Rational Nation USA

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Li berty -vs- Tyr anny Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor Wise words from a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Chicago Tribune - Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor made a plea for preserving the impartiality and independence of the American judicial system in a lecture Thursday at Elmhurst College. O’Connor, who addressed a crowded audience at Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel on the west suburban campus, delivered the Rudolf G. Schade lecture on history, ethics and law. Although the U.S. judicial system is respected and emulated around the world, there are aspects of it that could b

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Li berty -vs- Tyr anny I knew there was a reason I like Juan Williams... Lets have the debate America. Via: Memeorandum

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Li berty -vs- Ty ranny The story behind Liberty’s construction and the visionaries who made it happen Liberty Rising For many years yours truly prided himself on being a principled conservative. One who believed in the notion that the individual could achieve anything they set their minds to achieving. I guess that is the old Horatio Alger theory for those old enough to remember exactly who that was. My grandparents and parents, I only have one left now, brought me up to believe in fiscal conservationism. In other words not spending more than you were earning. Of course that meant after all expenses were met for the month and you were saving somewhere near 10% of your gross income. I guess that sort of died the minute we all be came Keynesian converts. Sixteen trillion in national debt and still growing. With no end in sight. President Obama is doing the best he can given the mess he inherited. And no, I am not bashing GWB, the mess s

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Li berty -vs- Tyr anny Today we honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom and liberty for all.

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Li berty -vs- Tyr anny I like Rand Paul. In some ways he is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise boring and oh so predictable and stale chamber. Having said this, and yes I think we need to resolve the IRS "scandal" as quickly and ethically as possible, to question the President's moral authority to lead over this is premature and questionable at best at this precise point in time. Especially in light of the small matter that the man in charge when the IRS "scandal" begin was a GWB appointee. From Mediaite - Appearing on This Week on Sunday morning, Rand Paul challenged President Barack Obama‘s moral standing in the wake of multiple controversies. “The constellation of these three scandals ongoing really takes away from the President’s moral authority to lead this nation,” Paul said. “Nobody questions his legal authority, but I think he’s really losing the moral authority.” “I don’t care whether you’re a Repub

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Li berty -vs- Tyr anny RIGHT WING WATCH - On his radio program today, Bryan Fischer weighed in on the decision by the Boy Scouts of America to drop its ban on gay scouts last night. Admitting that he was shocked by the vote since he was positive that it was going to be retained, Fischer declared that the BSA should change its name to the "Boy Sodomizers of America." Fischer eventually read a passage from the Book of Luke in which Jesus says it is better to have a stone tied around ones neck and be tossed into the sea than to lead a child to sin as a warning to BSA leaders that they will face the judgment of God for endorsing this change in policy: Now that the Boy Scouts of America has made the right and proper decision granting ALL boys the right to membership REGARDLESS of their sexual orientation we're certain to here more from the judgmental moralizers in days and weeks to come, perhaps even for years. Sure would hav

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Li berty -vs- Tyr anny The voice of intolerance and bigotry. AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry today issued the following statement regarding the vote to admit openly gay Boy Scouts: The Boys Scouts of America has been built upon the values of faith and family for more than 100 years and today's decision contradicts generations of tradition in the name of political correctness. While I will always cherish my time as a scout and the life lessons I learned, I am greatly disappointed with this decision. Once again proving the bible thumping socons are part of the problem rather than part of the solution. Way to go Governor Perry. Not that anyone with a rational mind is surprised by your backwardness. Via: Memorandum

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Li berty -vs- Tyr anny Sometimes it just makes sense to review precisely what it means to act in the rational self interest of ones nation. Perhaps we have reached a point where infrastructure must take precedent over engagement in never ending global conflicts. Especially when the conflict has little to do with our national security. Start by thinking Iraq and working backwards. Of course Afghanistan is exempt from the exercise. Business Insider - The big news today is that a bridge in Washington collapsed, throwing cars into the water. Amazingly, nobody died. This may revive debate about the need to spend more on infrastructure, which would have multiple positive effects. Nothing is likely to happen, however. That being said, here's a chart of public construction spending (TLPBLCONS) as percentage of GDP. You can see, public construction spending is lower than its been in over 20 years. Click graph to enlarge Given the c

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Li berty -vs- Tyr anny Perhaps it is just me. I think not. Some might say I've lost my mind. I really don't concern myself with others view of my politics. Personally I have little use for the mystics of religion or the mystics of muscle (read state in regards to the latter). Any questions bring em on, I;m ready. I have for the lions share of my adult life (40 years or so) been a fiscal conservative and social moderate. For many years I sincerely believed the Republican party represented the principles of liberty, freedom of speech, the right to dissent against public policy and politicians based on factual evidence of errors in judgement, the right to believe and act in accordance with civil law and the Constitution, that if you worked hard and kept your nose to the grindstone you would succeed and prosper, that reason rather than emotion is what should guide ones life and decisions. The list goes on. Today it has become qui

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Lib erty -vs- Tyr anny CBS - Obama administration officials who were in key positions on Sept. 11, 2012, acknowledge that a range of mistakes were made the night of the attacks on the U.S. missions in Benghazi, and in messaging to Congress and the public in the aftermath. The officials spoke to CBS News in a series of interviews and communications under the condition of anonymity so that they could be more frank in their assessments. They do not all agree on the list of mistakes and it's important to note that they universally claim that any errors or missteps did not cost lives and reflect "incompetence rather than malice or cover up." Nonetheless, in the eight months since the attacks, this is the most sweeping and detailed discussion by key players of what might have been done differently. "We're portrayed by Republicans as either being lying or idiots," said one Obama administration official who was part

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Lib erty -vs- Tyr anny What I find so interesting in regards to the following Facebook post is that Sara Palin would have everyone believe the Obama administration is somehow different than prior administrations with respect to integrity, or as it is perhaps more appropriately labeled "the spin factor." Scandalous Hat Trick Mr. President, when it rains it pours, but most Americans hold their own umbrellas. Today in the Rose Garden you dismissed the idea of a Special Counsel to investigate the IRS scandal. With that, your galling political hubris shined bright in the midst of today’s dark clouds. Mr. President, how can we trust your Justice Department to conduct an independent investigation when there is a systemic violation of the Hatch Act throughout your administration? Surely you are aware that the Hatch Act prevents certain federal employees from engaging in political activity. Specifically, it’s illegal for these federal

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Lib erty -vs- Tyr anny President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton take part in the Transfer of Remains Ceremony marking the return to the United States of the remains of the four Americans killed in Benghazi, Libya. Molly Riley/DPA/Zuma It ain't a cover up but... Mother Jones - The latest revelations about the Benghazi talking points—as opposed to what actually happened at the US diplomatic facility at Benghazi , where four Americans died—do not back up Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham's hyperbolic and absurd claim that the Benghazi controversy is Obama's Watergate. But neither are they nothing. As ABC News reported on Friday morning, the most discussed talking points in US diplomatic history were revised multiple times before being passed to UN Ambassador Susan Rice prior to her appearances last September on Sunday talk shows. The revisions—which deleted several lines noting that the CIA months befo

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Lib erty -vs- Tyr anny File Photo As to be expected the IRS targeting conservative political groups, Tea Party activists, and patriots during the 2012 election cycle to see if they were in violation of their status as tax exempt organizations. Certainly inappropriate if as appears to be the case liberal groups failed to undergo the same scrutiny. Following is an excerpt from the Associated Press on this story. The agency — led at the time by a Bush administration appointee — blamed low-level employees, saying no high-level officials were aware. But that wasn't good enough for Republicans in Congress, who are conducting several investigations and asked for more. "I call on the White House to conduct a transparent, government-wide review aimed at assuring the American people that these thuggish practices are not under way at the IRS or elsewhere in the administration against anyone, regardless of their political views,"

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Lib erty -vs- Tyra nny The April job reports are out. The good news is unemployment fell to a four year low, certainly at year six in Obama's Presidential tenure strikes a positive note. Or does it? At the same time the number of people employed part time rose as well as strong indications are showing the Affordable Care Act (ACA aka ObamaCare) will have a long term negative impact on the USA economy. The following is an interesting analysis and one that certainly has some credibility. AEI - US job growth in April beat economist expectations as nonfarm payrolls rose 165,000, and the jobless rate fell to a four-year low of 7.5%. But the report contained worrisome signs that President Obama’s health care reform law is hurting full-time, high-wage employment. While the American economy added 293,000 jobs last month, according to the separate household survey, the number of persons employed part time for economic reasons — “involuntar