Rational Nation USA

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny Word has it Condi Rice is being considered by Mittens to be his vice presidential running mate. Some sources are even saying that she may top the short list. To which I can only say, if this is true, and Condi ultimately does get the number two slot on the ticket all Romney supporters ought to hope Mittens listens to her counsel. In a nutshell she is eminently more qualified than the top of that ticket will be. Of course the often incoherent babbling brook of the ill fated republican campaign of 2008 chimed in with her half hearted support of Condi... should Condi eventually be the choice and choose to accept. From my perspective I cannot understand why a women of Condi's intellect and experience would want to consider a run with Mittens. But enough of that. Watch the latest video at <a href="http://video.foxnews.com">video.foxnews.com</a> The Hill - Sarah Palin thinks Co...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny Hasn't the President essentially been story telling all along?? ( CBS News ) President Obama's biggest mistake during his first term, he told CBS News in an exclusive interview, has been putting policy over storytelling. Mr. Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama sat down Thursday with "CBS This Morning" anchor Charlie Rose in the White House Blue Room, where they discussed the failures and successes of his administration as he heads into another election, among other things. "When I think about what we've done well and what we haven't done well," the president said, "the mistake of my first term - couple of years - was thinking that this job was just about getting the policy right. And that's important. But the nature of this office is also to tell a story to the American people that gives them a sense of unity and purpose and optimism, especially during tough times."...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty - vs- Tyranny Cannabis Leaf Medical Science has demonstrated the benefits of medical marijuana in relieving the pain cancer patients experience. Yet the the federal government has seen fit to attempt to take the property of Harborside Health Center and force closure of California's largest medical marijuana supplier. As to be expected for ginned up BS reasons. Perhaps this act will help the win the never ending war on drugs. Okay, snark off now. But I'm quite sure mst of you will get the point. The Los Angeles Times - The federal government is moving to shut down the nation's largest and highest-profile medical marijuana dispensary operation, filing papers to seize properties in Oakland and San Jose where Harborside Health Center does business. Copies of the federal Complaint for Forfeiture were taped to the front doors of the two dispensaries Tuesday, alleging that they were "operating in violation of federa...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny at the 44th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Every so often we have our views called into check. Whenever this happens the wise person considers the perspective, as well as the experiences of the person calling the entrenched views into check. In doing so one learns and therefor grows. At least that is how it should work. Milos Forman , the immigrant from Czechoslovakia who later won Academy Awards for best director for the films “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and “Amadeus”, provides just such a check for America. He clearly, and accurately describes American politicians misunderstanding of totalitarianism and western European democratic socialism in his July 10th op-ed piece in the New York Times . He ends the article with a very poignant warning. Mr. Obama, and politicians of both major parties, as well as every American citizens ought to consider his words... and warning. The New York Times - WHEN...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny We live in America. Free from fear of tyranny of the police state. Imbued with certain rights and legal safeguards protecting us from the abuse of authority. Or so we thought... Congressman Ed Markey July 9, 2012 - Congressman releases first-ever accounting of responses from wireless carriers that indicate sweeping personal data requests from law enforcement agencies. WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the first-ever accounting of its kind, Congressman Edward J. Markey (D-Mass) has found that in 2011, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies made more than 1.3 million requests of wireless carriers for the cell phone records of consumers, and that number is increasing every year. Last month, Rep. Markey queried nine mobile wireless carriers about their policies and practices for sharing their customers’ mobile phone information with law enforcement agencies after a report in the New York Times reported that law enforcemen...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny The Thinker Believes It Time For the Alternative It comes as no surprise. THE HILL - Two-thirds of likely voters say President Obama has kept his 2008 campaign promise to change America — but it’s changed for the worse, according to a sizable majority. A new poll for The Hill found 56 percent of likely voters believe Obama’s first term has transformed the nation in a negative way, compared to 35 percent who believe the country has changed for the better under his leadership. The results signal broad voter unease with the direction the nation has taken under Obama’s leadership and present a major challenge for the incumbent Democrat as he seeks reelection this fall. Conducted for The Hill by Pulse Opinion Research, the poll comes in the wake of last month’s Supreme Court decision that upheld the primary elements of Obama’s signature healthcare legislation. It found 68 percent of likely voters — regardless o...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny Gary Johnson,  LP Candidate for President 2012 - Washington Times Photo Politico has Gary Johnson , the Libertarian Party candidate for president chances at around zero. I agree. But then that really isn't the point. Certainly not in my considered opinion anyway. In a time when Americans find much about both major party candidates distasteful, and in some cases outright unacceptable, the concept of a third alternative to the status qua can be intriguing. Indeed for some it offers the hope of real change. Rational change that has been proven effective in the State of New Mexico by an effective two tern Governor, Gary Johnson. Candidate Johnson , as reported by Politico is not interested in the protest vote. While thismay play well with those who do not view themselves specifically as protestors the "protest" vote is a critical part of the equation if we are to turn this country on the track of reaso...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Justice DNC Chairperson Debbie Wasserman Schultz Wasserman Schultz getting it about one 1/4 right again... Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) on Sunday dismissed the idea that sluggish job growth would discourage minority voters from the polls this November. Wasserman Schultz, the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, said that the policies of the presumptive GOP nominee, Mitt Romney, on issues like immigration reform would be even worse for minorities. “When it comes to policies like immigration reform, Mitt Romney is the most extreme presidential candidate on immigration policy and that is why there is a 40-point deficit between him and President Obama among Hispanic-Americans,” Wasserman Schultz said on Fox News Sunday. She also said that African-Americans would have been “devastated” by Romney’s preference to not rescue the U.S. auto industry. The Labor Department said Friday that the economy adde...