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He’s crazy. Meaning Putin. And, actually yes, that is a new development. Sure, he’s always been Pure Evil. But there has heretofore been method to his madness, and he has done a KGB professional job of “disguising his coverage.”

I told you all about this last week. Putin is going through a Mortality Crisis. (Similar to the one LBJ went through, if you’ve been watching that documentary.)

“I don’t have unlimited time. I’d better get busy.”

Putin has always been obsessed with getting the USSR Band back together. He patiently waited for the opportunity. And we, meaning the United States, contributed to creating that opportunity.

What do you think this bizarre bromance between Putin and his Mango Useful Idiot has always been about?

Divide and conquer. Meddle in our elections. Poison our social media and political discourse. Pit Americans against Americans. Openly promote American racial tension and class warfare.  And all he had to do was pretend to nibble on Trump’s earlobe.

Uh, yes, let me get out in front of the Cultists. I am aware that LeGrande L’Orange is no longer president. But I am also aware of how we got here.

Trump abandoned and attempted to fragment NATO. Typical of his presidency, he routinely betrayed our allies and gave comfort to our enemies. We used to call that the “T-word.”

Turns out NATO was more resilient than Putin thought, despite Trump’s best efforts to undermine the alliance.

Putin miscalculated in that respect. But as a practical matter, it doesn’t matter. He thought the damage Trump had done to NATO would survive Trump’s presidency. So he felt emboldened to finally do the thing he’s has always been obsessed with doing.

So, Putin has now crossed the line into True Crazy. His off-the-rails speech a few nights ago was a prequel to the world’s largest invasion and territory grab since WWII. And Vlad may be just warming up.

The United States has faced Crazy before. And our lifetime batting average v. Crazy is pretty good. Mainly because we weren’t  crazy. We were the antidote for crazy.

But here’s the change in the calculus. For the first time, we’re Crazy, too. Or at least half our country is.

Think about it. Within the past 48 hours, a former American president has called Putin a “genius,” a “peacekeeper, and “savvy.” He has described Putin’s actions as “wonderful.”

Gee, I’m old enough to remember when the GOP seemed not to like Russian authoritarians, and seemed to take objection to their actions and aspirations.

But that was then and this is now.

Now, we have gaslighters like Tucker Carlson asking “What’s the big deal?” and telling us that events like brazen and brutal invasions of a sovereign country, Cultists here at home attempting to overthrow the government of the United States, trying to simply overturn the results of an election, and stealing and destroying classified documents are just “speedbumps.”

And the Cultists, aka “Mikey,” eat it up.

Mikey will eat anything.

This is worse than simply turning a blind eye to evil. I’m hearing GOP SUPPORT for that evil. This is the United States? Yes, it is. And that’s the real crisis. While we have always before been able to defeat Crazy, we are now contributors to the Crazy.

“What’s the difference between supporting Russia and supporting Ukraine?”

What?

“Who cares? What does this have to do with us? How does this affect us?

You’re about to find out, if you haven’t already.

“Useful Idiots.”

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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.