Rational Nation USA

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Well I see that the reports are out that President Obama as had accurate Intel on ISIS since 2013. Also that he has missed almost half of his Intel daily briefings. Forgive me for being just a tad bit skeptical of the reports. You see when the reporting is from either of the two sources that are hitting the blogosphere with the stories today, Breitbart or Daily Mail it is always wise to check the stories against shall we say more reliable and newsworthy sources. The stories can be found at the above links. They make for interesting reading, whatever your perspective going in. If you catch my drift. Via: Memeorandum

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth With the national debt presently at $152,155 per taxpayer, and the unfunded liabilities at $996, 668 per taxpayer ( source ), I is only a matter of time before the soaring symbol of American military and economic preeminence, the American Bald Eagle, will soar no more. As we continue to pour billions upon billions of dollars into "making the world safe for democracy" the world continues to be a menacing place. The more we do the worse it often seems to become. With a declining middle class here at home and a growing under class economically we continue to spread America's treasure abroad in humanitarian foreign aid. There was one a well know phrase "charity starts at home." I'm wondering whatever became of that common sense belief. With grave issues facing our President and Congress more time and effort is spent in haggling over issues of relative unimportance than congress critters putting

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth This site, and by extension its proprietor, is a stanch fiscal conservative. By we means balancing the national budget and spending the national treasure (of course this means taxpayer dollars) in the best interest of the legal citizens of the United States of America as determined by their elected representatives in Congress. Our democratic republic was designed to do just that. However, in order to accomplish that proper goal of government the influence of money and special interests must be eradicated, a subject for another day. Partisan politics in the extreme supported by the strategy of personal attack politics and take no prisoners mentality has become the order of the day and nowhere is it more prevalent than the internet, particularly on right wing sites. Yes there certainly are left leaning sites that are guilty of extreme partisanship and irrational conclusions based on personal bias etc., but, after nearly 5

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Doesn't he remind you of Senator Joseph McCarthy of the "Red Scare" era of American politics. Almost a spittin image in fact. Who knew his many talents. Senator Cruz is a comedian as well as a Tea Party Republican Senator. Oh, another thing. Unless my sources are mistaken he's a Canadian Cuban as well. Have a great weekend. It's going to be beautiful and 80 degrees in Massachusetts. No for the Cruz man... TPM - Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) joked that media outlets should refer to the man who jumped the White House fence, made it across the lawn, and got inside as an "undocumented White House visitor. "We should insist that ABC, NBC, CBS, they refer to the visitor according to the term that is politically correct: an undocumented White House visitor," Cruz, a hardliner on immigration reform, said during his speech at the Values Voter Summit on Friday. Since the intrusion the White Hous

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth The Washington Post - President Obama has yet to reveal his choice to succeed Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., but already the Senate confirmation process has begun its march toward contentiousness. With Nov. 4 midterm elections potentially tipping the balance in the Senate, some Republicans immediately called for a delay in the hearings and votes on the new attorney general until January, when the possibility of a GOP majority in the Senate might give Republicans almost total control of the outcome. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) issued a political call to arms for conservatives, saying that outgoing senators should not vote on the nominee during the post-election lame-duck session. “Allowing Democratic senators, many of whom will likely have just been defeated at the polls, to confirm Holder’s successor would be an abuse of power that should not be countenanced,” Cruz said in a statement. Democrats argued that Republicans

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth On the resignation of Attorney General Eric Holder... “Rather than rush a nominee through the Senate in a lame-duck session, I hope the president will now take his time to nominate a qualified individual who can start fresh relationships with Congress so that we can solve the problems facing our country,” said Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Translation... Mr. President, take your time to select and nominate a candidate to replace Holder until late January 2015, after the new congress(presumably with both houses republican) is sworn in. You know, when the politics are possibly going to be in our favor. This way we republicans can stall and obstruct any election we, in our "superior" wisdom do not approve of. Ya just have to love, and laugh at the hypocrisy of the modern republican party. Yeah, I know the damn democrats do the same when they have the chance. But rea

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth More evidence that not only Andrea Tantaros, but Fox News as a whole, has jumped the rails and is racing to that great talking point rendezvous just south of Tea Party junction. TPM - Fox News host Andrea Tantaros said Thursday during a discussion about Attorney General Eric Holder's reported resignation that he ran the Department of Justice "much like the Black Panthers would." As part of the panel on the show "Outnumbered," Tantaros called Holder one of the "most dangerous men in America." President Obama is expected to announce Holder's resignation on Thursday afternoon. "He didn't enforce the laws on Obamacare," Tantaros said. "He was droning terrorists without a trial while he was giving them trials in downtown Manhattan. He ran the DOJ much like the Black Panthers would. That is a fact." Fact is Tantaros and Fox News are not about discussing serio

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth While this site is supportive of the President's decision to assemble a coalition of Arab states and commence air strikes against ISIL/ISIS in response to the Islamic State's ever growing threat the editorial board of The New York Times doesn't see it that way. However, air strikes should continue nonetheless within the time frame allowed under the 1973 War Powers Act. During which time the President should CLEARLY outline the objectives for the public and make the case to Congress and secure Congressional sanction for his actions. A Declaration of War should not be ruled out. The New York Times - President Obama has put America at the center of a widening war by expanding into Syria airstrikes against the Islamic State, the Sunni extremist group known as ISIS and ISIL. He has done this without allowing the public debate that needs to take place before this nation enters another costly and potentially lengthy co

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Been saying it for neigh on 15 years. Some things just take time to gather steam I suppose. Perhaps it is the advent of the Tea Party with it's winner take all and take no prisoners attitude toward government. Or maybe it is America has gown weary of the educated, elitist leftist that control academia and to a lesser extent the main stream media. Possibly it is a combination of both, which is more likely than not. Without being judgmental it is safe to say it is high time we have a viable third party alternative in these United States of America. Ideally a party that thinks outside the box of 19th and 20th century paradigms. We can always hope. Read the complete GALLOP Politics text. Via: Memeorandum

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth With the help of lawmakers apparently residing in la-la land Stewart has a ice and ice water segment on his daily program. The Daily Show Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes , The Daily Show on Facebook , Daily Show Video Archive h/t: Progressive Eruptions

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Alaska Dispatch News - Reporter Charlo Greene quit on-air during KTVA-TV's 10 p.m. newscast Sunday, revealing herself as the owner of the medical marijuana business Alaskan Cannabis Club and telling viewers that she would be using all of here energy to fight for legalizing marijuana in Alaska. Greene had reported on the Alaskan Cannabis Club during Sunday night's broadcast, without revealing her connection to it. At the end of the report, during a live shot, she announced that she was the club's owner and would be quitting. "Now everything you've heard is why I, the actual owner of the Alaskan Cannabis Club, will be dedicating all of my energy toward fighting for freedom and fairness, which begins with legalizing marijuana here in Alaska," she said. "And as for this job, well, not that I have a choice but, fuck it, I quit," And with that she walked off camera. Definitely not exactly

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Americans believe religion's influence in life is waning and that it is a bad thing. Quite possibly this is why the political sector, particularly republicans, believe religion should take a larger part in the nation's politics and governance. I can't help thinking a couple of things, 1) it's unfortunate there is no Thomas Jefferson to breathe some common sense into the religionists, and 2) how do those who think we need more religion in government square there concern with cultures they criticize for having too much religion in government. It's hard not to think those with the opinion we need more religion in government really haven't thought at all. Pew ResearchReligion & Public Life Project -Nearly three-quarters of the public (72%) now thinks religion is losing influence in American life, up 5 percentage points from 2010 to the highest level in Pew Research polling over the past decade. And

A break from politics and the negative. Enjoy!!!

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth From the always ready and looking for a conflict (war) neocon wing of the GOP. Mexico, the next target? Probably if Mark Walker were to have his way. More nonsensical knee jerk from a neocon. Just laser and blitz somebody eh Mark? If that doesn't work, and it won't, then what genius? TPM - A Republican congressional candidate in North Carolina suggested that he'd be open to going to war with Mexico over problems with immigration and drug cartels. The candidate, Mark Walker (pictured), the Republican nominee in the race to succeed Rep. Howard Coble (R-NC) in North Carolina's 6th Congressional District, made the comments on June 26. "I will tell you if you have foreigners who are sneaking in with drug cartels to me that is a national threat," Mark Walker said during a speech to Tea Partiers in Rockingham County. The footage was reported by Rawstory.com via a post at the Daily Kos. "And

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Following the ISIL/ISIS threat... The three articles below, two from The New York Times and the third from The Guardian discuss the threat, the administrations current positions, and the possible military course the USA may find itself taking at some point to effectively " dismantle and destroy" ISIL/ISIS, to use the President's words. WASHINGTON — Militants for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria have traveled to Mexico and are just miles from the United States. They plan to cross over the porous border and will “imminently” launch car bomb attacks. And the threat is so real that federal law enforcement officers have been placed at a heightened state of alert, and an American military base near the border has increased its security. As the Obama administration and the American public have focused their attention on ISIS in recent weeks, conservative groups and leading Republicans have issued stark warnin

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Sen. Rand Paul on Monday pushed back against heightened criticism that he has flip-flopped on foreign policy issues, saying he has stood firmly against the Obama administration’s policies in Syria. Appearing on CBS “This Morning,” the Kentucky Republican conceded that he has shifted his views in some areas, including on what is an appropriate U.S. response to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. “As world events change, obviously you change your analysis. Five years ago, ISIS wasn’t a threat,” he said, using an alternate name for the terrorist group that has mobilized across much of northern and central Iraq. Paul acknowledged that his thought process on ISIL has been “influenced” by ISIL’s recent beheadings of U.S. journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff and British aid worker David Haines. He had previously been publicly skeptical about potential airstrikes against ISIL, but just a few months after criticized

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Do democrats and republicans exist in different realities? Sometimes I wonder. The complete Pew Research Center for the People & the Press report . Via: Memeorandum

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth This just in from The New York Times . With many key Arab states only expressing lukewarm support for President Obama's enunciated strategy to dismantle and destroy ISIL/ISIS how successful will the plan be? BEIRUT, Lebanon — Many Arab governments grumbled quietly in 2011 as the United States left Iraq, fearful it might fall deeper into chaos or Iranian influence. Now, the United States is back and getting a less than enthusiastic welcome, with leading allies like Egypt, Jordan and Turkey all finding ways on Thursday to avoid specific commitments to President Obama’s expanded military campaign against Sunni extremists. As the prospect of the first American strikes inside Syria crackled through the region, the mixed reactions underscored the challenges of a new military intervention in the Middle East, where 13 years of chaos, from Sept. 11 through the Arab Spring revolts, have deepened political and sectarian divisio

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth As republicans in congress cut President Obama's request for funding level to counter the Ebola outbraek the potential for a worldwide plague grows. Unless medical science can control the spread, keeping the virus confined to small population area in tribal Africa until ultimately it runs it's course, the entire world is at risk. Controlling the spread and savings lives in Africa is essential to beating preventing mass deaths on a grand world scale. The New York Times - MINNEAPOLIS — THE Ebola epidemic in West Africa has the potential to alter history as much as any plague has ever done. There have been more than 4,300 cases and 2,300 deaths over the past six months. Last week, the World Health Organization warned that, by early October, there may be thousands of new cases per week in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria. What is not getting said publicly, despite briefings and discussions in the inner circ

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Following are links to articles and people who, unlike Ms. Palin actually have credibility . Obama's Speech on ISIS, in Plain English In Fight Against ISIL, Obama Finds Himself Facing Michael Corleone's Dilemma The Grand Strategy Obama Needs Obama’s Coalition of the Willing and Unable Thoughts on any or all are encouraged and appreciated.

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth She is a creation of the Tea Party and neocons . Pushed for purely political reasons, and without the proper vetting by the McCain campaign, Sarah Palin went from relative obscurity as governor of Alaska to the top of the national republican ticket in 2008. After losing to Obama/Biden Senator McCain went back to senatorial pursuits and Palin, she became a media star. One thing for sure can be said of Palin, she has marketing savvy and the people really eat her boilerplate up. Well, some do anyway. Sarah being Sarah and fully believing herself to have foreign policy and diplomatic credibility came out charging following President Obama's address to the nation on the USA strategy to dismantle and destroy ISIL/ISIS. Keep in mind the woman who credits the President of having accomplished almost nothing has done a damn sight less. But she is appreciated by the Tea Party neocons and that apparently is all that matters. Full

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Is it a full moon? Ya just can't make this stuff up! Looney at best, dangerous at its worst. Military service should rightly be reserved for those who believe in and are willing to die for what America stands for - and what America stands for is a belief in God as the source of our rights. The United States Air Force has refused to allow a sergeant to re-enlist because he will not say "so help me God." The Air Force is doing exactly the right thing here. There is no place in the United States military for those who do not believe in the Creator who is the source of every single one of our fundamental human and civil rights. Serving in the military is a privilege, not a constitutional right. And it should be reserved for those who have America's values engraved on their hearts. Naturally, the American Humanist Association, which has never seen a constitutional liberty it respects, intends to challeng

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Americans have been lead to believe their vote counts, that our representative democracy gives us a voice in the political process and that by our choice of representatives our voices are heard. Back in the day there may very well have been a modicum of truth to this. However we are not living in the "40's" and "50's", special interests have gained increasing influence and the tax laws have changed in ways that allow big money to have a hugely increased influence on politics and thereby on government. Big money has eagerly taken a much larger place at the table as a result. We all know money talks and we can also be relatively certain big money is not looking out for the average hard working American. Big money is looking out for big money's self interests, not yours or the nation generally. Thomas B. Edsall , penning an informative article for The New York Times goes into a detailed discu

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth THE HILL - House Republicans indicated Tuesday that they will provide less than half of the White House's funding request to fight Ebola in the next government spending bill. According to a source familiar with the negotiations, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) agreed as of Tuesday morning to spend a total of $40 million to fight the epidemic in the 2015 spending bill. This would include $25 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and $15 million for the Biological Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to ramp up production of an experimental anti-Ebola drug, the source said. The White House had asked for $88 million for Ebola in total, including $58 million for BARDA, which is involved in coordinating experimental treatments during public health emergencies. A spokeswoman for the House Appropriations Committee would not confirm the numbers, saying the d

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Leon Trotsky Recently my curiosity over whether the USSR would have been a far different state had Trotsky succeeded Lenin rather than Stalin was renewed. A post over at Contra O'Reilly is responsible for this revived curiosity. Of course the question that is fun to consider is would have Russia (USSR) and the world been better for it. Of course we'll never know the answer to these musings but there certainly is a large volume of information for anyone interested in the life and times of Leon Trotsky. Following is an interesting discussion with Hitchens and Service at the Hoover Institute.

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth As NATO meets in Wales this week to discuss the many vexing problems facing the world a strategy is developing among western powers. One that is based on a coalition looking a lot like prior engagement strategies. Sensible and ultimately the only way to fly if we wish to succeed. It will be interesting to hear and read the uber conservatives take on what is almost certainly the strategy Obama has had in mind all along. What most of us have always wanted to know is the President is taking this situation seriously and is working to arrive at a strategy with the best chance of success. It appears this is what is happening. President Obama and other world leaders are currently meeting in Wales to discuss the bevy of issues that are currently vexing the world, including the political turmoil in Afghanistan ahead of the alliance’s withdrawal this year and a newly emboldened Russia that has sent troops into neighboring Ukraine

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth In the continuing and seemingly never ending search for the full truth of Benghazi a new book, “ 13 Hours ,” is likely to provide further insights, as well as stirring the political embers not yet extinguished. Much the the chagrin of the democrats and the powers that be we sure. CAIRO — Five commandos guarding the C.I.A. base in Benghazi, Libya, in September 2012 say that the C.I.A. station chief stopped them from interceding in time to save the lives of Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and an American technician during the attack on the diplomatic mission there. In a new book scheduled for release next week and obtained by The New York Times, the commandos say they protested repeatedly as the station chief ordered them to wait in their vehicles, fully armed, for 20 minutes while the attack on the diplomatic mission was unfolding less than a mile away. “If you guys do not get here, we are going to die!” a diplomatic

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth America's Moron in Cheif Ted Nugent, America's Moron in Chief took to Facebook to spread more of his now legendary Nugent Insanity . In keeping with his preaching to the NRA choir and other extreme right wing nut balls the Moron in Chief dropped his usual pearls of BS wisdom. THE RAW STORY - Taking to Facebook, former Damn Yankees guitarist and NRA Board member Ted Nugent warned that the upcoming anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001 will bring a wave of attacks on “unnarmed & helpless Americans and Europeans” by “4th world allahpuke zombies.” “9-11-14 is the day of infamy again. Unarmed & helpless Americans and Europeans will be viciously ambushed when they least expect it, and the death toll will be more brutal and widespread than all the peace & love dreamers could ever imagine,” Nugent wrote. Nugent advised citizens to ”gun & ammo up” in order to protect themselves and provi

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth "In this case, you either have to convert them -- which I think would be next to impossible. I'm not giving up on them, but I'm just saying either convert them or kill them. One or the other." Phil Robertson Well now, sounds a great deal like what I have read in Islam's holy book, the Quran. Like I've maintained for years extremism is extremism no mater what suit the caricature is wearing. TPM - "Duck Dynasty" patriarch Phil Robertson put forward a strategy Tuesday for combating militants with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria: "convert them or kill them." Robertson was asked to opine on Fox News' "Hannity" about how to combat radical Islam and anti-Christian behavior, after ISIS militants released a video showing the beheading of a second American journalist. "In this case, you either have to convert them -- which I think would be next to impossible,

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth It is beginning to look like the President is not at all sure exactly what the objective is or should be with regard to the threat ISIS presents for the USA and the rest of the western world. All italicized remarks following are taken from ABC News . At first, the president offered what seemed to be an unambiguous goal. “The bottom line is this: Our objective is clear and that is to degrade and destroy ISIL so it is no longer a threat,” he said Here the President is clear, forceful even with resolve in his words. His words indicate a policy shift from the prior less strident policy that was in essence a defensive and protective one with no consideration of destroying ISIS. When Ann Compton asked the President to clarify his statement asking him if the USA is now in favor of destroying ISIS Obama back tracked sending mixed messages. “Our objective is to make sure they aren’t an ongoing threat to the region,” he sai

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth “ Republicans in Congress love to say ‘no.’ Those are just facts, they’re facts of life. They say ‘no’ to everything .” Barrack Hussein Obama, President of the United States of America Well, when you look at just the facts it is true. For the most part republicans do say no to damn near everything. Even when it makes a modicum of sense to say yes. It is then only natural for rational individuals to consider that republicans have an agenda not necessarily related to what may be in the best interests of the nation. Something about the republican form of government, as well as our history, informs us that compromise for the purpose of arriving at the solution that is most representative of the will of the people was the intent of the founders. However, today a minority can hold our nation hostage to special interests whose aim are not necessarily in the best interests of our people and the nation. Republicans, once a respec