Rational Nation USA

Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth While the Obama Administration works to negotiate a nuclear arms deal with Iran one of the Revolutionary Guard Militia chiefs, Mohammad Reza Naqdi as stated “erasing Israel off the map” is “nonnegotiable”. Naqdi also went as far as to ...  threatened Saudi Arabia, saying that the offensive it is leading in Yemen “will have a fate like the fate of Saddam Hussein." This according to a report from   THE TIMES OF ISRAEL . Such inflammatory rhetoric is certainly not useful and does raise questions as to the real intentions of the Iranian ruling theocrats. The commander of the Basij militia of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said that “erasing Israel off the map” is “nonnegotiable,” according to an Israel Radio report Tuesday. Militia chief Mohammad Reza Naqdi also threatened Saudi Arabia, saying that the offensive it is leading in Yemen “will have a fate like the fate of Saddam Hussein.” Naqdi’s comments were made public as Iran and ...

Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Fascism is typically viewed as a leftist political and economic system. This is true if leftist is to mean a strong central government with great influence on and regulation over a nation's economic maters. In other words private ownership of business exists but the government essentially establishes economic policy through over burdensome regulations. Ayn Rand and Dr. Leonard Peikoff shared a different view. Both view conservatives and republicans as drivers of our politics and government in the direction towards fascism. While conservatives and republicans typically may not push for as much regulation over the business sector they too have in the past and continue to so so today. When combined with other traits exhibited by fascism the case can be made conservatives and republicans are more likely to meet the criteria for fascism. Dr. Lawrence Britt posted the 14 Characteristics of fascism based on his study of 4 fascist regimes. B...

Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth A shift in how the nation fights drug use is in order. It has been for a long time. Perhaps more states and the federal government will find their way to sensible laws like the one Kentucky recently passed into state law. WASHINGTON -- On Tuesday night, Kentucky lawmakers passed wide-ranging legislation to combat the state’s heroin epidemic. The bipartisan measure represents a significant policy shift away from more punitive measures toward a focus on treating addicts, not jailing them. The state will now allow local health departments to set up needle exchanges and increase the number of people who can carry naloxone, the drug that paramedics use to save a person suffering an opioid overdose. Addicts who survive an overdose will no longer be charged with a crime after being revived. Instead, they will be connected to treatment services and community mental health workers. At a Wednesday morning press conference before he signed the bill i...

Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Some celebrate the following announcement by Pence. It is those who, without considering the potential bigotry and prejudice this law indirectly supports, may someday be subject to like bigotry and prejudice. This bill is not about religious freedom and the right of Hoosiers to chose their faith and how they worship. They already have that and it is guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States of America and their state constitution. Rather this law is about allowing businesses to deny equal patronage to those they disapprove of; simply out of bigotry and prejudice. This is NOT anything the inhabitants of Indian should be proud of. But there is a creeping religous insurgency trying to change America from a truly secular state into a theocratic one. Tell me, what is the difference with Islam? Anybody? Indianapolis – Governor Mike Pence today issued the following statement after signing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (SEA ...

Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Any Republicans who vote against higher defense spending should be fired "There is overwhelming support in our conference for providing additional resources to protect our national security," House Speaker John Boehner declared at his weekly press conference last week, and with that the gauntlet was thrown down. There will be a vote in the House, just has there have now been votes in the Senate, that are going to separate the GOP into the heirs of Ronald Reagan and his "peace through strength" beliefs and the hangers-on who have never understood that all they prize in terms of liberty, small government and federalism depends first and foremost on an American military that is not only larger than any other two, or five or ten combined next largest militaries, but one equal to the unique and essential task of bringing order to a chaotic and increasingly out-of-control world . Emphasis mine Small government grinds who p...

Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Something conservative Israeli Jews and conservative Americans, Jewish and otherwise, ought to give serious consideration to. Dana Milbank makes powerful cogent and logical argument for a Palestinian State being in Israel's best interests. Mr. Milbank makes perhaps too much sense to be taken seriously by conservatives? Eleven years ago, I carried my infant daughter into a synagogue basement and plunged her tiny body, head to toe, underwater. She emerged sputtering and coughing, then wailing. The procedure, immersion in a Jewish ritual bath called a mikvah, felt barbaric. But it was for an important reason: Her mother isn’t Jewish, and by Jewish custom — and Israeli law — the faith is passed on by matrilineal descent, so I converted my daughter. Making sure she is Jewish in the eyes of the Jewish state gives me peace of mind. If the Gestapo ever comes again, she and her descendants will have a place to go. Just in case. Such a threat s...

Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth On March 15th we did a short post on freethinkers entitled FreeThinkers, Are There any Conservative FreeThinkers Today? . Today we revisit the topic in an effort to provide a bit more framework to the discussion. Rather than a quote followed by a site statement it is hoped today's entry prompts deeper thought based on introspection . Before we begin, the answer to the question "... Are there any Conservative FreeThinkers Today is, of course. However, true Freethinkers in either conservative or liberal/progressive circles is more rare than common. We start with a definition of freethinking followed by further discussion. Merriam Webster - : a person who forms his or her own opinions about important subjects (such as religion and politics) instead of accepting what other people say : one who forms opinions on the basis of reason independently of authority; especially : one who doubts or denies religious dogma Clearly, based on th...

Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth I kinda wonder how the Tea Party Patriots and Social Conservatives/Evangelicals square with the above.

Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth BloombergPolitics - This is Who Republican Presidential Contenders Follow on Twitter Presidential candidates like to talk about leadership, but whom do they follow? Bloomberg Politics scoured the Twitter accounts of Republicans eyeing the White House for clues about their political influences, personal interests, and social media savvy. Fifteen of seventeen (88%) potential 2016 republican presidential candidates are followers of Jim DeMint, the Godfather of the Tea Party or his Heritage Foundation . One can be fairly certain followers of Jim DeMint and or the Heritage Foundation are looking out for the special interests yheyn are beholden to rather than the interest of typical hard working Americans of any political persuasion. Follow The Link for the complete skinny on who is following who. Via: Memeorandum

AYUP, Sums It Up Quite Nicely Methinks

Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth The following is disturbing to say the least. It is perplexing as well given President Obama pledged to the American people his administration was going to be open and transparent. Such is not the reality of the situation and transparency has indeed lessened. Associated Press - WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration set a record again for censoring government files or outright denying access to them last year under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act, according to a new analysis of federal data by The Associated Press. The government took longer to turn over files when it provided any, said more regularly that it couldn't find documents and refused a record number of times to turn over files quickly that might be especially newsworthy. It also acknowledged in nearly 1 in 3 cases that its initial decisions to withhold or censor records were improper under the law — but only when it was challenged. Its backlog of unanswered re...

Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel was not congratulated by President Obama this morning after the Israeli election. Presidential aide David Simas congratulated the people of Israel on their elections however conspicuously avoided congratulating Bibi. We all get that the President was miffed at not only the congressional republicans for their invite to Bibi but at the Prime Minister as well. Who can really blame the President for being taken aback, especially as he was not consulted by Speaker Boehner before the invite. However, openly holding a grudge against the leader of our only real Mid East ally really makes little to no sense. President Obama, as president of these United States surely should be more magnanimous and offer his congratulations. It certainly would prove him to be the bigger and better man. From PJ Tatler > Benjamin Netanyahu for his sweeping victory yesterday. Weekly Standard reports: On CNN this morn...

Found this audio surfing the net, thought it interesting as well as thought provoking. Click for text . What say you?

Rationall l Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Former Vice President Big Dick Cheney, the neo con war monger who was front and center in making the case for the unnecessary and illegitimate war with Iraq had much to say about President Barack Obama in his recent interview with Playboy . BUSINESS INSIDER - "I look at Barack Obama and I see the worst president of my lifetime, without question," Cheney told journalist James Rosen. "I used to have significant criticism of Jimmy Carter, but compared to Barack Obama and the damage he is doing to the nation—it’s a tragedy." SKIP I think they’re playing the race card, in my view. Certainly we haven’t given up—nor should we give up—the right to criticize an administration and public officials. To say that we criticize, or that I criticize, Barack Obama or Eric Holder because of race, I just think it’s obviously not true. My view of it is the criticism is merited because of performance—or lack of performance, because of...

Click for text . Comments and thoughts anyone?

The danger continues, spurred on by dishonest secretive politicians, businessmen, and major cable networks.

     For those of us who where there it brings back wonderful memories.   Perhaps one of the best I've ever seen .

    Republican Conservatives Proving Almost Daily That Tolstoy Was Right.

For Many Freedom and Democracy Means Thinking Like Them. Sure Sounds Like American Political Parties and the Politicians Who Serve Them.

The Latter Describes the Republican Party Thus Far in the 21st Century.

And the world smells the burn. Update -/15/15 More "brilliant" remarks from a "brilliant" man. Schieffer: What do you want to happen here? What is your alternative here? Let’s say that the deal falls through, then what? Cotton: Well as Prime Minister Netanyahu said, the alternative to a bad deal is a better deal. The Iranians frequently bluff to walk away from the table. if they bluff this week, call their bluff. The Congress stands ready to impose much more severe sanctions. Moreover we have to stand up to Iran’s attempts to drive for regional dominance. They already control Tehran increasingly they control Damascus and Beirut and Baghdad and now Sana’a as well . They do all that without a nuclear weapon. imagine what they would do with a nuclear weapon.

Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth “What Senator Cotton did is a gross breach of discipline, and especially as a veteran of the Army, he should know better. I have no issue with Senator Cotton, or others, voicing their opinion in opposition to any deal to halt Iran’s nuclear progress. Speaking out on these issues is clearly part of his job. But to directly engage a foreign entity, in this way, undermining the strategy and work of our diplomats and our Commander in Chief, strains the very discipline and structure that our foreign relations depend on, to succeed. The breach of discipline is extremely dangerous, because undermining our diplomatic efforts, at this moment, brings us another step closer to a very costly and perilous war with Iran. I think Senator Cotton recognizes this, and he simply does not care. That’s what disappoints me the most." Major Gen. Paul D. Eaton , as quoted in The Washington Post . What will it take for the Tea Party and neo-cons to understand ...

Rational Natiion USA Purveyor of Truth Texas republican "Senator" Ted Cruz, darling of the Tea Party "patriots" apparently doesn't fare so well with real working class Americans with real American values . BloombergPolitics - If, like many Americans, your job involves watching a lot of speeches by Ted Cruz, you have grown familiar with the Texas senator's applause lines. Since October 2014, he has honed a list of "conservative agenda" items that can be punctuated with hoots, hollers, and huzzahs at any gathering on the right. Last month, at CPAC, he rattled them off in a friendly Q&A with Sean Hannity. "Repeal every blasted word of Obamacare." "Abolish the IRS." "Take all 125,000 IRS agents and put 'em on our southern border." Each declaration sparked a roar of applause, acknowledged with a small smile from Cruz. We see the unquestioning adulation at CPAC. Yesterday morning, Cruz entered th...

Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Continuing the coverage of THE 47 Republican Imbeciles we came across a very well thought out and superbly articulated article this morning. Michael Tomasky's article is spot on and mirrors my own thoughts quite precisely. Mr. Tomasky's article is reprinted in part here with linkage to the full article provided. This senators’ letter is poisonous, but not out of character. The no-diplomacy posture is exactly what has brought matters to this point. I have probably written many times in the past that Republicans hit a new low, but as of this week you can toss all those. This Senate letter is the definite low of all time. I didn’t think these people could shock me, but this one genuinely was shocking in so many ways—not least the dishonor it brings on the United States Senate—that every other nutso thing they’ve done drops down one notch on the charts. Treason, as the Daily News blared? I don’t know for sure about that. But I know ...

Rational Nation USA Purveyor o Truth Republican Sen. Bob Corker, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee “I didn’t think it was going to further our efforts to get to a place where Congress would play the appropriate role that it should on Iran,” Corker told The Daily Beast. “I did not think that the letter was something that was going to help get us to an outcome that we’re all seeking, and that is Congress playing that appropriate role.” Text continues BELOW THE FOLD . Representing the other 47 treasonous idiots. Of course everybody who has read accurate data, ( see 47 American Imbeciles... and click on links), can make a solid case that they in fact did. This from McClatchy Washington Bureau : The U.S. Senate Historian’s Office has so far been unable to find another example in the chamber’s history where one political party openly tried to deal with a foreign power against a presidential policy, as Republicans have attempted in their open letter to Iran t...

Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Good news on the world stage. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to be losing ground politically with elections just around the corner. We hope the trend continues and Bibi, as well as his Likud party, are swept from power. Far from certain, but the signs are at least hopeful. Jerusalem (AFP) - Less than a week before Israel's second general election in two years, Isaac Herzog's centre-left Zionist Union opened up a lead on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rightwing Likud, polls showed Wednesday The March 17 vote comes as Israel faces major domestic and international challenges, all of which will have to be addressed by the next government - among them the Iranian nuclear threat, the deadlock in peace efforts and a looming Palestinian legal move at the International Criminal Court. Experts say the vote will largely be a referendum on the six-year tenure of Netanyahu, who has made security the centrepiece o...

Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Forty seven United State Senators took the unprecedented action of breaking over two hundred years of tradition and protocol when they determined to sent a Dear Tehran letter to Iran. This action to undermine the constitutional authority of the President of the United States is nothing short of treasonous. In my view every one of the g--damned idiots ought to be recalled by the citizens of the state that elected them. Short of that Americans should boycott all republicans at the national level in 2016 casting no ballets for them. For excellent work laying out the specific I haven't the time to do visit The Swash Zone and The Moderate Voice Folks, these neo-con war mongering zombies want America embroiled in another Middle East war and they do NOT give a damn what the cost to the treasury or the cost in American blood. These Bozo's in their hatred for Barrack Obama have now proven they will stop at nothing and risk a dangerous wa...

Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth In keeping with his ever pandering and bigoted ways Senator 'Green Eggs and Ham' Ted Cruz is off an running to make denying gays and lesbians marriage equality a top priority. Certain to get the Evangelicals (specifically) and So-Cons (in general) all giddy over his stance he plows ahead in efforts to push America back to the pre 1950 era. From the The Des Moines Register : U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz cast himself as a leading Republican opponent of same-sex marriage during an appearance before a crowd of evangelical Christians in Des Moines on Monday. Cruz, R-Texas, described the ongoing shift toward legal recognition for gay couples as an "unrelenting assault on traditional marriage," and castigated judges who have struck down prohibitions for "ignoring their oaths, ignoring the Constitution and legislating from the bench." The issue is one that Cruz said distinguishes him from other potential candidates in what look...

Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth If the following report is true, and it likely is, we are seeing the science deniers in the Republican party at work in Florida. the guardian - ‘Global warming’ and ‘sustainability’ among phrases allegedly barred at state’s Department of Environmental Protection, investigative report finds Officials with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the agency in charge of setting conservation policy and enforcing environmental laws in the state, issued directives in 2011 barring thousands of employees from using the phrases “climate change” and “global warming”, according to a bombshell report by the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting (FCIR). The report ties the alleged policy, which is described as “unwritten”, to the election of Republican governor Rick Scott and his appointment of a new department director that year. Scott, who was re-elected last November, has declined to say whether he believes in climate chang...

Signers include former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Sens. Susan Collins and Mark Kirk and Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker Hats off to ya all!   Read full story .   Via: Memeorandum

Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Whether the republican party and its leadership want to recognize it or not they have a perception problem. A major one. Especially among minority groups and in this particular instance the African-American community. With the 50th anniversary of the signing of the 1965 Voting Rights Act approaching and with commemorative activities scheduled in Selma, Alabama, not a single member of the republican congressional leadership is attending. For a party that claims it is inclusive and has a large tent to willfully ignoring the significance of 1965 is, to say the least, foolish. But I guess the message that will be received by a majority of African-Americans is lost on them. Insensitivity to issues of this importance and magnitude is precisely why the party of Lincoln is unable to effectively grow its ranks. Sincerity gains results, empty talk flies like the wind. Either republicans are tone deaf or they simply do not care. There exists a great p...