Rational Nation USA

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation U S A Purveyor of Truth Jon Stewart actually asking some reasonable questions. Because the "Babbling and Time To Retire" Pelosi failed to address Stewart's questions and concerns effectively there seemed to be a bit of frustration displayed by Stewart. Or perhaps its just me? The Daily Show Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes , The Daily Show on Facebook Representative Pelosi just may have a future retirement career in comedy playing opposite the straight guy or gal. Story below the fold .

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation U S A Purveyor of Truth Following last nights rather mundane and short on specifics SOTU by President Obama I started thinking about the future and if there is anyone in the current ranks of the GOP or the Libertarian Party who could possibly be elected to the presidency in 2016. Frankly given the crop of malcontents and loonies(Christie doesn't fall into that group but he has shot himself in the big toe) that seem to be getting attention in the GOP it appears unlikely. Tonight while browsing the net the following article popped up and given the headline was along my line of thinking last it was a must read. Got me thinking again and if the GOP can find the intelligence to act along the lines of thought presented in the article there may just be a real race in 2016 rather than a shoo in for the democrats. NationalJournal - For a party that's accustomed to nominating the next-in-line presidential candidate, 2016 promises to be a very un...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation U SA Purveyor of Truth Is anybody, and I mean ANYBODY in either party really serious about controlling the explosive rate of debt growth we have experienced since the 2008/2009 meltdown? I really think not. Mitch McConnell talking to Chris Wallace about raising the debt ceiling. Below the fold THINK PROGRESS weighs in. Content as expected from a far left publication. Meanwhile, over at CBS and Bob Schieffer's FACE the NATION Ted Cruz chimed in and actually made a bit of sense. Assuming of course he, and anyone else is really concerned with debt control or reduction. BOB SCHIEFFER: Well, now, just a minute. Just a minute. The government is approaching another deadline February 7, when it will run out of money unless Congress agrees to raise the debt ceiling. Will you agree to raise the debt ceiling, or will you demand something in return. SEN. TED CRUZ: Look, of course, we should do something. We shouldn't just write a bl...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation U S A Purveyor of Truth This individual has often contemplated the reason(s) the state should have anything to do with marriage. I was always just a bit puzzled as to why the state, being secular and not involved with religious rites in any way, would concern itself with marriage. Putting that aside for a different discussion on a different day I must say I was amused to find that Oklahoma conservatives have put forth the idea of banning ALL marriages in the Okie state. What is not at all surprising is that this move is a back alley maneuver by sate conservatives to keep same sex unions illegal in the state. Rep. Mike Turner (R-Edmond) admitted as much. News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports | Article below the fold . Via: Memeorandum

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation U S A Purveyor of Truth WASHINGTON — The guest list for President Obama’s upcoming State of the Union address just got more interesting. Yesterday, Sean Hannity said he’d be attending as a guest of Rep. Louie Gohmert. Hannity is a conservative pundit for Fox News. He’s had Gohmert, an outspoken critic of Obama, on his show a number of times. The Tyler Republican has even filled in hosting Hannity’s show on a few occasions. Turns out, Hannity may have his own political ambitions in the Lone Star state. Yes indeed. Loons of a feather flock together. “The answer is yes, I’d think about it,” Hannity said when a viewer asked via Facebook about his inclination to run for office eventually. “It would either be in Texas or Florida.” Hannity, who has indicated he’s leaving what he calls “anti-conservative” New York, later contrasted the state with Texas. Certainly the Northeast has no problem with Mr. Hannity exercising his free will in relocati...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation U S A Purveyor of Truth I've said all along that the NSA surveillance plan (data mining)was not only an infringement on the privacy rights of every American citizen but quite probably illegal as well. An independent federal agency has arrived at the same conclusion. WASHINGTON — An independent federal privacy watchdog has concluded that the National Security Agency’s program to collect bulk phone call records has provided only “minimal” benefits in counterterrorism efforts, is illegal and should be shut down. The findings are laid out in a 238-page report, scheduled for release by Thursday and obtained by The New York Times, that represent the first major public statement by the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, which Congress made an independent agency in 2007 and only recently became fully operational. The report is likely to inject a significant new voice into the debate over surveillance, underscoring that the issue was no...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation U SA Purveyor of Truth It isn't like we couldn't see it coming. In fact expect more down the line. It is absolutely no secret that for ObamaCare (ACA) to work will require a huge pool of younger healthier individuals to participate in the Government's Heath Insurance, er Healthcare Plan. How long will it be before businesses decide to just pass it all off the the government? It's anybody's guess, but I'm betting single payer sooner rather than late. THE HILL - Target Corp. announced on Tuesday it would no longer offer healthcare coverage to its part-time employees. In a blog post on the company’s website, Jodee Kozlak, the executive vice president of human resources, framed it as a positive development for part-time employees of the company. “The Health Insurance Marketplaces provides new options for healthcare coverage that we believe our part-time members may prefer,” she wrote. “In fact, by offering them insurance...