Paul’s Daily Ration: 08/26/21 – Radically Rational

Paul’s Daily Ration: 08/26/21

With less than 36 hours remaining in our window to get an estimated 1,500 remaining American citizens and thousands of our desperate Afghan friends out of Kabul, our “strategy” seems to be to hope, pray and keep our fingers crossed that the Taliban and ISIS-K decide to play nice and cut us a break.

Pitiful.

Blinken admits we have no answers. Winken and Nod were not helpful, either.

About 150 Americans are trying to get to the airport. All routes have been closed off by the Taliban and the airport gates are now closed. Yeah, that’s pretty much the definition of “dilemma.”

What conceivable legitimate motive could Abbott have for fighting local mask mandates? Why? Isn’t “local control” central to Conservatism? And aren’t these folks adamant about not “disarming” American citizens? Why would he want to in any way strip school districts of the only “weapons” they have to protect our children?

Why?

We have no Constitutional right to place others in harm’s way. Period. Even the mere suggestion that we do is an affront to logic, law and morality. Stop it.

We have no right to contribute to the deaths of others. Period. Stop it.

We have no right to recklessly and needlessly transmit a deadly infection. Period. Stop it.

And what kind of society, and what kind of parents, refuse to protect our children? Understand, both ethically and legally, children are not the “property” of their parents. Children are “persons” under our Constitution and laws. You weren’t aware of that? See, “Prince v. Massachusetts.”

Our national gearshift lever is stuck in “R.” Reverse. Because we had about a month of fooling ourselves that things had returned to “normal,” we don’t realize, or want to acknowledge, that things are worse than they were at this time last year. Way worse.

As we begin our Thursday, more than 100,000 Americans are hospitalized with COVID-19. A year ago, that number was 49,000. And a year ago we didn’t have a vaccine.

We are choosing to lose. That’s rational?

I’ve always had a name for folks who refuse to win. Losers.

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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.