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Winning requires a will to win. It’s one thing to be unable to win or incapable of winning. It’s quite another to refuse to win. For months now, we have had the ability and capacity to defeat COVID-19 in the United States. But ignorance, hubris, groundless scare tactics and raw political partisanship and pandering have left a smoldering COVID ember that now threatens to re-erupt into another five-alarm fire, this time fueled by a much more transmissible and virulent variant.  Inexcusable.  “There are none so blind as those who will not see”?  Yes. And let me add, “There are no bigger losers than those who refuse to win.”

Then there’s “denial” of the obvious.  Ron Johnson is a grandstanding demagogue. And that’s not “bullshit.” Is it hot in here?

But to be fair, Johnson will never equal Marjorie Taylor Greene. “Medical Brown Shirts”? “Puke” is inadequate.

Look, I’m not fearless.  Only idiots are fearless. I freely admit to being terrified by those flying monkeys in The Wizard of Oz and by Liza Minelli. (“Make it go away, Mommy!”) But for the life of me I don’t understand why anyone would be afraid of Donald Trump, particularly at the expense of their integrity.

There are various reports that Kevin McCarthy now plans to nominate his allocation of five House Republicans to the select committee that will investigate the January 6 armed insurrection at the Capitol. Republicans are not exactly lining up to volunteer. Why? Even they know the truth. They just don’t like the truth. They now don’t even believe in the concept of truth.

That’s why we do Radically Rational. Facts exist. Facts matter.

I invite you to flip over to today’s Sports Blog. Things that make you go, “Hmmmm.”

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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.