A Moment of Zen...

 



Our only job is to remain open.
Usually when we hear or read something new,
we just compare it to our own ideas.
If it is the sane, we accept it and say that it is correct.
If it is not, we say it is incorrect.
In either case, we learn nothing.

Thich Nhat Hanh





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Illinois Democrats Move To Tighten Firearm Regulation/Restrictions...

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by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny As the country struggles to understand, and come to grips with random acts of firearm violence by unstable and unbalanced individuals Illinois is already taking action to further regulate firearms. Like the millions of law abiding citizens I am torn between the right to bear firearms and finding the point at which it makes logical sense to restrict that right. In a modern society in which the tools of warfare are advanced beyond what the founders could possibly have envisioned, and the efficiency of modern armies are such that the citizens would stand no reasonable chance against the modern army, does the possession of semiautomatic assault weapons have any real purpose for the homeowner and sportsman? If deemed they do should they not be highly regulated and restricted to HELP reduce the incidents of tragedies like Sandy Hook? I certainly do not have the answers, nor do I believe the anti-gun crowd has the answers eith...
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Is Our Democratic Republic At Risk From Forces Both Foreign and Within?...

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We are moving this running post up to front page this evening where it will remain until January 3'rd 2017 when we will return to single posts, hopefully on a daily basis. There is much to do in getting the TRUTH out about Donald J Trump, a dishonest, totally self absorbed, and dangerous individual. He may be the president on January 20th but that does not mean thoughtful and concerned people shouldn't challenge Trump at every turn and fight his agenda whenever it runs contrary to their interests and those of their family. More to come. BTW, be sure to read today's entry, 12/28/16, below. this is just one example AND, it is just the beginning. You've probably noticed the brief posts of late. Posts with very short commentary by the weblolg administrator followed by an article that goes into the subject in much greater detail. This has been done purposefully following the rancorous 2016 election, and because its Christmas Time, soon to be a New Year.  This posting f...
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One of America's Greatest Pastimes, Early Polling...

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by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Lib e rty -vs- Tyr a nny American's are an interesting bunch. Stubborn and fickle at the same time. Especially Republicans. But then again I question just why in the hell anyone is concerning themselves with the 2016 presidential race two years out? I guess it's because we're... Americans? Public Policy Polling - PPP's newest look at the Republican field for 2016 finds some big changes from our previous polling. Marco Rubio, who had led all of our polling since December, has dropped all the way to 6th place. Rand Paul now has the lead nationally, to go along with the leads he posted in our most recent Iowa and New Hampshire polls. And Ted Cruz has already hit double digits. The numbers are: Paul 16, Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, and Paul Ryan each at 13, Cruz at 12, Rubio at 10, Rick Santorum and Bobby Jindal at 4, and Susana Martinez at 2. Cruz has proven to be such a darling to the far right that he actually already lead...
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A Liberals View of OWS... From the New Republic

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -v s- Tyranny OWS, the movement lacking leadership as well as defined objectives having a reasonable chance of success. The longer it grinds on the more it look like a bunch of misfit radicals looking for the free ride. However, on the other hand there are certainly those who have a clear vision as to what and why Wall Street needs to change. The reasonable people supporting OWS are doing so to end crony capitalism, corporatism, the unethical practices of banking executives and mortgage lenders, as well as government bailouts of businesses. They also recognize corporate lobbyist must become a extinct group. Given the majority of people would tend to agree with the above someone ought to be asking the question, why doesn't the reasonable Tea Party folks and the reasonable OWS folks come together and pool resources so to speak? Tea Party individuals want more fiscal discipline and restraint so as to bring balance to national fis...
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Trump Thumped......

A federal judge ruled in favor of CNN on Friday, allowing the network’s star reporter Jim Acosta to temporarily regain access to his White House press credential. "I will grant the application for the temporary restraining order I order the government reinstate the pass," U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly ruled from Washington. SKIP The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “I want to thank all of my colleagues in the press who supported us this week and I want to thank the judge for the decision he made today. Let’s go back to work,” Acosta said outside the U.S. District Court. tRump got thumped for now. Because freedom of the press is a bedrock value of our democratic republic we're sure tRump will lose entirely at the end of the day. As the would be tyrant should. SOURCE
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As the Melodrama Continues...

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by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny As the nation watches (as well as the world at large) the United States House, led by the rEpublican false conservatives have us serfs standing at the cliff's edge as we look into the abyss. Perhaps, just maybe, the intransigent false conservatives are running out of time and their true motives are being recognized by the many who heretofore believed them. As more disgruntled past supporters turn their backs on the false conservatives maybe, just maybe they ought to look to history to find the ultimate result of their type of behavior and intransigence. Even a staunch Ayn Rand Objectivist has the ability to see beyond the present as he peers into the future. At least this one does. Echoes of our founding fathers are ringing in my ears as I write this. Eric Cantor, the intelligent yet blind House Majority leader may very well, and soon find himself the object of ridicule. As difficult as it might be for some to acce...
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Flynn Charged With Lying to the FBI...

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Investigation heats up. From AXIOS . President Trump's former national security advisor Michael Flynn pleaded guilty during a court appearance this morning to "willfully and knowingly [making] false, fictitious and fraudulent statements and representations" to the FBI regarding his conversations with Sergey Kislyak, Russia's then-ambassador to the United States. Flynn's plea came under Special Counsel Robert Mueller's expanding investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Why it matters: With his plea, Flynn agreed to cooperate fully with Mueller's investigation. In a development that could have far-reaching implications as Mueller's probe moves forward, Flynn admitted in his plea that senior transition officials directed his contacts with Russian officials in late December of last year. The lies that Flynn told FBI agents: Flynn claimed he did not ask Kislyak to attempt to "refrain from escalating the situation" a...
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How A Nation Can and Does Change...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation U S A Lib e rty -vs- Tyr a nny "Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom of Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretence, raised in the United States." –Noah Webster, An Examination of the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution, 1787 That was then. In an interview with the Daily Times Herald in Carroll, Iowa, state Rep. Dan Muhlbauer said governments should start confiscating semi-automatic rifles and other firearms. Muhlbauer, a Democrat from the western Iowa town of Manilla, is a cattleman and farmer. The newspaper reported that he owns a .410 shotgun, a .22 rifle and a .22 pistol. “We cannot have big guns out here as far as the big guns that are out here, the semi-automatics and all of th...
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As The Feds Ship Illegals To Massachusetts From The Southern Border...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth As the crises on our southern border continues illegals are being shipped to Massachusetts by plane according to the Boston Globe . Apparently the feds have been keeping this operation "under the radar." Local law enforcement officials in the Bay State are growing increasingly concerned, as they rightly should. Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson is calling for sheriffs across America to "“mobilize” on the red-hot immigration issue and confront the feds over their failure to communicate with local officials." Illegal immigrants are being secretly flown to Massachusetts and kept in local lockups in an under-the-radar operation that has alarmed lawmen who are raising health and security concerns amid recent spikes in detainees coming up from Texas during the latest border crisis. “We’re all becoming border sheriffs now with these people being carted all over the country,” said Bristol County Sheriff...
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A Proper Ethical and Moral Code, Has America Lost its Bearings?...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny As the election draws ever closer it is becoming quite evident We the People are destined to get another screwing no matter which candidate prevails. I find myself just shaking my head and acknowledging the battle for liberties lost and ever again realizing the full natural rights of man is now but a fading and ever more distant dream of what once was. We have slowly and willingly allowed the forces that propelled us to achieve greatness as a people and nation to be turned into a force that will ultimately destroy us. Witnessing the forces at work that have torn, and continue to tear at the philosophical principles this nation was founded on I no longer have the stamina or desire to describe that which should be clear to all. So I will allow another to say it. And say it with clarity, accuracy, and boldness... Man's Rights - If one wishes to advocate a free society-that is, capitalism-one must realize that its...
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