Paul’s Daily Ration: 07/15/21 – Radically Rational

Paul’s Daily Ration: 07/15/21

“I alone can fix it.”

Apparently not. Yes. There was an attempt to “fix” the 2020 presidential election. Absolutely. Fortunately, Donald Trump did not succeed in that attempt.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, WWII historians. “Accuse others of that which you are clearly guilty.” J. Goebbels had a way with words, doncha think?

Hey, that’s not me making the Nazi analogy. That’s General Mark Milley, who had every reason to fear that Le Grande L’Orange would attempt a military coup to retain power after he was voted out of office. Milley, as quoted: “These guys are Nazis. These are the guys we fought in World War Two.”

Don’t stop now, General. You’re on a righteous roll. “We’re gonna put a ring of steel around this city. The Nazis are not getting in.”

“Reichstag.” “Coup.” In the name of “Make America Great Again.”

Milley was true to his oath to defend the Constitution, creating an ingenious contingency plan to prevent Trump from using the U.S. military to prevent the peaceful transfer of power. We are in your debt, General.

Just parenthetically. I am disgusted by the way the term “patriot” has been co-opted and bastardized by seditionist insurrectionists who are anything but patriots. They are in fact traitors. No? If that’s not treason, what is?

Two things can be true at once. Yes, it was long past time for us to get out of Afghanistan. But, yes, our exit is now enabling a shameful bloodbath. I applaud W for acknowledging and decrying that.

Tenses matter. I was going to say we are in danger of blowing it—once again—in our “fight” against COVID. But the truth is we’ve already blown it—once again. There are no bigger losers than ignorant cowards who just refuse to win.

Thursday’s ditty:

“Keep the benzene out yo sunscreen.” Click, click, click.

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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.