fir trees. Your tree is beautiful, and I look forward to photos after it’s trimmed.

Thank you again for your brilliant work, Ken.

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Ken Klippenstein's avatar

Thanks so much Susan! And nothing wrong with artificial christmas trees - it was my attitude about holidays that was wrong!

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Susan Becraft's avatar

I understood perfectly. I shunned fake trees until I decided to leave one up all year.

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Therese M LaGoe's avatar

Thank you for what you do. I gladly became a paid subscriber shortly after you launched and you've proved over and over that it was a wise investment. I wish I could afford to upgrade to founding but since I can't I made a small donation. Knowing that there are courageous and principled and talented people like you working to make the world a better place gives me hope. Keep on keepin' on, Ken. And happy holidays!

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Ken Klippenstein's avatar

Aw thanks Therese! Means a lot that you feel i delivered - that's really important to me.

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wrknight's avatar

Thanks for all your efforrt

If you truly have more leaked documents than you have time, send some my way. I'll help you write them up.

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Howie's avatar

I am thankful for silver tooth

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Guy's avatar

Congratulations, and not just for the Xmas tree!

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scott's avatar

Have a great Christmas and enjoy your tree. Hope you get more paid subscribers.

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