tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.comments2024-03-07T08:27:01.482-05:00Rational Nation USALes Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comBlogger29927125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-31121262811659811592024-03-07T08:27:01.482-05:002024-03-07T08:27:01.482-05:0002/06/2024 - Chris Christie, is one of few republi...02/06/2024 - Chris Christie, is one of few republicans deserving of respect. Period. <br /><br />Christie stood up and showed courage, inteligence, thoughtfulness, and leadership as he told the truth about Trump and his lying, authoritarian, anti democracy, and criminal ways.<br /><br />Anyone not listening to the truth Chris Christie speaks is either deaf or an idiot.<br /><br />With MAGA, i'd say it is the latter. Hands down.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-78941203020223627362024-03-05T15:00:17.757-05:002024-03-05T15:00:17.757-05:00The useless scotus is now actually acting to prote...The useless scotus is now actually acting to protect the orange hued human orangutan with its ridiculous pro authoritarian decision yesterday. And, there is absolutely no need to hear tRump's immunity case. Unless the scotus majority is planning to give the cancer what he wants. Absolute complete immunity.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-5075963175365854622024-02-28T18:32:06.286-05:002024-02-28T18:32:06.286-05:0002/28/2024 - Johnson did the right thing. And he r...02/28/2024 - Johnson did the right thing. And he realized that he would lose the south. The <b>old racist southern democrats </b>turned republican following the Civil Rights Act of 1965 when the south went from blue to red. All the racists left the party and turned the republican party racist. It remains so today.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-75840497182106773302024-02-16T17:03:38.742-05:002024-02-16T17:03:38.742-05:0002/16/2024 - If only one could say there exists no...02/16/2024 - If only one could say there exists <b>no internal forces threatening our liberties and freedoms</b>. But such is <b>not</b> the case today. There is Trump and the gop MAGAverse pro Putin/Russia authoritarians working to destroy our democratic republic, its institutions, and the rule of law.<br /><br />They <b>MUST</b> be soundly defeated at the ballot box in November 2024 if democracy and our republic is to survive.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-75550494685893098882024-02-16T08:25:23.299-05:002024-02-16T08:25:23.299-05:0002/16/2024 - In actuality it is never just an indi...02/16/2024 - In actuality it is never <b>just an individual that builds any business. It always a connected collective effort</b>. IOW's the former great President Obama was, and is <b>absolutely</b> correct when he said those words above. Just as Hilary Clinton was correct when she said <b>it takes a village to raise a child</b>.<br /><br />The truth is <b> everything is interconnected, nothing and no one stands alone as its own independent concrete fixed phenomena.<br /><br />Those who believe otherwise, <b>as i ONCE did but no more, are <b>simply not seeing reality as it truly is. Their view is clouded with ego driven obscurations and delusions</b>. IOW, reality is obscured by their self centered belief that they are independent and stad alone in the center of "their" universe.<br /><br />Trump is <b>EXACTLY</b> the deluded, obscured, dementia addled example of <b>EVERYTHING</b> that is wrong with America.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-47262998654095341742024-02-09T09:27:38.900-05:002024-02-09T09:27:38.900-05:00Ah, music. The one thing i was really good at i ga...Ah, music. The one thing i was really good at i gave up for a life in manufacturing supervision and management. Which as it turned out i was good to fair at. It was a progression that took me as far as the Peter Principle.<br /><br />But, life while turbulent, i indeed made it to retirement at 72. After going back to school @ 60 to change careers to become a personal trainer.<br /><br />Now i simply enjoy life with my beautiful 77 year young wife, study Tibetan Buddhism through the NDF (link on my side bar), do guided meditations at the local senior center, spend 2 1/2 hours as fitness advisor at same senior center.<br /><br />I doubt i'll ever get back to playing music. Once i was a high note trumpeter, 50 years ago. These 71 year old chops certainly ain't what they used to be!<br /><br />Study, meditation, and contemplation are my happy places now. Which lights my path as i navigate my final years in the Trump impregnated MAGAverse USA.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-72653873690785363602024-02-08T22:40:45.060-05:002024-02-08T22:40:45.060-05:00I enjoyed this piece from "Rabbi" Singer...I enjoyed this piece from "Rabbi" Singer. <br />It compliments my current reading of Marcus Aurelias' "Meditations" during my single malt sessions. (I read separate books in separate rooms, plus this damn video screen.)<br />I find my varied range of music and reading is truly "enjoying the journey". Or as in deadhead world, getting on the bus and enjoying the ride on the long strange trip. (References to 3 songs)<br />I was lucky to be raised in a stable and nurturing home, with an interest in music and philosophy I picked up from my father. Psychedelics tended to steer my interest toward Eastern religion and philosophy. We can blame the Beatles.<br />I could relate to Singers reference to music auditions and caring for the outcome more than enjoying the activity. Spur of the moment auditions lead to some wonderful experiences. <br />What i cared about was the music and the musicians, not particularly the outcome. I was retired and didn't need gigs for income. But I got some anyway, complete with recording an album, radio interview and performance, and playing the Ann Arbor Summer Festival. <br />I still have the best times just jamming with buddies in my basement studio, sharing a wee dram or two. All this tends to keep me in the moment. My happy place.Dave Dubyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03279370558997246976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-53536595774158108422024-02-02T09:18:08.938-05:002024-02-02T09:18:08.938-05:0002/02/2024 - Happy Holidays will return when the o...02/02/2024 - Happy Holidays will return when the orange hued human orangutan (DJT) is no longer able to pollute the environment with his conspiracies, lies, criminal behaviors (a whopping 91 indictments), misogyny, xenophobia, racism, sexual predation, and his ever increasing lack of touch with reality.<br /><br />When this human bag of garbage is finally no longet seen or heard from Happy Holidays will fully return to America.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-83925850298733401842024-02-02T04:17:28.261-05:002024-02-02T04:17:28.261-05:0002/02/2024 - the gop went from Tea Party romantici...02/02/2024 - the gop went from Tea Party romanticism and anti tax ferve, to the orange hued human orangutan Donald J. Trump and his love of authoritarian strong arm leadership stylea like Putin, Kim Jong Un, and others.<br /><br />A narcisistic, xenophobic, misogynistic, insurrectionist, and rapist who attempted to overturn the legitimate fair and free election of President Biden in 2020.<br /><br />A man who hates democracy and desires the destruction of the successful American experiment in self rule and the rule of law.<br /><br />A man who should never be allowed anywhere near the levers of power ever again. His dementia and his clearly obvious seperation from reality should be <b>all</b> that any clear level headed person should need to vote democractic in 2024 and return President Biden to the presidency and his effective and steady leadership of our <b>representative democracy</b> as well as flipping the house democratic and retaining its senate majority. Thus avoiding DJT's desire and efforts to turn this nation into a third wirld shithole.<br /><br />Vote President Biden and democractic across the board in 2024 to avoid the insanity, chaos, and authoritarianism of DJT and the gop.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-34645144836823245582024-01-31T11:02:47.566-05:002024-01-31T11:02:47.566-05:0001/31/2024 - Yup, things can change. What is embar...01/31/2024 - Yup, things can change. What is embarrassing for me, (and should be for all present or former cons/libertarians), is that we were so duped by their rightwing BS. And BS is has been. The orange hued human orangutan (DJT) showed us,with almost lockstep support from his deluded party, what the conservative/libertarian agenda eventually leads to. Chaos leading to full blown authoritarianism.<br /><br />To which everything thinking person ought to say <b>Hell No To!</b> Vote Straight Democrat if you actually understand self interest. Because the MAGAverse gop, con/libertarian agenda is to <b> work against the intetests of the middle class and the disadvanged etc.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-808293479995099282024-01-28T11:51:41.053-05:002024-01-28T11:51:41.053-05:00I've grown fond of saying the moment one remov...I've grown fond of saying <i>the moment one removes the filters and societies conditioning from their mind and begin to see reality as it is, rather than how they wish it to be, they lmmediately gain in wisdom</i>.<br /><br />Jesus was a man who saw and understood reality exactly as it is and his teachings, when understood and taught properly, are in mostly in alignment with the ancient non-monotheistic spititual paths. <br /><br />Unfortunately the church, think RCC, nixed the Gnostic Gospels and then edited the Good Book (twice) to reflect what the RCC wanted it to reflect so as to <b>insure it's political and spiritual control over its flock</b>. And in the process turned guilt into a virtue. Hence a vengeful and vindictive god. And here we are. <br /><br />Religion is about control over others minds. Spirituality for me is about awareness and truth. The ancient eastern spiritual beliefs carry more wisdom, understanding, and openess by far than any monotheistic authoritarian religion in existence. In my humble opinion.<br /><br />Anyhoo, one of the best books i read this year was the <i><b>Book of Joy</i></b>. A week with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala India. If Christianity had been taught like the dialog between these two spiritual leaders went it might resonate with more folks.<br /><br />Enjoy the weekend playoffs.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-36092202208677543392024-01-27T15:28:17.192-05:002024-01-27T15:28:17.192-05:00I have great respect for your search Les. It frus...I have great respect for your search Les. It frustrates me a s one who still believes in an almighty that for those who are His followers the search for Him and understanding Him ended around 2000 years ago. Now it's rereading a text that has been rewritten and interpreted tens of thousands of times. I'm pretty much just a Sermon on the Mount guy anymore. Joe "Truth 101" Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08875151516978133598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-49708032518285656702024-01-27T13:25:37.251-05:002024-01-27T13:25:37.251-05:00Hello Joe! Good to see ya back in the mix. Althoug...Hello Joe! Good to see ya back in the mix. Although other than commenting on other political sites i've pretty much given up on the ever increasing insanity that has become the hallmark of a party i was once a vice chair of in my town of residence. For me it's now all about the natural state, consciousness, awareness, and understanding relative truth -vs- absolute truth from an eastern philosophical, psychological, and spiritual perspective. The world and my existence in it has improved remarkably since my study began 3 years ago.<br /><br />Trump and the gop are about as wrong on everything as they could possibly be.<br /><br />Anyhoo, take care. And keep the red derangement flank guessing.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-21847889321409594152024-01-26T09:56:12.052-05:002024-01-26T09:56:12.052-05:00Comparing President Obama's first 5 years to t...Comparing President Obama's first 5 years to the chaos, lies, insurrection attempt, and the criminal behavior by Trump & MAGA cultists on J6 2021 i'd say Trump us a traitor and President Obama and President Biden were and are fine dignified presidents.<br /><br />Trump is but a godamn mobster mentality without a shred of decency.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-15368214603778585702024-01-26T09:55:33.833-05:002024-01-26T09:55:33.833-05:00Old WD kept things going. I wish him well.Old WD kept things going. I wish him well.Joe "Truth 101" Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08875151516978133598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-78076112301274760192024-01-26T09:27:37.343-05:002024-01-26T09:27:37.343-05:0001/26/2024 - Haven't seen ole Dervish around t...01/26/2024 - Haven't seen ole Dervish around the blogs these days. Hope he's okay. Gotta admit, i kinda miss the story telling ole WD is so prolific at. Perhaps a bit too progressive but really, an interesting guy.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-54300549605205730452024-01-26T06:08:28.985-05:002024-01-26T06:08:28.985-05:0001/26/2024 - After Trump and his MAGA with it'...01/26/2024 - After Trump and his MAGA with it's insurrection attempt and love of authority and authoritarianism we all now know that Trump and his misnomer MAGA movement is really anti democracy and Trump and MAGA is really all about destroying true representative democracy in America and <b>MUST,<br /></b> be defeated at <b> any and all costs</b>.<br /><br />Conservativism in America is dancing with facism and with Trump's influence has morphed into something <b>VERY</b> ugly and horribly dangerous. It <b>MUST</b> be defeated!<br /><br /><br />Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-56155390140226356402024-01-25T15:40:06.978-05:002024-01-25T15:40:06.978-05:00Presidents create or destroy jobs Silverfiddle thr...Presidents create or destroy jobs Silverfiddle through the economic policies they propose and or support. And the current numbers show that President Biden has done a remarkably good job with the economy given the disaster the orange hued human orangutan handed off to him.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-5028217588928338802024-01-25T08:27:33.757-05:002024-01-25T08:27:33.757-05:001/26/2024 - The Affordable Care Act, with 100% par... 1/26/2024 - The Affordable Care Act, with 100% participation would actually improve healthcare across the board in America. It would be less expensive and the nation overall would be healthier, happier, and actually have better lives.<br /><br />It is the conservative republican mentality that holds America back and <b>is actually responsible for the growing inequities in our society</b>. Their greed and constant ego driven push for more, more, more at the expense of the nation at large is the single biggest cause of economic inequality in America today. And conservatives and the republican party support this inequality by their words and actions.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-90104680718275721802024-01-24T19:28:16.521-05:002024-01-24T19:28:16.521-05:0001/25/2024 - Well, we've seen the complete tot...01/25/2024 - Well, we've seen the complete total ineptitude of Trump and his cult of authoritarian worshippers in the house and senate. It is now way beyond time to get serious and kick the ineffective, useless gop to the curb and wash it down the drain for good.<br /><br />Let the orange hued human orangutan choke on his cheeseburger and retire to the hell realms where he belongs.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-77508346613592110932024-01-24T18:05:02.094-05:002024-01-24T18:05:02.094-05:0001/25/2024 -The entire aware population of the nat...01/25/2024 -The entire aware population of the nation knows what a rotten lying conspiracist and narcissist the orange hued human orangutan is. Only a completely unaware individual, or a very unintelligent person believes and supports DJT for president again. A two bit Hitler wannabe that has every plan in place to enrich himself further if he wins election and in the process bring down the American experiment in self rule.<br /><br />REELECT PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND PROTECT OUR REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY!<br /><br />SEND TRUMP PACKING AGAIN!<br /><br />MAY THE SCOTUS RULE HIM INELIGIBLE FOR OFFICE!Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-87285632564681531312024-01-24T17:52:05.317-05:002024-01-24T17:52:05.317-05:0001/25/2024 - As the nation has witnessed, since th...01/25/2024 - As the nation has witnessed, since the advent of the orange hued human orangutan sitting in the oval office it has been impossible to have a rational intelligent national discussion of the issues. Neithet the OHHO or the cult he leads (the gop) has the sense or disposition to have that honest discussion.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-5553192120291352112024-01-23T15:57:58.577-05:002024-01-23T15:57:58.577-05:002016 signaled the decline of democracy and self ru...2016 signaled the decline of democracy and self rule and the descent into the conservative efforts to fundamentally turn this nation into an authoritarian run 3rd world shithole. Thanks to the orange hued Human orangutan, Donald J. Tump. A lying conspiracist and rapist.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-40766309548553602022024-01-23T12:11:37.063-05:002024-01-23T12:11:37.063-05:00Given what we've seen vis Trump and his MAGA l...Given what we've seen vis Trump and his MAGA lies i'd more than welcome another President just like Obana. Trump, tge gop, and MAGA is now the real threat to the American experiment in self government. Hands down.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-19195239504658684082024-01-22T08:46:13.716-05:002024-01-22T08:46:13.716-05:00No use attempting discussion with a closed mind th...No use attempting discussion with a closed mind that has reified their belief system looking backwards.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.com