Paul’s Daily Ration: 10/21/21 – Radically Rational

Paul’s Daily Ration: 10/21/21

The full House of Representatives is currently debating, and will voter later today, on whether to refer criminal contempt charges against former Trump aide Steve Bannon.

The vote will be almost strictly partisan, with Democrats virtually unanimous in support of holding Bannon in contempt, and Republicans, with only a couple of notable exceptions, opposing the charge.

We are a nation of laws, or still say we are. Complying with lawful subpoenas is foundational to our legal system and principles.

This should not be a “tribal” matter, and the purely partisan divide that will be reflected in this vote is both shameful and depressing.

Bannon has no legal standing for refusing to provide the testimony and documents subpoenaed by the January 6 Select Committee. His claim of executive privilege is laughable, as is a similar claim by his former boss, Donald Trump. Trump is no longer an “executive.” Bannon never was.

January 6 was one of the darkest days, if not the very darkest, in our nation’s history. It was in fact an attempted coup. Any American, regardless of party, should not only want to get to the bottom of this, but demand that we do so.

And speaking of embarrassments, take Arizona Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema. Please.

Five members of her advisory board, all military veterans, have resigned from their unpaid positions. The quintet cites Sinema’s reluctance to protect voting rights, her failure to support prescription drug negotiations, as well as what they say is her obstructionism toward President Biden’s Build Back Better initiative. In a letter, they accuse Sinema of being more beholden to big donors than to her constituents. “We shouldn’t have to buy representation from you,” they wrote.

Evidence suggests they are right, and that their resignations on principle are warranted.

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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.