Paul’s Daily Ration: 06/30/21 – Radically Rational

Paul’s Daily Ration: 06/30/21

The House will vote today on a resolution to create a select committee to investigate the January 6 Capitol insurrection. The resolution requires only a simple majority and will pass along party lines, over the objection of GOP House leadership.

No. This is not ideal. The select committee’s investigation will be accused of partisanship and political grandstanding. No doubt there will be some of that. But Republicans have no right to bitch. That of course will not stop them from bitching.

They couldn’t handle the truth. They couldn’t even handle pursuit of the truth. Because, ultimately, they don’t seek the truth. In this case, as in so many others, the truth is not their friend.

In part as a “personal favor” to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Republicans rejected formation of a bi-partisan commission under which both parties would have had subpoena power. This would have been the proper and most objective format for an investigation into one of the most alarming days in American history.

But Republicans rejected the proposal, despite the fact it had been admirably negotiated among rational lawmakers from both parties, and essentially gave Republicans everything they said they wanted.

So now a 13-member select committee will move ahead. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will appoint eight members. She has hinted that one of her selections may be a Republican, likely one of the ten House Republicans who voted to impeach Donald Trump. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy can appoint the remaining five members, although Pelosi may ultimately have veto power over those choices. McCarthy could decide to “opt out” altogether. That would enable the GOP to scream “partisan witch hunt” even louder than they already are. That may have been the Republican strategy all along—reject a proper bi-partisan commission, and then bitch about the resulting select committee.

Nobody wins here. The biggest loser is the American people.

Republicans have no right to bitch. That of course will not stop them from bitching.

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Paul's Bio

I clearly have the attention span of your median fruit fly.Look! Airplane!

Sorry. I’m back.

It’s both a curse and a blessing. I’ve never bought this stuff about, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” But I do think that a wide range of life experiences helps us grow as people, and helps us better relate to other people. I’ve been fortunate. And I am beyond grateful.

I show up on time. I go like hell. I’m a good listener. I hold myself accountable. I own my mistakes. And I have a natural and an insatiable curiosity. I’m never afraid to say, “I don’t know,” when I don’t. But then I try to find out.

The flip side is I’m a lousy ballroom dancer and my clothes sometimes fit me funny.

Stuff matters to me. I care. But while I take that stuff seriously, I try hard to never take myself seriously. As a result, I have sometimes been told, “Paul, it’s hard to tell when you’re serious and when you’re just having some fun. Which is it? Serious or fun?”

My answer is “yes.” But I think that is a legitimate criticism. I promise I’m going to work on that.

This has been the quickest and strangest half-century I’ve ever experienced. During that period, I’ve been afforded amazing opportunities in news and sports journalism across all platforms. I have taught wonderful students at the high school and collegiate level. Always, I learned more from them than they did from me. I’ve been a high school administrator. I spent ten seasons as a high school varsity football coach. I’ve been an advertising executive. I’ve hosted nationally syndicated television entertainment shows. In maybe the biggest honor I ever received, I was selected by NASA to be “Chet The Astronaut” for the “Land The Shuttle” simulator at Space Center Houston. (All I can say there, is “Do as I say, not as I do.” I put that thing in the Everglades more often than not.) Most recently, I just wrapped up a decade as a television news director, during which time our teams distinguished themselves in holding the powerful accountable, achieving both critical and ratings success.

What does all that mean? It means I am profoundly grateful. It also means I’m ready for “next.” So here we are. Radically Rational. It’s an idea I woke up with in 2017. I scribbled “Radically Rational” on a piece of notebook paper and used a magnet to stick it on our refrigerator. I saw it every day, and it just would not leave me alone.

I am second in charge at Radically Rational, LLC. My wife, Jo (also known as BB), is the president. Clearly, I have failed in my attempt to sleep my way to the top of this organization.

I hope you will learn that I’m loyal as a Labrador. But I will admit that this doggie can bite every now and then. My promise to you? I will show up on time. I will go like hell. I will listen to you earnestly and attentively. I will hold myself accountable. I will never be the least bit hesitant to say, “I don’t know,” when I don’t.

But then I’ll try to find out. Let’s do it.