by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Liberty -vs- Tyranny

Image by Joe Burbank, Pool, File

Gary Johnson taking it to the powers that have ruled for far too long. This challenge, and fight to restore fiscal sanity and greater liberty ought to be carried on all MSM networks and Libertarian/Conservative blogs throughout the nation. However, in America's politically anesthetized state little will be heard or published on this story.

Rational Nation USA doing its part in getting the word out.

BuzzFeed Politics - Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson filed an anti-trust lawsuit in federal court Friday to try to force his way into next month's presidential debates.

Johnson, who first sought the GOP primary nomination before launching a third-party bid, is suing the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates and both the Democratic and Republican parties, calling the CPD a "conspiracy."

The CPD was founded jointly by the two parties and the nominee, and the lawsuit alleges that they meet every four years to set the rules for the debate to "hoodwink" the American people.

Johnson is asking the courts to force the CPD to allow for all candidates who are on the ballot in enough states to reach 270 electoral votes to have a spot on the debate state.

According to a release, Johnson’s running mate and retired California Superior Court Judge Jim Gray will argue the motion on the campaign’s behalf.

Johnson appeared in two GOP primary debates last year.

Via: Memeorandum

by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Liberty  -vs- Tyranny

Romney finally released the tax returns so sought after by the collectivists and the media. While not changing my basic position that Mittens is not the guy for the job he is seeking, it certainly gave me great pleasure to know the collectivists are now eating a huge helping of crow.

What will be even more satisfying is watching them go into over drive while they try to spin the facts to suit their statist collectivist agenda.

Townhall - It's official: The Romney campaign possesses a wicked sense of humor and an enviable degree of patience. After months of caterwauling, breathless innuendo and baseless slander, the Democrats and their media allies are being treated to a Friday feast of piping hot crow. The Romney campaign has released a detailed report of the the candidate's 2011 tax returns, as well as an extensive summary of the Romneys' taxes over the last two decades, prepared by analysts at PricewaterhouseCoopers. What do these documents contain? Brad Malt, the Romney family's trustee, summarizes the 2011 data:


- In 2011, the Romneys paid $1,935,708 in taxes on $13,696,951 in mostly investment income.

- The Romneys’ effective tax rate for 2011 was 14.1%.

-The Romneys donated $4,020,772 to charity in 2011, amounting to nearly 30% of their income.

-The Romneys claimed a deduction for $2.25 million of those charitable contributions. The Romneys’ generous charitable donations in 2011 would have significantly reduced their tax obligation for the year. The Romneys thus limited their deduction of charitable contributions to conform to the Governor's statement in August, based upon the January estimate of income, that he paid at least 13% in income taxes in each of the last 10 years.

In short, and as Kevin noted, Romney forked over nearly $2 million to Uncle Sam last year and donated more than $4 million to charity. He overpaid his taxes by limiting the charitable deductions he chose to claim, which could have driven his obligations to government even lower. Liberals are now actually complaining that Romney intentionally paid *too much* in taxes to boost his own effective rate, due to his prodigious philanthropic giving. This line of criticism is downright hilarious. It's okay to point and laugh. And what about the last 20 years?


- In each year during the entire 20-year period, the Romneys owed both state and federal income taxes.

-Over the entire 20-year period, the average annual effective federal tax rate was 20.20%.

-Over the entire 20-year period, the lowest annual effective federal personal tax rate was 13.66%.

-Over the entire 20-year period, the Romneys gave to charity an average of 13.45% of their adjusted gross income.

-Over the entire 20-year period, the total federal and state taxes owed plus the total charitable donations deducted represented 38.49% of total AGI.

-During the 20-year period covered by the PWC letter, Gov. and Mrs. Romney paid 100 percent of the taxes that they owed.


Let's unpack these numbers. The Romneys owed and paid state and federal income taxes every single year stretching back to at least 1990. Harry Reid's imaginary friend is unavailable for comment. Their effective tax rate, on average, was over 20 pecent (nearly double the average effective rate in America, according to the non-partisan Tax Foundation). Does this qualify as a "fair share"? In the last two decades, the Romney's donated 13.45 percent of their adjusted gross income to charity. This totally dwarfs the long-term giving of the Obamas and the Bidens, in case anyone in the class warfare camp is keeping score. But remember, Mitt Romney is callously dismissive and uncaring toward poor people and the '47 percent.' Overall, the Romney family paid every cent they owed -- and more -- forking over nearly 40 percent of their income to either the government or charitable organizations, including their church. I've got to hand it to the Romney campaign: They played a long game here, and did so masterfully. One of the most obnoxious and relentless arrows in Democrats' attack quiver has been the tax returns issue. See how greedy and secretive Romney is? Even his own father released 12 years of returns! He's probably a tax cheat! That's all gone now, and the whiners look petty, small, and stupid. And Mitt Romney looks like the remarkably generous, law-abiding, productive member of society that he is. Bravo. {Read More}

Yep, the collectivists have been punked and are now relegated to eating crow and spinning. LOVING IT!!!

Via: Memeorandum

The wonderful warm weather is still in town so I didn't hesitate to wear this comfortable white jumpsuit, thanks to Sheinside, last Sunday. I kept it simple with ivory -nude tones and just one jewelry, a H&M bracelet.
For the sunglasses I have to thank to zeroUV,  they are my ultimate obsession and for sure you will find great designs at a very affordable price by visiting them shop HERE. Enjoy !




                                                                          Jumpsiut: thanks to Sheinside /Here use VERONICA20 at checkout to save 20%                                                                    on their website.
                                                                          Sunglasses: thanks to zeroUV/Here 
                                                           Bracelet : H&M/ another favorite of mine Here
                                                                          Scarf: H&M
                                                                          Bag: Pulicati /similar style Here
                                                                          Shoes: Aldo/ similar Here

by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Liberty -vs- Tyranny


Just one more reason to turn and run as fast as possible AWAY from the rEpublican pArty and its neo-con fundamentalist base.

TPM - Casey Michel September 20, 2012, 3:13 PM - In a conference call with fellow evangelicals earlier this week, Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) shared his thoughts on the origins of the constitutionally mandated separation of church and state. Rather than tracing the idea to the nation’s founders, Perry warned of a more nefarious source: Satan.

“Satan runs across the world with his doubt and with his untruths and what have you and one of the untruths out there that is driven is that people of faith should not be involved in the public arena,” Perry said during the call on Tuesday, organized by the Rev. Rick Scarborough.

Perry said the separation of religious and civic institutions in the U.S. began with a “narrative” that first took root in the 1960s.

“Somehow or another there’s this, ya know, steel wall, this iron curtain or whatever you want to call it between the church and people of faith and this separation of church and state is just false on its face,” the governor said. “We have a biblical responsibility to be involved in the public arena proclaiming God’s truth.”

Skip

“You think about this spiritual warfare that’s going on and … going strong as President Obama and his cronies in Washington continue their efforts to remove any trace of religion from American life,” Perry said on the call. “And it falls on us, I mean, we truly are Christian warriors, Christian soldiers, and for us as Americans to stand our ground and to firmly send a message to Washington that our nation is about more than just some secular laws.”

Listen to the entire 13-minute conference call here.

Via: Memorandum

My last post with photos from New York is here. This is one colorful and bold look that I wore before we left the city. Mixing  patterns and pop colors is like the icing on the cake. Are there any rules in fashion these days? I follow just one: stay true to yourself, and that I was doing :)



                                                                      Blouse : thanks to Sheinside Here
                                                                      Shorts: H&M/ similar Here
                                                                      Shoes: Daniblack/ similar style Here
                                                                      Bag: Cynthia Rowley/another great one Here
                                                                      Sunglasses: Ralph Lauren

Be honest. Painting a rug sounds like a good time, right? You know it does!

That's why when my friend Linda at My Crafty Home Life suggested a rug painting party I said, "your rug or mine". I never turn down a good party. (My, how the definition of 'party' has changed over the years.)

Actually this is the kick in the pants I've needed to take care of some naked floors around the house.  The hallway, kitchen and foyer are all in need of some coverage but I've never found anything I liked that was at the right price. We'll see how this rug turns out to see which lucky location gets to wear it.

Here is my subject.

And here is my inspiration.

via Pinterest

I'm going Chippendale.

I had wanted to do this pattern on our railings when we redid the deck, but a small deck spruce turned into a bigger project and well, you know how that goes. So this is my way of getting the look without pulling out the miter saw.

So with that, let the games begin.

Oh, and it should be noted - I have 1. never painted a rug 2. a very infantile brain that cannot think in negative space 3. very limited patience for any type of exact measurements and 4. a great ability to laugh at myself when this all goes haywire.

And be sure to check in on each of the other lovelies who are partying with me. We'll be reporting on our progress each Thursday for the next three weeks.

by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Liberty -vs- Tyranny

1998 Obama Admits He is for the Redistribution of Wealth



As the foundation of our Republic is shaken we stand to face further erosion of the principles on which this nation was founded.

May the Gods (whoever they may be) save us all.

by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Liberty -vs- Tyranny

A new (non scientific) CNBC poll is showing a overwhelming 76% agree with Mittens 47% remark. The following short breakdown supplied by Townhall.

UPDATE: The number of people who have taken the CNBC poll has doubled, bringing those who agree with Romney's comments to 76 percent.

As the faux outrage over Mitt Romney's "47%" comments continue to barrel through the airwaves of the old media, a CNBC poll shows 75 percent of voters believe Mitt Romney was right when he said Obama supporters will vote for him no matter what due to dependence on the government.

No, the poll isn't scientific, but it is an indication of the media running with a narrative opposite of what the country actually believes...again.

So, if I'm reading this correctly Romney really does not have much to worry about, right?

There is just one pesky little detail. Obama appears to be pulling ahead in national polls.

There is the REASONED ALTERNATIVE to both befuddled major party candidates...

Via: Memeorandum

While on vacation, I was on The Mustard Ceiling talking about how I turned this


into this. (You can read more about the transformation here)


Everything nicely organized. A spot for everything.

Silly mommy.

The girls made some alterations.

Barbies, books and who knows what else.

Kids or not, please tell me you have a room or spot in your house that looks like this?

by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Liberty  -vs- Tyranny

Photograph by Laura King

A Harvard historian of early Christianity may set the Christian Church, especially Roman Catholic Church on their head. In identifying what she believes is a fragment of a 4th century Coptic papyrus parchment with reference to Jesus having a wife she may be setting the stage to renew old debates within Christendom.

New York Times CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — A historian of early Christianity at Harvard Divinity School has identified a scrap of papyrus that she says was written in Coptic in the fourth century and contains a phrase never seen in any piece of Scripture: “Jesus said to them, ‘My wife …'”

The faded papyrus fragment is smaller than a business card, with eight lines on one side, in black ink legible under a magnifying glass. Just below the line about Jesus having a wife, the papyrus includes a second provocative clause that purportedly says, “she will be able to be my disciple.”

The finding was made public in Rome on Tuesday at an international meeting of Coptic scholars by the historian Karen L. King, who has published several books about new Gospel discoveries and is the first woman to hold the nation’s oldest endowed chair, the Hollis professor of divinity.

The provenance of the papyrus fragment is a mystery, and its owner has asked to remain anonymous. Until Tuesday, Dr. King had shown the fragment to only a small circle of experts in papyrology and Coptic linguistics, who concluded that it is most likely not a forgery. But she and her collaborators say they are eager for more scholars to weigh in and perhaps upend their conclusions.

Even with many questions unsettled, the discovery could reignite the debate over whether Jesus was married, whether Mary Magdalene was his wife and whether he had a female disciple. These debates date to the early centuries of Christianity, scholars say. But they are relevant today, when global Christianity is roiling over the place of women in ministry and the boundaries of marriage.

The discussion is particularly animated in the Roman Catholic Church, where despite calls for change, the Vatican has reiterated the teaching that the priesthood cannot be opened to women and married men because of the model set by Jesus. Emphasis mine. {Read More}

Discussions should prove to be interesting, and heated between those who believe the Coptic scriptures to be the more accurate and the more conventional Christians and fundies. Assuming of course the legitimacy of of the parchment can be verified.

Via: Memeorandum

by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Liberty  -vs- Tyranny

... Yes, the entitlement state has expanded, but America remains one of the hardest-working nations on earth. Americans work longer hours than just about anyone else. Americans believe in work more than almost any other people. Ninety-two percent say that hard work is the key to success, according to a 2009 Pew Research Survey.

It says that Romney doesn’t know much about the political culture. Americans haven’t become childlike worshipers of big government. On the contrary, trust in government has declined. The number of people who think government spending promotes social mobility has fallen.

The people who receive the disproportionate share of government spending are not big-government lovers. They are Republicans. They are senior citizens. They are white men with high school degrees. As Bill Galston of the Brookings Institution has noted, the people who have benefited from the entitlements explosion are middle-class workers, more so than the dependent poor.

Romney’s comments also reveal that he has lost any sense of the social compact. In 1987, during Ronald Reagan’s second term, 62 percent of Republicans believed that the government has a responsibility to help those who can’t help themselves...

The preceding is an excerpt from David Brooks September 17th New York Times article. Most of us are the hard working individualist type that got to where we are by hard work and consistent dedication to the achievement of our goals. And yes, with a little bit of help as opportunities popped up along the way.

Maybe Romney really understands this and is merely suffers from a malady known as "wanting to win so badly you'll say anything you think will get you there" syndrome. Perhaps we'll never known the "real" Mitt Romney. Thanks in part to his own faithful efforts at keeping this knowledge under wraps.

Whatever the case may be David Brooks, in his own unique way, describes the "Romney Problem" quite well. Take the time to read the rest of the article. It will be well worth the couple of minutes it takes.

Via: Memeorandum

by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Liberty -vs- Tyranny

Willard Mitt (the Human Flipper) Romney MANAGES TO DO IT AGAIN...



Is this the Romney campaign's Armageddon that the MSM and the Obama Team obviously believe it is.? Perhaps not. It is however another statement Romney will now spend precious time trying to explain.

As the alternative candidate, one who actually has a record of achievement and is not prone to shooting himself in a different body part almost weekly barely gets noticed I can't help but wonder at the rEpublican pArty choice to be their nominee. But I suppose as the intellectual firepower of the once GOP has declined in recent years it is obvious why they did.

As to the MSM's lack of coverage of a viable alternative candidate, well, I guess we all know that Team Obama has them in his back pocket, with the lone exception of Fox News. We all know Fox News is in the back pocket of Mittens and the new Neo Fascist rEpublican pArty of America.

So the real philosophical question of this election cycle is... What to do? The answer is of course standing right before our very eyes. Yet few are looking to find it. That, my dear fellow Americans, will be America's great loss.

Via: Memeorandum

If you have been reading my blog for quite some time now, you know my love for vintage! Yes! this dress that I wore in New York is a vintage find. I know that a special occasion will come across and I will have my reason to wear it. Here I'm wearing it with Nine West pumps and Cynthia Rowley bag at this place where everybody celebrated fashion. I hope you like it and thank you for your visit !



                                                                        Dress: vintage
                                                                        Shoes: Nine West/ similar Here
                                                                        Bag: Cynthia Rowley/ another great one Here
                                                                        Belt: French Connection
                                                                        Sunglasses: Ralph Lauren

by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Liberty -vs- Tyranny

Ayaan Hirsi Ali, 2006

The following article by Ayaan Hirsi Ali in the THE DAILY BEAST ought to be  read, digested, and understood by the Obama administration and everyone else who believes that it is only a minority of the follows of Islam who support the radical elements of the religion.

It only makes sense to consider the wisdom of one who has lived the reality of the Muslim world as well as the realities of the western world.

... The riots in Muslim countries—and the so-called demonstrations by some Muslims in Western countries—that invariably accompany such provocations have the appearance of spontaneity. But they are often carefully planned in advance. In the aftermath of last week’s conflagration, the State Department and Pentagon were investigating if it was just such a coordinated, planned assault.

The Muslim men and women (and yes, there are plenty of women) who support—whether actively or passively—the idea that blasphemers deserve to suffer punishment are not a fringe group. On the contrary, they represent the mainstream of contemporary Islam. Of course, there are many Muslims and ex-Muslims, in Libya, Egypt, and elsewhere, who unambiguously condemn not only the murders and riots, as well as the idea that dissenters from this mainstream should be punished. But they are marginalized and all too often indirectly held responsible for the very provocation. In the age of globalization and mass immigration, such intolerance has crossed borders and become the defining characteristic of Islam.

And the defining characteristic of the Western response? As Rushdie’s memoir makes clear, it is the utterly incoherent tendency to simultaneously defend free speech—and to condemn its results.

I know something about the subject. In 1989, when I was 19, I piously, even gleefully, participated in a rally in Kenya to burn Rushdie’s book The Satanic Verses. I had never read it.

Later, having fled an arranged marriage to the Netherlands, I broke from fundamentalism. By the time of Sept. 11, 2001, I still considered myself a Muslim, though a passive one; I believed the principles but not the practice. After learning that it was Muslims who had hijacked airplanes and flown them into buildings in New York and Washington, I called for fellow believers to reflect on how our religion could have inspired these atrocious acts. A few months later, I confessed in a television interview that I had been secularized. {Read Entire Article Here}

It remains to be seen which narrative the Obama administration gives most credence to.

Via: Memeorandum

by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Liberty -vs- Tyranny

Mitt Romney has a plan for a stronger middle class. By making trade work for America, balancing our budget, and championing small business, we'll create 12 million new jobs.

How many times have we heard this? Platitudes and or hyperbole might be nice, but what we need in America is serious change with a laser focus on fiscal responsibility and individual liberty and responsibility.

Mittens campaign is finding itself with real issues. Issues that are causing him to lose ground to Obama. His problems are exactly the sort that most of us in the realistic fold of the conservative/libertarian political mindset anticipated.

The top five conservative suggestion for Mitt. Via Politico.

From the lofty perch for Individual liberty and Fiscal conservatism it certainly makes sense. Which is why... Via: Memorandum